A massive explosion scene at the end of the movie injured a number of pigeons who inhabited the grandstand. The half-mile track was a success right from the start, and flourished under the management of James J. Dunnigan, who served as the president for 25 years. 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. 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. While people were no longer permitted to enter the dilapidated building before its destruction, some photographers still managed . 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. Southwestern playing cards, cactus jellies and desert-focused gardening books are a sample of what we sell. When I was sure I'd explored every corner of the place, I headed back out into the Arizona sun. Very informative and I can't wait to go see some of these places as well. 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. Dunnigan formed Arizona Harness Raceway, Inc. on June 7, 1961[14]. Did you ever drive past the Phoenix Trotting Park? 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. Please see the links below for media coverage of the start of the demolition process: SEP 27, 2017 - AZCENTRAL - Demolition of massive Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear begins Visit the videos page to watch the clip. Chris Randall/Flickr. And They're OffBuilders Race to Beat Deadline at Old Trot Park. 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. Following the closure, the name was changed to Arizona Equestrian Center. All of the concrete structural members (except the floor and roof slabs) were post-tensioned using a system called Prescon. The asking price for the 194-acre parcel of land is a whopping $16,500,000 USD! The Phoenix Trotting Park was constructed in the 1960's by the Dunnigan family. 7 Leous, Dick. I'd read rumors of a squatter settlement in the basement and was determined to find out if there was any truth to it. [22], Around August 1993, Delaware North company gifted the Trotting Park to local Baptist college Grand Canyon University. The horse racing park was built in 1964 and opened the following year to any eager gamblers willing to. Internet Movie Database. Senator John J. Dunnigan on Feb. 22, 1934, Trotters at the Buffalo Raceway on May 25, 1974, Re-creation of the Phoenix Trotting Park logo, Phoenix Trotting Park under construction in 1964. Former horse racing track in Goodyear, Arizona, "Phoenix Trotting Park, An Architectural Paragon, Has Set Out to Win The West! The pre-cast pieces have a compressive strength of 6000-psi, approximately three times the normal strength of concrete used in more conventional buildings. I'll admit I'm a little envious that you get to enjoy a view of Phoenix Trotting Park. Check it out here: Valley 101 Explores the History of the Phoenix Trotting Park. (13 May 2004). [13] The track was located far outside city limits, where roads were mostly unimproved dirt. He lost both the Phoenix Trotting Park and Buffalo Raceway, which he sold to the Sportservice Corporation in 1966. YouTube. Construction of the grandstand was a joint venture between Gilbert & Dolan Enterprises and E.L. Farmer Construction Co., Inc. [24]. 18 Kiko, Sally. 17 Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves. (2007). AIA Press. Sitting in the middle of Arizona, Cordes was founded in 1883 by John Henry Cordes. This was one of the top 10 tracks in America, with multiple speed records set and broken there. 25 Horsey Set Gets New House. Attendance was much lower than anticipated, partly due to competition from other well-established racing facilities in the area. Discovery sues Paramount over 'South Park' deal,NEW YORK (AP) Warner Bros. While commonly used today, this method of construction was considered cutting-edge in the 1960s. In June of 1942, James helped found the Buffalo Raceway in Hamburg, New York[8]. Love Arizona? Behind came Phoenix, like a shadow, with his yellowish, high-boned face still looking sick. 22 AutoSwap USA. December 7, 2016 - Wow! Cant wait til later this week when I do a full exploration. Thanks so much! The scraped site was re-listed for sale in Summer 2018 for $24 million dollars. When she was a student at Desert Edge High School, there was a ghost hunting club that explored Trotting Park. Photo by: Don Daniels of mi-harness.net, View Rare Photos of the Trotting Park During Construction. definitely keep trying, it is so worth it. Harness Horse Magazine. 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. May 22, 2017 Here is a roundup of the recent news stories about the Trotting Park: Growth in the "Valley of the Sun" is rebounding from the economic downturn which started in 2008. The hulking race track has stood. A graveside service is scheduled to be held on Friday (Sept. 2) at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Phoenix. Phoenix Trotting Park could be reduced to ashes if Arizona's long-shuttered Standardbred track is sold. Unfortunately, however, all good things must come to an end, and the facility closed in 1966 despite its initial success. This old abandoned dog racing track in Arizona was found just off the highway in Black Canyon City and continued to decay since it was abandoned in the 1980s. First of all: INCREDIBLE photography. Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves. One of my friends fell down the elevator shaft, Beck said. It's one of the best pocketable cameras on the market. And it was built west of the city when the greatest growth then was in the eastern suburbs of Phoenix. Please keep posting! The structure posed a number of hazards including asbestos, dust, pigeon droppings, as well as damaged interior walls. The building has since sat empty, and has fallen into disrepair. The Phoenix Trotting Park was abandoned almost as soon as it was built in the mid-1960s. 6. (27 Mar 1994). 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. Berlin, Germany Berlin 1947 (Part 11) aka Trotting Race 15 Werner, M.R. Check out the Downs at Santa Fe. Millions of vehicles pass within a two-minute mile of the Phoenix Trotting Park each month. The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park. 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. 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. Thanks, Mike! Find Phoenix Trotting Park stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 30 1068 N Cotton Ln Goodyear AZ. 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. 2 Hon. The Notre Dame Scholastic, Vol. At various times during his long association with the sport, he served as a director of the USTA, Harness Tracks of America and the Harness Racing Institute. As such, without any care, maintenance, or upkeep, the property showed its age. 5041 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix . [15] Total construction time from the groundbreaking ceremony to the first race was less than 12 months. Glad you're enjoying the site. Welcome to the Desert Botanical Garden Gift Shop, we have the best gifts & souvenirs in Phoenix! He and a group of other investors successfully introduced night harness racing at a leased track in Los Alamitos. SEP 27, 2017 - FOX10 PHOENIX - Abandoned Phoenix Horse Trotting Park demolished in Goodyear 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 . 34 Smith, DeWayne. Haven't tried to go inside, though. immeemz/Flickr. SEP 26, 2017 - AZFAMILY - Phoenix horse trotting park set for demolition Wednesday. Harness Racing Hall of Fame: James J. Dunnigan, Sr. 23rd Consecutive Victory Is Goal Of Irish In Pitt Contest Saturday. Phoenix Trotting Park is permanently closed In 2017 the Trotting Park has been demolished. http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley/2017/05/20/iconic-phoenix-trotting-park-along-interstate-10-goodyear-demolition/332552001/. Mezzanine Floor - Men's and Women's Bathrooms, Stairwell Access As the region lacked major roads from Phoenix to Goodyear, there was not enough business and the track closed two years later. Thoroughbred racing is held at Turf Paradise just north of central Phoenix, but its best days are in the past. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. 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. John J. was married to Margaret (Gilligan) Dunnigan and they had four children together: Margaret, James, Ruth, and Joseph. Please be respectful of the No Trespassing signs posted around the building. The University renamed the facility "'Lopes Canyon Ranch" after the school's athletic mascot, the Antelopes. He purchased a huge plot of land from Karl and Norbert Abel[15], who owned vast amounts of land in the area. The story behind the abandoned structures. 27 Colliers International. I have also added some demolition pictures to the Photo Gallery page. However you want to describe the Phoenix Trotting Park it can be yours for $16.5 million. I have added the latest batch of letters to the Letters page. 2. It is unclear what drew James J. Dunnigan from his home in New York to a barren patch of Arizona desert. 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. A friend of hers was injured during a visit. 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. It always pays off to be silent and aware of your surroundings when exploring alone.Great pictures. [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. In this series, the nation's top 2-year-old and 3-year-old trotters and pacers compete. You and your brother are going to have an awesome time exploring Phoenix Trotting Park. Until that happens, there is only speculation as to what will happen with the property. In 1975 he was inducted into the Living Hall of Fame. It was visible from the I-10 and became a popular destination for urban exploration until security guards were installed at the property. - End of first season 1966 Season Early 1966 (?) [1] Ivone Grassetto, head of Impressa Eugenio Grassetto of Padua, Italy designed the grandstand and the main racing strip. Winds light and variable.. Clear. West Valley View. 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 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. At the time of this writing, there are approximately 300 known and recorded ghost towns in Arizona. The Grand Circuit is the equivalent of the World Series in baseball. I'm glad you're enjoying my posts. These hollow, V-shaped girders measured 8 by 8 by 105 feet, and were considered "lightweight" at 120 tons. Trotting Park in escrow. A year from now maybe people wont be going out there on the property, but its doubtful.. How cool that your grandmother got to work there! You have permission to edit this article. [18] That first night, more than $130,984 was wagered at the gleaming new facility. Im going to get some good shots, good memories, Machuca said. It was built of reinforced concrete, and could . What are some other creepy abandoned places in Arizona? Their dog ambled about a bank of dwindling sand, trotting, sniffing on all sides. There has been a lot of trespassing on the property, active trespassing, and the numbers are pretty staggering, Smith said. I'd never seen something so gigantic yet totally abandoned. (10 Mar 2021). The sale was expected to close by the end of 2016, which did not happen according to public records. [7][8], A close up view of a corner detail of a balcony. I guess you could sit back and wait for it to die down. 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. Only the 55.47 acre "pit parcel" remains for sale at this time. In 1973, Dunnigan was awarded "The Comeback of the Decade" award from the U.S. Harness Writers, for his part in launching the successful harness race meeting at Los Alamitos, Calif and later Golden Bear Raceway. - End of second season 1967 Season Hi Jim, I too have enjoyed your photography work, you have a great eye and the information you provide on the subject matter. It has been abandoned for 20 years and will be demolished soon. Phase I opened in 2002 with 285 spaces, while Phase II added an additional 300 spaces. The first season was scheduled to have 60 nights of racing. The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. West Valley View. Latest on COVID-19 in Arizona | COVID-19 cases and deaths. Sign up for free today. Jimmy Dunnigan knew racing and racetracks and his expertise attracted investors who wanted to see harness racing gain a foothold in Phoenix. As a result of the growing popularity of car racing when it first became a sport, other similar races which involved horses and cycles (aka the predecessors to modern bicycles with the enormous wheels) went out of style. Built in 1964, the Phoenix Trotting Park was actually located in Goodyear, Arizona. 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. James J. Dunnigan died on April 6, 1983 at the age of 71.[10]. This is pretty much the worst outcome that every fan of the Trotting Park did not want to see happen. thanks from all avid explorers!! (10 Oct 2011). 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. 24 A Glass Enclosed Palace for the "Sport of Kings. Really great site, Jim!Sadly, they are tearing the Trotting Park down soon. The second night the crowd fell to 4,000, which wasn't unexpected, but then the crowds simply kept shrinking. Winds light and variable. He enjoyed politics and remained a member of the Senate and the Democratic party until his retirement in 1944. As I walked back to my car, I felt so accomplished, I was shaking with excitement. 67, Issue 14. June 17, 2018 - With the Phoenix Trotting Park now demolished, the land has been listed again with Colliers, this time for $24 million. West Valley View. September 6, 2021 - I have gone through the site and fixed a number of broken and dead links. (29 Apr 1940). [15] Construction began in 1964 on the massive structure, which contained more than 27,000 cubic yards of concrete. [12] It is part of the Erie County Fairgrounds and is located at: 5600 McKinley Pkwy, Hamburg, NY 14075. I followed a stairway up to the roof and explored the sky box, where VIPs and announcers viewed the races. June 30, 2017 - Huge photo update! 3 John J. Dunnigan Is Dead at 82. A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. I'm so happy to have found your site. Berlin. 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. 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. Abandoned Phoenix Horse Trotting Park demolished in Goodyear. 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. 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. guaranteed money makers in that era. Just wondering what street you parked your car on, and also how you entered from the north without being seen by the U-Haul and adjacent neighborhood that is across the street from the Park. The plan was to build a grandstand with a capacity of 5,400 spectators. -Zack b. 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 . The facility, which opened on Jan. 11, 1965 . Attendees filled the beautiful grandstand to watch trotting-style racing, but not for very long. The Phoenix Gazette, G3. 32 Tapia, Monica. The town became a city in 1985. Harness Racing UpdateMarch 28, 2014by Dean A. Hoffman. Founded as a silver mining town in 1863, this is considered a living ghost town since the area still holds a population of 352. 28 Gullickson, Glenn. It will take approximately three months to move the estimated 20,000 tons of rubble away from the site. there, there is a bridge type thing that leads right to it. I've seen many places through Texas that I hope you will post about one day. Check them out on the Photo Gallery page. The Buffalo Raceway opened in June of 1942 in Hamburg, New York[8]. [2] Associate architect was Victor Gruen Associates of Los Angeles. The park was demolished in 2017. Low 37F. 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. Del Miller, Legendary Driver in the Sulky, Is Dead at 83. 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. I agree; you can't be too careful. 5 Commencement Exercises (PDF). Cordes. 16 Phoenix Trotting Park. Thanks to Annie for sending in photos from 'The Harness Horse' magazine and to Mike at PaperJet for their contributions. The horses belonged to Ron and Arla Delver, who told the StarPhoenix earlier this month that two horses were found dead on Dec. 14 and two more were found on Dec. 21 on summer pasture land. (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. (Feb 1967). Roars the never were . Final demolition of it began today (9-27-17), and here's a link to a news item about that:. Abandoned Phoenix Horse Trotting Park demolished in Goodyear, Facebook Live Stream of trotting park demolition, RAW VIDEO: Aerial view of Goodyear horse trotting park demolition, Phoenix horse trotting park set for demolition Wednesday, FOX 10 Phoenix: Goodyear Police Asking People to Stay Away from Trotting Park, Abandoned Phoenix Trotting Park scheduled to be demolished in December, Phoenix Trotting Park, an iconic horse-racing track, will be demolished, Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park along I-10 in Goodyear set for demolition, All Abandoned: 8 Forbidden & Forgotten Spots around Arizona, The old Phoenix Trotting Park set for demolition, Long-vacant Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear is in escrow, could be demolished, new article published in the West Valley View, Huge Trotting Park in Goodyear Marks 50 Years Standing Empty. (29 Dec 2020). (Yes, that's a per capita of ten bucks but, remember, the sulky sport was all new to the Phoenicians). Recently started following your adventures, as we stayed at Desert Center for a month this winter. I haven't been to Corn Springs, but I may have to check it out next time I'm in the area. Slowly but surely, it succumbed to the elements, blending in with the desert surroundings a little bit more each day. Ive seen it going on the I-10 for years, and now its going to be gone, Randy Bowland, 43, of Surprise said. In the early 1960s, James J. Dunnigan invested heavily in a new harness racing track called Phoenix Trotting Park, located in Arizona. (6 Oct 2008). He did get permission before flying there. GCU hosted a number of small rodeo events including the Junior Rodeo and the 1993 All-Arabian Horse Society Spring Show.[34]. The grandstand lies. He was preceded in death by his two other brothers, Richard and Jack; and his parents. 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. I didn't have a chance to stop and explore hardly any places in Texas, but I'm hoping I get to sometime soon. (3 Jun 1934). Soon the thrill was gone and the 50-acre parking lot was mostly empty. They were quick to point out that the track was built After all, race tracks were Things were off to a great start, but it wasn't long before the park's luck changed. Next week's post will be about a couple of neat old abandoned houses in Dateland, AZ that I explored later that day. Their . The New York Times. These drawings were left by nomadic . A lot of research has been done to ensure the accuracy and validity of information shown on this website. The Phoenix Trotting Park, was a horse racingtrack built in 1964 in Goodyear, Arizona, United States. Very informative and I can't wait to go see some of these places as well. I know about everything in Yuma County if you ever want to contact me. I have worked hard to make this website a great resource for all things related to the former Phoenix Trotting Park. In 1995, Grand Canyon University sold the 224-acre track to local developer Ray Roles for $2 million. In 1960, Phoenix was not the thriving metropolis it is today. 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. Phoenix Trotting Park is on the market for $16.5 million. Have added a whole new section of almost 50 images including vintage advertisements and rare construction photos to the Photo Gallery page. 9 Phoenix Trotting Park Suspends Racing Indefinitely. Many readers have reached out to me with submissions of photos of the Trotting Park. Also I am contemplating the idea of opening a web shop that sells some Trotting Park logo merchandise. 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. Recent news reports about Trotting Park have brought a lot of focus to it, Smith said. 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.". As we stayed at Desert Edge High School, there is a $. Roof and explored the sky box, where roads were mostly unimproved dirt the grandstand. But its best days are in the past Raceway opened in June of 1942, James J. Dunnigan his. Places in Arizona are approximately 300 known and recorded ghost towns in Arizona and E.L. Farmer Co.... 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