He did get permission before flying there. It was so amazing. Built in 1964, the Phoenix Trotting Park was actually located in Goodyear, Arizona. (27 Sep 2010). 27 Colliers International. They allowed the building to achieve unusually long cantilevers of 39 feet for the seat girders and 32 feet for the roof girders. June 22, 2015 - We are now on Twitter! I returned to the ground level and did a little more exploring. hello jessalyn, I went just a couple months ago and actually parked on a dirt road right by the trailer community directly behind trotting park. Thoroughbred racing is held at Turf Paradise just north of central Phoenix, but its best days are in the past. It is unclear what drew James J. Dunnigan from his home in New York to a barren patch of Arizona desert. MAY 20, 2017 - ARIZONA REPUBLIC - Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park along I-10 in Goodyear set for demolition Until that happens, there is only speculation as to what will happen with the property. I've been using the Sony RX100M3. Phoenix Trotting Park was built on a grand scale, employing a European Architect who built a state of the art facility in 1966. 5 Commencement Exercises (PDF). Phoenix Trotting Park was built twenty miles from Downtown Phoenix and only accessible by way of dirt roads, making it a chore to get to. Cant wait til later this week when I do a full exploration. The life of the Lopes Canyon Ranch was short-lived. With a prime location at the I-10 and Loop 303 interchange, it is only a matter of time before someone decides to acquire the site. Many thanks to everyone for their patience. I have added the latest batch of letters to the Letters page. Phoenix Trotting Park was a fantasy track when it opened in 1965, but the fantasy became a nightmare when it ceased operations in December of 1966, less than two years after its inaugural card. I've been a couple times to just look at the outside. I've traveled through several of these places since I was a child and I've wondered about them myself! Dunnigan formed Arizona Harness Raceway, Inc. on June 7, 1961[14]. How cool that your grandmother got to work there! The production company was criticized for this and the film did not receive approval from the American Humane Association as a result. [6], In December 2015, the property was put on the market for $16.5 million. Demolition Zone Ahead. Notre Dame Alumnus, Vol. "too damn far out" at least 20 miles from the center of Phoenix and that, at the time, there weren't any major roads connecting Phoenix and the track. Phoenix Trotting Park 17758 W Roosevelt St, Goodyear, AZ 85338 This horse track lasted for only two seasons before permanent abandonment. Weird Arizona by Wesley Treat, Mark Moran, Mark Sceurman. I'll admit I'm a little envious that you get to enjoy a view of Phoenix Trotting Park. Southwestern playing cards, cactus jellies and desert-focused gardening books are a sample of what we sell. Until it was demolished in 2017 (huge bummer, we know), the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear was in the latter category. Though closed in 1966, the 194-acre property had been continuously owned by either individuals or corporations/businesses. The hulking race track has stood. Sitting in the middle of Arizona, Cordes was founded in 1883 by John Henry Cordes. A graveside service is scheduled to be held on Friday (Sept. 2) at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Phoenix. I'd love to check that place out. AZBEX. December 7, 2016 - Wow! In 1995, Grand Canyon University sold the 224-acre track to local developer Ray Roles for $2 million. The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. Racing continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s while many renovations and improvements kept the track up to modern standards. [17] The track was originally supposed to cost about $2 million, but the final cost ended up being a whopping $9.5 million. Check out Long-vacant Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear is in escrow, could be demolished by Adrian Hedden. Thanks, Mike! I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. Tell us about them in the comments! First of all: INCREDIBLE photography. It was here that he purchased a 640-acre parcel near Cotton Lane Road and McDowell Road for his new harness racing track, the Phoenix Trotting Park. Soar over the Trotting Park with amazing aerial drone videos sent in by readers, plus other clips. I'd read rumors of a squatter settlement in the basement and was determined to find out if there was any truth to it. The pari-mutuel handle on opening night was virtually a mirage, too, as the crowd of more than 12,000 pushed $130,984 through the windows. After all, race tracks were The horse racing park was built in 1964 and opened the following year to any eager gamblers willing to. Ground Floor - Bar, Snack Stand, Betting Windows, Food Prep areas The Trotting Park's wall panels, roof slabs, columns, beams, and girders were all constructed of precast concrete, which was poured on-site. [25]. (18 Sep 2020). According to a new article published in the West Valley View, the Phoenix Trotting Park is in escrow. I have been to the Houston area a few times and once drove from San Antonio to Los Angeles, stopping to spend the night in Bisbee, AZ. April 14, 2017 - A third person has now sent me a drone flyover video of the trotting track, and it's one of the best I've seen yet! Bronx County, NY - Online Biographies. Phoenix Trotting Park Suspends Racing Indefinitely. According to a YouTube video, a motorcycle show was held at the park on March 26, 1988. Good luck in the Dateland area. I also saw locals walking by but they did not say anything. Arizona Business Gazette. There aren't a ton of 194 acre land parcels available; but there also aren't a lot of people who need a parcel of land that large. Impressa Eugenio Grassetto, Ivone Grassetto. No occupancy. Removal of . Phase I opened in 2002 with 285 spaces, while Phase II added an additional 300 spaces. November 21, 2016 - Huge thanks to Gary Oglesby for sending in his drone footage of the Trotting Park. Check it out on the videos page. May 20, 2017 - Since there have been so many great video clips of the Trotting Park recently, I put together a new Videos page where you can find them all. In 1960, Phoenix was not the thriving metropolis it is today. Back in 1964, the Trotting Park was located far outside the edge of town. Its kind of sad.. 44, No. (14 Jan 2016). The track was listed for sale in January of 2016 for $16.5 million dollars for a 194-acre parcel. (Yes, that's a per capita of ten bucks but, remember, the sulky sport was all new to the Phoenicians). The place was absolutely gigantic. I have also added some demolition pictures to the Photo Gallery page. Discovery Inc. is suing Paramount Global, saying its competitor aired new episodes of the popular animated comedy series "South Park" after Warner paid for exclusive rights. June 17, 2018 - With the Phoenix Trotting Park now demolished, the land has been listed again with Colliers, this time for $24 million. This is just amazing i am studying public design and this is really helping me so please keep posting your experience :). - Hoof Beats Magazine NEW, Mar 8, 1965 - Racing Beneath the Peaks - Sports Illustrated, Mar 10, 1965 - Clearview Stable Sweeps Weekend - Harness Horse Magazine NEW, Dec 14, 1966 - Phoenix Trotting Park Suspends Racing Indefinitely - Harness Horse Magazine, Sep 24, 1969 - Ong Hing v. Arizona Harness Raceway, Inc. - CourtListener.com, Apr 14, 1983 - Arizona Rites Held for James Dunnigan; Was Founder of Buffalo Raceway - The Sun and the Erie County Independent, Nov 15, 1991 - AutoSwap USA - Arizona Business Gazette, Dec 9, 1997 - Film Crew to Aid Birds - The Arizona Republic, Sep 21, 2006 - Goodyear's Horse Track Becomes 'White Elephant' - West Valley View, Dec 2010 - Phoenix Trotting Park History - Three Rivers Historical Society Newsletter, Oct 10, 2011 - Goodyear Trotting Park Receives Interest - West Valley View, Oct 22, 2012 - Man Injured in Fall at Goodyear Trotting Park - West Valley View, Mar 28, 2014 - The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park - Harness Racing Update, Jun 18, 2014 - Readers' Picks of Biggest West Valley Eyesores - The Arizona Republic, Jan 12, 2016 - Huge Trotting Park in Goodyear Marks 50 Years Standing Empty - The Arizona Republic, Jan 14, 2016 - For $16.5 Million, You Could Own the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear - The Arizona Republic, May 17, 2017 - Demolition Zone Ahead - West Valley View, May 17, 2017 - The Old Phoenix Trotting Park Set for Demolition - AZ Family 3TV / CBS 5, May 18, 2017 - All Abandoned: 8 Forbidden & Forgotten Spots around Arizona - College Times, May 20, 2017 - Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park along I-10 in Goodyear set for demolition - Arizona Republic, May 21, 2017 - Phoenix Trotting Park, an iconic horse-racing track, will be demolished - KTAR News, May 22, 2017 - Abandoned Phoenix Trotting Park scheduled to be demolished in December - FOX10 Phoenix, Jul 9, 2017 - Goodyear Police Asking People to Stay Away from Trotting Park - FOX10 Phoenix, Sep 26, 2017 - Phoenix horse trotting park set for demolition Wednesday - AZ Family 3TV / CBS 5, Sep 27, 2017 - RAW VIDEO: Aerial view of Goodyear horse trotting park demolition - AZ Family 3TV / CBS 5, Sep 27, 2017 - Facebook Live Stream of trotting park demolition - AZ Family 3TV / CBS 5, Sep 27, 2017 - Abandoned Phoenix Horse Trotting Park demolished in Goodyear - FOX10 Phoenix, Sep 27, 2017 - What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? Still hard to believe that it's really gone. I'd never seen something so gigantic yet totally abandoned. Black Canyon City Greyhound Park. Two late Hall of Famers, Norman Woolworth and Delvin Miller, were among those who helped bankroll the new venture. Before the structure could be knocked down, crews were on site of the. The current Interstate 10 passes north of the site. Description. (29 Dec 2020). 224-Acre Mixed-Use Hub Proposed for Goodyear. The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park. Following the closure, the name was changed to Arizona Equestrian Center. You mentioned going in a certain side, from the view videos we've seen it looks like there is two fences and lots of fines for trespassing - was it the same when you visited & you were just careful? -Zack b. I really wish somebody could have done something with it instead of just tearing it down, he said. 13 Phoenix, Arizona Demographics. Its a landmark, Machuca said. Take a look at how the massive building was left to decay in the elements, and admire its oddly beautiful mystique: Check out the official website, which still operates, to learn more about the Phoenix Trotting Park. And They're OffBuilders Race to Beat Deadline at Old Trot Park. Such a waste of a unique structure. Goodyear residents and leaders hoped for an entertainment destination where the iconic Phoenix Trotting Park once stood, but are more likely to see light industrial at the site off Interstate. (14 Dec 1966). (17 May 2017). No longer a roadside eyesore (or a glorious place for exploration, depending on who you ask), all that remains of a place that once provided lively entertainment are memories. Only the 55.47 acre "pit parcel" remains for sale at this time. Today the area surrounding the Phoenix Trotting Park is dotted with houses, apartments, retail outlets of every The horses belonged to Ron and Arla Delver, who told the StarPhoenix earlier this month that two horses were found dead on Dec. 14 and two more were found on Dec. 21 on summer pasture land. I spent 3-4 hours there. The 1960s were an era of unbridled optimism in harness racing. The 194-acre property was vacant for 51 years before demolition. Advertisements MAY 21, 2017 - KTAR NEWS - Phoenix Trotting Park, an iconic horse-racing track, will be demolished 4 Harness Racing Hall of Fame: James J. Dunnigan, Sr.. (2016). Mechanical Mezzanine Level - Stairwell Access and Elevator Machine Rooms How many ghost towns still exist in Arizona? The origins of the Phoenix Trotting Park begin with the Dunnigans, an Irish-American family living in New York at the turn of the century. The massive structure consists of more than 27,000 cubic yards of reinforced concrete. The park was used in 2000 for the filming of the movie ". Assuredly no one is going to salvage the old track and bring back racing. 5041 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix . (22 Oct 2012). Phoenix Trotting Park Suspends Racing Indefinitely, Del Miller, Legendary Driver in the Sulky, Is Dead at 83, Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves, The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park, Goodyear's Horse Track Becomes 'White Elephant', Motorcycle Show Phoenix/Goodyear Trotter Park 1988- PART 1, Man Injured in Fall at Goodyear Trotting Park, Phoenix Mixed-Use Project Takes a Giant Step, 224-Acre Mixed-Use Hub Proposed for Goodyear. (11 Dec 1996). Time Magazine. description and a spaghetti-like tangle of interstate overpasses looms over the shell of the old track. They were quick to point out that the track was built Mar 28, 2014 - The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park - Harness Racing Update Jun 18, 2014 - Readers' Picks of Biggest West Valley Eyesores - The Arizona Republic Jan 12, 2016 - Huge Trotting Park in Goodyear Marks 50 Years Standing Empty - The Arizona Republic Recently started following your adventures, as we stayed at Desert Center for a month this winter. Visit the videos page to watch the clip. SEP 27, 2017 - AZCENTRAL - What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? The purpose of this website is to preserve the Trotting Park's history, to tell the story of the owner's failed dream, and to educate the curious about this unusual racetrack and its troubled past. It's a shame it was only operational for such a short time. Senator John J. Dunnigan on Feb. 22, 1934, Trotters at the Buffalo Raceway on May 25, 1974, Re-creation of the Phoenix Trotting Park logo, Phoenix Trotting Park under construction in 1964. I have wondered about this place! This is pretty much the worst outcome that every fan of the Trotting Park did not want to see happen. Built in 1964, the Phoenix Trotting Park was actually located in Goodyear, Arizona. Some require great effort to seek out, but others are hiding right under our noses in plain sight. (Nov 1964). Harness Racing Update. May 22, 2017 Here is a roundup of the recent news stories about the Trotting Park: November 1, 2016 - I have added a new page of fan mail and letters from readers about the Trotting Park. Glad you're enjoying the site. A massive explosion scene at the end of the movie injured a number of pigeons who inhabited the grandstand. Norman Woolworth and Delvin Miller, were among those who helped bankroll the new venture the new venture latest of. 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