Today the area surrounding the Phoenix Trotting Park is dotted with houses, apartments, retail outlets of every View our extensive collection of historical and modern-day images, including rare construction photos. Phoenix Trotting Park was a far less successful venture. Sign up for free today. The hot weather of the desert caused events to be uncomfortable to attendees. [20], The Trotting Park closed permanently in 1966. Trucks which transport the mix to the site were equipped with water spray devices to cool the drums containing the concrete while they were being hauled to the point of use. Love Arizona? Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord issued a statement about the property. guaranteed money makers in that era. Therefore, you won't be surprised by its current spooky state. 21 TwiMet. The park was demolished in 2017. March 18, 2017 - It appears that the sale of the Trotting Park fell through and was not finalized. Harness Racing UpdateMarch 28, 2014by Dean A. Hoffman. Chris Randall/Flickr. 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. Millions of vehicles pass within a two-minute mile of the Phoenix Trotting Park each month. You've probably driven past this town on your way to Las Vegas. The Phoenix Trotting Park was abandoned almost as soon as it was built in the mid-1960s. And did you know there are actual Arizona ghost towns within Maricopa county? Secondly. The track did house a fully air conditioned restaurant, which operated year-round. Buffalo Raceway Website. 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. 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. 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. Tell us about them in the comments! February 12, 2022 - Thank you to everyone who sent in their letters following the "Only In Your State" article. 10 Arizona Rites Held for James Dunnigan. Phoenix Trotting Park has been vacant for 51 years. [15] Construction began in 1964 on the massive structure, which contained more than 27,000 cubic yards of concrete. Phoenix Trotting Park This building was once home to thousands of pigeons. Driving back from California, it was an indicator that you were almost to Phoenix. The Trotting Park's wall panels, roof slabs, columns, beams, and girders were all constructed of precast concrete, which was poured on-site. The plan was to build a grandstand with a capacity of 5,400 spectators. 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. Description. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 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. 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. Will be content with your great pictures. He enjoyed politics and remained a member of the Senate and the Democratic party until his retirement in 1944. 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. 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. He also served as president pro tempore of the New York State Senate from 1933 through 1938.[1]. Built in 1964, the Phoenix Trotting Park was actually located in Goodyear, Arizona. About to adventure this one myself. - 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. Some require great effort to seek out, but others are hiding right under our noses in plain sight. The Grand Circuit is the equivalent of the World Series in baseball. Back in 1964, the Trotting Park was located far outside the edge of town. Learn about the 1998 movie and the famous explosion scene. According to a new article published in the West Valley View, the Phoenix Trotting Park is in escrow. Im going to get some good shots, good memories, Machuca said. Take a look at how the massive building was left to decay in the elements, and admire its oddly beautiful mystique: Check out the official website, which still operates, to learn more about the Phoenix Trotting Park. The grandstand building is no longer there. The place was absolutely gigantic. 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 moose are actually kill bots deployed to keep the Canadians in check. Removal of . Man Injured in Fall at Goodyear 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. 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. 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! June 15, 2021 - I have just come across a news article from March 10, 2021 that Roles Inn of America has at last sold the remaining 139-acre parcel of land that was home to the former Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear, Arizona. Check out Long-vacant Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear is in escrow, could be demolished by Adrian Hedden. The land sold for $16.5 million to a New York-based developer called Keystone Equities LLC. The 194-acre property was vacant for 51 years before demolition. Over the years, the city has grown up around the Trotting Park, which sat idle and abandoned for more than 40 years. May 18, 2017 - Two more great news stories in the news today about the Trotting Park. (25 Jan 1999). 67, Issue 14. 6 Waldron, Howard T. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. The Phoenix Gazette, G3. 7 Leous, Dick. Please be respectful of the No Trespassing signs posted around the building. 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. Motorcycle Show Phoenix/Goodyear Trotter Park 1988- PART 1. I've been using the Sony RX100M3. Farmer Construction Co., Inc. The backstretch area now is the Cotton Lane RV and Mobile Home Park. (12 Dec 1965). West Valley View. One example of this shifting interest can arguably be seen in the abandoned horse race track known . And glad to hear you got a chance to see Phoenix Trotting Park. The trotter track was certainly an iconic landmark for many years, but we are grateful for the investment by Citrus Commerce Centre LLC, and are eager to see how that land will be developed in the near future, Lord said. Racing continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s while many renovations and improvements kept the track up to modern standards. Find Phoenix Trotting Park stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. MAY 21, 2017 - KTAR NEWS - Phoenix Trotting Park, an iconic horse-racing track, will be demolished Gilbert & Dolan Enterprises/E.L. If you have spotted an error or omission, please let us know! [2] He died in December 1965 at the age of 82.[3]. In this week's episode of . MAY 22, 2017 - FOX10 PHOENIX - Abandoned Phoenix Trotting Park scheduled to be demolished in December 15 Werner, M.R. Phase I opened in 2002 with 285 spaces, while Phase II added an additional 300 spaces. [19] The park received a great deal of press coverage and was featured in Sports Illustrated magazine and in The New York Times. Welcome to Ghost Towns of Arizona and Surrounding States A ghost town is a completely abandoned or semi-abandoned town or city. He was preceded in death by his two other brothers, Richard and Jack; and his parents. A West Valley landmark has been reduced to rubble. The current Interstate 10 passes north of the site. 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 facility, which opened on Jan. 11, 1965 . Until that is finished, there are no plans to do anything with the property. In October 2012, a 17-year old man was injured when he fell 20 feet while exploring at the abandoned Trotting Park with friends. Demolition of the Phoenix Trotting Park , a massive, abandoned horse-racing track near Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear, began Wednesday morning. (2007). After 52 years of existence, the Trotting Park was sadly demolished in September 2017. Before the structure could be knocked down, crews were on site of the. Final demolition of it began today (9-27-17), and here's a link to a news item about that:. Thank you. Until it was demolished in 2017 (huge bummer, we know), the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear was in the latter category. The asking price for the 194-acre parcel of land is a whopping $16,500,000 USD! Three Rivers Historical Society, Vol. 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 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. Night Vision: The Art of Urban Exploration by Troy Paiva. Attendance was much lower than anticipated, partly due to competition from other well-established racing facilities in the area. Phoenix Trotting Park now has a daily double on the first and second races, quinellas on the second, third, fourth, six, seventh and eighth races, and a twin double involving the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. immeemz/Flickr. As I walked back to my car, I felt so accomplished, I was shaking with excitement. - End of second season 1967 Season Though closed in 1966, the 194-acre property had been continuously owned by either individuals or corporations/businesses. 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. Cant wait til later this week when I do a full exploration. The Trotting Park has been listed for sale! Bronx County, NY - Online Biographies. Third Level - Employee Locker Rooms, Employee Cafeteria, Main Kitchen, Store Rooms, Restaurant Space 11 Sport: $100,000,000 Turnover?. Check it out on the videos page. [13] The track was located far outside city limits, where roads were mostly unimproved dirt. You mentioned going in a certain side, from the view videos we've seen it looks like there is two fences and lots of fines for trespassing - was it the same when you visited & you were just careful? Phoenix Mixed-Use Project Takes a Giant Step. (28 Mar 2014). 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 . [6], In December 2015, the property was put on the market for $16.5 million. The building had so many levels, it seemed to go on forever. [18] That first night, more than $130,984 was wagered at the gleaming new facility. I went a couple months ago and could have explored it for HOURS. It is unclear what drew James J. Dunnigan from his home in New York to a barren patch of Arizona desert. I will definitely keep posting. The track changed hands again in 1990 when it was purchased by the Erie County Agricultural Society, who continues to operate it to this day. (29 Apr 1940). A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. [4], Throughout his long career in harness racing, Dunnigan was successful in his home state of New York and later in California, though his gleaming Arizona track was a commercial failure. There was a lot of fencing around the place, but most of it was collapsed and not really an obstacle. You have permission to edit this article. Published September 27, 2017. 12 Buffalo Raceway. GOODYEAR, Ariz It was built 50 years too soon. 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. Please vote in our online survey and tell us which items you would like to see in a web store. 6. Someone had left cans of spray paint sitting out. As you can probably imagine, there were no takers - after all, that's quite a steep price for what was essentially the bare bones of a building that, by that time, had been ravaged by vandals. Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia. 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