Close to Interstate 10, west of Phoenix, Arizona, lies a breathtaking horse racing structure, the Phoenix Trotting Park. The extensive, futuristic building, built in 1964 in the arid expanse of Goodyear, was operational for only two seasons.
Today, it is a testament to human ambition and creativity. It leaves behind a story as fascinating as the structure itself. This article explores the story of Arizona’s very own Phoenix Trotting Park, with a keen emphasis on its history, the reasons it was abandoned, and what you would expect to see if you visited the site right now.
History of Phoenix Trotting Park
Phoenix Trotting Park was the brainchild of a man named James Dunnigan, who was a renowned horseracing investor from New York. The vision was a harness racing venue in the Southwest, a sport much more characteristic of the Northeast and Midwest.
Influenced by the success of various harness racing parks in New York and Pennsylvania, Dunn wanted to create an ultra-modern facility that could expand the sport’s reach into the Southwest.
In 1964, construction of the park commenced on a large tract of land in the middle of the desert. No expense was spared in its construction. What began as a $3 million project quickly escalated to a staggering $10 million with the incorporation of state-of-the-art designs and unforeseen construction challenges.
Phoenix Park was a joint venture by Gilbert, Dolan Enterprises, and E.L. Farmer Construction Company. An Italian architect, Ivone Grassetto, designed detrimental areas like the racing strip and the grandstand.
Trotting Park opened its doors in 1965, heralding a new era in harness racing throughout the United States. On opening day, scores of people summing up to 12,000 were in attendance. This gave hope to the owners and high expectations for success.
It was a marvel of brutalist architecture: sleek and angular, with a grandstand seating 12,000 spectators and space for another 8,000 people standing. Besides advanced features, this area used to have air-conditioned areas and state-of-the-art lighting.
It rose high and could be seen from miles afar, shining like a beacon of ambition out of the desert sands.
Why Was Phoenix Trotting Park Abandoned?
The Phoenix Trotting Park was abandoned because of poor planning and other economic challenges. Failure to capture a sustainable audience for harness racing in Arizona also played a part. As it turns out, harness racing sport was lucrative in the Northeast and Midwest but did not catch on in Arizona, where traditional horse races or other amusements appealed more to local tastes. Attempted promotions did not draw near enough crowds to support the establishment.
The park was built in Goodyear, Arizona, over 20 miles west of downtown Phoenix. During the 1960s, it was desolate and had no facilities; hence, it was far from ideal for probable customers. The isolation in which the park lay made access problematic for either vacationers or visitors.
The initial budget for the park was $3 million, but the final cost escalated to $10 million. Ambitious design features and unforeseen engineering challenges were some of the factors that contributed to cost overruns. These inflated expenses put a lot of financial pressure on the operations of the park right from the very beginning.
It was open for only two seasons- 1965-1966 – during which period it never yielded any profitable results. The operational cost and maintenance were extremely high for a small public turnout. Consequently, the facility was closed by its owners because losses were mounting.
Further ideas to seek adaptive reuses for the facility were defeated, considering its inaccessibility and functional build. Revitalization of the park became economically unviable in the face of the growing popularity of urban centers and new entertainment options.
By 1966, just a year after its grand opening, the Phoenix Trotting Park closed its doors.
What Happened to Phoenix Trotting Park after It Was Abandoned?
After closing in 1966, Phoenix Trotting Park began years of neglect and abandonment. The 194-acre real estate had been passed through a series of owners. It was also briefly used for a movie. After its abandonment, the once grand structure was left to the whims of nature.
The futuristic architecture, without maintenance, disintegrated, concrete walls cracked, windows broke, and the interior of the building was almost a shadow of itself. Due to its gigantic size and very remote location, demolition or redevelopment was costly, leaving it abandoned.
Phoenix Trotting Park captivated all kinds of urban explorers, vandals, and graffiti artists as the park became a haven for them. Colorful unauthorized murals plastered walls and surfaces, giving the decaying building an eerie yet vibrant character.
The park became popular among photographers, filmmakers, and thrill-seekers. Brutalist architecture and eerie emptiness made it an attractive place for amateur photography projects, independent films and documentaries, and social media posts showcasing its unique yet haunting atmosphere.
Various proposals came in over the years for the reuse of the site. This include turning it into a shopping center, an industrial park, and an entertainment park. All plans remained at that stage, given the high investment costs and a logistics nightmare regarding its location, which was dilapidating.
By the 2010s, the park’s structure had degraded and became unsafe. At some point in December 2015, the site was on sale and was put on the market for 16.5 million. In 2017, the Phoenix Trotting Park was eventually demolished, clearing out any remains of such a grand infrastructure from the ground.
Can You Visit Phoenix Trotting Park?
You can no longer visit the Phoenix Trotting Park now that the structure has been demolished and the building no longer exists. No evidence of this iconic structure can be seen today. The land has been repurposed, and construction of a high school is underway as of 2025.
In 2024, the construction of Goodyear High School, a public school, was proposed on the site of the trotting park, and construction is still underway. They plan to open it in the 2025-2026 school year and expect to have 400 students.
For decades leading up to the demolition, the site had been abandoned and was a popular destination for urban explorers. However, it was technically not open to the public due to safety concerns, with numerous warnings against trespassing.
Although no longer in person, the park remains alive through photographs and stories told of it during its days both as a racing venue and as an abandoned landmark.