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Broken Promises
and Opportunists |
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The Ownership Transition History of
Jack and Helen Frye's TWA Get-A-Way: Smoke Trail Ranch
Now- Red Rock State Park
@ Sedona Arizona |
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| Jack and Helen Frye started buying up property that was to become Smoke Trail Ranch in late spring of 1941. Eventually with land parcel purchases, and National Forest Service, land trades, the total tract of land encompassed over 700 acres and several miles of river front adjoining Oak creek. This property included Deer Lick Ranch or what is now called Cross Creek Ranch, and what is now known as Cup of Gold Estates. Jack and Helen resided at Deer Lick Ranch until fall of 1941 or so, after which point they resided primarily at the "Willow House," at the adjoining Smoke Trail Ranch. |
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| In 1947, Jack and Helen decided to sell Deer Lick Ranch, encompassing approximately 120 acres. This is the same year Jack resigned from TWA. The sale price totalled $10,000.00 more than the original ranch property purchase. This sale was in part to generate funds for the construction project of the House of Apache Fires. Jack Frye wanted the property to support itself as he did all his and Helen's ranch properties. Jack was quoted in a publication at this time period saying he and Helen owned over 50,000 acres of ranch property in Arizona alone. This included two other much larger Arizona ranches. |
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| In 1946, construction on the House of Apache Fires was executed and continued until the spring of 1950, but the project was never completed. To this day it appears to exist as an unfinished shell of broken dreams, however this is somewhat of an illusion. Jack and Helen Frye moved from the Willow House up to the Apache Fires house in mid 1948. Around 1950, Walter and Betty Duncan, the new ranch foreman and his wife, resided at the Willow House predominately for the next 30 years. |
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| On June 27, 1950, William John Frye and Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye were divorced. As part of the divorce settlement Jack agreed to give Helen sole ownership of Smoke Trail Ranch and with it the Apache Fires house. Construction on the new house was brought to a stand still. It was stated in the divorce decree that if Helen ever desired to sell the Apache Fires house and received an offer, Jack would have first option of purchase at the "offer" amount. Helen continued to live full-time at the Apache Fires house until about fall of 1962. |
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| In 1954, Helen Frye and Nassan Gobran, as her business partner, decided to develop a portion of Smoke Trail Ranch. Helen decided to call the new development: "Cup d' Oro." A girlfriend of Helen's created the name. The first home built at "Cup of Gold" was completed in 1955 and named "Cradle of the Sun." This area aptly named, is now peppered with palatial multi-million dollar homes many with spacious waterfront access. The housing development is one of the most spectacularly beautiful in all of Sedona. It sits high above the green ribbon of Oak creek, adjoining the House of Apache Fires and Smoke Trail Ranch. |
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| In 1955, Helen Frye took a white can of paint up to the roof-patio area of the House of Apache Fires. With a broom she scrawled "FOR SALE" in letters she hoped were large enough for airplanes to read. These letters are apparent in old photographs. The area was still very remote, and the house did not sell. |
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| In 1957, Helen agreed to develop a small portion of the ranch into an art center. This was the birth of "Canyon Kiva" the predecessor of the Sedona Arts Center. Helen Frye received $8,000.00 down payment from an associate, Nassan Gobran. The sale was to include the House of Apache Fires and a parcel of land adjoining it totaling 10 acres. Helen Frye was allowed to continue to occupy the upstairs portion (studio) of her House of Apache Fires. The Apache Fires house was a convenient and easily accessed remote art center for the Verde Valley School on Verde Valley School Road, as well. Helen, an artist herself, used the 2nd story section of the House of Apache Fires as her art studio and often resided there. |
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| Later in 1961, Nassan Gobran was unable to financially fulfill his agreement with Helen. Gobran wanted to bring in additional investors, however an impasse' ensued. Nassan Gobran, the investors, and Helen Frye disagreed on the creative direction of the new art center. A lack of investment funds appears to be the ultimate reason the partnership was then dissolved. Nassan Gobran sued Helen in order to recover a portion of the improvement investments he executed within the House of Apache Fires. Eventually Helen and her attorneys settled with Nassan in court. Gobran was out, and Helen again retained full ownership of Smoke Trail Ranch and House of Apache Fires. Helen and Nassan eventually continued a friendship of sorts. |
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| In 1961, Helen started building a new home high on a ridge above Smoke Trail Ranch. She named her new estate Wings of the Wind. The name was determined, Helen conveyed, in regard to the birds that soar on the thermals outside the huge picture windows. The house was completed at the end of 1962. Some of the adjoining land was developed by Helen as well, now it is called Smoke Trail Ranch Estates. Various other pieces of land were sold by Helen through the years, but the core of the ranch was diligently kept intact. |
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| In August 1973, after many persistent offers of commercial entities desiring to purchase and develop her property, Helen negotiated with two companies that she felt would fulfill her stringent guidelines. The companies were Turco Enterprises Inc. and Development Sales Corporation. Helen's attorneys drew up an agreement of sale for 306 acres; however 32 acres, to include her present home, Wings of the Wind, which is currently a part of Smoke Trail Ranch Estates, was not included as part of the sale. |
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| Once again this developer was unable to follow through with the development of the property, cited "lack of funds." The name of the development was to be called The Resort on Oak Creek. Helen became alarmed at the uncertain direction the development was headed. Through her attorneys she attempted to re-purchase the property. The developer refused her offer and negotiations were stalled. Helen was desperate to regain control of the property so she could protect and preserve it from future unscrupulous developers. |
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| During this time period Helen Frye executed an unprecedented act of generosity. She and her attorneys had a "Gift Deed" drawn up. This deed enabled Helen to give her estate, Wings of the Wind and the adjoining 32 acres to an esoteric group of which she became associated with in about 1969. This gift deed was recorded on February 19, 1976. At this time the ownership of Wings of the Wind estate changed. Helen Frye was no longer the legal owner of her own home. However, Helen was legally entitled to the occupation of the said property for the remainder of her life, thus creating in essence, a "life estate." Helen, ONLY intiated this move because she wished that her Wings of the Wind estate would be developed into a "spiritual center." |
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| Helen and her attorneys devised a plan to repurchase the property known as Smoke Trail Ranch from the insolvent developer. This plan entailed funding the purchase through the esoteric group. A price was negotiated at $1.2 million. The group was not able to raise more than $400,000.00, so Helen agreed to give them the other $800,000.00. An offer was made to the developer and a sale was recorded on August 23, 1976. Again Helen's monetary strength secured the property from a questionable future. |
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| In return for Helen's bankrolling the 306 acre property, the group agreed to develop the ranch into a retreat with minimal alteration of the pristine state of the parcel. They also agreed to NOT sell the property at ANY time in the future. In regard to the development of Smoke Trail Ranch and the renovation of the House of Apache Fires, Helen generously continued to disburse her own personal funds. |
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| In July 1979, a major rift developed between Helen and a person she had befriended. This person was a member of the esoteric group, and also a business manager-platonic companion of sorts, to Helen. The disagreement so alarmed Helen that it is rumored she destroyed a Will that bequeathed the bulk of her estate to this person. At this same time on July 13, 1979, Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye had a new Will executed. In this new Will, Helen showed a desire to leave approximately two thirds her estate to the esoteric group she had become involved with. This bequeathed amount was meant to provide continued financial aid to the organization for the development and preservation of Smoke Trail Ranch after Helen's death. Because Helen had no children this seemed a viable and reasonable arrangement in her eyes. A partial amount of the remaining 1/3 of her estate was to provide for a lady that had been her and Jack's housekeeper and adopted daughter (not legally), her former ranch foreman and wife, several other friends, the Sedona Humane Society, and a sister. Various other acquaintances were mentioned as well. A copy of this Will was obtained at the time by representatives of the group. |
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| Circumstances started to take a distinctive and ominous direction since Helen Vanderbilt Frye first desired to help the esoteric group financially. Smoke Trail Ranch and the House of Apache Fires, was offered to this esoteric organization with the specific stipulation it would be used for a spiritual retreat, and developed with respect for the natural and pristine state of the land and most importantly not sold. Helen learned that a sale was indeed being considered by the leaders of the group. They claimed insufficient funds in regard to the project, and indicated an intent to not follow through on their original agreement. It appears that Helen at this point again moved to repurchase the property. She was refused however, and a resolution was not reached. It is said, the group at this time was undergoing an internal melt-down at the Sedona location. Documents were submitted to the organization that indicated many sacred doctrines of the group were plagiarized and "lifted," shall we say. (I have researched the origins of the group and feel there is validity to this claim). This caused controversy, and Helen was understandably alarmed, the Sedona group was said at that time to split off. |
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| At the same time, it is said by some close to Helen, but not validated, the leadership of the esoteric organization was trying to discredit and minimize Helen's "official" involvement with the group. This upset Helen deeply as she had become the "unofficial" den mother of the group at her ranch. Not to mention her unprecedented generosity with the group. A major rift developed at this time between the two parties. At this time Helen's business manager-companion was rumored to have split with the group as well. When Helen was in New Orleans she heard that the group desired to sell Wings of the Wind as well. Helen immediately notified the leadership of an intent to buy back her Wings of the Wind estate. She was refused abruptly and told they had no intention of selling. Per a neighbor, but undocumented, around this time Helen was thrown out of her home Wings of the Wind, by the organization, and for a time lived out in the Village of Oak Creek at her incompleted new showplace home called Sky Fires, as she had no where else to go. |
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| Smoke and mirrors, shadows and fog.......An ominous cloud decended on Jack and Helen Frye's Smoke Trail Ranch. The association with the esoteric group was becoming a lose-lose situation for Helen. At this point in her life she was vulnerable. A wealthy older woman, Helen was kind, generous and trusting. It became apparent after talking to her long-term friends, that they felt she was isolated and vulnerable on her ranch. Several conveyed that she became an easy mark and was taken advantage of considerably by those that surrounded her. It appears that Helen was in way over her head........... |
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| By fall of 1979, Helen found herself drained and physically exhausted, later it was determined she had terminal cancer. It has been said, that during this time "Helen Frye" supposedly destroyed her recently drawn up Will of July 1979, because she was unhappy with the management of her ranch by the esoteric group. At this time she made a new Will and called the person that was the beneficiary clarifying her actions. No one will ever know what really transpired during this murky time period, except that this Will too, disappeared, and only a copy remained of the previous Will. It was too late for Helen Frye though, as she succumbed to cancer on December 4th, 1979. |
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| Helen Frye's Last Will and Testament was not found in her Wings of the Wind "safe," (this safe was installed by the esoteric group for her use.) The Will was not located in the bank vault, her personal files, or anywhere else for that matter. The family wasn't the only party seeking the Will, however. The leadership of the esoteric group made a rather concentrated and aggressive search of their own. A representative of the group entered the locked Wings of the Wind house after Helen died, through a bathroom window, and searched the building. (This was discussed in court documents. However it must be stated that at this time the group "DID" legally own the house. Helen had given them title to it before she died. However, they did not have access during the time the court was investigating her estate, and Helen had total access before she died.) A gray area, one might surmise. Her former companion, and family had access for the interim until the property settlement was ironed out. |
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| The transfer of (Wings of the Wind to the esoteric group) was just one of the transactions the court was very interested in. During the search certain items were removed that belonged to Helen's estate. Helen's safe deposit box was searched as well, by the leadership of the group. (Here again, Helen had put the name of the leader of the group as a signer on the safe deposit box at some point. This is why the bank allowed access to the vault.) On New Year's Eve 1979, Helen's former business manager-companion, a member of the group, or it appears perhaps ex-member by this time, was living at the Wings of the Wind estate as a caretaker of sorts. This residency was with permission of the family and the group. However, representatives of the group showed up at the door on New Years Eve 1979, and requested this person vacate the premises. Why? It isn't hard to surmise, when one reviews the court documents. From that point this person lived at the Sky Fires house for the next three years. |
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| After Helen Vanderbilt Frye's death a very sensational and public court battle ensued. In the opulent community of Sedona, residents were shocked and horrified. "Fleecing of the wealthy" and "scandal" were now the main topics of conversation. Sedona had reason to be alarmed, Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye was one of the community's most prominent and well connected residents. Not to mention one of the most affluent. After all, she had not only been married to Cornelius Vanderbilt, but as well to the famous aviator legend Jack Frye, founder and long-time president of TWA. Yes, there are those that said Helen became increasingly eccentric as she got older, but isn't that true of most wealthy celebrities? Many just like her lived in the hills of Sedona, wealthy retired movie stars, celebrities, and corporate heads. Were other residents vulnerable to this type of situation? The scandal rolled like thunder throughout the wealthy ennclaves of the southwest, from Beverly Hills to New York City- the details were discussed. Helen Vanderbilt Frye was VERY well connected and had affluent influencial friends all over the country. Subsequently, this incident did much to turn people off on the New Age Movement in Sedona and justifiably so. |
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| In the Superior Court of Yavapai County, the esoteric group produced their copy of "a" Will. However, a copy of a Will is not a legal document and is not admissable in a court of law. Legally they were trying to show Helen's intent one might conclude. Burden of proof was then back on the side of the family. Court testimony shows that the esoteric group entertained a variety of tactics to try to gain control of Helen's estate. In part, tape recorded conversations made clear these allegations in the eyes of the the court. As a matter of fact, it appears these secret recorded conversations are the factor that turned the tide of the entire court case. As the battle played out in the newspapers, radio and television networks, Helen's family and friends testified that Helen became "disenchanted" with the group, and at that time destroyed the original Will. Other testimony indicated Helen felt up until the moment she died that there WAS a valid Will properly secured. A court order was issued that stated that the group was to immediately surrender to the court everything that was removed from the Wings of the Wind estate when they entered it after Helen died. Anything that was not returned, the court would order a judgement that the organization would pay double the values in penalties. What was the reason for the court's action? Simply, the transfer of Helen Frye's personal property was under legal litigation by the court, and no one was to take possession of anything. |
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| To clarify this complicated litigation: |
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| The court case WAS NOT over Smoke Trail Ranch or the Wings of the Wind estate. The esoteric group had already secured title and control of these properties before Helen died. (Although the circumstances in which these properties were transfered was discussed at length in the court room.) The court battle was in regard to what was left of Helen's estate. It was the family, (Helen's heirs) on one side, and the esoteric group, on the other side that were the parties fighting for the holdings. Both litigants had much to lose if they did not win the case. It is rare for a probate case to be decided by a jury, this indicates the court may have been looking for deception, fraud and ambiguity. My comment is such: Helen Varner Frye was a very savvy and shrewd business woman. It is highly unlikely that Helen, so ill, would have destroyed a Will and not executed a new one immediately. Testimony in court revealed Helen Frye was always changing her Will. Yet during the time she was dying two conflicting stories surfaced. First story: Helen was urged to change her Will and disinherit the esoteric group. Another version: Helen was never questioned about her Will, and it was not discussed. Helen, in my opinion, would not knowingly die without a Will as she had too many assets. Testimony conveyed she was of sound mind up until the last moments of her life. Reading through the testimony it is blantantly apparent that Helen most likely felt there was a valid Will. So who found and destroyed the last Will, and why? Is it true it was burned, with no witnesses? What was to be gained by a person or persons if the Will was never found? This is the real mystery of Helen's death. |
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| After a period of 10 months the court finally came to a decision. It was determined that no valid Will existed at the time of Helen Varner Frye's death. The advisory jury was not able to conclude if someone had intentionally destroyed the Will, other than Helen Frye. Therefore, the Superior Court of Yavapai County determined the original Will had not been fraudulently destroyed. A ruling was handed down to award the entire estate to the surviving heirs: Helen Varner Frye's twin sisters. Reading through the volumes of court documents, obstruction of justice certainly comes to mind. However, the court was not able to prove "obstruction of justice" conclusively. This is the real clincher of the case. |
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As for how much money was extracted from Helen during her association with the esoteric group? Roughly it culminates to something like this:
(although an accurate accounting will obviously never be possible) |
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| There is the original $800,000.00 Helen gave the esoteric group to help purchase Smoke Trail Ranch. Then it was allegedly discovered after Helen died, that (9) $100,000.00 checks were given to the leader of the group, as well as allegedly another (promissory note) for $500,000.00 to the same person, this cannot be verified, of course. In court documents, references of Helen giving hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash is mentioned. One specific case was a lump sum of 200 thousand dollars given to the group and allegedly used as a down payment on their Menlo Park headquarters. Supposedly Nassan Gobran and Helen Frye delivered the money in cash to Las Vegas personally to a representative of the group. It was said that Helen expected repayment on at least part of these disbursements. Helen deeded the group a parcel of land called the "Triangle." It was Helen's intent that if they needed to generate money for renovations at the ranch they could sell this land for approximately a 100 thousand dollars. Other gifts? The Wings of the Wind estate was worth close to half a million dollars. Money flowed out of Helen's hands almost as fast as Oak Creek flowed through her ranch. When Helen died, according to newspaper accounts, her estate had an estimated value of $200,000.00 to $500,000.00. Court documents do not reflect the actual values of the assets however, and the estate likely was worth much more. Interested parties are encouraged to follow-up on their own. All documents are a matter of public record with the Yavapai County Assessors Office and Yavapai County Superior Court. Be prepared to spend a couple days sorting through the copius amounts of material. |
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| In about 1980 or 1981, the the esoteric group leadership in a blatant act of disrespect, defied Helen's dying wishes and sought to sell Smoke Trail Ranch. To try to simplify this: through a series of complicated land trades, the property left the hands of the group and was eventually sold to Anamax Mining Company. They in turn traded the land to the State of Arizona for several parcels of land near the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona. Valuation of properties on each side of the exchange was approximately 5 million dollars conservatively. Finally the property was in the hands of the State of Arizona, and secured. Eventually it became a state park. Bruce Edward Babbitt, Arizona State Attorney General, Governor of Arizona and later United States Secretary of the Interior, was the driving force that resulted in Smoke Trail Ranch becoming Red Rock State Park. It must be noted that Helen was an intimate friend of the Babbitt family. |
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Somewhere around this time period that the esoteric group moved its headquarters back east to Minnesota, it is said to escape unfavorable local press. However the group retained ownership of Wings of the Wind estate and the adjoining 32 acres.
The Wings of the Wind estate and acreage was eventually sold by the group in 1993(?) for it is thought certainly more than a million dollars. They were no longer associated with Smoke Trail Ranch, much to the relief of the people of Sedona. The property is worth about 3.5 million today.
Smoke Trail Ranch became Red Rock State Park and under the thoughtful direction of the Arizona State Park Service, the property has been developed wisely. It has now become the "Crown Jewel" of the Arizona Park system. |
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Wings of the Wind estate is now owned by a private party and resides on a parcel of 12.88 acres. The adjoining land has been sold off and developed as the now, Smoke Trail Ranch Estates. (A spinoff of the development Helen Frye initiated before she died.) No part of the Wings of the Wind estate is accessable or open to the public.
Now that Helen and Jack are gone from this world it is assumed that they are pleased with the present state of "their" Smoke Trail Ranch. However, the chain of events that occured before Arizona State Parks assumed ownership is a tragedy. It is interesting to note, that if Jack and Helen Frye had remained married and their entire ranch had remained intact, it would now be worth about 300 million dollars. |
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| Certainly broken promises, manipulation, and betrayal caused Helen Frye undeserved heartache and misery at a time when she was fighting for her life against terminal cancer. As for Helen's desire to preserve Smoke Trail Ranch? This quest cost her dearly, financially and emotionally. However, in the end this parcel of land was not successfully divided or destroyed, herein is the real legacy of Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye. It is desired by Sedona, that this beautiful piece of property survive intact for present and future generations to love and enjoy as Helen Varner Frye so richly desired. Can anyone not be thankful for her generosity and sacrifices? |
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| As for the Legacy of Jack and Helen Frye? It all started with the over-flight in a Lockheed Electra 12A of a beautiful and magical parcel of land, unmatched in beauty and virtually untouched by man. Beginning as a beloved ranch; a TWA "get-a-way" property, and later as Helen Frye's virtual identity, making her a local legend, it ended up as one of the Southwest's most pristine and coveted state parks. Smoke Trail Ranch, now as Red Rock State Park, is enjoyed by people from all over the world, preserved for posterity's sake. Jack and Helen Frye cannot ever be forgotten for the contributions they made to this property that enabled it to become what it has today! |
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Footnotes:
This page constantly changes as I locate new facts, and change obvious errors. So many people surrounded Helen in her last days, but how many of these people were truly her friends? Helen's wealth, generosity and kindness to those who surrounded her was legendary. A most remarkable woman, way ahead of her time, she was truly a free spirit. Helen yearned for a legacy- a foundation, not for herself, but to help others find God's spirit in their hearts. She loved the Native American Indians, especially the Hopis, and she and Jack especially loved "their" Sedona! |
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| Facts and figures for this Web Page, have been gathered from information readily available at the Yavapai County Court House. The filed Probate Proceedings of Helen Varner Frye are of "Public Record." These court documents belong to the people of Arizona. That means "You and I." Full disclosure of all unsealed documents, (there are no sealed documents in this case,) legally must be made available by the Yavapai County Court House of the State of Arizona to the public, or people like myself, a resident of Arizona, and a citizen of the United States. The actual names of the parties involved in the documents have been left off this page. Not because legally I am obligated to do so, but because this Web Page is a cronological history, not an expose'. I have no desire to identify individuals personally involved. The names of all parties are readily available at the Yavapai County Court House to anyone that wishes to research the information. |
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Closure?
Unfortunately there will never be closure. Dishonor seems to be prevelant in our world when it comes to probate and money. How do I feel about this page as it reflects incidents at the end of Helen Frye's life? One word: "grieved." Certainly, as well, I feel very sorry for Helen. This sentiment I share with so many of Helen's associates that I have interviewed personally. For the first six months of this Web Page I tried to gloss over the complications and shadow at the end of Helen's life. I became as guilty as many others in this regard. Friends and strangers had all heard "it", and when interveiwed they would become quiet and whisper, "you know, that 'esoteric group' scandal." Oh yes I was aware of the story but not all the facts until recently. Why have I not addressed it before? Simply because I was afraid it would reflect unfavorably on this remarkable woman. This is not what Helen would desire to be remembered for this I knew. But yet, this is exactly what has happened. This story has been the subject of common community gossip in Sedona for over 30 years. Many have come to me and asked that I try to decifer what really happened at the end of her life. At first I resisted, but finally with a heavy heart I decided to take the plunge. Sadly it is a sordid tale. Did Helen know in her heart at the time of her death that she had been betrayed and misled? Very likely! It is obvious there were many sheep at her door and in her home, wolves in sheep's skins that is! Shame on them all, reminds one of the Doris Duke saga. |
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In regard to the "group," several of her friends say she was very disillusioned with the leadership at the end and wanted her property back. However in regard to religion, Helen had her own firm beliefs in the hereafter, I doubt that this experience affected her faith. Helen was an innocent pawn in my opinion, specifically sought out......drafted......and cultivated for her money and generosity. Totally used and taken in. Interested parties can read the court testimony for clarification of their own.
This page is for Helen Frye and her fan club, the people who truly respected and loved her. Not to forget the many innocent people that came to Sedona and got caught up in an esoteric group that shattered their lives. This last summer I had occassion to meet some of these people- visitors to Red Rock State Park. They were there at the ranch in the late 1970's, and felt Helen Frye had been dealt a great injustice. |
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