Rising Stars: Meet Katie Ellering of Tortilla Flat

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Ellering.

Hi Katie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been in hospitality for 20 years and graduated from ASU with a degree in Hospitality Management. I began serving in restaurants and then moved up to Management and then to Operations, Accounting, and HR. I was operating a large restaurant group in Mesa when I met the man I would spend my life with. Our good friend and business partner proposed looking at Tortilla Flat when it was for sale. At first, we had little interest, but now it has become our passion for ensuring that this area’s history is remembered, and we will continue to share that important history with people near and far!

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not a smooth road. We took over Tortilla Flat in September 2019. Three weeks and a day went by when the 100-year flood struck the Superstition Mountains, flooded some of our buildings, and took out the historic Apache Trail 9 miles past Tortilla Flat in the Fish Creek area. We then got into our first busy season, Spring, and COVID-19 put us all in survival mode, and our wonderful team came together, and we came out of it stronger than ever.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Our small, historic town, population 6, out in the middle of the Tonto National Forest, is fully self-sufficient except for the power we get from our local partners at SRP. We have our own fully operating water and sewer plants. I am the self-appointed Mayor of the town, and my job is to ensure this town stays operating so our guests can experience a part of Arizona history and uphold our commitment to our team by giving them a positive work environment that allows them to support their families all year round. We are known as the freight stop for all the supplies used to hand-build Roosevelt Dam in the early 1900s. After the dam was completed, people settled and stayed in this beautiful area. We are also known for our amazing killer chili and prickly pear gelato. Highway 88, also known as the Apache Trail, is one of Arizona’s most scenic drives and gets visitors worldwide. Arizona tourism began on the Apache Trail in the Superstition Mountains before the Grand Canyon became popular.

I am most proud of our community impact and seeing generations of families pass along traditions and stories of visiting this area. We are incredibly passionate about keeping our history alive and ensuring this historic part of Arizona lives on for all to experience. What sets us apart from others is the one-of-a-kind scenery the area offers and the family that is our team here at Tortilla Flat, multiple employees with decades of dedication to Tortilla Flat is like nothing I’ve ever seen.

Let’s end by discussing what matters most to you and why.
Getting locals, especially local kids, involved in the true history of the area and making sure the stories and legends live on for years to come. We are one of the few locations that are not a replica; we are a true historic sight, and without Tortilla Flat, Phoenix would not have developed without the Roosevelt Dam’s water sources.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tortillaflataz.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tortillaflataz_saloon/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TortillaFlatSaloon/