About Forest Lakes, AZ
The unincorporated Arizona community of Forest Lakes is situated in lower Coconino County within the boundaries of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Previously named Merzville, the area sprang up around mining claims filed in 1939 and 1940, with manganese the principal metal involved. When the U.S. government ceased to stockpile manganese in the early 1960s, the operations turned to light logging, and in 1964, a few building lots were laid out and sold. Utilities were installed, a homeowners' association formed, and the area slowly began to grow. By the year 2000, some 266 people were calling Forest Lakes home. Important businesses in Forest Lakes today include Ponderosa Resort on the Rim and Forest Lakes Real Estate. Education is under the jurisdiction of the Chevelon Butte School District, a "transportation district" which buses Forest Lakes students to school in Heber-Overgaard USD #6. The Forest Lakes area is rich in leisure-time attractions. For those seeking outdoor recreation, nearby Woods Canyon Lake offers five campgrounds of various sizes and proximities to the water. The area around the Mogollon Rim, which marks the limit of the Colorado Plateau, offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, fishing and more, while great cross-country skiing is also provided in this area courtesy of the Forest Lakes Touring Center. No fewer than six nearby lakes are close at hand for fishing and general nature loving, and the artisan community of Christopher Creek is just 13 miles east on Highway 260.
