SedonaTWA.com

Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA

The Frye Legacy

A Lifetime of Accomplishment

By Randall Reynolds

Brand New Website Which Visually Documents the Lives of Jack & Helen Frye

This is the ‘NEW’ Sedona Legend Helen Frye – the Camelot Years of TWA website, the original rendition launched in 2003 is no longer supported by host Yahoo GeoCities and has been discontinued. The original website will be rebuilt within these pages. The new revised overview title is now Sedona Frye TWA Story’ with world URL www.sedonatwa.com. This effort is managed and owned by Sedona Legend Publishing. 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, a showcase of treasured information and documentation. Sedona’s history with Transcontinental & Western Air (TWA) one of the world’s largest and most beloved airlines known as the ‘Airline to the Stars’ and how this association helped put Sedona Arizona on the map! Red Rock State Park known as a ‘Crown Jewel’ of the Arizona State Park system and 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 the original identity of the property will always be known as the Frye ‘Smoke Trail Ranch’ and the ‘TWA Ranch’ at Sedona’. 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 and the legendary couple who owned it!

This website serves to offer readers of the book ‘Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA’ with images that complement the biography. Photos were not included in the publication because of copywrite restrictions. An effort will be made to not include a lot of repetitive narrative on these pages as this can be found in the book. This website will be updated and refined as time allows, and as well, the layout will be improved in an easy to navigate format. This Entry Page features the Fryes at the onset of their relationship (as covered in the book). Please click the following link to purchase the Biography-Novel-Love-Story Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA available on Amazon in Soft Cover or Kindle. The presentation herein is best viewed on a Personal Computer.

Press image (below) was at the onset of Jack and Helen relationship at Camel Back Inn (Scottsdale Arizona) where they were married (however it must be noted the Fryes knew each other from the late 1930’s).

‘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!’ Quote from the Jack and Helen Story – the Camelot Years of TWA book.

Helen Varner Vanderbilt & TWA President Jack Frye shown in press photo arriving at DCA (Washington National Airport) Washington D.C. after their marriage at Scottsdale Arizona (January 10 1941). As we explore the onset of Jack and Helen Frye’s purchase of the Armijo – Schuerman Ranch properties of Sedona (1941) as detailed in the book Jack and Helen Story – the Camelot Years of TWA we explore a visual as explored on this page and subsequent pages of this site. The following images are the only known photographs captured within the first year of the Sedona Frye property ownership. These photos are paramount to the sedonatwa.com as this was the dawning of nearly 50-years of Jack and Helen’s association with a community which was just a few ranches and a crossroad at the onset. The following image of Jack and Helen Frye was taken by early Sedona ranch foreman Roy Kurtz. The couple was captured by Roy before he drove them to the Frye landing strip at Cornville Road and 89a (taken in 1941).

Image of Cathedral Rock below (1942) just 1 year after the Fryes bought their Sedona Ranch. The photo was captured in (1942) when TWA pilot Russell Robinson (on standby) was waiting for the President Frye to fly back to Kansas City. Co-pilot Pilot Robinson rented a biplane to pass the the time and flew over the magic unfoldoing of the Armijo Ranch (now Frye Deer-Lick Ranch) and the well-known megalith landmarks as seen (below). Robby (as Helen called him) was spell-struck in viewing the magnificence of the Red Rock Valley as it unfolded beneath him in 1942. Sedona was no more than a crossroads at the time from Phoenix to Flagstaff up 89a through Oak Creek Canyon. At that Jack and Helen Frye would have never discovered the Sedona acreage if not for Jack’s private Lockheed Electra 12A, a luxury few had at the time. On an aside Jack’s Lockheed was the smaller version of Amelia Earhart’s 10E used to fly around the world. The ranch was discovered by air and the nearest landing was the full service airport at Prescott Arizona. Let there be no confusion, this Lockheed Electra 12A was Jack Frye’s executive plane, as TWA President Frye, Jack utilized it back and forth across our nation in management of TWA.

Red Rock Country of Sedona as seen from the air in 1942 taken by TWA pilot Russell Robinson. This view is same which Jack and Helen Frye observed in early 1941. They found it so enthralling they soon after purchased the first parcel of property which was to become the Sedona TWA ranch. Robby Robinson, co-pilot of the Lockheed 12A, captured this image. That said, at the same time frame Jack Frye allowed Robby to fly the 12A down to Phoenix, solo, where he had it serviced at TWA. A daunting task to be sure according to this co-pilot who said the plane was a marvel of transport (1942).

Frye’s Executive Plane NC18137 seen at Clemenceau Airfield (Cottonwood Arizona). Both images (color and black & white) were taken in 1942 during a visit by the Fryes to their newly purchased Sedona Ranch. This visit, one of many, were with co-pilot Robinson (who took the color image). The men shown in the black and white image were part of Jack’s involvement with the Arizona Civilian Pilot Training program. To this end Jack had already purchased (or leased) the property at the junction of Cornville Road and 89A for use as a private landing strip to land his 12A, and later Lockheed Lodestar 18. The Arizona Civilian Pilot Training celebration took place at Jack Frye’s newly graded airstrip.

As covered by local media Frye’s private landing strip and airport near Sedona is dedicated on this warm October day. Christened the ‘Verde Valley Airport’ this event is attended by 200 officials and locals. Verde Valley residents are most excited to attend so they can hear the valley’s newest and most well-connected resident Jack Frye as guest speaker, and meet his glamorous wife Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye. Jack Frye is not only one of the best pilots in the nation, but as well, a national aviation celebrity featured in newspapers and media copy regularly. Speaking before the crowd Jack expounds on the future of Verde Valley aviation and TWA with enthusiasm. Afterwards Jack generously transports local aviation officials on flights over the airport in his ‘private Lockheed plane’ as a newspaper writer coins it. These promo flights are reminiscent of Jack’s visit to Prescott in 1927 (14 years earlier). Jack always shared his accomplishments so it was only logical for him to open his private airstrip for public use and the Army for a training field. Sedona had yet to develop an airport so any landing field nearby was a boon for the community which was forced to fly in and out of Clemenceau Airport at Cottonwood, Phoenix Sky Harbor TWA at Phoenix, Koch Field at Flagstaff, and the Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. full service terminal at Winslow Arizona. Many times the Fryes when traveling by TWA airliner asked ranch hands pick them up at Winslow after westbound or eastbound flights. Interestingly Jack Frye bought his property in the Verde Valley at the onset of 1941, and by October of 1941, he had already graded his property at 89A and Cornville Road as a private airstrip capable of landing his twin engine TWA Lockheed Electra 12A. One old timer in Sedona related to me he remembered the Fryes flying in and out of the Frye airstrip, he further stated, Jack’s Lockheed could be seen for miles parked out in the desert, it’s refelection brilliant as reflected by the hot Arizona sun. Research has not determined whether this property was leased or owned. Indepth images as to this Lockheed will be explored more indepth on TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Electra 12A.

President of TWA Jack Frye (1930-1947) and his wife Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye with V.I.P. guests aside his Lockheed Lodestar at Washington D.C. There’s a reason Helen Frye was known as ‘Mrs. TWA’! Talk about class, she was the face of elegance and poise, as Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, and later Mrs. Jack Frye. On Constellation flights back and forth across the nation Helen often assisted TWA Hostesses in serving passengers (and entertaining) while Jack served as captian with his flight crew (1946).

Seen (right to left) Irma Protzmann Hannegan (wife of Robert Hannegan, U.S. Postmaster General & Chairman of Democratic National Committee), Kathryn Murphy Nunan (wife of Joseph D. Nunan Jr. Internal Revenue Commissioner), President of TWA Jack Frye & wife Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye. Frye TWA Private Hostess (Attendant Stewardess) Harriet Appelwick is seen in doorway, others are unknown. The lady next to Helen, though, is thought to be an emissary-diplomat for a country which Frye was trying to secure TWA routes from. Image was taken at the deplaning of a flight with Jack and Helen Frye, the aircraft shown is Frye’s Private TWA Lockheed Lodestar NC33604. The location was Washington D.C. (Washington National Airport) DCA. The circumstances are not known, however, another flight close to this timeframe was in connection with a Democratic junket (vacation) the Frye’s took to Florida with Robert Hannegan (Chairman of the Democratic National Committee) and his wife Irma. The passengers shown are some of the most politically connected of the Roosevelt administration, Jack too was one of the most powerful men of the Democratic Party in the 1940’s and 1950’s (Roosevelt and Truman administrations). Jack was even asked to run for President of the United States (according to his daughter) in the 1950’s. Another interesting note on Jack and Helen Frye were they were invited to White House dinners several times. As testament to this, Helen was endeared to President Roosevelt when he would feed his terrier Fala from the table. Helen was a animal lover and even helped found the Sedona Humane Society! Also it was said Jack Frye was the only White House intimate who was allowed access to the Oval Office day or night! The Lodestar could board 14-passengers with 3-crew members (1945). The image cited was originally a Reni News Photo but appears copyright has not been updated or renewed to our current time frame of 2025. Therefore the image is displayed in accordance with fair use practice and thought to be ‘public domain’. The image is displayed as historically significant and in a manner which does not generate profit, any infringement on the copyright of said is not intentional. On file at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. Truman Library image(s) hold specialized copyrights & usage fees –paid by Sedona Legend.

As stated earlier my purpose of this website is not to repeat narrative found in my novel ‘the Jack and Helen Frye Story’ but rather provide readers with images and information not available in this publication.

To purchase my Biography-Novel-Love Story (shown above) please click the following link Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA available on Amazon in Softcover or Kindle.

Helen Frye shown at the Armijo Ranch, re-named by the Frye’s ‘Deer-Lick Ranch’ this image was captured in 1941 or 42. Helen & Jack experienced the birth of Sedona as we know it today.

Jack and Helen Frye at the Frye Ranch mid-1940’s, thought to have been taken by Howard Hughes, narrative in the book. Welcome to the world of Jack & Helen Frye and Sedona TWA!

The Sedona Legend Web Site is a copyrighted historical photo enhanced narrative presented for educational and entertainment purposes, some materials may be displayed in regard to the United States Fair Use Act. Sedona Legend was envisioned and created to provide Red Rock State Park visitors with a comprehensive historic overview of the Jack and Helen Frye Deer-Lick and Smoke Trail Ranches. 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.

Sedona Legend is encouraged by the many friends of Jack and Helen Frye and was in fact launched at Red Rock State Park when volunteering for (two) 6-month sojourns, this presentation is not a disconnected effort. A gracious thank you to the Frye and Varner families for invaluable support and Red Rock State Park staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm, also thanks to the TWA Museum at Kansas City for their dedication to Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. (Trans World Airlines).

Formerly this effort was called Sedona Legend Helen Frye (the Jack & Helen Frye Story)

Order the Biography-Novel on Amazon ‘Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA’

Sedona TWA Online Presentations:

Sedona Legend Entry Page

Standard Airlines – Aero Corporation 1920’s

Western Air Express

Transcontinental & Western Air TWA 1930’s

Transcontinental & Western Air TWA 1940’s

TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Electra 12A

TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Electra 12A Robinson

TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Lodestar 18

TWA Frye Executive Mansion Washington D.C.