August 10, 2016 - Sale pending! guaranteed money makers in that era. Looking for something lost in a past life. And only pictures, videos and memories of the ones that had adventures exploring the place will remain now, it has been demolished probably another cookie cutter suburban development will fill the space and someone not familiar with the area will never know it was there. (12 Dec 1965). The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park. (10 Mar 2021). FOX 10 Phoenix. After all, race tracks were But Phoenix Trotting Park proved to be the exception. Do you remember seeing the large, unusual structure along Interstate 10 in Goodyear, Arizona and wondering: "What is that thing?" 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. Jimbo making a great article. The University of Notre Dame. More videos on TUC Extras Channel: http://youtube.com/theunknowncamextrashttps://www.facebook.com/TheUnknownCameraman/http://www.twitter.com/TheUnknownCam Well meet with the family after everything has been taken down and cleaned up, then determine where were going to go with it from there, Smith said. The 5/8-mile track was the first in North America to have spiral turns to help horses get through the curves better, but the fastest mile of the evening was 2:10.4 by Santa Raider. Thanks for sending it in. Follow us @PHXTrottingPark. Elevation: 1250 ft. MAY 17, 2017 - AZFAMILY - The old Phoenix Trotting Park set for demolition (video) Im sure a lot of people will be interested in seeing it up close, from the air, Machuca said. The 194-acre property was vacant for 51 years before demolition. I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. 6 Waldron, Howard T. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. Before the structure could be knocked down, crews were on site of the. 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 roof of the grandstand was supported by a series of main roof girders. 14 Arizona Harness Racing, Inc. (7 Jun 1961). Phoenix Trotting Park was seen as the western version of Florida's popular Pompano Park, bringing pari-mutuel action on trotters and pacers to new territories. Phoenix Trotting Park was one of the most incredible places I'd ever explored. February 12, 2022 - Thank you to everyone who sent in their letters following the "Only In Your State" article. John J. Dunnigan. Harness Racing Hall of Fame: James J. Dunnigan, Sr. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. Discovery sues Paramount over 'South Park' deal,NEW YORK (AP) Warner Bros. It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. The New York Times. I'd read rumors of a squatter settlement in the basement and was determined to find out if there was any truth to it. And did you know there are actual Arizona ghost towns within Maricopa county? For a hiking trail that leads to an abandoned village, check out this Arizona abandoned village trail thats sure to intrigue you. Very informative and I can't wait to go see some of these places as well. Revenue failed to compensate for the difference. 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. 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. 7, Issue 4. In 1915, Dunnigan traded in his drafting pencils for politics as he took a seat on the New York State Senate. 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. Read a comprehensive history of the Dunnigan Family, the Buffalo Raceway, and the Phoenix Trotting Park. No occupancy. Local Sports Things To Do Business eNewspaper Politics USA TODAY Obituaries Travel Colorado River and the debate over water rights begins . I have worked hard to make this website a great resource for all things related to the former Phoenix Trotting Park. 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. Phoenix Trotting Park is on the market for $16.5 million. [25]. 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. May 17, 2017 - Very sad to report that the Trotting Park is in the beginning stages of demolition, starting with asbestos removal. The park was used in 2000 for the filming of the movie ". December 7, 2016 - Wow! Phoenix Trotting Park was a far less successful venture. (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. Southwestern playing cards, cactus jellies and desert-focused gardening books are a sample of what we sell. 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. This is just amazing i am studying public design and this is really helping me so please keep posting your experience :). 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. High 56F. immeemz/Flickr. The gran. The land sold for $16.5 million to a New York-based developer called Keystone Equities LLC. Built in 1964, the Phoenix Trotting Park was actually located in Goodyear, Arizona. 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. 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 . The large, futuristically designed structure gave an optimistic look for the 1960s. Founded as a silver mining town in 1863, this is considered a living ghost town since the area still holds a population of 352. So you only use the Sony RX100M3 camera for all your photos? (19 Jan 1934). It was built of reinforced concrete, and could . its my all time favorite place that I have explored. I was so damn excited to finally see one, although nowhere near the signs or the big bogs that flank 95. Though closed in 1966, the 194-acre property had been continuously owned by either individuals or corporations/businesses. Sale of W.V. Dunnigan was able to drum up some financing from his trotting buddies in New York, including Norman S. Woolworth (a relative of the wealthy J.W. The Arizona Republic, pp 13. Berlin. Man Injured in Fall at Goodyear Trotting Park. The Notre Dame Scholastic, Vol. The grandstand of Phoenix Trotting Park is enormous. Many readers have reached out to me with submissions of photos of the Trotting Park. I guess you could sit back and wait for it to die down. Cant wait til later this week when I do a full exploration. Check them out on the Photo Gallery page. The backstretch area now is the Cotton Lane RV and Mobile Home Park. Recent news reports about Trotting Park have brought a lot of focus to it, Smith said. Slowly but surely, it succumbed to the elements, blending in with the desert surroundings a little bit more each day. Things were off to a great start, but it wasn't long before the park's luck changed. Thanks to Annie for sending in photos from 'The Harness Horse' magazine and to Mike at PaperJet for their contributions. Their dog ambled about a bank of dwindling sand, trotting, sniffing on all sides. Thank you, Tausha! Bronx County, NY - Online Biographies. (6 Oct 2008). In 1975 he was inducted into the Living Hall of Fame. MAY 18, 2018 - COLLEGE TIMES - All Abandoned: 8 Forbidden & Forgotten Spots around Arizona The Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park was demolished on October 14, 2017 after more than 50 years! GOODYEAR, Ariz It was built 50 years too soon. In 1960, Phoenix was not the thriving metropolis it is today. View our extensive collection of historical and modern-day images, including rare construction photos. Sports Illustrated Magazine. Roars the never were . I haven't been to Corn Springs, but I may have to check it out next time I'm in the area. (2008). West Valley View. The life of the Lopes Canyon Ranch was short-lived. Construction of the grandstand was a joint venture between Gilbert & Dolan Enterprises and E.L. Farmer Construction Co., Inc. [24]. 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. Or do you use other cameras? The city just needs to work on some piping and fix a few exterior lights first. SEP 27, 2017 - FOX10 PHOENIX - Abandoned Phoenix Horse Trotting Park demolished in Goodyear ), biggest white elephant in Maricopa County, but when I explored about 21 years ago they had motion sensors and the police were there in 10 minutes, had to use old trick to divert them elsewhere. definitely keep trying, it is so worth it. Mezzanine Floor - Men's and Women's Bathrooms, Stairwell Access Originally budgeted at $3 million, it ended up costing about $10 million. It has become an issue. [27] The park was reported to be in escrow in August of 2016 [28], but that sale fell through and did not complete. Will be content with your great pictures. The pre-cast pieces have a compressive strength of 6000-psi, approximately three times the normal strength of concrete used in more conventional buildings. Phoenix was terribly impressed by St. Mawr, he could not leave off staring at him. Gilbert & Dolan Enterprises/E.L. They were quick to point out that the track was built No Code of Conduct (1998). 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! Arizona Business Gazette. The track sat idle after racing closed, but some horses trained there decades later. I'm so glad you're finding it helpful. He did get permission before flying there. It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. [15] Total construction time from the groundbreaking ceremony to the first race was less than 12 months. Be sure to stay out of view of the trailer park to the south. Check them out on the Photo Gallery page. I'm so happy to have found your site. The elder James J. Dunnigan was the one who built the Phoenix Trotting Park, and he passed away in 1983. The track was listed for sale in January of 2016 for $16.5 million dollars for a 194-acre parcel. After 52 years of existence, the Trotting Park was sadly demolished in September 2017. I don't know what happened, but my best guess is that something happened with the financing or with securing all of the necessary rights to the land. 32 Tapia, Monica. Because of its highly visible location from the Interstate highway, the Trotting Park had unfortunately become an attractive nuisance for vandals, scrappers, and graffiti artists. Thoroughbred racing is held at Turf Paradise just north of central Phoenix, but its best days are in the past. The park is also located about 20 miles outside of Phoenix and was built long before any major roads made the area easily accessible to those in the city or its suburbs. Phoenix, Dunnigan pointed out, can only expand to the west, where his track is located, and he is counting heavily on the Goodyear . 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. 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. So sad they have scheduled it for demolition; that makes this blog entry particularly valuable. He was flying a drone into the demolition area after workers had left for the day. I returned to the ground level and did a little more exploring. October 22, 2017 - Two new videos have been added to the Videos page. Search from Phoenix Trotting Park stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images from iStock. Farmer Construction Co., Inc. [15] Construction began in 1964 on the massive structure, which contained more than 27,000 cubic yards of concrete. 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. Recently started following your adventures, as we stayed at Desert Center for a month this winter. Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear before it was demolished. Hi Jim, I too have enjoyed your photography work, you have a great eye and the information you provide on the subject matter. When I was sure I'd explored every corner of the place, I headed back out into the Arizona sun. 2. [2] He died in December 1965 at the age of 82.[3]. [12] It is part of the Erie County Fairgrounds and is located at: 5600 McKinley Pkwy, Hamburg, NY 14075. YouTube. PhoenixTrottingPark.jpg . 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. The completed grandstand facility had the following levels: Basement - Loading dock, Receiving Area, Storage Rooms, Switch Room, and a Freight Elevator 2. The New York Times. Or do you use other cameras? Phoenix Trotting Park This building was once home to thousands of pigeons. A massive explosion scene at the end of the movie injured a number of pigeons who inhabited the grandstand. I really wish somebody could have done something with it instead of just tearing it down, he said. [31] Keystone proposed a plan for a mixed-use development comprising office, commercial, retail, light-industrial and entertainment uses[32]. 17 Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves. Last, my baby brother is in town & we are planning to go TRY to explore this place this upcoming weekend. It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. Just wondering what street you parked your car on, and also how you entered from the north without being seen by the U-Haul and adjacent neighborhood that is across the street from the Park. Are there any other abandoned places in Arizona that stick out like a sore thumb? 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. I saw a little structure off by itself on the roof, and couldn't resist having a closer look. The Phoenix Trotting Park harness racing track in Goodyear was torn down last week, and now sits as a pile of concrete and rebar at the interchange of I-10 and Loop 303. 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. 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. And at his side, on the big brilliant bay horse, the smallish, black-bearded Welshman. 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. November 21, 2016 - Huge thanks to Gary Oglesby for sending in his drone footage of the Trotting Park. If anyone knows any information about it, please use the Contact Form to send me some details! It really is an incredible place. The grandstand building is no longer there. (14 Jan 2016). Please be respectful of the No Trespassing signs posted around the building. Recent news reports about Trotting Park have brought a lot of focus to it, Smith said. 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. He also served as president pro tempore of the New York State Senate from 1933 through 1938.[1]. September 6, 2021 - I have gone through the site and fixed a number of broken and dead links. Such a neat place. HarnessMuseum.com. Cool! . The building had so many levels, it seemed to go on forever. It closed in 1966 and was eventually demolished in 2017. In 1995, Grand Canyon University sold the 224-acre track to local developer Ray Roles for $2 million. A year from now maybe people wont be going out there on the property, but its doubtful.. This is the Phoenix Trotting Park - a huge complex in the United States that was built as a horse racing track in 1964. 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. Very informative and I can't wait to go see some of these places as well. The Grand Circuit is the equivalent of the World Series in baseball. A West Valley landmark has been reduced to rubble. 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. Named the Goodyear Innovation Centre, plans have been approved by Goodyear City Council as of December 2020.[33]. The hollow roof girders were also part of the track's innovative heating system, which kept the spectators warm during the winter months. - Arizona Republic, Sep 27, 2017 - Demolition of massive Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear begins - Arizona Republic, Sep 27, 2017 - 1965 article sheds light on what the Phoenix Trotting Park used to be - AZ Family 3TV / CBS 5, Oct 10, 2017 - Demolition Under Way on Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park - Construction Equipment Guide, Oct 17, 2017 - Ghostly Track Meets Its Unmaker - Arizona Contractor & Community Magazine, Mar 21, 2005 - Phoenix Trotting Park by Trevorland - UER The Urban Exploration Resource, Oct 11, 2005 - Phoenix Trotting Park - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Jul 19, 2006 - Movie Review: No Code of Conduct - ahafilm.info (via Internet Archive), Nov 17, 2006 - Phoenix Trotting Park: A Photo Essay - by Phil Donohue, The Itinerant, Mar 19, 2009 - Phoenix Trotting Park; concrete ruins - by Joel Contreras, ModernPhoenix.net, Dec 23, 2010 - Phoenix Trotting Park - by GhostTownAZ, May 16, 2011 - Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear by Benjamin Leatherman, Phoenix New Times, Jul 11, 2013 - The Ghost Racetrack of Goodyear, Arizona by David Roth, SBNation.com, Nov 2013 - Phoenix Trottng Park - by: reneelounsbury, Atlas Obscura, Sep 3, 2015 - The Colossal Ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park - by: Jim Sullivan, Places That Were, Mar 24, 2016 - Urban Exploration: Phoenix Trotting Park - by: Taush.O. For decades, the horse track,. The Phoenix Gazette, G3. White Tank Mountains Petroglyphs RobertPakko (Atlas Obscura User) Through the winding Waterfall Canyon Trail, a few drawings stand out along the rocks. "The trotting park might have been a mirage from another age or another world.". Demolition of the grandstand was announced in May 2017 [29], and commenced in September 2017. 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. 26 Whiting, Brent. Jimmy Dunnigan knew racing and racetracks and his expertise attracted investors who wanted to see harness racing gain a foothold in Phoenix. The massive structure consists of more than 27,000 cubic yards of reinforced concrete. 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. Haven't tried to go inside, though. With pepper spray in hand, I descended a dark stairway into the abyss. What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? (29 Dec 2020). The University renamed the facility "'Lopes Canyon Ranch" after the school's athletic mascot, the Antelopes. Hard times forced him to sell the Buffalo Raceway to the Sportservice Corporation that same year.[8]. (1983). Pigeons Echoing. Part of the feature involved a large explosion occurring at the track. [24] Roles Inn of America owned the land upon which the Trotting Park sat for many years. After pouring, the fresh concrete was covered with black polyethylene plastic sheets to conserve moisture as well as to simulate steam curing methods. What is your camera of choice? GOODYEAR, Ariz It was built 50 years too soon. 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 . Uh oh.. The Trotting Park's wall panels, roof slabs, columns, beams, and girders were all constructed of precast concrete, which was poured on-site. In the early 1960s, Dunnigan envisioned a grand horseracing park on this remote tract of land in the . Find Phoenix Trotting Park stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 18 Kiko, Sally. (29 Apr 1940). "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. May 22, 2017 Here is a roundup of the recent news stories about the Trotting Park: Attendance was much lower than anticipated, partly due to competition from other well-established racing facilities in the area. Originally budgeted at $3 million, it ended up costing about $10 million. Chris Randall/Flickr. Latest on COVID-19 in Arizona | COVID-19 cases and deaths. It was visible from the I-10 and became a popular destination for urban exploration until security guards were installed at the property. First of all: INCREDIBLE photography. Sitting in the middle of Arizona, Cordes was founded in 1883 by John Henry Cordes. Winds light and variable.. Clear.