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. Nice story! Assuredly no one is going to salvage the old track and bring back racing. In June of 1942, James helped found the Buffalo Raceway in Hamburg, New York[8]. In 1975 he was inducted into the Living Hall of Fame. This was one of the top 10 tracks in America, with multiple speed records set and broken there. 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. Check it out on the videos page. The Phoenix Trotting Park was built in 1964 under the vision of a man by the name of James Dunnigan. After pouring, the fresh concrete was covered with black polyethylene plastic sheets to conserve moisture as well as to simulate steam curing methods. And with the exception of a brief use for a movie, the property had sat abandoned since its closure. 224-Acre Mixed-Use Hub Proposed for Goodyear. Sign up for free today. Indeed! So sad they have scheduled it for demolition; that makes this blog entry particularly valuable. Description. guaranteed money makers in that era. Attendees filled the beautiful grandstand to watch trotting-style racing, but not for very long. Phoenix Trotting Park Suspends Racing Indefinitely. The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. Phoenix Mixed-Use Project Takes a Giant Step. 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 . Follow us @PHXTrottingPark. 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. The hulking race track has stood. Phoenix Trotting Park could be reduced to ashes if Arizona's long-shuttered Standardbred track is sold. Cant wait til later this week when I do a full exploration. definitely keep trying, it is so worth it. Back in 1964, the Trotting Park was located far outside the edge of town. 1. Thank you, Valerie! In the early 1960s, James J. Dunnigan invested heavily in a new harness racing track called Phoenix Trotting Park, located in Arizona. 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. Next week's post will be about a couple of neat old abandoned houses in Dateland, AZ that I explored later that day. It is too bad that nobody thought about customers would have to travel 20 miles by dirt road to get there. 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. Therefore, you won't be surprised by its current spooky state. 32 Tapia, Monica. It always pays off to be silent and aware of your surroundings when exploring alone.Great pictures. It was the Phoenix Trotting Park, an abandoned harness horse racing track from the mid-1960s that ran for just two seasons before going bankrupt. MAY 17, 2017 - WEST VALLEY VIEW - Demolition Zone Ahead. The New York Times. Read a comprehensive history of the Dunnigan Family, the Buffalo Raceway, and the Phoenix Trotting Park. One example of this shifting interest can arguably be seen in the abandoned horse race track known . Find Phoenix Trotting Park stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Before the structure could be knocked down, crews were on site of the. It has to be one of the most amazing places to explore in az that I know about! Between Phoenix and Lewis there was a latent, but unspoken and wary sympathy. I'd read rumors of a squatter settlement in the basement and was determined to find out if there was any truth to it. Thank you. I've been using the Sony RX100M3. Phoenix Trotting Park History. Thank you to the College Times and 3TV/CBS5 for your interest in the story of the Trotting Park. However, the cantilever at the roof level reaches a remarkable 44 feet with the attachment of the front fascia units. 44, No. He did get permission before flying there. Berlin. [22], Around August 1993, Delaware North company gifted the Trotting Park to local Baptist college Grand Canyon University. West Valley View. I really wish somebody could have done something with it instead of just tearing it down, he said. Search from Phoenix Trotting Park stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images from iStock. (12 Dec 1965). Following the closure, the name was changed to Arizona Equestrian Center. [1] Ivone Grassetto, head of Impressa Eugenio Grassetto of Padua, Italy designed the grandstand and the main racing strip. One of the proprietors and visionaries behind the park was James Dunnigan, the renowned New York horse racing financier. 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 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. White Tank Mountains Petroglyphs RobertPakko (Atlas Obscura User) Through the winding Waterfall Canyon Trail, a few drawings stand out along the rocks. March 18, 2017 - It appears that the sale of the Trotting Park fell through and was not finalized. 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. 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. Goodyear Ballpark, the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, is just a few miles away. However, there are also numerous wonderful AZ ghost towns that you can still visit and even tour, including: Thank you! Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 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. I have worked hard to make this website a great resource for all things related to the former Phoenix Trotting Park. Unfortunately, however, all good things must come to an end, and the facility closed in 1966 despite its initial success. (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. The production company was criticized for this and the film did not receive approval from the American Humane Association as a result. Phoenix Trotting Park 17758 W Roosevelt St, Goodyear, AZ 85338 This horse track lasted for only two seasons before permanent abandonment. 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. A Guide to the Architecture of Metro Phoenix. Local Sports Things To Do Business eNewspaper Politics USA TODAY Obituaries Travel Colorado River and the debate over water rights begins . [24] Roles Inn of America owned the land upon which the Trotting Park sat for many years. 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. Internet Movie Database. Soar over the Trotting Park with amazing aerial drone videos sent in by readers, plus other clips. 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! February 12, 2022 - Thank you to everyone who sent in their letters following the "Only In Your State" article. Racing Beneath The Peaks. Published September 27, 2017. The Arizona Republic, pp 13. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. West Valley View. - End of first season 1966 Season Early 1966 (?) Date: 12.30.2010. 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. I'm so happy to have found your site. It feels like ages since I was there. Demolition of the Phoenix Trotting Park, a massive, abandoned horse-racing track near Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear, began Wednesday morning. 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. 0:00. The structure posed a number of hazards including asbestos, dust, pigeon droppings, as well as damaged interior walls. About to adventure this one myself. Read the latest details in this excellent article from the West Valley View: "Demolition Zone Ahead" from the West Valley View. 2. Last, my baby brother is in town & we are planning to go TRY to explore this place this upcoming weekend. GOODYEAR, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Dozens of people gathered early this morning to surround the . Pigeons Echoing. Weird Arizona by Wesley Treat, Mark Moran, Mark Sceurman. Sterling Publishing. Thanks to Annie for sending in photos from 'The Harness Horse' magazine and to Mike at PaperJet for their contributions. The plan was to build a grandstand with a capacity of 5,400 spectators. Slowly but surely, it succumbed to the elements, blending in with the desert surroundings a little bit more each day. The park was used in 2000 for the filming of the movie ". Never miss an issue. Thanks, Mike! Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves. (29 Dec 2020). Discovery sues Paramount over 'South Park' deal,NEW YORK (AP) Warner Bros. Phoenix Trotting Park was a far less successful venture. 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. It is unclear what drew James J. Dunnigan from his home in New York to a barren patch of Arizona desert. Bronx County, NY - Online Biographies. It was also insanely expensive to build. It appeared to be the control room for the elevator system. MAY 17, 2017 - AZFAMILY - The old Phoenix Trotting Park set for demolition (video) 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 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. [17] The track was originally supposed to cost about $2 million, but the final cost ended up being a whopping $9.5 million. I would love to see it repurposed instead of demolished. 30 1068 N Cotton Ln Goodyear AZ. This is pretty much the worst outcome that every fan of the Trotting Park did not want to see happen. It closed in 1966 and was eventually demolished in 2017. One of my friends fell down the elevator shaft, Beck said. Thanks for the tip! (14 Jan 2016). Attendance was much lower than anticipated, partly due to competition from other well-established racing facilities in the area. It closed in 1966 and was eventually demolished in 2017. 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. Ivy Walls and Horse Stalls. 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.. May 18, 2017 - Two more great news stories in the news today about the Trotting Park. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. There were a number of daunting reasons for closing, like high operational expenses and flood hazards. He was flying a drone into the demolition area after workers had left for the day. Southwestern playing cards, cactus jellies and desert-focused gardening books are a sample of what we sell. October 22, 2017 - Two new videos have been added to the Videos page. Phoenix Trotting Park was a dream of three horsemen from the U.S. East Coast --. What are some other creepy abandoned places in Arizona? 15 Werner, M.R. 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. Racing continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s while many renovations and improvements kept the track up to modern standards. Founded as a silver mining town in 1863, this is considered a living ghost town since the area still holds a population of 352. Part of the feature involved a large explosion occurring at the track. June 17, 2018 - With the Phoenix Trotting Park now demolished, the land has been listed again with Colliers, this time for $24 million. Two late Hall of Famers, Norman Woolworth and Delvin Miller, were among those who helped bankroll the new venture. Are there any other abandoned places in Arizona that stick out like a sore thumb? 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. The Phoenix Trotting Park was expertly designed and opened in 1965. It's a shame it was only operational for such a short time. (27 Dec 1964). 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. PhoenixTrottingPark.jpg . This 73-Mile Arizona Scenic Drive Winds Through An Abandoned Village And Ancient Volcano, The Boneyard In Arizona Is The Resting Place For More Than 4,000 Abandoned Airplanes, This Eerie And Fantastic Footage Takes You Inside Arizonas Abandoned Train Graveyard, Take A Memorable Hike To The Abandoned Verde Hot Springs Resort In Arizona, It Doesnt Get Much Creepier Than This Abandoned Town Hidden in Arizona, This Abandoned Ghost Town In Arizona Was Once A Quintessential Wild West Town, 7 Eerie, Abandoned Places In Arizona That May Make Your Hair Stand On End, Most People Have No Idea This Abandoned Mining Town In Arizona Even Exists. Blending in with the attachment of the Dunnigan Family, the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and Indians. Lasted for only two seasons before permanent abandonment including: Thank you goodyear Ballpark the! Park with amazing aerial drone videos sent in their letters following the `` only your!, he said in AZ that i know about droppings, as as... 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