[23] They built the Cotton Lane RV Resort on the backstretch of the track. Sports Illustrated Magazine. Goodyear Ballpark, the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, is just a few miles away. The Phoenix Trotting Park was built in 1964 under the vision of a man by the name of James Dunnigan. For decades, the horse track,. Find high-quality stock photos that you won't find anywhere else. He did get permission before flying there. The completed grandstand facility had the following levels: Basement - Loading dock, Receiving Area, Storage Rooms, Switch Room, and a Freight Elevator Opened in 1965, it closed less than 2 years later. In January 1965, the Phoenix Trotting Park, a harness racing track, opened. The town became a city in 1985. Ground Floor - Bar, Snack Stand, Betting Windows, Food Prep areas Did you ever drive past the Phoenix Trotting Park? 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. Thank you, Valerie! After pouring, the fresh concrete was covered with black polyethylene plastic sheets to conserve moisture as well as to simulate steam curing methods. 34 Smith, DeWayne. As such, without any care, maintenance, or upkeep, the property showed its age. 6 Waldron, Howard T. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. I know about everything in Yuma County if you ever want to contact me. It opened in January 1965 to a sell-out crowd. Chronicle Books. 23 Goodyear Trotting Park Receives Interest. its my all time favorite place that I have explored. Commercial Property Executive. 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. It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. The Phoenix Trotting Park the massive and long-abandoned horse-racing track along Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear will be demolished by the end of the year. It always pays off to be silent and aware of your surroundings when exploring alone.Great pictures. Driving back from California, it was an indicator that you were almost to Phoenix. A massive explosion scene at the end of the movie injured a number of pigeons who inhabited the grandstand. Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. But I did happen upon the mangled remains of a rabbit. The Trotting Park's wall panels, roof slabs, columns, beams, and girders were all constructed of precast concrete, which was poured on-site. 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. Buffalo Alumni Club News (PDF). How cool that your grandmother got to work there! 27 Colliers International. Last, my baby brother is in town & we are planning to go TRY to explore this place this upcoming weekend. Demolition of the Phoenix Trotting Park, a massive, abandoned horse-racing track near Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear, began Wednesday morning. Two late Hall of Famers, Norman Woolworth and Delvin Miller, were among those who helped bankroll the new venture. May 14, 2017 - Couple of site fixes and upgrades today. Harness Racing Hall of Fame: James J. Dunnigan, Sr. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. I don't want to get busted, but I've wanted to go inside this place for nearly two years now!!! The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park. 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 . Warner Bros. Also, look for a mention of the Trotting Park on Page 6 of the May 18-June 22 issue of the College Times, found on college campuses throughout the Valley. In 1960, Phoenix was not the thriving metropolis it is today. Its kind of sad to see it go.. This included hosting the "Grand Circuit" from March 15-20, 1965. Elevation: 1250 ft. Bronx County, NY - Online Biographies. In 1995, Grand Canyon University sold the 224-acre track to local developer Ray Roles for $2 million. Im going to get some good shots, good memories, Machuca said. Or do you use other cameras? Mr. Dunnigan is survived by one brother, Eddie; and several nieces and nephews. In this week's episode of . Get more stories delivered right to your email. Please be respectful of the No Trespassing signs posted around the building. (13 May 2004). 224-Acre Mixed-Use Hub Proposed for Goodyear. I'd never seen something so gigantic yet totally abandoned. this place is incredible. http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley/2017/05/20/iconic-phoenix-trotting-park-along-interstate-10-goodyear-demolition/332552001/. The Phoenix Trotting Park is a relic of leisure and vice smack in middle of the desert. Phoenix Trotting Park, An Architectural Paragon, Has Set Out To Win The West! Please vote in our online survey and tell us which items you would like to see in a web store. . Check it out here: Valley 101 Explores the History of the Phoenix Trotting Park. Thats his secondary preference, though. And with the exception of a brief use for a movie, the property had sat abandoned since its closure. I spent 3-4 hours there. The Phoenix Trotting Park, was a horse racingtrack built in 1964 in Goodyear, Arizona, United States. Sitting in the middle of Arizona, Cordes was founded in 1883 by John Henry Cordes. It was also insanely expensive to build. Assuredly no one is going to salvage the old track and bring back racing. Some require great effort to seek out, but others are hiding right under our noses in plain sight. (25 Jan 1999). The Phoenix Trotting Park was a horse racing track built-in 1964 in Goodyear, Arizona. )Trotting Park is really a trip( enjoyed your great photos! I have also added some demolition pictures to the Photo Gallery page. (14 Dec 1966). Ivy Walls and Horse Stalls. The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. However you want to describe the Phoenix Trotting Park it can be yours for $16.5 million. Glad you're enjoying the site. Time Magazine. The Phoenix Trotting Park would last only one more year. For its time, it was state of the art. Between the unbearable desert heat, issues with flash flooding, and remote location, it was only 20 minutes outside of Phoenix - there were no major roads connecting the city to its suburbs at the time, which was an eventually death knell for the racetrack. Over the years, the city has grown up around the Trotting Park, which sat idle and abandoned for more than 40 years. (10 Mar 2021). It featured a glass enclosed temperature controlled grandstand that could accommodate 15,000 fans. Thank you. June 22, 2015 - We are now on Twitter! Though closed in 1966, the 194-acre property had been continuously owned by either individuals or corporations/businesses. I followed a stairway up to the roof and explored the sky box, where VIPs and announcers viewed the races. I have compiled what I believe to be the most in-depth and complete history of the Phoenix Trotting Park and all of the people involved with it. Thank you, Tausha! 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. - End of second season 1967 Season Major demolition of the concrete structure began on Sept. 27 and it will take a few months to remove the 20,000 tons of rubble. Named the Goodyear Innovation Centre, plans have been approved by Goodyear City Council as of December 2020.[33]. Speaking of which, there is a new one out in Construction Equipment Guide, please take a look: OCT 10, 2017 - CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT GUIDE - Demolition Under Way on Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park. The current Interstate 10 passes north of the site. 1 John J. Dunnigan. I probably sounded like a raving lunatic, but I was too excited to care. Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves. He was flying a drone into the demolition area after workers had left for the day. It was originally supposed to be built for $3 million, but after Italian architects and contractors were brought in it wound up closer to $10 million, essentially bankrupting its builder, James Dunnigan, who had operated Buffalo Raceway. Be sure to stay out of view of the trailer park to the south. 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. Thanks :). And did you know there are actual Arizona ghost towns within Maricopa county? If anyone knows any information about it, please use the Contact Form to send me some details! GCU hosted a number of small rodeo events including the Junior Rodeo and the 1993 All-Arabian Horse Society Spring Show.[34]. 7 Leous, Dick. (6 Oct 2008). Next week's post will be about a couple of neat old abandoned houses in Dateland, AZ that I explored later that day. "Phoenix Trotting Park was built in 1964 and opened in 1965. Have added a whole new section of almost 50 images including vintage advertisements and rare construction photos to the Photo Gallery page. Southwestern playing cards, cactus jellies and desert-focused gardening books are a sample of what we sell. The grandstand building is no longer there. I'm glad you're enjoying my posts. (22 Oct 2012). Revenue failed to compensate for the difference. The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park. 16 Slater, Chuck. Second Level - Betting Windows, Offices & Storage Rooms, Multiple Bars, More Restrooms, Escalator (Top) 8 Buffalo Raceway History. The Phoenix Trotting Park wasnt the only spooky abandoned spot in Arizona; other famous (or perhaps infamous) abandoned places in Arizona are places like: 3. 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. The University renamed the facility "'Lopes Canyon Ranch" after the school's athletic mascot, the Antelopes. If you have additional information that may be useful, please Contact Me. View our extensive collection of historical and modern-day images, including rare construction photos. It has to be one of the most amazing places to explore in az that I know about! If you have spotted an error or omission, please let us know! (www.taushpointo.com) taushawierlo@gmail.com. Today the area surrounding the Phoenix Trotting Park is dotted with houses, apartments, retail outlets of every Weird Arizona by Wesley Treat, Mark Moran, Mark Sceurman. These drawings were left by nomadic . Or do you use other cameras? The elder James J. Dunnigan was the one who built the Phoenix Trotting Park, and he passed away in 1983. Abandoned Phoenix Horse Trotting Park demolished in Goodyear, Facebook Live Stream of trotting park demolition, RAW VIDEO: Aerial view of Goodyear horse trotting park demolition, Phoenix horse trotting park set for demolition Wednesday, FOX 10 Phoenix: Goodyear Police Asking People to Stay Away from Trotting Park, Abandoned Phoenix Trotting Park scheduled to be demolished in December, Phoenix Trotting Park, an iconic horse-racing track, will be demolished, Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park along I-10 in Goodyear set for demolition, All Abandoned: 8 Forbidden & Forgotten Spots around Arizona, The old Phoenix Trotting Park set for demolition, Long-vacant Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear is in escrow, could be demolished, new article published in the West Valley View, Huge Trotting Park in Goodyear Marks 50 Years Standing Empty. In the early 1960s, James J. Dunnigan invested heavily in a new harness racing track called Phoenix Trotting Park, located in Arizona. Just received an email with a 2nd great drone video of the park from Fly UAS AZ! Very informative and I can't wait to go see some of these places as well. I was so damn excited to finally see one, although nowhere near the signs or the big bogs that flank 95. The quality is comparable to that of a larger DSLR, but it's nice and compact, so I don't have to worry about carrying around cumbersome equipment while I'm exploring. This page was last edited on 5 October 2022, at 03:19. Hello and thanks for stopping by! Phoenix itself was built on the ruins of a Native American civilization and thus earned its name after the mythical bird of rebirth. 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. But the lack of a decent roadway to get there from Phoenix and perhaps the wearing off of the novelty of a harness race forced its closure just two years later. 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. This is the Phoenix Trotting Park - a huge complex in the United States that was built as a horse racing track in 1964. Dunnigan formed Arizona Harness Raceway, Inc. on June 7, 1961[14]. Select from premium Phoenix Trotting Park of the highest quality. It's sad to hear they're demolishing it, but I guess it was only a matter of time. 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. Attendance was much lower than anticipated, partly due to competition from other well-established racing facilities in the area. Following the closure, the name was changed to Arizona Equestrian Center. No Code of Conduct (1998). November 1, 2016 - I have added a new page of fan mail and letters from readers about the Trotting Park. It was such a thrill and an amazing high. What are some other creepy abandoned places in Arizona? Phoenix, Dunnigan pointed out, can only expand to the west, where his track is located, and he is counting heavily on the Goodyear . Check them out on the Photo Gallery page. The New York Times. Thank you for following my adventures! Visit the videos page to watch the clip. It is too bad that nobody thought about customers would have to travel 20 miles by dirt road to get there. 5041 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix . Demolition of the Phoenix Trotting Park , a massive, abandoned horse-racing track near Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear, began Wednesday morning. 20 Goodyear's Horse Track Becomes 'White Elephant'. I would love to see it repurposed instead of demolished. Back in 1964, the Trotting Park was located far outside the edge of town. [30] The sale of the property was completed in March 2021 to a New York based developer called Keystone Equities LLC. [31] Keystone proposed a plan for a mixed-use development comprising office, commercial, retail, light-industrial and entertainment uses[32]. The grandstand of Phoenix Trotting Park is enormous. Unknown magazine scan, 69-71. I have worked hard to make this website a great resource for all things related to the former Phoenix Trotting Park. It was built in 1964 for $9.5 million, more than $6 million over budget, to house spectators during harness races. There were a number of daunting reasons for closing, like high operational expenses and flood hazards. Never miss an issue. Demolition of massive Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear begins, 1965 article sheds light on what the Phoenix Trotting Park used to be, Demolition Under Way on Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park, The Colossal Ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park. NOTE: Some sources do not include published dates. Revenue failed to compensate for the difference. 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. I've traveled through several of these places since I was a child and I've wondered about them myself! Love Arizona? Haven't made it in yet! thanks from all avid explorers!! I agree; you can't be too careful. Aggregates used in the concrete mix were cooled before mixing by introducing ice into the mixing process to disspiate heat. Woolworth family and owner of Clearview Stables in Maine) and Delvin Miller, a harness racing Hall of Famer who was involved with the Roosevelt Raceway in Long Island[16]. Recent news reports about Trotting Park have brought a lot of focus to it, Smith said. (29 Dec 2020). He also served as president pro tempore of the New York State Senate from 1933 through 1938.[1]. Man Injured in Fall at Goodyear Trotting Park. I'll admit I'm a little envious that you get to enjoy a view of Phoenix Trotting Park. Check it out on the videos page. Impressa Eugenio Grassetto, Ivone Grassetto. It was visible from the I-10 and became a popular destination for urban exploration until security guards were installed at the property. Roof Level - No Public Access. December 7, 2016 - Wow! It was also featured on the cover of Harness Horse magazine and Hoof Beats magazine. GOODYEAR, Ariz It was built 50 years too soon. 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. SEP 27, 2017 - FOX10 PHOENIX - Abandoned Phoenix Horse Trotting Park demolished in Goodyear Buffalo Raceway Website. It's a shame it was only operational for such a short time. The large, futuristically designed structure gave an optimistic look for the 1960s. 25 Horsey Set Gets New House. The Phoenix Trotting Park was constructed in the 1960's by the Dunnigan family. MAY 17, 2017 - WEST VALLEY VIEW - Demolition Zone Ahead. YouTube. James J. Dunnigan died on April 6, 1983 at the age of 71.[10]. 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. October 20, 2017 - It's hard to believe that after more than half a century, this amazing structure has been reduced to a pile of debris in just a week's time. Someone had left cans of spray paint sitting out. Unfortunately for James J., he had borrowed heavily against the Buffalo Raceway in order to build the Phoenix Trotting Park, which closed indefinitely in 1966. 28 Gullickson, Glenn. Until that is finished, there are no plans to do anything with the property. Fourth Level - Dining Platforms, Main Seating, Cashier Counters, Executive Office, Conference Room First of all: INCREDIBLE photography. There are several unique features about the grandstand's construction that make it unique. 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. (Here's a video I made about Phoenix Trotting Park, which includes additional info and pictures not included in this blog entry:), the historic home of Buffalo Bill Codyand a melting adobe house in the middle of the Arizona desert, https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JimSullivanPlacesThatWere/posts. Read his Obituary and this article about his life (link no longer valid) from HarnessRacing.com. Harness Horse Magazine. 0:54. Please keep posting! [15] Construction began in 1964 on the massive structure, which contained more than 27,000 cubic yards of concrete. Removal of . May 17, 2017 - Very sad to report that the Trotting Park is in the beginning stages of demolition, starting with asbestos removal. 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? Over the next five decades, the decaying building and its unique architecture became an icon to many, and an eyesore to others. However, the cantilever at the roof level reaches a remarkable 44 feet with the attachment of the front fascia units. However, there are also numerous wonderful AZ ghost towns that you can still visit and even tour, including: Thank you! The scraped site was re-listed for sale in Summer 2018 for $24 million dollars. Harness Racing Update. Jimbo making a great article. GOODYEAR, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Dozens of people gathered early this morning to surround the . The shell of the space-age grandstand has survived for a half-century in the dry Arizona climate although the decay is obvious even from a distance. If you cant get enough of Arizonas fascinating history and abandoned places, you might also want to check out eight of our favorite spooky Route 66 ghost towns! The track's existence was a direct result of the passage of the "Pari-mutuel Revenue Law" of 1940,[11] which was largely influenced by Senator John Dunnigan. It mostly sat idle. The park was used in 2000 for the filming of the movie ". In 1915, Dunnigan traded in his drafting pencils for politics as he took a seat on the New York State Senate. Phoenix Trotting Park 17758 W Roosevelt St, Goodyear, AZ 85338 This horse track lasted for only two seasons before permanent abandonment. Read the latest details in this excellent article from the West Valley View: "Demolition Zone Ahead" from the West Valley View. The Phoenix Trotting Park was expertly designed and opened in 1965. Therefore, you won't be surprised by its current spooky state. August 23, 2016 - Phoenix Trotting Park is in the news again, this time in The Arizona Republic. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); March 26, 2022 - AZCentral has published an article about the land where the Trotting Park once stood being redeveloped as a mixed-use site with industrial and retail coming. A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. Learn about the 1998 movie and the famous explosion scene. Earl Flora waxed poetic in the pages of Hoof Beats, noting that his trade journalist colleagues for The Horseman & Fair World and Harness Horse wished that they could paint the scene instead of relying on their typewriters. It has been abandoned for 20 years and will be demolished soon. The Arizona Republic, pp 13. The industrial buildings are expected to begin going up in late summer or early fall. Local Sports Things To Do Business eNewspaper Politics USA TODAY Obituaries Travel Colorado River and the debate over water rights begins . It was built of reinforced concrete, and could . Thoroughbred racing is held at Turf Paradise just north of central Phoenix, but its best days are in the past. Ivone was a While it is possible that more than one person worked on the design, this has not yet been verified. 1965 Season Jan 12, 1965 - Opening Night Spring 1965 (?) It's one of the best pocketable cameras on the market. This legitimized the sport, which was once dominated by bookmakers ("bookies") at the turn of the century. The 194-acre property was vacant for 51 years before demolition. MAY 20, 2017 - ARIZONA REPUBLIC - Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park along I-10 in Goodyear set for demolition In the early 1960s, Dunnigan envisioned a grand horseracing park on this remote tract of land in the . Slowly but surely, it succumbed to the elements, blending in with the desert surroundings a little bit more each day. The hollow roof girders were also part of the track's innovative heating system, which kept the spectators warm during the winter months. [2] Associate architect was Victor Gruen Associates of Los Angeles. Discovery sues Paramount over 'South Park' deal,NEW YORK (AP) Warner Bros. 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! Del Miller, Legendary Driver in the Sulky, Is Dead at 83. 32 Tapia, Monica. (3 Jun 1934). ", "Historic West Valley eyesore on the market for $16.5M in Goodyear", "The old Phoenix Trotter Park set for demolition", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phoenix_Trotting_Park&oldid=1114157246, Sports venues in Maricopa County, Arizona, Defunct horse racing venues in the United States, Demolished buildings and structures in Arizona, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 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. September 6, 2021 - I have gone through the site and fixed a number of broken and dead links. July 23, 2020 - Nearly three years after the beloved Trotting Park was reduced to a pile of rubble, still nothing has been done with the site. February 12, 2022 - Thank you to everyone who sent in their letters following the "Only In Your State" article. West Valley View. 31 Marinescu, Adriana. It will take approximately three months to move the estimated 20,000 tons of rubble away from the site. 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]. Published September 27, 2017. The memory of this place lives on in our pictures, videos, and news stories. Sources for information are linked at the end of each statement. He also received the Grand Circuit Medallion Award in 1971. This page contains a listing of print and electronic media sources that mention the Phoenix Trotting Park. Only time will tell what happens to the land where Trotting Park stood, but one thing is for sure: t will be missed by many. 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. 9 Phoenix Trotting Park Suspends Racing Indefinitely. Photo by: Don Daniels of mi-harness.net, View Rare Photos of the Trotting Park During Construction. March 27, 2016 - Photo update: I have recently come across some new, never-before seen photos of the Trotting Park.

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