It's unlikely, however, that the trotting park in the desert will ever gain new life. Local Sports Things To Do Business eNewspaper Politics USA TODAY Obituaries Travel Colorado River and the debate over water rights begins . December 7, 2016 - Wow! Theres no shortage of abandoned places in Arizona. Phoenix Mixed-Use Project Takes a Giant Step. John J. Dunnigan. Have added a whole new section of almost 50 images including vintage advertisements and rare construction photos to the Photo Gallery page. 0:54. Construction of the grandstand was a joint venture between Gilbert & Dolan Enterprises and E.L. Farmer Construction Co., Inc. [24]. Love Arizona? With this website, I hope to tell the story of this magnificent yet troubled structure so that its legacy can live on, even though the building itself is now gone. (27 Mar 1994). [15] Total construction time from the groundbreaking ceremony to the first race was less than 12 months. So sad they have scheduled it for demolition; that makes this blog entry particularly valuable. Such a neat place. After pouring, the fresh concrete was covered with black polyethylene plastic sheets to conserve moisture as well as to simulate steam curing methods. 0:00. 23 Goodyear Trotting Park Receives Interest. Select from premium Phoenix Trotting Park of the highest quality. Phoenix Trotting Park was built on a grand scale, employing a European Architect who built a state of the art facility in 1966. I tried to visit a couple weeks ago, but was told to leave by a local. Berlin. Follow us @PHXTrottingPark. there, there is a bridge type thing that leads right to it. Three Rivers Historical Society, Vol. A West Valley landmark has been reduced to rubble. I went a couple months ago and could have explored it for HOURS. The facility, which opened on Jan. 11, 1965 . Raising the Bar: Chocolate's History, Art, and Taste With Sophia Contreras Rea Though it has weathered the past 52 years, the grandstand's reinforced concrete construction is no match for the heavy equipment that appeared on site earlier this week. The scraped site was re-listed for sale in Summer 2018 for $24 million dollars. 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. There are several unique features about the grandstand's construction that make it unique. Demolition of the Phoenix Trotting Park , a massive, abandoned horse-racing track near Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear, began Wednesday morning. 28 Gullickson, Glenn. If you have spotted an error or omission, please let us know! Haven't tried to go inside, though. Warner Bros. Phoenix Trotting Park could be reduced to ashes if Arizona's long-shuttered Standardbred track is sold. Cordes. August 10, 2016 - Sale pending! (2008). Tell us about them in the comments! View our extensive collection of historical and modern-day images, including rare construction photos. October 22, 2017 - Two new videos have been added to the Videos page. Their plans call for a mixed-use development of the site including industrial, commercial/retail, and entertainment in three phases. The grandstand building is no longer there. The industrial buildings are expected to begin going up in late summer or early fall. 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. 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. Cool! The massive structure consists of more than 27,000 cubic yards of reinforced concrete. GOODYEAR, Ariz It was built 50 years too soon. This is pretty much the worst outcome that every fan of the Trotting Park did not want to see happen. 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. Very nice series of photos--I imagine it's really incredible to be there in person.Where are you off to next? The construction of the facility was undertaken as a joint venture by Gilbert & Dolan Enterprises and E.L. Farmer Construction Company, Inc.[3] Various incentives during the events that were held, such as free parking and admission did initially lead to decent attendance, including an opening day showing of 12,000 people. Repeated calls to officials at the City of Goodyear were not returned. Beck said shed like the space to be used to build something for kids, like a waterpark, while Bowland is hopeful it will generate more business in Goodyear. How cool that your grandmother got to work there! Plant your own desert garden with a starter cactus from this indoor-outdoor gift shop. About 45 minutes before I left, I heard the loud echoing of someone else exploring the place. 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. Counter conspiracy: Moose on 95 in Clinton will only reveal themselves to you if you are a true Mainer. )Trotting Park is really a trip( enjoyed your great photos! Thank you, Tausha! Also added a few new letters from readers. Aggregates used in the concrete mix were cooled before mixing by introducing ice into the mixing process to disspiate heat. 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. [2] He died in December 1965 at the age of 82.[3]. 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. The buyers and the sale price have not yet been disclosed. May 18, 2017 - Two more great news stories in the news today about the Trotting Park. SEP 27, 2017 - AZCENTRAL - What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? The story behind the abandoned structures. Second Level - Betting Windows, Offices & Storage Rooms, Multiple Bars, More Restrooms, Escalator (Top) Impressa Eugenio Grassetto, Ivone Grassetto. NOTE: Some sources do not include published dates. 6 Waldron, Howard T. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. One of my friends fell down the elevator shaft, Beck said. definitely keep trying, it is so worth it. We also explored and got some great pictures around there and out at Corn Springs, etc. When I was sure I'd explored every corner of the place, I headed back out into the Arizona sun. He did get permission before flying there. Phoenix Trotting Park 17758 W Roosevelt St, Goodyear, AZ 85338 This horse track lasted for only two seasons before permanent abandonment. The picture quality is amazing and looking for a new camera. The New York Times. Date: 12.30.2010. The 1960s were an era of unbridled optimism in harness racing. 67, Issue 14. Buffalo Alumni Club News (PDF). His son of the same name recently passed away on August 22, 2016 in Phoenix. Recently started following your adventures, as we stayed at Desert Center for a month this winter. 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]. 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? He enjoyed politics and remained a member of the Senate and the Democratic party until his retirement in 1944. However, a 1964 New York Times article and a 1965 Sports Illustrated article both credit the building's design to Ivone Grasetto, also of Padua, Italy. GOODYEAR, Ariz It was built 50 years too soon. The gran. Thanks to Annie for sending in photos from 'The Harness Horse' magazine and to Mike at PaperJet for their contributions. If you have additional information that may be useful, please Contact Me. The pre-cast pieces have a compressive strength of 6000-psi, approximately three times the normal strength of concrete used in more conventional buildings. Future plans include availability for private parties and, yes, maybe even weddings. I didn't have a chance to stop and explore hardly any places in Texas, but I'm hoping I get to sometime soon. Welcome to the Desert Botanical Garden Gift Shop, we have the best gifts & souvenirs in Phoenix! [35] Roles Inn of America company in the late 1990s. The Phoenix Trotting Park, was a horse racing track built in 1964 in Goodyear, Arizona, United States. 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. What is your camera of choice? Winds light and variable.. Clear. 4 Harness Racing Hall of Fame: James J. Dunnigan, Sr.. (2016). Thats his secondary preference, though. Sports Illustrated Magazine. [27] The park was reported to be in escrow in August of 2016 [28], but that sale fell through and did not complete. The Trotting Park's wall panels, roof slabs, columns, beams, and girders were all constructed of precast concrete, which was poured on-site. Hello and thanks for stopping by! Its just different.. The hollow roof girders were also part of the track's innovative heating system, which kept the spectators warm during the winter months. Built in 1964, the Phoenix Trotting Park was actually located in Goodyear, Arizona. The structure was demolished in 2017. Thank you. Such a waste of a unique structure. 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. (10 Aug 2016). ", "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. SEP 27, 2017 - AZFAMILY - RAW VIDEO: Aerial view of Goodyear horse trotting park demolition Night Vision: The Art of Urban Exploration by Troy Paiva. (12 Dec 1965). http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley/2017/05/20/iconic-phoenix-trotting-park-along-interstate-10-goodyear-demolition/332552001/. And They're OffBuilders Race to Beat Deadline at Old Trot Park. (3 Jun 1934). 224-Acre Mixed-Use Hub Proposed for Goodyear. He lost both the Phoenix Trotting Park and Buffalo Raceway, which he sold to the Sportservice Corporation in 1966. Chris Randall/Flickr. 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. The life of the Lopes Canyon Ranch was short-lived. Phoenix, Dunnigan pointed out, can only expand to the west, where his track is located, and he is counting heavily on the Goodyear . The asking price for the 194-acre parcel of land is a whopping $16,500,000 USD! Check them out on the Photo Gallery page. Named the Goodyear Innovation Centre, plans have been approved by Goodyear City Council as of December 2020.[33]. Farmer Construction Co., Inc. I sent pictures to people back home and told them about where I'd just been. Phoenix Trotting Park This building was once home to thousands of pigeons. I'd never seen something so gigantic yet totally abandoned. [8] While the track seemed promising at first, a variety of factors caused it to close after only two and a half seasons,[9] leaving Dunnigan nearly bankrupt. The large, futuristically designed structure gave an optimistic look for the 1960s. Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves. In the early 1960s, Dunnigan envisioned a grand horseracing park on this remote tract of land in the . For its time, it was state of the art. (Nov-Dec 1956). Ong Hing v. Arizona Harness Raceway, Inc. Arizona Rites Held for James Dunnigan; Was Founder of Buffalo Raceway, Goodyear's Horse Track Becomes 'White Elephant', Man Injured in Fall at Goodyear Trotting Park, The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park, Readers' Picks of Biggest West Valley Eyesores, Huge Trotting Park in Goodyear Marks 50 Years Standing Empty, For $16.5 Million, You Could Own the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear, The Old Phoenix Trotting Park Set for Demolition, All Abandoned: 8 Forbidden & Forgotten Spots around Arizona, Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park along I-10 in Goodyear set for demolition, Phoenix Trotting Park, an iconic horse-racing track, will be demolished, Abandoned Phoenix Trotting Park scheduled to be demolished in December, Goodyear Police Asking People to Stay Away from Trotting Park, Phoenix horse trotting park set for demolition Wednesday, RAW VIDEO: Aerial view of Goodyear horse trotting park demolition, Facebook Live Stream of trotting park demolition, Abandoned Phoenix Horse Trotting Park demolished in Goodyear. Russian held trotting race and black market traders . The production company was criticized for this and the film did not receive approval from the American Humane Association as a result. I have worked hard to make this website a great resource for all things related to the former Phoenix Trotting Park. Thanks, Sue! It was built of reinforced concrete, and could . Former horse racing track in Goodyear, Arizona, "Phoenix Trotting Park, An Architectural Paragon, Has Set Out to Win The West! 44, No. Phoenix Trotting Park History. 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. Removal of . (Yes, that's a per capita of ten bucks but, remember, the sulky sport was all new to the Phoenicians). They were quick to point out that the track was built Soon the thrill was gone and the 50-acre parking lot was mostly empty. The first season was scheduled to have 60 nights of racing. The Colossal Ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park . Harness Racing Hall of Fame: James J. Dunnigan, Sr. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. 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. It was visible from the I-10 and became a popular destination for urban exploration until security guards were installed at the property. The Western New York Harness Racing Page. The moose are actually kill bots deployed to keep the Canadians in check. 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. 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. Check it out here: Valley 101 Explores the History of the Phoenix Trotting Park. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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! 98. So glad you captured this. (8 Mar 1965). You'll receive your first newsletter soon! MAY 17, 2017 - AZFAMILY - The old Phoenix Trotting Park set for demolition (video) Thanks so much! Get more stories delivered right to your email. The park was demolished in 2017. 1 John J. Dunnigan. It is upsetting that this once-majestic grandstand was not saved. In the early 1960s, James J. Dunnigan invested heavily in a new harness racing track called Phoenix Trotting Park, located in Arizona. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie. (13 May 2004). For a hiking trail that leads to an abandoned village, check out this Arizona abandoned village trail thats sure to intrigue you. Demolition of the Phoenix Trotting Park, a massive, abandoned horse-racing track near Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear, began Wednesday morning. [12] It is part of the Erie County Fairgrounds and is located at: 5600 McKinley Pkwy, Hamburg, NY 14075. Internet Movie Database. Only the 55.47 acre "pit parcel" remains for sale at this time. (1983). 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 . It was so amazing. June 30, 2017 - Huge photo update! The 194 acres that encompass the massive, abandoned horse-racing track hit the market in late December . I will definitely keep posting. Slowly but surely, it succumbed to the elements, blending in with the desert surroundings a little bit more each day. But Phoenix Trotting Park proved to be the exception. So you only use the Sony RX100M3 camera for all your photos? Phoenix, AZ Area; Phoenix Trotting Park; Max Delta Mine; Scorpion Gulch; Picacho Peak Trading Post; Route 66; Abandoned Mines; Twin Arrows Trading Post; Apache Death Cave; Two Guns, AZ ghost town; Meteor City Trading Post; Ella's Trading Post; Sunshine Trading Post in Canyon Diablo; Titan II Missile Silos; Willcox, AZ; Mini Golf Course; Willcox . Mary Beck, 26, of Goodyear knows people who have trespassed on the property. Please keep posting! awesome work! The Trotting Park has been listed for sale! (17 Jun 2018). What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? [20], The Trotting Park closed permanently in 1966. 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. [31] Keystone proposed a plan for a mixed-use development comprising office, commercial, retail, light-industrial and entertainment uses[32]. (21 Sep 2006). [22], Around August 1993, Delaware North company gifted the Trotting Park to local Baptist college Grand Canyon University. The Trotting Park was also the feature of a recent episode of Valley 101, a podcast from the Arizona Republic that answers questions about the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Never miss an issue. Link no longer valid. 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. The Notre Dame Scholastic, Vol. West Valley View. description and a spaghetti-like tangle of interstate overpasses looms over the shell of the old track. It has been abandoned for 20 years and will be demolished soon. Until that is finished, there are no plans to do anything with the property. The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park. 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. [19] The park received a great deal of press coverage and was featured in Sports Illustrated magazine and in The New York Times. Chronicle Books. The park was used in 2000 for the filming of the movie ". Thanks for the tip! Therefore, the published date is the earliest known capture that could be located using the Wayback Machine. What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? 17 Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves. May 14, 2017 - Couple of site fixes and upgrades today. The Phoenix Trotting Park is a relic of leisure and vice smack in middle of the desert. Southwestern playing cards, cactus jellies and desert-focused gardening books are a sample of what we sell. Racing continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s while many renovations and improvements kept the track up to modern standards. It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia. Thanks :). (www.taushpointo.com) taushawierlo@gmail.com. Third Level - Employee Locker Rooms, Employee Cafeteria, Main Kitchen, Store Rooms, Restaurant Space One pundit described the hulking shell of the track as "a giant tan Jetsonian mausoleum built in the middle of a desert to host harness racing, without any apparent regard for how flagrantly dumb and doomed it would be to do something like that.". Dunnigan was a well-respected horseracing financier from New York who was in charge of the building of The Buffalo Raceway in Hamburg, New York. Massive Goodyear projects approved. Glad you're enjoying the site. 1965 Season Jan 12, 1965 - Opening Night Spring 1965 (?) I agree; you can't be too careful. - End of second season 1967 Season Hopes and optimism ran high in 1965 when the Phoenix Trotting Park, a futuristically-designed harness racing track that opened in Goodyear, Arizona. The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. AIA Press. Its kind of sad to see it go.. January 12, 2016 - The Trotting Park was the subject of a major story today in the Arizona Republic. It has to be one of the most amazing places to explore in az that I know about! 5 Commencement Exercises (PDF). Until that happens, there is only speculation as to what will happen with the property. August 23, 2016 - Phoenix Trotting Park is in the news again, this time in The Arizona Republic. 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. With pepper spray in hand, I descended a dark stairway into the abyss. Between Phoenix and Lewis there was a latent, but unspoken and wary sympathy.