Experience our nation’s national parks, at least the western sector, without venturing too far from home. The Western National Parks Association’s National Parks Store is the only one of its kind in the Western United States, but makes the parks easily accessible to the Old Pueblo because it is in Oro Valley.
“We consider this store to be so special and unique because it’s an inroad to the national parks but also to the love of the Southwest and the love of the outdoors,” operations manager Joanna Johnson said.
The store is a little bit off the beaten track but according to Johnson, it could be a safe, unintimidating doorway into the national parks experience. Veteran park goers will enjoy it, too.
“We’re always looking for that moment to inspire that story (about falling in love with the national parks), because once you inspire that love it’s with you forever,” Johnson said.
Part of what drives Johnson and senior content and communication manager Julie Thompson is the desire to find ways to help people discover the national parks.
“Maybe people haven’t felt included or welcomed at a park before, but maybe they can get inspired by coming in, even if they just want to check out our kid section,” Johnson said.
“There may be people who wouldn’t have ever known about the national parks otherwise,” Thompson added. “There are people who maybe don’t understand how a national park might work and that’s sometimes a deterrent for them to go. People who haven’t grown up in the tradition of visiting the parks, they might feel, ‘Ok, I’m not quite ready for a national park yet but I’ll go to the store and I’ll start making some plans with people who know about this.’ It’s an extra way to invite people to experience the parks.”
Representing all the parks in the Western National Parks sector, which encompasses the parks west of the Mississippi and as far north as the Canadian border, the store stocks many of the items that could be found in other states, such as maps or stickers. Also, in case visitors forget to get their national park passport stamped, it can be done at the store.
Johnson said there are lots of little items to buy as a reminder of the parks. Look for T-shirts, hats, posters and even black and yellow brochures that rangers give out when visiting one of the parks. They are a surprisingly popular item.
“We try to keep (them) stocked but they go faster than we can keep up with,” Johnson said.
Also featured is a park of the month, accompanied by a video. This is where visitors can learn about what Johnson calls “hidden gems.”
“The Yosemites are amazing and Saguaros blow your mind but the Fort Bowies and the Tumacacoris are such beautiful little places,” she said.
A tour of the shop reveals all sorts of treasures. Something visitors might not know is that Western National Parks is also a publisher and so the store features many books, calendars and other printed materials that make for a better experience.
“We publish books on all of our parks that we partner with,” Johnson said. “We make these in conjunction with our rangers,” and sometimes with former rangers or naturalists.
Talk to Thompson about the book section and she will happily talk about why the store’s collection is important.
“Quality, relevant, delightful and entertaining — that’s how I would describe our book section,” she said. “Our staff works diligently to feature intriguing, award-winning authors who bring unique perspectives and new understandings of the outdoors, the Southwest, and our national parks. We also feature a wide range of books published by Western National Parks about our public lands, cultures, science, travel and so much more. The diversity in both subject matter and audience makes the National Parks Store one of the best independent bookstores you’ve never heard of in Tucson.”
While Thompson loves the books, Johnson is proudest of the artisans and original artwork that’s featured.
“Not only do we have a great publication selection and a really cute little kids’ area but we also have a really wonderful Indigenous artist collection that we do help cultivate and help promote,” she said. “The artists are so unique and they have such beautiful stories behind the art that they sell and they create.”
Look for Diné, Zuni and Santo Domingo jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, tie tacks and cufflinks. Then there are alebrijes (whimsical Mexican painted animal figures) by well-known artists and a fine collection of Mata Ortiz pottery. From October through March, artists who created some of the store’s merchandise come to talk about their work.
“What I love about this is we love to have and make connections with our artisans,” Johnson said. “All of our jewelry always has the tribe and who made it and the stone.”
Local artists are also represented.
The store even has programming such as talks, films about individual national parks and artisan demonstrations, all for free — but sometimes a reservation is required. Johnson and Thompson invite everyone to visit them.
“We have a little something for everyone,” Johnson said.
The Western National Parks Association’s The National Parks Store
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
WHERE: 12880 N. Vistoso Village Drive, Oro Valley
INFO: store.wnpa.org
This article appears in Jul 17-24, 2025.