The Vista UMC Story
By 1981, the Cold War had ended and the SALT II treaty had been negotiated and signed. As a result, Russians and Americans agreed to dismantle their respective missile sites. One of the American missiles was the Titan II. Titan missile site number nine was located near Catalina, on
a 10 acre piece of land that just happened to have a wonderful view of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
With the missile site dismantled, the land was put up for sale. Meantime, in 1990, Vista de la Montaña was founded with 60 people at the Coronado Middle School, across the highway from the missile site. By 1992, Vista was working hard to get itself established in this growing area northwest of Tucson; and the missile site was still unsold. Thanks to its founding pastor, Don Cooke and a willing congregation, the decision was made to bid on the missile site, and in 1994, Vista de la
Montaña United Methodist Church purchased the site and began efforts to bring in the first modular building. The cement pad covering the silo can still be found west of the parking lot.
VISTA WORSHIP CENTER CONSTRUCTION 2001-2002
produced and narrated by Howard Kaste
With the help of their pastor, Dr. Stewart Elson and the church’s first secretary, Pat Stoddard, Vista soon outgrew its modular units, which had grown to three, and by November 2001, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to launch the construction of a permanent structure. Construction of the new building was completed in mid 2002. The first service was held on Consecration Sunday, September 8, 2002. Members come predominantly from the communities of Catalina, Oracle, Oracle Junction, Oro Valley, Saddlebrook, Saddlebrooke Ranch, Eagle Crest, Ranch, Rancho Vistoso, Sun City and Tucson.
In 2018, Vista completed fund raising for Phase I of their building campaign. Construction will begin in the summer of 2019! Shortly after opening the new Education/Admin Building we were closed for the COVID pandemic. We are now open with regular office hours and limited class times.