tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75999864572607693272026-04-02T14:29:49.641-07:00North Phoenix Blog features original news articles, editorials, and information about Phoenix, Arizona.Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.comBlogger224125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-44090033371946526232026-02-03T17:58:00.002-07:002026-02-03T18:02:36.749-07:00

When I started the North Phoenix Blog in 2008, I was following the trend (or arguably, late to the game) as “the blogosphere” was taking off. While I did not imagine being the next Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Mashable, Gizmodo, or BuzzFeed, I was hoping to ride their coattails to some kind of success. This was an era when it seemed like everyone had a blog, and that independent writers were

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-55665937307049139662023-06-19T06:42:00.002-07:002023-06-19T06:42:31.096-07:00

For more than 60 years, Turf Paradise has been an iconic horse racing facility in North Phoenix. The 1,400-acre facility is located near 19th Avenue and Bell Road. Horse Racing in Phoenix The track is comprised of a clubhouse building that faces a 1-mile dirt oval track. Turf Paradise opened its doors in 1956, offering live thoroughbred horse racing from October - May and simulcast coverage.

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-208737392627825092022-07-19T09:00:00.001-07:002022-07-19T09:00:00.203-07:00

In my research into Phoenix history, I have become fascinated by the largest private home in the State. This three-part series is a deep dive into the troubled story of Arizona's Largest House, known as the McCune Mansion or Hormel Mansion. Part one is about Walker McCune, who began building the palatial house in 1960 and owned it until his death in 1971, though he never lived in the main

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-33163359796855138352022-07-12T09:00:00.001-07:002022-07-12T09:00:00.201-07:00

In my research into Phoenix history, I have become fascinated by the largest private home in the State. This three-part series is a deep dive into the troubled story of Arizona's Largest House, known as the McCune Mansion or Hormel Mansion. Part one is about Walker McCune, who began building the palatial house in 1960 and owned it until his death in 1971, though he never lived in the main

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-29514487571473867912022-07-05T09:00:00.001-07:002022-07-05T09:00:00.170-07:00

In my research into Phoenix history, I have become fascinated by the largest private home in the State. This three-part series is a deep dive into the troubled story of Arizona's Largest House, known as the McCune Mansion or Hormel Mansion.Part one is about Walker McCune, who began building the palatial house in 1960 and owned it until his death in 1971, though he never lived in the main

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-87198389053237655212022-06-12T12:23:00.000-07:002022-06-12T12:23:55.485-07:00

Back in 2008 when I started this website, I wanted to write about news targeted to the hyper-local Deer Valley and Norterra region of North Phoenix. The problem was, it was the depths of the Great Recession and all new construction and building came to an abrupt halt.Now more than a decade later, things have completely turned around. Despite the global pandemic, the stock market is reaching new

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-37982809266614483562022-04-23T09:31:00.001-07:002022-04-23T09:31:25.745-07:00

A home is more than just a place to live, it can also be a symbol of wealth, success, and prestige. Arizona is home to many luxury homes with multimillion-dollar price tags. Have you ever wondered: what is the largest home in Arizona?There are many superlatives that can be used to describe a home: most expensive home sold, most luxurious home. For this article I am talking purely about size: what

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com0Scottsdale, AZ, USA33.4941704 -111.92605195.1839365638211561 -147.0823019 61.804404236178847 -76.7698019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-45809144630748952172021-06-16T21:31:00.005-07:002021-06-19T19:26:03.454-07:00

While this site is focused on Phoenix history and news, I thought that readers of this blog might enjoy a special feature about my recently-launched side project.One hobby that I have always been drawn to is skateboarding. Arizona is home to a large number of free, public skateboard parks for riders to practice their skills.The Jack Malmgren Skatepark in Sedona is one of more than 80 free

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com0Phoenix, AZ, USA33.4483771 -112.07403735.1381432638211564 -147.2302873 61.758610936178847 -76.9177873tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-78204273458665677142021-02-10T07:25:00.001-07:002021-02-10T07:25:03.342-07:00

If you are one of the more than 200,000 drivers that travel along Interstate 10 in Phoenix on an average day, you may have noticed an area covered by a chain link fence between the Eastbound and Westbound lanes of the Deck Park Tunnel. What is that area, and why is it there? That's what I am going to explore in this post.What is that mysterious, fenced-off area between the eastbound and westbound

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-91431221014368962332021-01-10T13:06:00.002-07:002022-07-01T21:32:27.357-07:00

Driving along the main street in Buckeye, Arizona, you will see a modern post office and city hall nestled among numerous pre-war era commercial buildings. Behind a small restaurant called Cafe 25:35 stands a most unusual sight: a 22 foot tall fiberglass statue of a vagabond named Hobo Joe. The story of who he is and why he is here is far more interesting than I ever could have imagined. This is

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-82376010784047279902020-12-23T18:30:00.019-07:002022-07-01T21:58:39.185-07:00

Phoenix has been home to many movie houses and theaters over the years, but the grandest of all was the Cine Capri. During its 32 year history from 1966 to 1998, the Cine Capri was more than just a movie theater; it was a destination and an icon of Phoenix. Let’s dive into the history of this fantastic, beloved venue.The original Cine Capri movie theater at 2323 E Camelback Rd.Photo by: Harkins

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com0Phoenix, AZ, USA33.4483771 -112.07403735.1381432638211564 -147.2302873 61.758610936178847 -76.9177873tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-36936586809668193842020-08-14T11:41:00.000-07:002020-08-29T15:38:29.224-07:00

John Fitzgerald Long (1920-2008) was a legendary businessman and real estate developer in Phoenix. While he did not invent the concept of a master-planned suburban neighborhood, he was the first to implement the idea in Arizona. John F. Long became a household name in the 1950s with the creation of Maryvale, a massive planned community in Phoenix comprising more than 30,000 single-family homes

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com0Phoenix, AZ, USA33.4483771 -112.074037332.6020036 -113.3649308 34.2947506 -110.7831438tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-16456095780832584122020-05-01T20:01:00.000-07:002020-05-01T20:02:12.942-07:00

I started North Phoenix Blog 12 years ago, in May of 2008.The Internet in 2008/2009 At the time, the Internet was becoming "Web 2.0". New services like WordPress (first released in 2003), YouTube (launched in 2005), and Twitter (launched in 2006) were changing the way that people used the web in their daily lives. Websites were no longer one-way mediums that talked at the reader like a newspaper

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-50767434555922211672019-02-14T07:48:00.000-07:002019-02-14T07:48:03.353-07:00

"Legend City was originally conveived in the late 1950s by Louis E. Crandall as Arizona's answer to Disneyland. For kids living in the Phoenix area in the 1960s and 70s, it was an entertainment mecca, a unique and fun place for a magical afternoon or an evening out. Opened in 1963 and closed forever in 1983, Legend City will long be remembered for its Old West atmosphere, cool rides, charming

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-79810404164569858882019-02-01T14:44:00.005-07:002020-11-27T14:33:50.354-07:00

The greater Phoenix area is made up of more than 20 incorporated cities, towns, and census designated places. Collectively, the "metro Phoenix" area is home to 4.7 million people. As these cities and towns grow closer together into one giant mass of sprawl, how do they retain their individual identities? One small way that cities set themselves apart is with decorative sewer manhole covers. Here

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-44024411745896589432018-12-26T22:02:00.000-07:002018-12-26T22:03:28.156-07:00

Phoenix may be in the middle of the desert, but you may be surprised to learn that we DO have islands here! Not the kind with sand and a palm tree - I'm talking about county islands. In this post I am going to talk about county islands for those who are not familiar with them. What is a county island? If you have recently moved to Arizona from the East Coast or the Mid-Western United States or

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-21815875350717501292018-11-22T00:25:00.000-07:002020-08-29T15:24:37.289-07:00

Four years ago, I wrote a post called The Mystery of Phoenix Northgate that explored the history behind a large, vacant parcel of land near 19th Avenue and Bell Road in North Phoenix. Several commenters wrote in to share their knowledge of the ill-fated development. A New Chapter for Phoenix Northgate The land eventually became State Trust land, which is often sold at auction. Earlier this year

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-11872788312098523522018-09-25T21:44:00.002-07:002022-07-01T20:44:03.343-07:00

Much has been written about Monti's La Casa Vieja, one of the oldest and most famous restaurants in all of Phoenix. But much less attention has been given to the second Monti's location in North Phoenix - one that has nearly been forgotten to history. Today, I hope to tell that story. The Hayden House It was 1873 when Charles Trumbull Hayden, a businessman and one of the earliest settlers of

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-12904247578391366992018-08-18T11:45:00.000-07:002018-08-18T11:47:01.171-07:00

The dream of every private pilot is being able to walk out their front door and take to the skies. For a lucky few, that dream is a reality. There are a handful of residential communities in the greater Phoenix area with homes built on a private airstrip. I am intrigued by these airpark neighborhoods where amateur pilots can park their personal aircraft in a hangar that is attached to their

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-88080688562507853662018-05-06T11:14:00.000-07:002018-05-06T11:14:01.132-07:00

Like many cultures, Americans have designated special places as the final resting place for our loved ones. I'm talking about cemeteries - the very word may conjure up mental image of trees, grass, and markers in neat, uniform rows. Unfortunately, not everyone ends up in such peaceful serenity. There are a number of small, little-known cemeteries around the Phoenix area that have come up in my

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-53504680574344218432018-04-07T09:28:00.000-07:002018-04-07T09:28:43.688-07:00

I have noticed a trend in the North Phoenix area of hotels converting into senior living facilities. The first one was the former Embassy Suites at 2577 W. Greenway Road. Built in 1986, this all-suites hotel offered 168 guestrooms where every room was a 2-room suite. The website went offline in 2015, and the 17-acre property began the transformation to its present status as "Park Terrace at

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-66320161445829136072017-10-22T17:47:00.001-07:002020-08-16T15:57:19.895-07:00

Like many large cities, downtown Phoenix has its share of large stadiums and event centers. Symphony Hall, the Herberger Theater, the Orpheum Theatre, Comerica Theatre, and of course, Chase Field and Talking Stick Resort Arena, which are home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns, respectively. Downtown Phoenix is not the only place in the Valley of the Sun to catch a great concert or

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-13436840821312426672017-08-02T22:20:00.001-07:002017-08-02T22:20:22.409-07:00

One of the larger neighborhood parks in North Phoenix is Deer Valley Park, located at 19th Ave and Wahalla Ln., just south of the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway. The 38-acre park offers amenities including a Community Center, public pool, tennis courts, and playground equipment. But recently, a new project has begun at the park. New Dog Park under construction within Deer Valley Park An unused

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-85625921427994812262017-07-28T23:00:00.001-07:002022-07-01T21:56:19.029-07:00

If you work in North Phoenix near I-17 and Happy Valley Road or Pinnacle Peak road, you are probably aware of the long waits to get on and off the freeway every weekday between 3pm and 6pm. The long wait times and backups are frustrating to many drivers, but a new plan recently unveiled by the Arizona Department of Transportation may resolve the daily congestion in a unique way. Recently, ADOT

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-39016683104399648882017-01-10T20:27:00.000-07:002017-07-28T23:00:39.752-07:00

Dinner With a View There are several restaurants in Phoenix that provide a stunning view in addition to a meal. The Compass Grill, Orange Sky at Talking Stick, and A Different Pointe of View all offer panoramic vistas in addition to gourmet entrees. But back in the 1960s, there was just one choice for scenic dining: Cloud Nine.   Located on the southwest slope of Shaw Butte in the

Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.com25