The History of the Country Fair White Elephant
This valley along the Santa Cruz River, with the Santa Ritas to the east and the Serritas to the west, appeared to be the ideal location for the Maxon brothers, along with their partners Lee Chilcote and Charley French, to build a retirement community. By the end of 1963, they had built 1000 apartments along La Cañada as well as a recreation center (now East Center), a medical center and the first buildings of a mall, (now Green Valley Village).
A small group of community leaders, chaired by the local wrangler, Budd Stout, and including Tebone Hohler, looking for a way to promote good fellowship and provide a means for residents to get better acquainted, organized a country fair to be held in October 1964.
Enter the White Elephant! To offset some of the expense of the fair, 16 women, chaired by Lee Raney, decided to hold a White Elephant sale at the recreation center. As oft repeated, this sale was considered a success with $146.20 in profit.
In succeeding years the White Elephant sale continued to grow both in money raised and in items donated for the event. In the 1970’s, two apartments were made available to price and store things that were then transported to the recreation center during the fair. Sometimes there were as many as 1000 people waiting in line for the annual sale to open.
In 1980, 16 years after the first White Elephant sale, the Country Fair Board leased land from Pima County in the Government Center to build a store to be open year-round. Don Davis was president of the Country Fair Board that year. Don and his wife, Alice, are familiar names to our older volunteers.
The 3000 square foot building was ready for business in June of 1981. The White Elephant was open every day from 10:00 – 12:00. Jere Hunter was the General Manager assisted by Dorothy Clifton, LaVera Diercks and Maryann Morrison. There were an additional 20 volunteers; many working 20-25 hours weekly. During the fair, merchandise was again transported to East Center for the White Elephant sale.
In 1990, the Country Fair Board became the Country Fair White Elephant Board. This board would be responsible for the store and parade; the malls would assume responsibility for the balance of the fair.
The first building was remodeled and expanded five times until the White Elephant now occupies 34,400 square feet. It has gone green with a dedicated recycling program; solar panels on the roof supply electricity for the building. The White Elephant donates hundreds of boxes of useable, but not salable, merchandise to various organizations every month and sells items on both eBay and craigslist.
The 16 volunteers who held the first sale has grown to approximately 636 with paid staff consisting of a General Manager, a Manager of Facilities, an Office Coordinator and a Custodian. The store hours are now Monday through Saturday from 9:00 – noon. The 1964 sales were $146.20. Today, after expenses, it is estimated that approximately $30,000,000 has been distributed to worthy organizations, non profits, and schools in this area. Many young people have gone on to successful careers after earning an education with scholarship from the Hollace G. Roberts Educational Foundation, Inc. (HGR) that is funded by the White Elephant. In 2016 the Board changed the name to the Country Fair White Elephant Scholarship Foundation to properly reflect the White Elephant’s contribution.
In addition to the tangible benefits the White Elephant provides to this community, it is an avenue for volunteers (mostly senior citizens), to make new friends, have fun and use still valuable skills. Another unanticipated benefit – some customers report a daily visit to the White Elephant is the primary source of their social life.
Imagine the astonishment of those 1964 Green Valley pioneers upon seeing the White Elephant today and a retirement community of nearly 30,000 nestled between the mountains along the Santa Cruz River.
More of the History of The Country Fair White Elephant :
Written by Maureen McCarthy, CFWE Historian
Anyone who lives in or visits Southern Arizona boasts about the White Elephant! It is often described as a tourist destination for having the greatest selection of gently used m
erchandise at the lowest prices. It even is a haven for resellers who make a living selling products they purchase at the store.
Shoppers looking for the best bargains in clothing, shoes, furniture, household items, linens, toys, holiday decorations, electronics, books, sporting goods, patio items and so much more can find them at the White Elephant. Everything is donated, tax-deductible and all proceeds go directly to the local community.
Since its inception in 1964, the Country Fair White Elephant has experienced many milestone events and transitions. The year 2025 has been no exception.
Beginning in January, Chris Cota took over the reins as the Thrift Store’s General Manager, and Manny Jacques became its Facility Manager. Also, for the first time ever, two full-time truck department employees were hired to assist volunteers in picking up and delivering furniture and large appliances, which immediately increased store revenue.
In addition, beginning this summer, store sales escalated due to the newly installed in-store Boutique Department, making new and higher-end products available throughout the year. Previously, these items were sold only during recent special events twice a year and at the “Midnight Madness Green Valley Style” sale which was conducted annually beginning in 2004 and ending in 2021 when the Board voted to discontinue the White Elephant Parade due to Pima County’s Health Department regulations and higher costs.
“It is so encouraging to see all our dedicated volunteers and store management working together to make possible our mission of contributing to the Green Valley, Sahuarita and Southern Arizona communities,” said Jim Luhring, 2025 Board Vice President. Jim will succeed Tom Cooke next year as Board President.
Over the years, the White Elephant has donated more than $36 million to local youth groups, school districts, adult and child assistance programs, volunteer fire departments and hundreds of thousands in scholarships for local students.
Additionally, the White Elephant donates hundreds of boxes of usable but not salable, merchandise to various organizations every month.
In retrospect, there was no way the small group of community leaders in 1964 could predict how their first sale and fair would successfully evolve over the next 61 years! The $146.20 they earned was donated to the Friends of the Library to purchase a typewriter and table and chairs. They accomplished their primary goals to promote good fellowship and to provide a means for local residents to get better acquainted. In doing so, they created a legacy!
In 1980, the Country Fair Board leased land from Pima County in the Government Center at 601 N. La Canada Drive to build a 3,000 square foot year-round store that opened for business the following year. The first building was remodeled and expanded five times.
The current White Elephant Thrift Store was completed, and a Grand Opening was held on October 7, 2009. It occupies 34,400 square feet including 17,200 square feet of new space and 17,200 square feet of remodeled space. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to noon and has gone “green” with a dedicated recycling program and solar panels on the roof to supply electricity for the building. The successful history of the White Elephant would not be possible without the continuing and much appreciated help of donors, shoppers and volunteers. With their support, the White Elephant has grown step by step, year after year, into a favorite place to make friends, to donate and recycle items, and to go shopping without “breaking the bank.”
When the White Elephant prospers, the community prospers. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, the White Elephant continues its long history of serving Southern Arizona!