(12 Dec 1965). The Sun and the Erie County Independent. Two late Hall of Famers, Norman Woolworth and Delvin Miller, were among those who helped bankroll the new venture. guaranteed money makers in that era. Hi Jim, I too have enjoyed your photography work, you have a great eye and the information you provide on the subject matter. 24 A Glass Enclosed Palace for the "Sport of Kings. MAY 17, 2017 - AZFAMILY - The old Phoenix Trotting Park set for demolition (video) There was a lot of fencing around the place, but most of it was collapsed and not really an obstacle. It was built in 1964 for $9.5 million, more than $6 million over budget, to house spectators during harness races. Dunnigan was able to drum up some financing from his trotting buddies in New York, including Norman S. Woolworth (a relative of the wealthy J.W. 21 TwiMet. [21] The parking lot was used as an automotive swap meet called "AutoSwap USA" in 1991. [2] Associate architect was Victor Gruen Associates of Los Angeles. Assuredly no one is going to salvage the old track and bring back racing. [2] He died in December 1965 at the age of 82.[3]. I tried to visit a couple weeks ago, but was told to leave by a local. Still hard to believe that it's really gone. Thats his secondary preference, though. This is the Phoenix Trotting Park - a huge complex in the United States that was built as a horse racing track in 1964. Motorcycle Show Phoenix/Goodyear Trotter Park 1988- PART 1. The quality is comparable to that of a larger DSLR, but it's nice and compact, so I don't have to worry about carrying around cumbersome equipment while I'm exploring. They allowed the building to achieve unusually long cantilevers of 39 feet for the seat girders and 32 feet for the roof girders. 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. 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. While commonly used today, this method of construction was considered cutting-edge in the 1960s. Mezzanine Floor - Men's and Women's Bathrooms, Stairwell Access I would love to see it repurposed instead of demolished. 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. The gran. 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. SEP 27, 2017 - AZCENTRAL - What is the fate of the Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear? When she was a student at Desert Edge High School, there was a ghost hunting club that explored Trotting Park. The Colossal Ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park . The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park. May 17, 2017 - Very sad to report that the Trotting Park is in the beginning stages of demolition, starting with asbestos removal. Harness Racing Update March 28, 2014 by Dean A. Hoffman. Love Arizona? Check out Long-vacant Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear is in escrow, could be demolished by Adrian Hedden. awesome work! For decades, the horse track,. Suddenly he made off like a bounding hare, ears flung back, chasing the shadow of a lowskimming gull. The pari-mutuel handle on opening night was virtually a mirage, too, as the crowd of more than 12,000 pushed $130,984 through the windows. "too damn far out" at least 20 miles from the center of Phoenix and that, at the time, there weren't any major roads connecting Phoenix and the track. It was visible from the I-10 and became a popular destination for urban exploration until security guards were installed at the property. 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. . I just noticed it being demolished, so it was like, lets go look at the building. October 22, 2017 - Two new videos have been added to the Videos page. Date: 12.30.2010. 17 Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves. Sale of W.V. A lot of research has been done to ensure the accuracy and validity of information shown on this website. 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. NOTE: Some sources do not include published dates. Man Injured in Fall at Goodyear Trotting Park. It closed in 1966 and was eventually demolished in 2017. 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. 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. You've probably driven past this town on your way to Las Vegas. Phoenix Trotting Park This building was once home to thousands of pigeons. The main building of the park was used in the 1998 Charlie/Martin Sheen movie No Code of Conduct. 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. Between Phoenix and Lewis there was a latent, but unspoken and wary sympathy. What are some other creepy abandoned places in Arizona? Unfortunately, however, all good things must come to an end, and the facility closed in 1966 despite its initial success. Big thanks to Scott Elder for sharing this video with us. The firm and its eponymous founder are famous for inventing the modern shopping mall as we know it today. (Nov-Dec 1956). The life of the Lopes Canyon Ranch was short-lived. Until that is finished, there are no plans to do anything with the property. SEP 27, 2017 - AZFAMILY - Facebook Live Stream of trotting park demolition Check it out here: Valley 101 Explores the History of the 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. Slowly but surely, it succumbed to the elements, blending in with the desert surroundings a little bit more each day. Have added a whole new section of almost 50 images including vintage advertisements and rare construction photos to the Photo Gallery page. West Valley View. Notre Dame Alumnus, Vol. About 45 minutes before I left, I heard the loud echoing of someone else exploring the place. Buffalo Raceway Website. 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. 2 Hon. The Trotting Park has been listed for sale! 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. The park was demolished in 2017. - Start of second season Spring 1966 (?) I've been using the Sony RX100M3. Sterling Publishing. The Trotting Park's wall panels, roof slabs, columns, beams, and girders were all constructed of precast concrete, which was poured on-site. One of the proprietors and visionaries behind the park was James Dunnigan, the renowned New York horse racing financier. James J. Dunnigan died on April 6, 1983 at the age of 71.[10]. Next week's post will be about a couple of neat old abandoned houses in Dateland, AZ that I explored later that day. June 22, 2015 - We are now on Twitter! ), biggest white elephant in Maricopa County, but when I explored about 21 years ago they had motion sensors and the police were there in 10 minutes, had to use old trick to divert them elsewhere. Berlin, Germany Berlin 1947 (Part 11) aka Trotting Race (Feb 1967). Mechanical Mezzanine Level - Stairwell Access and Elevator Machine Rooms 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. Behind came Phoenix, like a shadow, with his yellowish, high-boned face still looking sick. (Dec 2010). Advertisements [17] The track was originally supposed to cost about $2 million, but the final cost ended up being a whopping $9.5 million. MAY 22, 2017 - FOX10 PHOENIX - Abandoned Phoenix Trotting Park scheduled to be demolished in December West Valley View. 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. Things were off to a great start, but it wasn't long before the park's luck changed. The industrial buildings are expected to begin going up in late summer or early fall. [15] Construction began in 1964 on the massive structure, which contained more than 27,000 cubic yards of concrete. The colossal ruins of Phoenix Trotting Park sit in the middle of a barren expanse of land just off I-10. 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. There were a number of daunting reasons for closing, like high operational expenses and flood hazards. The Iconic Phoenix Trotting Park was demolished on October 14, 2017 after more than 50 years! Therefore, the published date is the earliest known capture that could be located using the Wayback Machine. There has been a lot of trespassing on the property, active trespassing, and the numbers are pretty staggering, Smith said. I also saw locals walking by but they did not say anything. June 30, 2017 - Huge photo update! 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. SEP 26, 2017 - AZFAMILY - Phoenix horse trotting park set for demolition Wednesday. 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. 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. I will definitely keep posting. 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. Sports Illustrated Magazine. 32 Tapia, Monica. In this week's episode of . This 73-Mile Arizona Scenic Drive Winds Through An Abandoned Village And Ancient Volcano, The Boneyard In Arizona Is The Resting Place For More Than 4,000 Abandoned Airplanes, This Eerie And Fantastic Footage Takes You Inside Arizonas Abandoned Train Graveyard, Take A Memorable Hike To The Abandoned Verde Hot Springs Resort In Arizona, It Doesnt Get Much Creepier Than This Abandoned Town Hidden in Arizona, This Abandoned Ghost Town In Arizona Was Once A Quintessential Wild West Town, 7 Eerie, Abandoned Places In Arizona That May Make Your Hair Stand On End, Most People Have No Idea This Abandoned Mining Town In Arizona Even Exists. From the roof I enjoyed some great views of different sections of the structure. In 1995, Grand Canyon University sold the 224-acre track to local developer Ray Roles for $2 million. This included hosting the "Grand Circuit" from March 15-20, 1965. Removal of . Attendance was much lower than anticipated, partly due to competition from other well-established racing facilities in the area. The memory of this place lives on in our pictures, videos, and news stories. View our extensive collection of historical and modern-day images, including rare construction photos. (15 Nov 1991). Please be respectful of the No Trespassing signs posted around the building. -Zack b. In 1915, Dunnigan traded in his drafting pencils for politics as he took a seat on the New York State Senate. Unknown magazine scan, 69-71. (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. 8 Buffalo Raceway History. The first season was scheduled to have 60 nights of racing. Chronicle Books. January 12, 2016 - The Trotting Park was the subject of a major story today in the Arizona Republic. Phoenix Trotting Park has been vacant for 51 years. Roof Level - No Public Access. In October 2012, a 17-year old man was injured when he fell 20 feet while exploring at the abandoned Trotting Park with friends. 19 Hoffman, Dean A. Plant your own desert garden with a starter cactus from this indoor-outdoor gift shop. So you only use the Sony RX100M3 camera for all your photos? September 7, 2016 - We are saddened to announce the passing of James J. Dunnigan Jr. Hopes and optimism ran high in 1965 when the Phoenix Trotting Park, a futuristically-designed harness racing track that opened in Goodyear, Arizona. It was built of reinforced concrete, and could . 9 Phoenix Trotting Park Suspends Racing Indefinitely. The Buffalo Raceway opened in June of 1942 in Hamburg, New York[8]. November 21, 2016 - Huge thanks to Gary Oglesby for sending in his drone footage of the Trotting Park. 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! 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. Read a comprehensive history of the Dunnigan Family, the Buffalo Raceway, and the Phoenix Trotting Park. Select from premium Phoenix Trotting Park of the highest quality. Please vote in our online survey and tell us which items you would like to see in a web store. Thank you, Tausha! 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. [20], The Trotting Park closed permanently in 1966. The building had so many levels, it seemed to go on forever. The horse racing park was built in 1964 and opened the following year to any eager gamblers willing to. September 6, 2021 - I have gone through the site and fixed a number of broken and dead links. Thanks for the tip! (14 Apr 1983). FOX 10 Phoenix. What are some other creepy abandoned places in Arizona? 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. Raising the Bar: Chocolate's History, Art, and Taste With Sophia Contreras Rea Its a landmark, Machuca said. The buyers and the sale price have not yet been disclosed. In 1960, Phoenix was not the thriving metropolis it is today. Cordes. 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. Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. definitely keep trying, it is so worth it. Many thanks to everyone for their patience. Bronx County, NY - Online Biographies. The massive structure consists of more than 27,000 cubic yards of reinforced concrete. 2. (27 Dec 1964). Phoenix Trotting Park Suspends Racing Indefinitely, Del Miller, Legendary Driver in the Sulky, Is Dead at 83, Phoenix Trots Out A $9 Million Track With Spiral Curves, The Short Life and Long Death of Phoenix Trotting Park, Goodyear's Horse Track Becomes 'White Elephant', Motorcycle Show Phoenix/Goodyear Trotter Park 1988- PART 1, Man Injured in Fall at Goodyear Trotting Park, Phoenix Mixed-Use Project Takes a Giant Step, 224-Acre Mixed-Use Hub Proposed for Goodyear. Its just different.. Description. Built in 1964, the Phoenix Trotting Park was actually located in Goodyear, Arizona.