For nearly 70 years, the Big Tin Cotton Gin has stood at the corner of Ocotillo and Meridian roads — a reminder of the agricultural roots that helped build Queen Creek.

Long before it became a wedding venue and event space, the Cotton Gin was an economic engine for this community. It created jobs. It sustained families. It helped define the identity of this town.

Now, the land has been sold for redevelopment, and while the building may be relocated, it remains unprotected. The Cotton Gin is not currently designated as a historic landmark — meaning its long-term preservation is not guaranteed.

Queen Creek has grown rapidly in recent years. With growth comes change. But growth should not erase history.

Historic designation would not undo private property rights. It would recognize the Cotton Gin’s cultural and historical value and help ensure that its preservation is treated as a priority, not an afterthought.

The Town of Queen Creek has previously supported agritainment zoning and promoted the area’s agricultural heritage. The Big Tin Cotton Gin is a physical symbol of that heritage. Losing its historic standing would mean losing an important piece of the town’s story.

We are calling on Mayor Julia Wheatley and the Queen Creek Town Council to begin the process of formally designating the Big Tin Cotton Gin as a historic landmark.

Preserving history does not mean opposing progress. It means making sure that as Queen Creek grows, it remembers where it came from.

Sign this petition to urge Queen Creek leaders to protect the Big Tin Cotton Gin through official historic designation.