Thank you for visiting Sedona Legend-
The Jack and Helen Frye Story!
Copyright © 2003
Sedona Legend Helen Frye Website
Created By R. D. Reynolds
All Rights Reserved
Sedona's Celebrity Love Story!
This is the official not to mention only web portal in the world
dedicated exclusively to the legacy of Jack and Helen Frye!
The Frye Legacy-
a Lifetime of Accomplishment!
By Randall Reynolds
The Sedona Legend Web Site is a historical narrative enhanced with photos presented for
educational and entertainment purposes. Some materials may be displayed in regard to the
United States Fair Use Act. This web portal is totally non-profit and generates no income, nor
does it seek or has it ever accepted a single donation. It is an independent venture.
While this web site is not "officially" affiliated with Red Rock State Park in any way, it was
envisioned and created to give park visitors a more indepth historical perspective in regard to
the former 700 acre Frye Ranch property.
Sedona Legend is encouraged and supported by the Jack Frye Family, to include Jack's
daughter, Nevajac Frye, Jack's late sister, "Sunny" Frye Thomas, the Helen Frye family,
and the many friends of Jack and Helen Frye.
Herein you will find a historic perspective of Sedona that was nearly lost to time itself. The
REAL HISTORY of Red Rock State Park. A rich and valuable legacy which must not ever be
forgotten or swept under the carpet. Sedona's history with T.W.A., one of the world's largest
airlines and how this association helped put Sedona Arizona on the map! Red Rock State Park,
the "Crown Jewel" of the Arizona State Park system, one time private playground of the rich
and famous. Originally owned and discovered in 1941 by one of the most glamorous couples in
America and one of the greatest aviation legends this country has ever known! An association
so powerful that the original identity of the property will always be known as the Frye "Smoke
Trail Ranch". Dare to delve beneath the surface and discover the hidden and forgotten history
of one of the most pristine, beautiful, and priceless real estate parcels of the Southwestern
United States! Thousands of park visitors each year are overwhelmed by this beautiful former
ranch property, once owned by the co-founder and president of Transcontinental & Western Air
(TWA) and his beautiful West Virginia wife, now you can be astounded by the rest of the story!
To learn more about the photo above of the Fryes taken at their Sedona Ranch see Page 1948.
WHO?
William John Frye-
known as Jack Frye
Corporate Legend
TWA Legend
His World Legacy
Jack Frye is considered the "Father" of Transcontinental & Western Air, or as you may know
it, (TWA) Trans World Airlines. Why is this and what do we know about his life? Jack created
an airline dynasty, in brief, Jack had a dream and he fought for that dream for 25-long-years.
With a passion for flight, he created the first transcontinental air service for our vast country,
later, with the development of the Lockheed Constellation airliner, the first Trans-Atlantic air
service, which soon became the first round-the-world air service. Few people on this planet have
not been affected by this great man's vision, for it is he who envisioned the first pressurized
modern airliner. As an avid entrepreneur from the onset, Jack, at 18, bought a half ownership
in a struggling airplane venture in Los Angeles, California. One year later, he included two
partners, Walter A. Hamilton, and Paul E. Richter, Jr. The operation eventually became known
as Aero Corporation and Standard Air lines, with Jack Frye as president. To list all the
associations of Jack Frye would be quite impossible. To give one an inkling he was inducted into
Harvard Business School's, "Twentieth Century Greatest Business Leaders Hall of Fame". At
only 1000 members, Frye is well-placed, having exercised phenomenal business connections and
accomplishments in a very short life, (54 years). On June 20, 1992, William John Frye most
certainly received his highest posthumous honor, as induction into the National Aviation Hall of
Fame at Dayton Ohio, a black tie affair attended by 1000 guests. As one of the greatest aviation
legends in the country, this aviator-entrepreneur is now listed along side his friends and peers
at this world famous "Hall of Fame". Wherever Jack was at Smoke Trail Ranch or anywhere
else in the country his life was consumed with the operation and responsibility of TWA. On his
shoulders rested the safety of thousands of airline passengers and the management of the many
employees, which enabled TWA to exist! Jack was a rancher at heart, a lover of nature and
rural living, yet his career consumed his time and Sedona was enjoyed only in stolen moments.
Helen Varner Anderson Vanderbilt Frye
Society Hostess
Corporate Wife
Fashion Designer
Illustrator and Artist
Sedona Legend- Her Legacy
Jack and Helen Frye were one of the first "power couples" in a time when wives were expected
to be seen and not heard! Standing solidly beside her husband, not behind him, Helen offered
support and an innate knowledge of execution. Helen Frye was much more than a social
figurehead. Previously married to a direct descendant of one of the wealthiest and most
powerful families in American history, she gained much experience observing an exclusive
"man's world" of money, power, and business. At the side of Jack Frye, one of the nation's
most powerful and influential corporate leaders, Helen was an invaluable asset and was treated
accordingly by Jack Frye, and Howard Hughes. As a society leader in early Sedona, Helen
Varner Vanderbilt Frye forged several bridges of cultural and artistic expression. Her interest
in the arts stemmed from her own talents as an artist and gifted writer. Helen strived to find
support for other early Sedona artists, as well. Helen's aunt (in her previous marriage) was
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, a consummate artist, and the founder of the Whitney Museum
of American Art at New York City. This added association likely influenced a young Mrs. Helen
Vanderbilt toward a life long association with the fine arts. In the spring of 1959, Helen Frye,
George Babbitt Jr., his wife, Madeline Hunter Babbitt, Nassan Gobran, and other associates
launched "Canyon Kiva" which evolved into the Sedona Arts Center "Barn". The Sedona
Artist's Studios is yet another association of these efforts. As a life-long animal lover, Helen
saw the need for an animal shelter in Sedona. Earlier in life, as Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr.,
Helen was shopping on Fifth Avenue, in New York City, when she noticed unsavory people
beating a German Shepherd police dog in an alley. Without an ounce of fear, this socialite
walked up to the dog, grabbed the leash and walked away, to the amazement of the abusers.
Sonja, as Helen named the rescue became Helen's loving companion for the remainder of
(Sonja's) life. This experience galvanized Helen and opened her eyes to the plight of unwanted
pets. This humanity eventually resulted in her co-founding the Sedona Humane Society.
Previously, with no Sedona facilities, the cast aside pets of Sedona were housed by Helen and
other founding members in their own homes, at their own expense. The first telephone service
in "rural" Sedona? That came directly as associated with Helen Frye and Transcontinental &
Western Air, or TWA, as we know it today! Many attempts were made by the Fryes to establish
a phone link from the rural Frye Ranch to the outside world, with the local phone company,
which had limited resources. The matter was only resolved after Helen got the brilliant idea to
send the short-sighted telephone company copies of Jack's TWA telephone bills. In no time at
all, a dedicated phone line was installed at the TWA ranch! This primitive telephone connection
was soon smoking with Jack's frequent calls to TWA, and Howard Hughes. As an entrepreneur
real estate developer, Helen Varner Frye, with partner Nassan Gobran, and other associates,
developed a small portion of the Frye Smoke Trail Ranch into the beautiful "Cup of Gold
Estates". Envisioned and planned for all homeowners to have unfettered access to Oak Creek,
the development was a Sedona real estate success of 1955! Welcome to the world of Frye!
WHAT?
The Frye Ranch consisted of the adjoining Frye Deer-Lick Ranch (1941 to 1947) now as Cross
Creek Ranch Estates. In 1954, Helen Frye developed an adjoining southern parcel as Cup of
Gold Estates. To the north, a section added in 1950 by Jack Frye, is known today as Smoke Trail
Ranch Estates. At one time the Frye Ranch consisted of more than 700 acres of Sedona's most
valuable and pristine creek front property known as "Smoke Trail Ranch" named by the Fryes.
Currently a remaining portion (286 acres) of this famous ranch remains today, as Red Rock
State Park. Frye landmarks include the House of Apache Fires or the "Apache Fires" house as
Jack and Helen called it. The Wings of the Wind House, and the Willow House, so named by
Helen Frye. Other landmarks were various other ranch buildings, to include the historic
dwellings at the now named Cross Creek Ranch Estates. Sky Fires House (now demolished) at
the Ridge in the Village of Oak Creek, Sedona. Frye cattle ranches outside of Sedona included
the 22,000 acre Frye Sunshine Ranch near Meteor City and Sunshine Arizona, now known as
the Red Gap Ranch. The 4500 acre Frye Spring Valley Ranch, north of Williams Arizona, at
Spring Valley Arizona, adjoined the Grand Canyon Railway right-a-way. By 1948, the Frye's
owned over 50,000 acres of ranching property in the state of Arizona alone, according to
newspaper articles. Jack Frye also had sizeable ranch holdings in the panhandle of Texas, as
well as, oil interests. In the 1950's, Jack bought the "Nevajac Ranch" at Crystal River Florida.
Mr. Frye was the first rancher outside of the King Ranch in Texas to own and breed Santa
Gertrudis cattle at his Sedona and Crystal River ranches. Sedona Airport on Tabletop
Mountain? Jack and Helen Frye personally surveyed the location in the early 1940's finding it
suitable for an airstrip. However, in 1941 Jack Frye acquired another parcel of property near
Cornville, Arizona, and developed it into an landing field to be called Verde Valley Airport. This
became a local semi-private airport and was known locally as the Frye Ranch private airstrip.
A long time ago in a decidedly different time,
over the spires of Sedona, a silver airship climbed.
Banking, dropping, low to the ground,
Jack and Helen Frye had found their little town.
Property rugged, too rough to land,
they both vowed to return, as soon as they can.
Return they did, with maps in hand,
staking their claim, to this most beautiful land.
A vision, Jack and Helen willed, became the House of
Apache Fires, which took years to build.
On the Wings of the Wind, Jack and Helen Frye came,
Smoke Trail Ranch, they soon tamed.
These two celebrities, travelers from afar,
in the end- became Sedona's First Celebrity Stars!
Most Comprehensive Sedona Business-Services-Visitor-Information Website.
LINKS
Sedona Biz Internet Portal- with news, editorials and information you will
always be informed and intrigued. Please click to the left on the giant "S".
The Following Web Sites Have Linked Sedona Legend as a Courtesy-
Sedona Legend background music is provided by Elan Michaels. Please click on his purple logo
above. This Native American music is more than apropos when one considers that
Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. was born out of the deserts of the Southwestern United
States and this is where Jack and Helen Frye's hearts resided. From flights over ancient
pueblos and worn trails, utilized for thousands of years, TWA with Jack Frye's incredible vision
expanded to encompass the world! What a legacy! The tune used on this page is a copyrighted
Elan Michaels original titled, "Through Eagle Eyes". Thank you Elan for your generosity!
The Frye Ranch at Sedona Arizona? Only a
portion survives today as the 286-acre Red Rock
State Park and still remains one of the most
undeveloped parcels of Sedona. For information
on visiting this beautiful property click to the
left for the official Red Rock State Park Website.
Jack and Helen Frye's Poem
Photo shows Jack Frye at the
height of his TWA career, likely
about 1946. Courtesy of Jack's
sister Sunny Frye Thomas.
Written by Randall Reynolds
Administrator and Creator of Sedona Legend Helen Frye
Photo by Robby Robinson- (Frye L12A NC18137 Pilot.)
Helen Frye shown with her two nieces, Sharla and Sheryl
Reynolds at Clarksburg, West Virginia. Jack and Helen
had flown out there in Jack's private Lockheed 12A
Electra Jr. NC18137. Photo about 1942 or 1943.
Patrick Chateau's TWA CDG Website
Stunningly Beautiful Woman
"Welcome To Our World!"
Helen Frye, truly a remarkable woman, married Jack Frye
during the years in which TWA really matured as a world
airline. Jack had just brought his friend Howard Hughes
on line, after which, TWA enjoyed a seemingly endless
flow of capital. A time-period appropriately coined the
"Camelot Years of TWA" the beloved airline truly soared!
We are but mere actors in this pageantry called life
returning again and again to this planet called "Earth"