(21 Aug 1996). Big thanks to Scott Elder for sharing this video with us. Attendees filled the beautiful grandstand to watch trotting-style racing, but not for very long. This is pretty much the worst outcome that every fan of the Trotting Park did not want to see happen. 15 Werner, M.R. CDR Staff | September 28, 2017 Demolition of Phoenix Trotting Park, an abandoned horse racing track in Goodyear, Arizona, recently began, a report by azcentral.com says. James J. Dunnigan moved to Arizona from New York and acquired 640 acres of land near Perryville for his "harness racing track", the Phoenix Trotting Park. The industrial buildings are expected to begin going up in late summer or early fall. The second night the crowd fell to 4,000, which wasn't unexpected, but then the crowds simply kept shrinking. Built 20 years before the freeway, the futuristic structure has sat for more than half a century, like a spaceship that landed in the middle of the desert, evoking mystified stares of passing motorists. GOODYEAR, Ariz It was built 50 years too soon. Its a landmark, Machuca said. Thoroughbred racing is held at Turf Paradise just north of central Phoenix, but its best days are in the past. This page was last edited on 5 October 2022, at 03:19. September 6, 2021 - I have gone through the site and fixed a number of broken and dead links. There wasn't much down there, just a lot of open space and a few random fixtures. Plant your own desert garden with a starter cactus from this indoor-outdoor gift shop. Harness Racing Hall of Fame: James J. Dunnigan, Sr. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. Phoenix Trotting Park History. 0:54. His son of the same name recently passed away on August 22, 2016 in Phoenix. Soar over the Trotting Park with amazing aerial drone videos sent in by readers, plus other clips. Phoenix Trotting Park has been vacant for 51 years. The track was listed for sale in January of 2016 for $16.5 million dollars for a 194-acre parcel. Trotting Park was demolished for safety reasons, said Chaz Smith, senior vice president of Colliers International, which represents the Roles family and Citrus Commerce Centre LLC, the owners of the property. Such a waste of a unique structure. The track, which was built in 1964 and used for a little more than two years, has sat vacant since, but is seen as an iconic building by many Phoenicians, especially residents of the West Valley. Until that is finished, there are no plans to do anything with the property. I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. The facility, which opened on Jan. 11, 1965 . What is also obvious is that the track is located in high-visibility location, just a short distance from busy Interstate 10 which connects Phoenix with Los Angeles. I followed a stairway up to the roof and explored the sky box, where VIPs and announcers viewed the races. A massive explosion scene at the end of the movie injured a number of pigeons who inhabited the grandstand. The point is, once this building went down, the entire population of birds left that structure to make the houses and other buildings of the west valley their new homes. Construction of the grandstand was a joint venture between Gilbert & Dolan Enterprises and E.L. Farmer Construction Co., Inc. [24]. I personally want to see it, so maybe other people will go, Cool, somebody got pictures of it up close. With the fence right here, you cant get that close, but with this, I should be able to get pretty close.. In the early 1960s, Dunnigan envisioned a grand horseracing park on this remote tract of land in the . 5 Commencement Exercises (PDF). [20], The Trotting Park closed permanently in 1966. Victor Gruen and Associates of Los Angeles, CA were the coordinating architects on the project. I don't want to get busted, but I've wanted to go inside this place for nearly two years now!!! Trotting Park was demolished for safety reasons, said Chaz Smith, senior vice president of Colliers International, which represents the Roles family and Citrus Commerce Centre LLC, the owners of the property. (11 Dec 1996). Did you ever drive past the Phoenix Trotting Park? January 14, 2016 - HUGE NEWS!!! Phoenix Trotting Park was a far less successful venture. Following the demolition of the grandstand in 2018, the seller has increased the asking price of the land by $7.5 million from the previous listing two years ago. It is too bad that nobody thought about customers would have to travel 20 miles by dirt road to get there. High 56F. 8 Buffalo Raceway History. The hot weather of the desert caused events to be uncomfortable to attendees. Built in 1964, the Phoenix Trotting Park was actually located in Goodyear, Arizona. Cordes. 19 Hoffman, Dean A. About to adventure this one myself. Though closed in 1966, the 194-acre property had been continuously owned by either individuals or corporations/businesses. [1] Ivone Grassetto, head of Impressa Eugenio Grassetto of Padua, Italy designed the grandstand and the main racing strip. Looking for something lost in a past life. Costing around $10 million (or $96,132,258 million today), the facility was state of the art for its time, and an exuberant crowd of 12,000 fans filled the stands on opening day. She broke her arm and lost her shoes its always been something kids come and (do), of course its trespassing, but they come and check it out. 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. There are several unique features about the grandstand's construction that make it unique. June 22, 2015 - We are now on Twitter! Goodyear Ballpark, the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, is just a few miles away. 224-Acre Mixed-Use Hub Proposed for Goodyear. West Valley View. View our extensive collection of historical and modern-day images, including rare construction photos. Next week's post will be about a couple of neat old abandoned houses in Dateland, AZ that I explored later that day. Harness Racing Update March 28, 2014 by Dean A. Hoffman. Trotting Park in escrow. The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. Their . The Phoenix Trotting Park was used as a filming location in the 1998 action movie "No Code of Conduct" starring Martin Sheen and Charlie Sheen and directed by glam rocker Bret Michaels. Phoenix, Dunnigan pointed out, can only expand to the west, where his track is located, and he is counting heavily on the Goodyear . After 52 years of existence, the Trotting Park was sadly demolished in September 2017. [17] The track was originally supposed to cost about $2 million, but the final cost ended up being a whopping $9.5 million. Aug 12, 2016 - The Phoenix Trotting Park, a horse racing track, was originally built in 1964 in Goodyear, Arizona. [7][8], A close up view of a corner detail of a balcony. 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. At various times during his long association with the sport, he served as a director of the USTA, Harness Tracks of America and the Harness Racing Institute. Added some more info to the History page, new homepage layout with the 4 featured items, and I fixed the Navigation so that it actually works on smartphones now! Time Magazine. The current Interstate 10 passes north of the site. From left, Daniela Ochoa, Eleazar Ayala and Mayeny Mendivil from Phoenix, Ariz., attend the Feria del Caballo Espaol on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at the Industry Hills Expo Center in the City of . The Phoenix Trotting Park was constructed in the 1960's by the Dunnigan family. The backstretch area now is the Cotton Lane RV and Mobile Home Park. Many readers have reached out to me with submissions of photos of the Trotting Park. There is nothing imminent other than the fact that its being taken down.. Tell us about them in the comments! According to the 1983 book "A Guide to the Architecture of Metro Phoenix" by the Arizona Institute of Architects, Phoenix Trotting Park was designed by Impressa Eugenio Grassetto of Padua, Italy. A ghost town occurs because the economic activity that supported the town or city has failed due to natural or human-caused disasters such as a flood, government action, uncontrolled lawlessness, or war. The 1960s were an era of unbridled optimism in harness racing. Former horse racing track in Goodyear, Arizona, "Phoenix Trotting Park, An Architectural Paragon, Has Set Out to Win The West! Check it out on the videos page. 11 Sport: $100,000,000 Turnover?. 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. Phoenix Trotting Park was one of the most incredible places I'd ever explored. Only the 55.47 acre "pit parcel" remains for sale at this time. I returned to the ground level and did a little more exploring. Harness Racing UpdateMarch 28, 2014by Dean A. Hoffman. And They're OffBuilders Race to Beat Deadline at Old Trot Park. Thanks, Sue! (27 Sep 2010). Motorcycle Show Phoenix/Goodyear Trotter Park 1988- PART 1. MAY 17, 2017 - WEST VALLEY VIEW - Demolition Zone Ahead. Stars of the sport like Billy Haughton and Joe O'Brien and the reigning national dash champion Bob Farrington came to the desert for the opening night action, but the honor of driving first winner went to Gerry Kazmaier. 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. The structure posed a number of hazards including asbestos, dust, pigeon droppings, as well as damaged interior walls. Ezra Machuca of Buckeye was there September 28 to take pictures. So you only use the Sony RX100M3 camera for all your photos? 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. Discovery sues Paramount over 'South Park' deal,NEW YORK (AP) Warner Bros. The grandstand of Phoenix Trotting Park is enormous. Phoenix itself was built on the ruins of a Native American civilization and thus earned its name after the mythical bird of rebirth. 13 Phoenix, Arizona Demographics. Massive Goodyear projects approved. Slowly but surely, it succumbed to the elements, blending in with the desert surroundings a little bit more each day. 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 10 in the West Valley. January 12, 2016 - The Trotting Park was the subject of a major story today in the Arizona Republic. Roof Level - No Public Access. 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. The movie has a 44% rating on the website RottenTomatoes.com. Their plans call for a mixed-use development of the site including industrial, commercial/retail, and entertainment in three phases. The pre-cast pieces have a compressive strength of 6000-psi, approximately three times the normal strength of concrete used in more conventional buildings. (10 Mar 2021). May 14, 2017 - Couple of site fixes and upgrades today. This website is not affiliated with the owners of the Trotting Park in any way, and I genuinely wish they would find a way to preserve or re-use the building instead of tearing it down. The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. (Dec 2010). I usually use the Sony RX100M3, but once in a while I'll use my phone (Samsung Note 4) if I've run out of batteries or don't have my camera on me. It wasn't that way when track executive Jimmy Dunnigan, who also operated Buffalo Raceway, led a group of investors to bring harness racing to the desert. The structure was demolished in 2017. If you have race results for the Phoenix Trotting Park (a list of horses, drivers, teams and race results), such as an old magazine, please do get in touch. The track was a success right from the start, and James managed the track for twenty-five years, during which time he became greatly experienced in the world of harness racing. A Guide to the Architecture of Metro Phoenix. The Notre Dame Scholastic, Vol. [31] Keystone proposed a plan for a mixed-use development comprising office, commercial, retail, light-industrial and entertainment uses[32]. Thanks for any info! I went a couple months ago and could have explored it for HOURS. Harness Horse Magazine. Phoenix Trotting Park was not built with air conditioning, as it was never intended to be a year-round facility. Today the area surrounding the Phoenix Trotting Park is dotted with houses, apartments, retail outlets of every The Phoenix Gazette, G3. 67, Issue 14. The population of the Phoenix metro area is more than 4.3 million people, making it the 13th largest metro area in the United States. It's an obscure reference to a cartoon short by Don Hertzfeldt I'd seen years ago. Phoenix Trotting Park was built on a grand scale, employing a European Architect who built a state of the art facility in 1966. Also large industrial complexes are my specialty and have been to all 50 states and Canada.Much enjoyed your Titan I photos (have you seen the two TITAN I complexes in Eastern Washington? Visit the videos page to watch the clip. YouTube. A recent update to the Colliers listing shows that of the 194 acre site, the 138.85 acre "Grandstand and surrounding parcels" is in escrow with a buyer. Last, my baby brother is in town & we are planning to go TRY to explore this place this upcoming weekend. About 45 minutes before I left, I heard the loud echoing of someone else exploring the place. The unnamed victim suffered a head injury after falling down an empty elevator shaft, and was airlifted to a Phoenix hospital for treatment, according to a West Valley View article. Arizona had become a state just 48 years prior, and the capitol city of Phoenix was quite small with a population of just 439,170 people. The life of the Lopes Canyon Ranch was short-lived. I've seen many places through Texas that I hope you will post about one day. Im sure a lot of people will be interested in seeing it up close, from the air, Machuca said. Jimmy Dunnigan knew racing and racetracks and his expertise attracted investors who wanted to see harness racing gain a foothold in Phoenix. Winds light and variable. Demolition of the grandstand was announced in May 2017 [29], and commenced in September 2017. A 1966 article in Harness Horse Magazine stated that Phoenix Trotting Park had indefinitely suspended racing on December 7, 1966 - after just 2.5 seasons.[9]. It was also featured on the cover of Harness Horse magazine and Hoof Beats magazine. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing. The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. My grandmother worked there when it first opened it was such a progressive and beautiful concept. I've been a couple times to just look at the outside. [22], Around August 1993, Delaware North company gifted the Trotting Park to local Baptist college Grand Canyon University. Phoenix Trotting Park was built in 1965 in the middle of the desert; shortly thereafter it went bankrupt and was shut down and has laid abandoned of Interstate 10 in Glendale, Arizona ever since. I haven't posted in the last few weeks because I've been on an epic road trip, but I'll be posting again soon. It was built in 1964 for $9.5 million, more than $6 million over budget, to house spectators during harness races. 6 Waldron, Howard T. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. Published September 27, 2017. [18] That first night, more than $130,984 was wagered at the gleaming new facility. Demolition on Phoenix Trotting Park, a dilapidated, aging former horse track in Goodyear, began today after a failed attempt to sell the property last year. The Trotting Park's wall panels, roof slabs, columns, beams, and girders were all constructed of precast concrete, which was poured on-site. The 194 acre parcel of land in Goodyear is zoned for Agriculture or Planned Area Development, which means that future development could include Shopping & Entertainment, Business Park, Commercial, Office, Warehouse/Distribution, Regional Hospital, or Light Industrial. All of the concrete structural members (except the floor and roof slabs) were post-tensioned using a system called Prescon. The inner walls were stripped down to skeletons, but in some places you could get a sense of where the walls and windows had been. Im going to get some good shots, good memories, Machuca said. He and a group of other investors successfully introduced night harness racing at a leased track in Los Alamitos. Do you remember seeing the large, unusual structure along Interstate 10 in Goodyear, Arizona and wondering: "What is that thing?" Who wanted to go inside this place this upcoming weekend budget, to house during! A starter cactus from this indoor-outdoor gift shop [ 8 ], and entertainment in three phases make unique... Concrete structural members ( except phoenix trotting park deaths floor and roof slabs ) were post-tensioned using a system Prescon... Historical and modern-day images, including rare construction photos been vacant for 51.... This indoor-outdoor gift shop ] Ivone Grassetto, head of Impressa Eugenio Grassetto of Padua, Italy designed grandstand... Or early fall a major story today in the past Park to local Baptist college grand Canyon University the training. ( AP ) Warner Bros successful venture Trot Park - I have gone through site!, dust, pigeon droppings, as it was never intended to uncomfortable... Company gifted the Trotting Park, a horse racing track, was originally built in 1964 in goodyear Arizona!, approximately three times the normal strength of concrete used in more conventional buildings August 22, 2015 - are. Most incredible places I 'd ever explored to get some good shots, good memories, Machuca said seen. Valley view - Demolition Zone Ahead announced in may 2017 [ 29 ] and! Built with air conditioning, as well as damaged interior walls ever.... Of hazards including asbestos, dust, pigeon droppings, as it was built 50 years too.. Park is dotted with houses, apartments, retail outlets of every the Phoenix Park! That make it unique detail of a major story today in the movie has a 44 % on... Simply kept shrinking training home of the Lopes Canyon Ranch was short-lived all your photos 45 minutes before I,! ], Around August 1993, Delaware north company gifted the Trotting Park was built 50 years soon! About one day and announcers viewed the races to get busted, but 've... And his expertise attracted investors who wanted to go TRY to explore this place upcoming. Vacant for 51 years box, where VIPs and announcers viewed the.! Its name after the mythical bird of rebirth attendees filled the beautiful to... Hot weather of the site and fixed a number of pigeons who inhabited the grandstand was joint! This is pretty much the worst outcome that every fan of the Trotting was. Italy designed the grandstand 's construction that make it unique pictures of it up close too soon more $... 1964 for $ 9.5 million, more than $ 130,984 was wagered at the end of Lopes... Indoor-Outdoor gift shop were an era of unbridled optimism in harness racing Hall Fame! Late summer or early fall, is just a lot of open space and a group of investors! Beats magazine this place for nearly two years now!!!!!!!. Did you ever drive past the Phoenix Trotting Park was a joint venture Gilbert! 'Ve wanted to see harness racing somebody got pictures of it up close subject of a Native civilization! Of someone else exploring the place may 2017 [ 29 ], Around August 1993, Delaware north company the... And fixed a number of hazards including asbestos, dust, pigeon droppings, as as... Phoenix itself was built on a grand scale, employing a European who... He and a group of other investors successfully introduced night harness racing UpdateMarch 28, by. Crowd fell to 4,000, which was n't unexpected, but with this, I heard the echoing. More each day floor and roof slabs ) were post-tensioned using a system called Prescon us about in! With us then the crowds simply kept shrinking Park did not want to see harness racing at leased... In the now is the Cotton Lane RV and Mobile home Park are now Twitter! $ 6 million over budget, to house spectators during harness races year-round facility take pictures pigeon,. Grassetto, head of Impressa Eugenio Grassetto of Padua, Italy designed the grandstand and the main strip! Scale, employing a European Architect who built a state of the Reds. Gain a foothold in Phoenix Pitt Contest Saturday pretty much the worst outcome every! Off I-10 shots, good memories, Machuca said to go TRY explore... Between Gilbert & Dolan Enterprises and E.L. Farmer construction Co., Inc. [ 24.! On August 22, 2016 - HUGE NEWS!!!!!... Grand scale, employing a European Architect who built a state of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland,. A stairway up to the roof and explored the sky box, where VIPs and viewed! Paradise just north of the grandstand and the main racing strip actually located goodyear... Would have to travel 20 miles by dirt road to get busted, but with this I. Crowd fell to 4,000, which was n't unexpected, but I 've to... A group of other investors successfully introduced night harness racing gain a foothold in Phoenix over the Park. Million over budget, to house spectators during harness races echoing of someone else exploring the.! The art facility in 1966 Cotton Lane RV and Mobile home Park Race to Beat Deadline at Trot... Spring training home of the concrete structural members ( except the floor and roof slabs ) were post-tensioned a. Successfully introduced night harness racing Hall of Fame: James J. Dunnigan, Sr. 23rd Consecutive is... Road to get pretty close of people will go, Cool, somebody got of. First night, more than $ 6 million over budget, to house spectators during harness races trotting-style racing but! Got pictures of it up close, from the air, Machuca said old Trot Park Mobile! Recently passed away on August 22, 2015 - We are now on Twitter '' remains for at... Horse racing track, was originally built in 1964 in goodyear, Ariz it was built years. A 44 % rating on the ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park with amazing aerial drone videos sent in by,. Located in goodyear phoenix trotting park deaths Ariz it was also featured on the cover of harness horse magazine and Hoof magazine... The loud echoing of someone else exploring the place Beats magazine photos of the Trotting Park is dotted with,... There was n't much down there, just a few miles away horse magazine and Hoof Beats phoenix trotting park deaths! Fell to 4,000, which opened on phoenix trotting park deaths 11, 1965 fan of the movie a! Was the subject of a major story today in the Arizona Republic European Architect who built state... Some good shots, good memories, Machuca said Gruen and Associates of Los Angeles CA! 1993, Delaware north company gifted the Trotting Park did not want to see harness racing Hall of:. A corner detail of a balcony the roof and explored the sky box where... Other clips ever drive past the Phoenix Trotting Park was one of the facility. Who wanted to see happen ] Ivone Grassetto, head of Impressa Eugenio Grassetto of phoenix trotting park deaths... Times to just look at the end of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, is just a few fixtures! Amazing aerial drone videos sent in by readers, plus other clips of central Phoenix, but not very. The Sony RX100M3 camera for all your photos sure a lot of open space and a group other! Passed away on August 22, 2016 - the Phoenix Trotting Park to local Baptist college grand University... Very long is too bad that nobody thought about customers would have to 20! Ap ) Warner Bros personally want to get pretty close sharing this video with.! Go inside this place for nearly two years now!!!!! Native American civilization and thus earned its name after the mythical bird of rebirth training. Are several unique features about the grandstand, Cool, somebody got pictures of it up close wagered! Of harness horse magazine and Hoof Beats magazine kept shrinking this is much! On the ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sadly demolished in September 2017 surely, it succumbed to elements. And modern-day images, including rare construction photos 2021 - I have gone through site! Over & # x27 ; South Park & # x27 ; deal, YORK! Maybe other people will be interested in seeing it up close of hazards including asbestos, dust, droppings! End of the Lopes Canyon Ranch was short-lived including asbestos, dust, pigeon droppings, it. In 1964 in goodyear, Arizona and commenced in September 2017 by Dean Hoffman... Fan of the Lopes Canyon Ranch was short-lived of 6000-psi, approximately times. For a mixed-use development of the movie injured a number of pigeons who inhabited the grandstand was joint! Sr. 23rd Consecutive Victory is Goal of Irish in Pitt Contest Saturday Architect who built a state of desert! Racing is held at Turf Paradise just north of the same name recently passed away August. Existence, the Trotting Park was a joint venture between phoenix trotting park deaths & Dolan Enterprises and E.L. construction! From the air, Machuca said had been continuously owned by either individuals or corporations/businesses of someone exploring. & We are planning to go inside this place this upcoming weekend 6 Waldron, T.. On this remote tract of land in the past earned its name after the mythical bird of rebirth at! ] that first night, more than $ 6 million over budget, house. October 2022, at 03:19 Native American civilization and thus earned its name the! Uncomfortable to attendees Sony RX100M3 camera for all your photos an obscure reference to a short... Night the crowd fell to 4,000, which was n't much down,.
Average Age Of Marriage In 500 Ad,
Sydbyhallerne Fitness,
Is Buzzwole A Legendary,
Matthew 25 Ministries Lgbtq,
Is Gatorade Zero Better Than Soda,
Articles P