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Paradise Valley, Arizona
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TOWN OF
PARADISE VALLEY HISTORY
During the late 1800’s, cattle grazed in the area
surrounded by the McDowell Mountains to the east and
Camelback Mountain
to the south. In the 1880’s, the Rio Verde Canal Company
turned this open grazing area into irrigated farmland.
In 1889, the Rio Verde Canal Company sent three
surveyors to this area who were so taken by the beauty
and tranquility of the desert landscape that they named
this area Paradise Valley.
Settlement in Paradise Valley did not begin in earnest
until post World War II. Paradise Valley, which is in
Maricopa County, was a rural residential area with few
commercial entities. Though the homes were modest in
size and style, they were on large parcels of land,
usually one to five acres.
In the late
1950’s, Phoenix and Scottsdale were looking to expand
their respective boundaries. Residents who lived in
Paradise Valley area feared that they would lose the
rural lifestyle they had become accustomed to and would
soon be swallowed up by Phoenix or Scottsdale, and
eventually subdivisions, shopping centers, new zoning
laws and property taxes would be a commonly. These
concerned residents formed a “Citizens Committee for the
Incorporation of The Town of Paradise Valley, Arizona,”
who set out with petitions urging residents to join them
in their attempt to incorporate Paradise Valley. The
residents' main goals were to keep zoning to a one house
per acre minimum; to keep the area entirely residential;
and to keep government regulation to a minimum. In April
1961, the Citizens Committee for Incorporation presented
their petition to the Maricopa County Board of
Supervisors. On May 24, 1961, incorporation was granted
and the Town of Paradise Valley was established.
With a
population of approximately 2,000, the first Town
Council was formed. During the early years of the Town’s
history, the Council spent most of its time establishing
the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Board of
Adjustment, redefining zoning ordinances, and annexing
property. By 1968, the boundaries of the Town of
Paradise Valley were pretty well set, with only a few
scattered county islands and a handful of neighborhoods
adjacent to the Town boundaries that would eventually be
annexed. In 2000, with a population over 13,000, only
two county islands remain – the community of Clearwater
Hills west of Tatum Boulevard and the Franciscan Renewal
Center on Lincoln Drive.
Throughout the Town’s 40-year history, the residents
have strived to preserve the Town’s original mission –
to maintain a residential community in a quiet and
country-like setting with little government
intervention.
MUNICIPAL
BUILDINGS
The first Town Council met in a guesthouse on Quail Run
Road. Three years later the Town rented a building on
Malcomb Drive, just south of the present Town Hall. By
1974, the Council decided it was time to build a Town
Hall using funds accumulated over the years to pay for
construction, furnishings and landscaping, and thus Town
government moved into a new building designed by
architect William Bruder. An addition was built in 1980
to accommodate the growing police force. In 1993, the
Council voted to sell bonds in order to build a new
public works building, a new public safety building and
refurbish the old Town Hall to accommodate the Municipal
Court, postal substation and other departments. By 1996,
construction of the new Town Hall Complex was complete.
The
Arizona Canal Diversion Channel Project
The Arizona Canal Diversion Channel (ACDC) was initiated
in 1965 by the Maricopa County Flood Control District
and the US Corps of Engineers to alleviate flooding in
low-lying areas throughout the Phoenix Area. The Reach
IV portion of the ACDC was proposed in the mid-1970's as
a response to the damage of homes south of the Arizona
Canal, in the Arcadia section of Phoenix, when the
Canal’s swollen banks broke and flooded the area. The
Reach IV Channel Project would be used to collect
floodwater from the Cudia City Wash just east of Phoenix
Country Day School.
The proposed Channel was to be an uncovered thirty-six
foot wide by twenty-five foot deep concrete channel that
would run from 34th Street to 40th Street. Homeowners in
the Town protested against this project claiming that it
would ruin the aesthetics of the area, create a safety
hazard and breed mosquitoes. The Town Council agreed to
research alternate solutions including covering the
channel portion that runs through the Town.
In March 1991, the Town Council approved a resolution
urging Arizona’s Federal Congressional Delegation to
obtain federal funding for 90% of the estimated cost of
the $2.5 million Reach IV channel cover, with Paradise
Valley contributing the remaining 10%. In August 1991,
Congress approved funding for the Reach IV Project.
In October
1992, the State of Arizona Heritage Fund granted $42,829
to the Paradise Valley/Phoenix Habitat Restoration
project. This money was used to plant natural
landscaping over the channel cover in order to restore
wildlife habitat. Today, you may walk the path along the
canal and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Signs
describe the different plant species.
Washes
The washes in the Town have always been a significant
factor in controlling floodwater in residential
neighborhoods. In the mid 1940’s, Marvin Folkman wanted
to build homes on his land north of Doubletree Ranch
Road and west of Scottsdale Road. In order to do this,
Mr. Folkman needed to address the issue of flooding. In
1949, a plan was designed for the construction of the
Berneil Ditch and Drainage Channel. This Channel would
carry floodwater away from Scottsdale Road to the Indian
Bend Wash and protect the residential area from
flooding. The Berneil Ditch starts at Scottsdale Road
traveling west to 66th Street, then turns south across
Doubletree Ranch Road until it meets with the Indian
Bend Wash. In 1974, the Ditch was widened and deepened
in order to handle larger amounts of floodwater.
Because the
Indian Bend Wash cuts through Mr. Folkman’s property
south of Doubletree Ranch Road, special consideration
had to be addressed regarding flood control prior to the
development of this land. Mr. Folkman thought that the
Indian Bend Wash should be converted into a parkway by
planting native vegetation in order to prevent any
cutting away of the land by floodwater. He thought that
this would provide recreational space for the adjacent
residential community. By the summer of 1949, the first
greenbelt in the Indian Bend Wash was complete. It
functioned efficiently and capably for 20 years until it
became part of a golf course in 1969. In 1973, the Town
adopted the Flood Plain Regulations, requiring that the
entire Indian Bend Wash be developed as a green belt,
adding to the beauty of the Town and at the same time
providing a flood channel.
SEWERS
In 1974, the first Town-owned sewer line was
installed to serve Town Hall. Some existing homes along
Lincoln Drive tapped into this line along with newly
developed subdivisions. By 1995, there were
approximately 82 miles of sewer lines serving town
residents. This allowed town residents using septic
systems to access sewer lines.
TATUM
CURVE
It became known as “Dead Man’s Curve.” It was the
curve on Tatum Boulevard between Caida del Sol and
Mockingbird Lane. In December 1985, the Town Council
decided to improve the conditions of this road in order
to make it safer for drivers. Consequently, the Council
approved a contract with an engineering firm who would
prepare design specifications for straightening the
“Tatum Curve.” The design included adding shoulders to
the road and additional traffic lights at several
intersections. By November 1989 the $2.1 million project
to realign and improve the sharp curve was completed.
Town Council Members and the Mayor of Phoenix joined
together to mark the completion of the improvements to
Tatum Boulevard.
In May 1995, Kathy Bernstein, owner of Eonite Inc.,
volunteered her service to eliminate the scar resulting
from the construction of the Tatum Curve. The stain,
called natural desert varnish, does in months what it
would take nature 50,000 years to do. This process
resulted in the rocks being restored to their natural
colors.
UNDERGROUNDING OF UTILITY POLES
The Town of Paradise Valley was the first municipality
in the State to adopt an Underground Utilities
Ordinance. Adopted in 1964, this ordinance mandated that
all new utility lines be placed underground. There were
approximately 55 miles of utility lines to be buried. By
1998, approximately 26 miles of utility wires were
underground through a sharing of expenses between
residents, the Town and Arizona Public Service (APS). In
January 2000, APS agreed to underground the 69kv lines
along the south side of Lincoln Drive, from 32nd Street
to Mockingbird Lane; along Mockingbird Lane from Lincoln
Drive to McDonald Drive; and along McDonald Drive from
Mockingbird Lane to the eastern Town limits.
SCHOOLS
Camelback Desert School
The school's motto is “We make the children feel good
about themselves.” In 1950, Marian Moore and Paula
Nelson opened Camelback Desert School. Originally
located on Camelback Road and 15th Street, the was
relocated to four acres of land on Invergorden Road
south of Lincoln Drive. In 1970, William Barton, Sr.
purchased the school and transformed it from a preschool
enrolling 60 children to a campus that today includes
200 children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Judson
School
In 1928, Judson School opened with seven boys as
students. Judson was the state’s oldest independent
college preparatory school. Henry Wick, who had been
teaching at Judson School since 1938, purchased the
school from George Judson in 1945. In the late 1940’s,
Henry Wick began offering classes in English as a Second
Language. This brought students from all around the
world representing, at times, 30 different countries.
Girls were admitted to Judson School for the first time
in 1956. Henry Wick sold the 55-acre Judson School
property to Cachet Homes in the fall of 1999. In the
summer of 2000, the campus buildings were demolished to
make way for a gated community of 34 luxury homes. A
small structure has been built on the property as a
memorial to 72 years of Judson School history.
Kachina Country Day School
In July 1983, the Board of Kachina Country Day School
purchased the Paradise Valley Day School from Carl and
Kacki Vinsel. Kachina Country Day School started with an
enrollment of 170 students in grades preschool through
fifth grade. By 1985, the enrollment had increased to
300 students. In 1996, Kachina Country Day School
received a charter contract from the Arizona State Board
of Education.
Phoenix Country Day School
Originally named Tally Academy, Phoenix Country Day
School was incorporated as a new independent day school
in 1960. The school is located at 40th Street and
Stanford Drive. Phoenix Country Day School was started
by Mae Sue Talley and a group of parents who wanted an
education for their children that was “dedicated to
providing the highest level of elementary and
preparatory training attainable anywhere in the Unite
States.” In the fall of 1961, with a student enrollment
of 93 and staff of 14, Phoenix Country Day School opened
its doors to children in grades three through nine.
Today, the school has an enrollment of 700 students in
pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Other schools located in the Town of Paradise Valley
include private schools: Desert View Learning Center,
Pardes School and Tesseract. There are two public
schools, Cherokee Elementary and Kiva Elementary.
TOWN
LANDMARKS
CAMELBACK
CEMETERY
The
cemetery on the north side of McDonald Drive between
Scottsdale Road and Mockingbird Lane was originally part
of Hans and Mary Weaver’s homestead. In 1915, the
Weavers’ daughter married Adolph Poenicke. Three weeks
after the wedding, Adolph died and was buried on the
family property. The following year, Hans and Mary
Weaver decided to deed a portion of their homestead as a
cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place for
many who died in the 1918 flu epidemic,
Mexican-Catholics who had no other Catholic cemetery
nearby, and military veterans. Some of the original
white crosses that were placed on gravesites eroded over
time and their markings were unclear. As they were
replaced, many crosses were put up at random since there
was no way of knowing who was buried in a particular
grave. In 1954, a flagpole and a monument were built in
honor of military veterans. Approximately 600 people are
resting in this cemetery.
COSANTI
Paoli
Soleri built the Cosanti gallery on five acres of land
prior to the Town’s incorporation. As he needed them,
Soleri added buildings and structures on his property.
Today at Cosanti, artisans craft bronze and ceramic
windbells. In the gallery, there are displays of
windbells and original Soleri sculptures, graphics and
sketches. Soleri windbells are famous throughout the
world.
El CHORRO
LODGE
El Chorro
Lodge was originally the home of the Bell Family. During
the early to mid-1930’s, the Lodge was home to Judson
School for Girls, which lasted only two years. The Bells
sold their home to the Judsons, and Mark and Jan Gruber
purchased the home from the Judsons to open El Chorro
Lodge. The name El Chorro comes from Peruvian Spanish
meaning "running stream." The Lodge was open for
business from November 1 through May 1. In 1973, the
Grubers' sold the Lodge to Joe Miller who had started
out as one of the day bartenders in the early 1950’s.
Today, El Chorro Lodge is still thriving as a restaurant
and lounge.
MUMMY
MOUNTAIN
Some
people called the mountain Windy Gulch and others called
it Horseshoe Mountain but it was long-time town resident
Charlie Mieg who finally named it Mummy Mountain. As a
major landowner along the north and east sides of the
Mountain, Mr. Mieg recognized that the names did not
have much marketing appeal. He began to think of another
name to use in selling his properties. One day, while
riding along what would become Shea Boulevard, Mr. Mieg
looked toward his Mountain. He thought that it looked
like an Egyptian mummy lying down. Thus, he changed the
name to Mummy Mountain.
The Mummy
Mountain Preserve Trust
The Mummy
Mountain Preserve Trust was established in 1997. Its
goals are to perpetuate the natural landscape, desert
plants, wildlife and scenic beauty of the hillside areas
of the Town. The Trust protects the land on the Mountain
from future development and preserves it as natural open
space. It is the intent of the Mummy Mountain Preserve
Trust to include all land on the mountain above the 1800
feet elevation on the west side and above the 1600 feet
elevation on the east side. By 1999, the Trust has
accumulated more than 189 acres of land.
PARADISE
VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB
The idea
of the Paradise Valley Country Club began in 1952. A
group of businessmen agreed that a golf course in the
area would be of great benefit to local resorts and
local real estate. A committee was formed and a meeting
was held in November 1952 at the Camelback Inn to assess
community support. The idea was a hit. By January 1953,
the location of the golf course had been narrowed to two
possible sites – the McCormick Ranch and the Camelback
Inn property. But it was Mr. Jack Stewart from the
Camelback Inn who announced at this meeting that the
Camelback Inn and a few neighbors would donate 270 acres
of land near Tatum Boulevard and Lincoln Drive. The
committee agreed that the Camelback Inn site was the
right location not only because of the donated land but
also its proximity to Phoenix. By the end of the first
year, the Paradise Valley Country Club had 184 members.
The Paradise Valley
Country Club golf course, which was designed by Lawrence
Hughes, was officially opened on April 10, 1954. Today
the Paradise Valley Country Club has approximately 1,000
members.
TOWN
RESORTS
CAMELBACK
INN
John C.
Lincoln was an innovator. He owned 420 acres of land on
the south side of Mummy Mountain and wanted to open a
resort on his property. When it was time to find a
qualified person to operate the Inn, Mr. Lincoln went to
Jack Stewart. Camelback Inn opened on December 15, 1936
as a seasonal resort. When the Inn opened, there were 75
rooms for guests with rates from $10 to $25 per night.
Barry Goldwater used the Camelback Inn as his
headquarters during the 1964 presidential campaign. In
1967, Camelback Inn was sold to the Marriott
Corporation. Marriott expanded and improved the Inn
adding a spa, golf course and additional rooms.
HERMOSA
INN
The
Hermosa Inn was built in 1930 as the home of cowboy
artist Lon Megargee. When it was his home, Mr. Megargee
called it Casa Hermosa meaning "beautiful house." To
supplement his art income, he operated the Casa as a
guest ranch. Hermosa Inn has had many owners who
attempted to change the nature of the Inn to compete
with the nearby resorts. A fire in 1987 destroyed the
main lodge and eventually the property fell into
disrepair. When Fred Unger purchased the property in
November 1992, he decided to restore the Inn back to its
original state and include a restaurant that would be a
special place for guests. The restaurant, named Lon’s,
was opened in October 1994.
MOUNTAIN
SHADOWS RESORT
Originally this property was the Tennessee Walking Horse
Ranch owned by Captain Hog, the infamous father of Ima
and Youra. In the 1950’s, Jim Paul purchased this
55-acre property and built a hotel and 59 homes. He
renamed it Mountain Shadows East. It was the first hotel
in the Phoenix area to remain open all year round.
In 1961,
Jim Paul sold half of his interest in the Resort to Del
Webb Construction Company while continuing to operate
Mountain Shadows Hotel. In the early 1960’s, Jim Paul
purchased from Alan Feeney 80 acres to the west of the
Hotel and created Mountain Shadows West and Mountain
Shadows Country Club. By January 1963, Del Webb
purchased the remaining half of Mountain Shadows East
and all of Mountain Shadows West. The Resort was now
known as Del Webb’s Mountain Shadows.
In July
1981, Del Webb sold the Resort to Marriott Corporation
and the name changed to Marriott’s Mountain Shadows
Resort and Country Club. Today, the Resort includes 337
deluxe rooms and suites, an executive 18-hole golf
course and eight tennis courts.
SANCTUARY
ON CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN
Originally owned by Hollywood stars John Ireland and
Joan Drew, the Paradise Valley Tennis Club opened in the
1950’s with five tennis courts, a swimming pool and a
clubhouse. By the 1960’s, the Paradise Valley Tennis
Club fell into bankruptcy. In 1966, Vic Jackson
purchased the property and in 1969 he took John Gardiner
in as a partner in the tennis club. The two of them
restored the property, adding four additional tennis
courts and forty-one casitas. John Gardiner’s Tennis
Ranch was opened in February 1970. In 1994, John
Gardiner sold his interest in the Tennis Ranch and in
1999, Vic Jackson also sold his portion. Today, a
Cincinnati group owns the property with the Westroc
Group as the management company. Sanctuary on Camelback
Mountain, as it is now called, is an intimate resort and
spa. They will open on a limited basis in February 2001
and will be fully operational by October 2001.
SMOKETREE
RESORT
In 1964,
the Diamond Lazy K fell on hard times and was returned
to Western Savings and Loan. Melinda and Curtis
Williams, from Interwestern Management Company, managed
the property for Western Savings until 1966 when the
Williams decided to purchase the property. At that time,
the five-acre property included a beauty salon, a
restaurant and 25 apartment units. In the late 1960’s,
the Williams changed the name to the Lazy K. In the mid
1970’s, they changed the name again to the Smoketree
Resort. Today, the Resort includes a beauty salon, a
restaurant – The Other Place, and 25 apartment units. It
boasts a steady clientele, some who have been coming
back for the last 20 years.
Other
Town resorts include Doubletree La Posada Resort,
Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, Renaissance
Scottsdale Resort, and Scottsdale Plaza Resort.
PLACES OF
WORSHIP
Ascension
Lutheran Church, Calvary Church of the Valley, Camelback
Bible Church, Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church, Christ
Church of the Ascension, First Southern Baptist Church
of Scottsdale, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Paradise
Valley United Methodist Church, St. Barnabas on the
Desert, Temple Solel and Unitarian Universalist Church
of Phoenix.
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