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News • Arizona • United States • 2012-07-30

Native American Actor Wes Studi Visits Hualapai Nation: Academy Award Nominated Actor Meets With Hualapai Veterans, Leaders and Community

Earlier this month, legendary Native American activist and actor Wes Studi visited the Hualapai Nation’s capital city Peach Springs. The actor was invited by the Tribe to visit Hualapai Tourism employees and learn about the tourism options that it offers. Studi is a member of the Cherokee Tribe and has acted in several blockbuster movies including Dances with Wolves with Kevin Costner; Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis; Heat with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Val Kilmer; and Geronimo with Jason Patric, Gene Hackman and Matt Damon. Studi was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005 and has appeared in more than 50 film and television productions.

Studi’s visit started with dinner at the Diamond Creek Restaurant in the Hualapai Lodge on Historic Route 66 where he met with local Hualapai veterans; Barney Imus, Randall Mahone, Ramsey Powsey, Joel Querta, Ernest Shirley, Mike Whatoname and Kent Whatoname. Being that Studi is a Vietnam veteran himself, the group spoke about their common experiences and got to know one another. The following days, Studi, his wife and son were taken on Hualapai River Runners, the only one-day Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trip, and visited Grand Canyon West where they walked on the Skywalk, took a helicopter/boat ride and had lunch at the Hualapai Ranch. Upon return to Peach Springs, Hualapai Tourism arranged for a “meet and greet” with Studi and the Hualapai community. Hualapai River Runners staff barbequed food for the community as Hualapai members took pictures with the celebrity and had a short question and answer session. After the community event, Chairwoman Louis Benson had dinner with the Studi family before his departure the following morning .

About Hualapai Tourism: Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, which is wholly owned and operated by the Hualapai Nation, manages Grand Canyon West, Hualapai River Runners (whitewater rafting), and the Hualapai Lodge. Grand Canyon West is a collection of viewpoints and attractions spread over 9000 acres of the Grand Canyon’s West Rim in Northwest Arizona, just 120 miles east of Las Vegas, Nevada. Grand Canyon West is the only place in the Canyon where visitors can access a boat ride on the Colorado River via helicopter and is home to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass walkway 4000 ft above the canyon floor. The site attractions are: Guano Point, with panoramic canyon views and the historic guano mine tram; Eagle Point, the location of the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the Native American Village with authentic dwellings of multiple tribes, and live Native American performances; and The Hualapai Ranch, a western town with cowboy entertainment, horseback riding, wagon rides and overnight cabins facing the Canyon rim. Private cars are welcome or all inclusive tours are available from Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Sedona by airplane, helicopter, coach, SUV, and Hummer. The Hualapai Lodge on Historic Route 66 and Grand Canyon West are open daily 365 days a year. Hualapai River Runners, the only one-day whitewater raft trip through the Grand Canyon, operates March – October. Visitors can view a complete list of activities, book reservations, and get directions at www.hualapaitourism.com or by calling 1-888-868-9378 - internationally at (001)-928-769-2636.

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