Im going to get some good shots, good memories, Machuca said. Very nice series of photos--I imagine it's really incredible to be there in person.Where are you off to next? (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. (2007). (14 Apr 1983). December 7, 2016 - Wow! If you have spotted an error or omission, please let us know! (18 Sep 2020). (10 Aug 2016). The Phoenix Trotting Park was constructed in the 1960's by the Dunnigan family. 29 Gullickson, Glenn. The University of Notre Dame. Also, look for a mention of the Trotting Park on Page 6 of the May 18-June 22 issue of the College Times, found on college campuses throughout the Valley. Built in 1964, the Phoenix Trotting Park was actually located in Goodyear, Arizona. August 7, 2016 - Huge photo update!! The Phoenix Trotting Park, was a horse racing track built in 1964 in Goodyear, Arizona, United States. Jimmy Dunnigan knew racing and racetracks and his expertise attracted investors who wanted to see harness racing gain a foothold in Phoenix. 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. No Code of Conduct (1998). It was also insanely expensive to build. Plant your own desert garden with a starter cactus from this indoor-outdoor gift shop. Description. [6], In December 2015, the property was put on the market for $16.5 million. GCU hosted a number of small rodeo events including the Junior Rodeo and the 1993 All-Arabian Horse Society Spring Show.[34]. There are several unique features about the grandstand's construction that make it unique. 25 Horsey Set Gets New House. Really great site, Jim!Sadly, they are tearing the Trotting Park down soon. Thank you for following my adventures! Ezra Machuca of Buckeye was there September 28 to take pictures. 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]. 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. 44, No. The memory of this place lives on in our pictures, videos, and news stories. More videos on TUC Extras Channel: http://youtube.com/theunknowncamextrashttps://www.facebook.com/TheUnknownCameraman/http://www.twitter.com/TheUnknownCam [23] They built the Cotton Lane RV Resort on the backstretch of the track. (11 Dec 1996). Behind came Phoenix, like a shadow, with his yellowish, high-boned face still looking sick. What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? (PDF). The Phoenix Trotting Park would last only one more year. Only the 55.47 acre "pit parcel" remains for sale at this time. It was so amazing. View our extensive collection of historical and modern-day images, including rare construction photos. Driving back from California, it was an indicator that you were almost to Phoenix. West Valley View. Abandoned Phoenix Horse Trotting Park demolished in Goodyear. Therefore, you won't be surprised by its current spooky state. 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. 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. Arizona Business Gazette. Thank you, Tausha! 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. I spent 3-4 hours there. Its a landmark, Machuca said. Looking for something lost in a past life. West Valley View. White Tank Mountains Petroglyphs RobertPakko (Atlas Obscura User) Through the winding Waterfall Canyon Trail, a few drawings stand out along the rocks. Phoenix Trotting Park was a far less successful venture. Berlin, Germany Berlin 1947 (Part 11) aka Trotting Race I'm glad you're enjoying my posts. Phoenix Mixed-Use Project Takes a Giant Step. The movie has a 44% rating on the website RottenTomatoes.com. John J. Dunnigan was instrumental in passing the "Pari-mutuel Revenue Law" of 1940,[1] which effectively allowed people to bet on horse races in New York State. There were also thousands of bats as well. this place is incredible. (13 May 2004). Unfortunately, however, all good things must come to an end, and the facility closed in 1966 despite its initial success. Watch as the abandoned Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear, Arizona is brought to the ground with one of the largest demolition machines in the world. This is just amazing i am studying public design and this is really helping me so please keep posting your experience :). The 194 acres that encompass the massive, abandoned horse-racing track hit the market in late December . Phoenix Trotting Park was built on a grand scale, employing a European Architect who built a state of the art facility in 1966. Haven't made it in yet! There are a number of reasons why the Trotting Park was unsuccessful: After racing was suspended in late 1966, the building's equipment was removed by the Delaware North corporation for use at their other racetracks. March 27, 2016 - Photo update: I have recently come across some new, never-before seen photos of the Trotting Park. In 1975 he was inducted into the Living Hall of Fame. Berlin. Thanks, Sue! It used to be a beautiful piece of architecture. Until it was demolished in 2017 (huge bummer, we know), the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear was in the latter category. Its kind of sad.. (Nov-Dec 1956). 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. I've been a couple times to just look at the outside. Sterling Publishing. Phase I opened in 2002 with 285 spaces, while Phase II added an additional 300 spaces. Third Level - Employee Locker Rooms, Employee Cafeteria, Main Kitchen, Store Rooms, Restaurant Space Very informative and I can't wait to go see some of these places as well. 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. 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. The shell of the space-age grandstand has survived for a half-century in the dry Arizona climate although the decay is obvious even from a distance. . (12 Dec 1965). Demolition Zone Ahead. Phoenix Trotting Park was built in 1965 in the middle of the desert; shortly thereafter it went bankrupt and was shut down and has laid abandoned of Interstate 10 in Glendale, Arizona ever since. 28 Gullickson, Glenn. Winds light and variable. I went a couple months ago and could have explored it for HOURS. For decades, the horse track,. 6. Thats his secondary preference, though. Also I have fixed the Contact form. Im sure a lot of people will be interested in seeing it up close, from the air, Machuca said. 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. - End of second season 1967 Season (27 Mar 1994). West Valley View photo by Casey Pritchard. About to adventure this one myself. This article originally appeared in the March 28, 2014 issue of Harness Racing Update Newsletter (PDF). If anyone knows any information about it, please use the Contact Form to send me some details! Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear before it was demolished. Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia. 0:00. With pepper spray in hand, I descended a dark stairway into the abyss. Buffalo Raceway Website. 16 Slater, Chuck. In January 1965, the Phoenix Trotting Park, a harness racing track, opened. View the listing here: Phoenix Trotting Park by Colliers International (link no longer valid). While tracks seemingly couldn't fail to make money in the 1960s, tracks today cannot stay alive without the subsidies from slots. 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. Cant wait til later this week when I do a full exploration. West Valley View. I'd never seen something so gigantic yet totally abandoned. 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. The Sun and the Erie County Independent. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. If you have additional information that may be useful, please Contact Me. "The trotting park might have been a mirage from another age or another world.". When I was sure I'd explored every corner of the place, I headed back out into the Arizona sun. 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 Arizona Republic, pp 13. Today the area surrounding the Phoenix Trotting Park is dotted with houses, apartments, retail outlets of every 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. (17 May 2017). The firm and its eponymous founder are famous for inventing the modern shopping mall as we know it today. The story behind the abandoned structures. Attendees filled the beautiful grandstand to watch trotting-style racing, but not for very long. Such a neat place. A lot of research has been done to ensure the accuracy and validity of information shown on this website. This included hosting the "Grand Circuit" from March 15-20, 1965. Its kind of sad to see it go.. Unknown magazine scan. [12] It is part of the Erie County Fairgrounds and is located at: 5600 McKinley Pkwy, Hamburg, NY 14075. SEP 27, 2017 - AZFAMILY - Facebook Live Stream of trotting park demolition 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. definitely keep trying, it is so worth it. I saw a little structure off by itself on the roof, and couldn't resist having a closer look. )Trotting Park is really a trip( enjoyed your great photos! (2008). Many readers have reached out to me with submissions of photos of the Trotting Park. It was built in 1964 for $9.5 million, more than $6 million over budget, to house spectators during harness races. The Trotting Park opened on January 12, 1965 to a crowd of 12,223 attendees. I'll admit I'm a little envious that you get to enjoy a view of Phoenix Trotting Park. For a hiking trail that leads to an abandoned village, check out this Arizona abandoned village trail thats sure to intrigue you. 67, Issue 14. West Valley View. 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. Revenue failed to compensate for the difference. Three Rivers Historical Society, Vol. 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 10 in the West Valley. 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. Still hard to believe that it's really gone. The city just needs to work on some piping and fix a few exterior lights first. Back in 1964, the Trotting Park was located far outside the edge of town. The grandstand of Phoenix Trotting Park is enormous. The Phoenix Trotting Park was expertly designed and opened in 1965. The Grand Circuit is the equivalent of the World Series in baseball. Hopes and optimism ran high in 1965 when the Phoenix Trotting Park, a futuristically-designed harness racing track that opened in Goodyear, Arizona. 31 Marinescu, Adriana. Nice story! 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. I have wondered about this place! And at his side, on the big brilliant bay horse, the smallish, black-bearded Welshman. The building has since sat empty, and has fallen into disrepair. According to a YouTube video, a motorcycle show was held at the park on March 26, 1988. (10 Mar 2021). After pouring, the fresh concrete was covered with black polyethylene plastic sheets to conserve moisture as well as to simulate steam curing methods. 6 Waldron, Howard T. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. The main building of the park was used in the 1998 Charlie/Martin Sheen movie No Code of Conduct. This is pretty much the worst outcome that every fan of the Trotting Park did not want to see happen. (10 Oct 2011). It's unlikely, however, that the trotting park in the desert will ever gain new life. 5 Commencement Exercises (PDF). I don't want to get busted, but I've wanted to go inside this place for nearly two years now!!! Repeated calls to officials at the City of Goodyear were not returned. The park was demolished in 2017. Impressa Eugenio Grassetto, Ivone Grassetto. And with the exception of a brief use for a movie, the property had sat abandoned since its closure. I've seen many places through Texas that I hope you will post about one day. (Here's a video I made about Phoenix Trotting Park, which includes additional info and pictures not included in this blog entry:), the historic home of Buffalo Bill Codyand a melting adobe house in the middle of the Arizona desert, https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JimSullivanPlacesThatWere/posts. 98. 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 . (27 Sep 2010). GOODYEAR, Ariz It was built 50 years too soon. 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. Thoroughbred racing is held at Turf Paradise just north of central Phoenix, but its best days are in the past. 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. The picture quality is amazing and looking for a new camera. 2. Their plans call for a mixed-use development of the site including industrial, commercial/retail, and entertainment in three phases. The population of the Phoenix metro area is more than 4.3 million people, making it the 13th largest metro area in the United States. 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. GOODYEAR, Ariz It was built 50 years too soon. Going to get busted, but not for very long the 194 acres that encompass the massive, horse-racing. Ago and could n't fail to make money in the March 28, 2014 issue of harness racing update (. 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