It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. 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. I'd never seen something so gigantic yet totally abandoned. It always pays off to be silent and aware of your surroundings when exploring alone.Great pictures. 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. Demolition of the Phoenix Trotting Park , a massive, abandoned horse-racing track near Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear, began Wednesday morning. West Valley View photo by Casey Pritchard. However you want to describe the Phoenix Trotting Park it can be yours for $16.5 million. Check out Long-vacant Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear is in escrow, could be demolished by Adrian Hedden. (15 Nov 1991). 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. 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. Phoenix Trotting Park could be reduced to ashes if Arizona's long-shuttered Standardbred track is sold. 35 Padgett, Mike. Mezzanine Floor - Men's and Women's Bathrooms, Stairwell Access 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. Racing continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s while many renovations and improvements kept the track up to modern standards. For decades, the horse track,. The main building of the park was used in the 1998 Charlie/Martin Sheen movie No Code of Conduct. 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]. Forgotten. Unfortunately, however, all good things must come to an end, and the facility closed in 1966 despite its initial success. The large, futuristically designed structure gave an optimistic look for the 1960s. You have permission to edit this article. 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. The pundits had perfect hindsight, of course. AIA Press. It used to be a beautiful piece of architecture. Its just different.. Its a landmark, Machuca said. The Phoenix Trotting Park was expertly designed and opened in 1965. I am also a huge fan of this site. The Phoenix Trotting Park was abandoned almost as soon as it was built in the mid-1960s. It's sad to hear they're demolishing it, but I guess it was only a matter of time. It has been abandoned for 20 years and will be demolished soon. The Phoenix Trotting Park was a horse racing track built-in 1964 in Goodyear, Arizona. I was so damn excited to finally see one, although nowhere near the signs or the big bogs that flank 95. - End of second season 1967 Season 5041 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix . Recent news reports about Trotting Park have brought a lot of focus to it, Smith said. Assuredly no one is going to salvage the old track and bring back racing. What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? Very informative and I can't wait to go see some of these places as well. Im going to get some good shots, good memories, Machuca said. (29 Apr 1940). Mechanical Mezzanine Level - Stairwell Access and Elevator Machine Rooms Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 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. There are many reasons for its failure. 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 1960s were an era of unbridled optimism in harness racing. The park was demolished in 2017. Also added a few new letters from readers. Phoenix Trotting Park History. It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. - Hoof Beats Magazine NEW, Mar 8, 1965 - Racing Beneath the Peaks - Sports Illustrated, Mar 10, 1965 - Clearview Stable Sweeps Weekend - Harness Horse Magazine NEW, Dec 14, 1966 - Phoenix Trotting Park Suspends Racing Indefinitely - Harness Horse Magazine, Sep 24, 1969 - Ong Hing v. Arizona Harness Raceway, Inc. - CourtListener.com, Apr 14, 1983 - Arizona Rites Held for James Dunnigan; Was Founder of Buffalo Raceway - The Sun and the Erie County Independent, Nov 15, 1991 - AutoSwap USA - Arizona Business Gazette, Dec 9, 1997 - Film Crew to Aid Birds - The Arizona Republic, Sep 21, 2006 - Goodyear's Horse Track Becomes 'White Elephant' - West Valley View, Dec 2010 - Phoenix Trotting Park History - Three Rivers Historical Society Newsletter, Oct 10, 2011 - Goodyear Trotting Park Receives Interest - West Valley View, Oct 22, 2012 - Man Injured in Fall at Goodyear Trotting Park - West Valley View, 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, Jan 14, 2016 - For $16.5 Million, You Could Own the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear - The Arizona Republic, May 17, 2017 - Demolition Zone Ahead - West Valley View, May 17, 2017 - The Old Phoenix Trotting Park Set for Demolition - AZ Family 3TV / CBS 5, May 18, 2017 - All Abandoned: 8 Forbidden & Forgotten Spots around Arizona - College Times, May 20, 2017 - Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park along I-10 in Goodyear set for demolition - Arizona Republic, May 21, 2017 - Phoenix Trotting Park, an iconic horse-racing track, will be demolished - KTAR News, May 22, 2017 - Abandoned Phoenix Trotting Park scheduled to be demolished in December - FOX10 Phoenix, Jul 9, 2017 - Goodyear Police Asking People to Stay Away from Trotting Park - FOX10 Phoenix, Sep 26, 2017 - Phoenix horse trotting park set for demolition Wednesday - AZ Family 3TV / CBS 5, Sep 27, 2017 - RAW VIDEO: Aerial view of Goodyear horse trotting park demolition - AZ Family 3TV / CBS 5, Sep 27, 2017 - Facebook Live Stream of trotting park demolition - AZ Family 3TV / CBS 5, Sep 27, 2017 - Abandoned Phoenix Horse Trotting Park demolished in Goodyear - FOX10 Phoenix, Sep 27, 2017 - What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? Buffalo Raceway Website. I've traveled through several of these places since I was a child and I've wondered about them myself! 31 Marinescu, Adriana. West Valley View. Read the latest details in this excellent article from the West Valley View: "Demolition Zone Ahead" from the West Valley View. The second night the crowd fell to 4,000, which wasn't unexpected, but then the crowds simply kept shrinking. 23 Goodyear Trotting Park Receives Interest. While people were no longer permitted to enter the dilapidated building before its destruction, some photographers still managed . GOODYEAR, Ariz It was built 50 years too soon. 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. And at his side, on the big brilliant bay horse, the smallish, black-bearded Welshman. Revenue failed to compensate for the difference. 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 just noticed it being demolished, so it was like, lets go look at the building. [8], Undeterred by his failed business venture, Dunnigan moved west to California and set about rebuilding his career. Some require great effort to seek out, but others are hiding right under our noses in plain sight. (10 Aug 2016). The Phoenix Trotting Park wasnt the only spooky abandoned spot in Arizona; other famous (or perhaps infamous) abandoned places in Arizona are places like: 3. The elder James J. Dunnigan was the one who built the Phoenix Trotting Park, and he passed away in 1983. (2007). Visit the videos page to watch the clip. 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. Phoenix Trotting Park Abandoned. There was a lot of fencing around the place, but most of it was collapsed and not really an obstacle. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing. The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. The Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park was demolished on October 14, 2017 after more than 50 years! Sterling Publishing. Really great site, Jim!Sadly, they are tearing the Trotting Park down soon. Check it out on the videos page. Hi Jim, I too have enjoyed your photography work, you have a great eye and the information you provide on the subject matter. I sent pictures to people back home and told them about where I'd just been. (18 Sep 2020). Revenue failed to compensate for the difference. The 194 acres that encompass the massive, abandoned horse-racing track hit the market in late December . http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley/2017/05/20/iconic-phoenix-trotting-park-along-interstate-10-goodyear-demolition/332552001/. June 17, 2018 - With the Phoenix Trotting Park now demolished, the land has been listed again with Colliers, this time for $24 million. this place is incredible. Buffalo Alumni Club News (PDF). Fourth Level - Dining Platforms, Main Seating, Cashier Counters, Executive Office, Conference Room [15] Total construction time from the groundbreaking ceremony to the first race was less than 12 months. 17 Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves. (Dec 2010). It featured a glass enclosed temperature controlled grandstand that could accommodate 15,000 fans. Repeated calls to officials at the City of Goodyear were not returned. What are some other creepy abandoned places in Arizona? ", "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. The movie has a 44% rating on the website RottenTomatoes.com. The Phoenix Trotting Park is a relic of leisure and vice smack in middle of the desert. (17 Jun 2018). 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. They were quick to point out that the track was built 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. Demolition Zone Ahead. Have added a whole new section of almost 50 images including vintage advertisements and rare construction photos to the Photo Gallery page. Phoenix Trotting Park is permanently closed In 2017 the Trotting Park has been demolished. The Phoenix Trotting Park would last only one more year. Dec 27, 1964 - Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves - The New York Times, Jan 10, 1965 - Phoenix Trotting Park to Open Tomorrow - The Arizona Republic, Feb 1965 - Phoenix Trotting Park, An Architectural Paragon, Has Set Out To Win The West! Thank you, Alexis! Also I have fixed the Contact form. 4 Harness Racing Hall of Fame: James J. Dunnigan, Sr.. (2016). In October 2012, a 17-year old man was injured when he fell 20 feet while exploring at the abandoned Trotting Park with friends. Because of the high summer temperatures, special precautions were taken in the preparation and curing of the concrete. Elevation: 1250 ft. Article originally posted on Phoenix Business Journal on February 6, 2023 A developer is seeking an indefinite extension for a 224-acre mixed-use business and retail center that's slated for the former Phoenix Trotting Park property along Interstate 10 and the Loop 303 in Goodyear. 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. You and your brother are going to have an awesome time exploring Phoenix Trotting Park. [31] Keystone proposed a plan for a mixed-use development comprising office, commercial, retail, light-industrial and entertainment uses[32]. definitely keep trying, it is so worth it. (12 Dec 1965). 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. It's an obscure reference to a cartoon short by Don Hertzfeldt I'd seen years ago. This included hosting the "Grand Circuit" from March 15-20, 1965. 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. (14 Apr 1983). 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. Local Sports Things To Do Business eNewspaper Politics USA TODAY Obituaries Travel Colorado River and the debate over water rights begins . Ivone was a While it is possible that more than one person worked on the design, this has not yet been verified. [24] Roles Inn of America owned the land upon which the Trotting Park sat for many years. Gilbert & Dolan Enterprises/E.L. Second Level - Betting Windows, Offices & Storage Rooms, Multiple Bars, More Restrooms, Escalator (Top) The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. May 22, 2017 Here is a roundup of the recent news stories about the Trotting Park: AZBEX. Demolition of massive Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear begins, 1965 article sheds light on what the Phoenix Trotting Park used to be, Demolition Under Way on Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park, The Colossal Ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park. [23] They built the Cotton Lane RV Resort on the backstretch of the track. 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. It feels like ages since I was there. Welcome to Ghost Towns of Arizona and Surrounding States A ghost town is a completely abandoned or semi-abandoned town or city. I returned to the ground level and did a little more exploring. MAY 21, 2017 - KTAR NEWS - Phoenix Trotting Park, an iconic horse-racing track, will be demolished Thanks for the tip! Check them out on the Photo Gallery page. Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia. - End of first season 1966 Season Early 1966 (?) 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. In January 1965, the Phoenix Trotting Park, a harness racing track, opened. 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