LA Downey & Sons

Located down a long dirt road (E. Poorman Rd.) is a landscape materials company that has been in the family since 1973. It specializes in aggregates for: stucco & plaster; sub-base materials (ex. road and concrete floor bases); concrete stone: and mortar sand. It’s primarily a destination for industrial contractors, but don’t let that stop you from a visit. You can get any of the materials listed above in as small as a 5 gallon bucket. They can also load your pickup or landscape trailer if you need larger quantities.

When driving into the yard you’ll see a lot of old retired equipment. The driveway will split. You’ll want to stay left to get you to the office (a small sign marks it at the end of the building when you first drive in). If no one is in the office then they’re probably loading a truck or operating their rock processing equipment. When I drove in, the owner was in one of his large loaders and he drove down to see me. This may well be the case when you arrive. You may have to walk around a little to find someone operating a machine who can give you a hand.

I met the owner and he is a really nice guy. Very personable and helpful.

They have a limited selection of materials in comparison to other landscape supply operations in the greater Tucson area, but it’s for a good reason, they cater to contractors with special material needs and they produce only those material. But a quick phone call to see if they have what you need is all it takes.

And as a final note, if you decide to make the trip, be prepared to take a dirt road into the back country. There is no sign on the business. Just keep your eye’s peeled for some conveyor belts located up on a hill. Once you spot these (and they’re pretty prominent) you’ve arrived. Expect to see large commercial trucks on E. Poorman Rd. and at the facility (that are being loaded for commercial jobs). And another telltale sign that you’re on the right road (if you come in from S. Houghton Rd.) is that you’ll see a fair amount of discarded items along the road.  I can’t speak from experience if you’re coming in from S. Old Spanish Trail Rd.).