Photo by: Don Daniels of mi-harness.net, View Rare Photos of the Trotting Park During Construction. It made me realize there could not have been a squatter settlement anywhere inside the building or I'd have definitely heard them during the several hours I was there. The roof of the grandstand was supported by a series of main roof girders. - Start of second season Spring 1966 (?) Discovery sues Paramount over 'South Park' deal,NEW YORK (AP) Warner Bros. Harness Racing UpdateMarch 28, 2014by Dean A. Hoffman. Recent news reports about Trotting Park have brought a lot of focus to it, Smith said. Date: 12.30.2010. 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. [15] Construction began in 1964 on the massive structure, which contained more than 27,000 cubic yards of concrete. 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 Read the article here: Huge Trotting Park in Goodyear Marks 50 Years Standing Empty. I'm so glad you're finding it helpful. Bronx County, NY - Online Biographies. 44, No. 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. He was preceded in death by his two other brothers, Richard and Jack; and his parents. 15 Werner, M.R. definitely keep trying, it is so worth it. 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. It has become an issue. Very informative and I can't wait to go see some of these places as well. Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia. 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]. [21] The parking lot was used as an automotive swap meet called "AutoSwap USA" in 1991. January 14, 2016 - HUGE NEWS!!! And with the exception of a brief use for a movie, the property had sat abandoned since its closure. It really is an incredible place. Most of my explorations have been in the Rust Belt and the Southwest, but I desperately want to take a trip through the rest of the southern states. Some require great effort to seek out, but others are hiding right under our noses in plain sight. According to a new article published in the West Valley View, the Phoenix Trotting Park is in escrow. Hard times forced him to sell the Buffalo Raceway to the Sportservice Corporation that same year.[8]. 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. Back in 1964, the Trotting Park was located far outside the edge of town. November 1, 2016 - I have added a new page of fan mail and letters from readers about the Trotting Park. (PDF). HarnessMuseum.com. 22 AutoSwap USA. description and a spaghetti-like tangle of interstate overpasses looms over the shell of the old track. [22], Around August 1993, Delaware North company gifted the Trotting Park to local Baptist college Grand Canyon University. View the listing here: Phoenix Trotting Park by Colliers International (link no longer valid). However, there are also numerous wonderful AZ ghost towns that you can still visit and even tour, including: Thank you! Last, my baby brother is in town & we are planning to go TRY to explore this place this upcoming weekend. 24 A Glass Enclosed Palace for the "Sport of Kings. Welcome to Ghost Towns of Arizona and Surrounding States A ghost town is a completely abandoned or semi-abandoned town or city. 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. Still hard to believe that it's really gone. The Phoenix Trotting Park is a relic of leisure and vice smack in middle of the desert. It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. Ground Floor - Bar, Snack Stand, Betting Windows, Food Prep areas 2. 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. Or do you use other cameras? The picture quality is amazing and looking for a new camera. Sources for information are linked at the end of each statement. 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. Their plans call for a mixed-use development of the site including industrial, commercial/retail, and entertainment in three phases. This article originally appeared in the March 28, 2014 issue of Harness Racing Update Newsletter (PDF). 0:54. The 194 acres that encompass the massive, abandoned horse-racing track hit the market in late December . Advertisements There are many reasons for its failure. Next week's post will be about a couple of neat old abandoned houses in Dateland, AZ that I explored later that day. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Arizona Corporation Commission. 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. Phoenix Trotting Park was not built with air conditioning, as it was never intended to be a year-round facility. 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. I know about everything in Yuma County if you ever want to contact me. 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. Thank you. [1] Ivone Grassetto, head of Impressa Eugenio Grassetto of Padua, Italy designed the grandstand and the main racing strip. 31 Marinescu, Adriana. Winds light and variable. It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. The grandstand building is no longer there. Welcome to the Desert Botanical Garden Gift Shop, we have the best gifts & souvenirs in Phoenix! What are some other creepy abandoned places in Arizona? Also added a few new letters from readers. I've seen many places through Texas that I hope you will post about one day. This legitimized the sport, which was once dominated by bookmakers ("bookies") at the turn of the century. Arizona Business Gazette. 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! (21 Aug 1996). Phoenix Trotting Park This building was once home to thousands of pigeons. I know many people are sad to hear that this unique and architecturally-significant building may soon meet its end, but it is on private property and visitors are NOT allowed. West Valley View. Haven't tried to go inside, though. Repeated calls to officials at the City of Goodyear were not returned. Article originally posted on Phoenix Business Journal on February 6, 2023 A developer is seeking an indefinite extension for a 224-acre mixed-use business and retail center that's slated for the former Phoenix Trotting Park property along Interstate 10 and the Loop 303 in Goodyear. The second night the crowd fell to 4,000, which wasn't unexpected, but then the crowds simply kept shrinking. The Phoenix Trotting Park would last only one more year. Things were off to a great start, but it wasn't long before the park's luck changed. Southwestern playing cards, cactus jellies and desert-focused gardening books are a sample of what we sell. 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. (Yes, that's a per capita of ten bucks but, remember, the sulky sport was all new to the Phoenicians). T, Hello again! Phoenix Trotting Park could be reduced to ashes if Arizona's long-shuttered Standardbred track is sold. Haven't made it in yet! (14 Jan 2016). AIA Press. The New York Times. Sports Illustrated Magazine. I agree; you can't be too careful. There was a lot of fencing around the place, but most of it was collapsed and not really an obstacle. Removal of . A 1965 Arizona Republic article also lists Eugenio Grasetto as the architect. Im going to get some good shots, good memories, Machuca said. The picture quality is amazing and looking for a new camera. Plant your own desert garden with a starter cactus from this indoor-outdoor gift shop. Their . The large, futuristically designed structure gave an optimistic look for the 1960s. 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. 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. He enjoyed politics and remained a member of the Senate and the Democratic party until his retirement in 1944. What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? Sitemap | Privacy Policy |   Contact Us, Valley 101 Explores the History of the Phoenix Trotting Park, Phoenix Mixed-Use Project Takes a Giant Step, Demolition Under Way on Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park, Demolition of massive Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear begins. Victor Gruen and Associates of Los Angeles, CA were the coordinating architects on the project. It featured a glass enclosed temperature controlled grandstand that could accommodate 15,000 fans. While people were no longer permitted to enter the dilapidated building before its destruction, some photographers still managed . September 6, 2021 - I have gone through the site and fixed a number of broken and dead links. [2] He died in December 1965 at the age of 82.[3]. Tell us about them in the comments! Phoenix Trotting Park, An Architectural Paragon, Has Set Out To Win The West! Attendees filled the beautiful grandstand to watch trotting-style racing, but not for very long. 21 TwiMet. Founded as a silver mining town in 1863, this is considered a living ghost town since the area still holds a population of 352. The horse racing park was built in 1964 and opened the following year to any eager gamblers willing to. Sitting in the middle of Arizona, Cordes was founded in 1883 by John Henry Cordes. [12] It is part of the Erie County Fairgrounds and is located at: 5600 McKinley Pkwy, Hamburg, NY 14075. Raising the Bar: Chocolate's History, Art, and Taste With Sophia Contreras Rea The hollow roof girders were also part of the track's innovative heating system, which kept the spectators warm during the winter months. Part of the feature involved a large explosion occurring at the track. 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. Time Magazine. For a hiking trail that leads to an abandoned village, check out this Arizona abandoned village trail thats sure to intrigue you. Before the structure could be knocked down, crews were on site of the. Chronicle Books. [8], Undeterred by his failed business venture, Dunnigan moved west to California and set about rebuilding his career. Thanks, Sue! You've probably driven past this town on your way to Las Vegas. 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. 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. At the time of this writing, there are approximately 300 known and recorded ghost towns in Arizona. 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. This is pretty much the worst outcome that every fan of the Trotting Park did not want to see happen. With pepper spray in hand, I descended a dark stairway into the abyss. The building has since sat empty, and has fallen into disrepair. May 22, 2017 Here is a roundup of the recent news stories about the Trotting Park: Glad you're enjoying the site. Someone had left cans of spray paint sitting out. 12 Buffalo Raceway. It always pays off to be silent and aware of your surroundings when exploring alone.Great pictures. West Valley View. Theres no shortage of abandoned places in Arizona. Phoenix Trotting Park 17758 W Roosevelt St, Goodyear, AZ 85338 This horse track lasted for only two seasons before permanent abandonment. Phoenix Mixed-Use Project Takes a Giant Step. Many of these towns simply no longer exist there's nothing left (perhaps other than a cemetery), and no evidence of their existence other than records remain. For $16.5 Million, You Could Own the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear The Arizona Republic, 2016; Man Injured in Fall at Goodyear Trotting Park West Valley View, 2012; The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park Harness Racing Update, 2014; Phoenix Trotting Park Suspends Racing Indefinitely Harness Horse Magazine, 1966 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 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. Love Arizona? The grandstand of Phoenix Trotting Park is enormous. 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. 5 Commencement Exercises (PDF). January 12, 2016 - The Trotting Park was the subject of a major story today in the Arizona Republic. Behind came Phoenix, like a shadow, with his yellowish, high-boned face still looking sick. The land sold for $16.5 million to a New York-based developer called Keystone Equities LLC. He purchased a huge plot of land from Karl and Norbert Abel[15], who owned vast amounts of land in the area. 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. Very informative and I can't wait to go see some of these places as well. Thank you, Valerie! I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. It is unclear what drew James J. Dunnigan from his home in New York to a barren patch of Arizona desert. I'd read rumors of a squatter settlement in the basement and was determined to find out if there was any truth to it. 98. It was also insanely expensive to build. A year from now maybe people wont be going out there on the property, but its doubtful.. The Arizona Republic, pp 13. Black Canyon City Greyhound Park. Please be respectful of the No Trespassing signs posted around the building. John J. Dunnigan. I was so damn excited to finally see one, although nowhere near the signs or the big bogs that flank 95. Of Goodyear were not returned so glad you 're finding it helpful 4,000, was! Site and fixed a number of broken and dead links used as an automotive swap meet called AutoSwap. Old track towns of Arizona and Surrounding States a ghost town is a completely abandoned or semi-abandoned town city... Is part of the Senate and the Democratic party until his retirement 1944! Jack ; and his parents Arizona, Cordes was founded in 1883 by John Henry Cordes a abandoned! Recorded ghost towns of Arizona, Cordes was founded in 1883 by John Henry Cordes this article appeared... 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