2019-2020-CaveCreekGuide-FlipBook_Neat

Carefree is more than a name, it is
a lifestyle. The whimsical names and
the master plan of this community
were designed to reflect a relaxing
attitude that didn’t allow its
residents to take life too seriously,
or at least to help show the lighter
side of things when necessary.







CAREFREE
FINE ART & WINE FESTIVALS
101 Easy St, Carefree
NOV 1-3, JAN 17-19 & FEB 28-MAR 1
S URP RIS E
FINE ART & WINE FESTIVAL
15940 N Bullard Ave, Surprise
JAN 10-12
WATERFRONT
FINE ART & WINE FESTIVAL
7135 E Camelback Rd, Scottsdale
The motto of “Where the Sun Marks FEB 7-9
Time” seemed to fit that attitude
perfectly and Carefree cofounder FOUNTAIN HILLS
FINE ART & WINE AFFAIRE
KT Palmer commissioned the 16810 E Ave of the Fountains, Fountain Hills
Sundial in 1959. Solar engineer MAR 6-8
John Yellott designed the structure,
which has a 62 foot gnomon (the THUNDERBIRD
shadow casting part) and rises 35 ARTISTS GALLERY
feet above the ground, making it THUNDERBIRDARTISTSGALLERY.COM
99 Easy St, Carefree 480-688-4960
the world’s third largest. While a YEAR ROUND
shadow from the sun may not work
well to tell time in many parts of See our websites for times, admission and details.
the nation, Carefree’s 325+ days of
sunshine are a perfect companion ThunderbirdArtists.com
for an extra large sundial. 480-837-5637

CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com 51

Open Space is a very important part
of the Cave Creek area as more than
6,000 acres has been protected as
open space in the town. The residents
voted to tax themselves to pay for
the more than 2,000 acre Spur Cross
Ranch Conservation Area and then
the town government worked for
years to add another 4,000 acres of
prime Sonoran Desert habitat with
much of the land adjacent to the
Cave Creek Regional Park and the
Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area.

As part of Maricopa County’s
Regional Parks System, the Spur Cross
Conservation Area encompasses
2,154 acres of diverse, rugged upper
Sonoran Desert. The Cave Creek wash
often flows during the winter months
and the area contains numerous
archaeology sites. Remnants of
early mining and ranching, from
which the park gets its name, are still
apparent in the park. The area is an
incredible habitat for desert wildlife.

Gateway Desert Awareness Park,
located just off of Cave Creek Road,
on Vermeersch Road in Cave Creek has
two nature trails that wind through
the park to help view the large variety
of desert plants and wildlife. Several
types of playground equipment can
provide entertainment for children
if the natural desert isn’t enough
on its own. There are also Ramadas,
a Desert Heritage Center, Vista
Amphitheater which provides space
for occasional community events.


52 CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com

he came face to ‘face’ (okay, well
not a face, in fact it was more like
stomach to ‘face’) with what he
described the next day, as a torso.
In any town as old as ours, there are He freaked out. The ‘torso’ went
always tales of the unexplained and its way and the shopkeeper ran his
Cave Creek is no different. Frontier way.
Town which certainly has some of
the older buildings in the area has Since then ‘Pee Wee’ has been
its own hair raising story to tell. seen on a frequent basis, including
being caught on a security video
Pee Wee (who was called that and setting off motion sensors on
due to the fact that she was about a regular basis. Most recently, one
4’9” tall) Simmons had resided in of the shopkeepers (a different
the same house since
she moved to Cave
Creek with her family
in 1947. She owned
and operated a guest
ranch in what is now
downtown Cave Creek.

In 1969 Pee Wee was
getting a bit on in
years and agreed to
sell the guest ranch
to Herman King who
would develop it into
Frontier Town. One
of the stipulations of the sale was one) was working late and had
that Pee Wee would be able to live the feeling that they were being
in her house until she passed away. watched. Looking up, he saw what
That day happened exactly one year he described as a “floating light
and one day after the contract was about as wide as a torso.” It startled
signed. him and the “torso” disappeared.

BUT...Pee Wee did not leave. Pee Wee loved her guest ranch and
Throughout the 1970s there were Frontier Town as well, several of the
reports of a pale glowing light that buildings were preserved and are in
would move around different areas use today. We like to think that
of Frontier Town. In the late 1980s Pee Wee pops in to keep an eye on
however, things changed. One us and make sure that everything is
of shop owners at Frontier Town okay.
was working very late. Rounding a
corner, just before the parking lot,

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Tips for New Players:


Don’t worry about keeping
score. Maintain your pace
Vacation is perfect for taking of play - most courses
the time to learn to play golf. recommend players average
Almost all golf courses have about 12-15 minutes per
instructors available to provide hole. If you have difficulty
beginner to advance instruction with a hole, simply pick
for individuals or groups. It is your ball up and move to
usually recommended to call the putting green or next
ahead to schedule a convenient hole. Understanding this
time. Lesson rates can vary from fundamental aspect of the
as little as $45 to get started.
game will help all players to
better enjoy the game. Also,
play the forward tees. You
don’t have to play the same
tees as the advanced players.
The longer the course, the
more difficult it can be for
beginning players.






Golf offers participants a lifetime
of enjoyment allowing them
to take advantage of the great
weather areas like Arizona have
to offer. “The most important
thing I think new players should
understand is that golf isn’t
necessarily about whether you
have advanced skills or not but
more about the social interaction
of playing with friends and
family for 4 or so hours” said
Dale Samar, General Manager
of Rancho Manana Golf Club.
“Beginner lessons can help you
learn to hit the ball as well as
teach you some of the etiquette
pertaining to the game.”

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In an area as beautiful as Cave
Creek and Carefree, you would Pictured: Rancho Mañana Golf Club
expect the golf to equally impress.
Your expectations have certainly
been exceeded with two of the
state’s premier golf facilities
located within a stone’s throw
away from the center of town. represents the uniqueness of
golf in the Arizona Desert.
Rancho Mañana Golf Club,
located in Cave Creek, and the The Boulders Golf Club features
two Boulders Resort courses in two championship golf courses
Carefree offer unprecedented both designed by Jay Morrish.
natural beauty within their The courses are considered
respective desert settings. among the most demanding in
the Southwest and are known
Recently listed by Golf Digest for their rugged beauty as well.
as “One of the Top 50 Courses Each has also been honored
in the Country for Women,” with numerous awards from
and ranked in the “Top 10 Golf some of the nation’s top golf
Courses” in Arizona by Ranking publications including GOLF
Arizona, Rancho Mañana’s Magazine and Golf Digest.
par-70, championship layout
features dramatic elevation
changes, unspoiled desert
terrain, abundant wildlife and
the rustic charm of the historic
dude ranch, which is now part
of the golf resort property.
It is definitely one of the best
Arizona golf courses that truly



Rancho Mañana, was
selected for its natural beauty
as one of 12 courses
featured in the
2013 and 2019
Sport Illustrated Golf Calendars


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With the serenity of small town
living and all the convenience of
a major metropolitan area nearby,
Cave Creek and Carefree are
valley favorites for both visitors
and residents. It’s really easy to
like the small town feel of the
community. The community
is surrounded by picturesque
mountains and open desert which
provide spectacular views in every
direction. Additionally, residents
take advantage of the vast hiking
trails, nearby lake activities, world
class golfing and amazing shopping
and dining options. Beautiful Bathroom Tile Remodel

In fact, the towns have a done a
great job of protecting open space same native Sonoran desert habitat
that will allow both residents and that we take for granted today.
visitors to continue to enjoy the


































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versatile shape can be laid staggered
for a classic look, herringbone for
the fashion forward, and stacked,
for a modern vibe.

If you desire something with a
When looking to make an pop of color, or an interesting
interior design statement, tile is a shape/texture for a backsplash or
powerful element. Whether it’s on statement wall, consider mosaic
the floor, walls, shower enclosure, tiles. Moorish patterns feel graceful
kitchen backsplash, or a fireplace, and feminine and oversized
tile can set the tone for a room and, hexagons are a surprise modern-
in some cases, the entire home. vintage feel. Natural-stone
herringbone patterns are a current
Ceramic and porcelain wood tile are look and are a subtle way to add a
extremely popular and are loved by European influence, which works
many who like the appearance of beautifully with the architecture
a wood floor, but don’t want the of our lovely and unique desert
maintenance of real deal. Other homes.
advantages of this popular product Article by local interior designer
are the many sizes, colors and Michelle Samar -
textures that are available. Wide www.MongrelDesign.net
plank, “handscraped” styles exude
a casual effect that works for both
rustic and transitional homes that
are popular in the Cave Creek area;
where thinner, more refined planks
with minimal “wood grain” are
more appropriate in a traditional or
ultra-modern home.

Colors such as dark espresso or
walnut are great choices to ground  Interior Design 
a home with mostly light walls and Paint Color Selection
Flooring Selection
cabinets, where as lighter planks Personal Shopping
work well with darker cabinets and Furniture Arrangement
mid-tone walls. Staging for Home Sales
Kitchen - Bath - Living Space Remodels
Another popular choice is the
12x24 tile. Whether you choose
a style that resembles stone (or is
ACTUAL stone), concrete, woven
fabric, or the waves of the ocean, Michelle Samar - Owner/Designer
602-799-0150
this rectangular tile is an updated www.MongrelDesign.net

version of a typical square tile. This Cave Creek  Carefree  Anthem  Scottsdale
CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com 57

While community can mean
many things to different people,
there are certainly some very
important components of any Volunteer Services
successful community which to Support Older Adults
include a strong commitment to Carefree, Cave Creek, North Scottsdale & North Phoenix
education. Cave Creek and Carefree
area residents are fortunate to have
so many people committed to
strong educational opportunities
for both children and adults. The
Cave Creek Unified School District
is the #1 school district for student Friendly Visits, Caregiver Relief,
achievement in Maricopa County Mobile Meal Delivery, Grocery
using state testing data. Shopping, Medical & Van
Transportation & more.
The Paradise Valley Community FoothillsCaringCorps.com
College at Black Mountain 480.488.1105
location has been a large part of the
Community offering high quality Volunteers appreciated




































58 CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com

instruction at affordable rates.
Many of the class credits earned at Quick Community Facts:
PVCC can be transferred to other
higher education institutions as Population (2017 estimate):
it is part of the Maricopa County Cave Creek, 5,622; Carefree, 3,783
Community College District. Elevation:
Additionally, PVCC at Black Cave Creek, 2,126; Carefree, 2,383
mountain offers many types of new Real Estate Median Sales Price:
learning experiences each semester Cave Creek, $600k;
through its continuing education, Carefree, $780k
workforce development, and (both based on June 2019 information)
community programs.




















































CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com 59

Although you can certainly find
comedy on the Internet anytime
you want, there is nothing more
entertaining than seeing stand-
up comedians performing in
front of a live audience. It is even
better in the intimate setting of a
smaller venue that allows you to
see them up-close and personal
but still have a large enough
crowd to share the laughter.
The Comedy Spot, Comedy
Club located in Old Town
Scottsdale, offers the perfect
combination to entertain
audiences of all ages (ok- kids
not included for most shows).

Even as the longest running
comedy club in the Valley,
most shows are still just
$10 - $12 (plus a two drink
minimum is recommended)
so it is really an affordable
night out for quality live
entertainment. The club only
holds about 100 people so it
is always a good idea to buy
your tickets ahead of time
from the website.

















60 CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com

JANUARY 10 TH - MARCH 22 ND
VISIT 7-DAYS A WEEK
26540 N Scottsdale RD
MEET ARTISTS PASSIONATELY ArizonaFineArtEXPO.com
480-837-7163
WORKING IN MORE THAN 10-week Season Pass $10; Military/Seniors $8
120 STUDIOS Open Daily–Rain or Shine–10-6

CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com 61

something keep me busy and also
allow me to help others,” said
Samar. “In the meantime, I’ll just
keep having fun and try to raise
Giving back to the community a few bucks for worthy causes
can be done in a variety of ways whenever I get the chance.”
including giving money, giving
time or leveraging the resources
you have to make a difference.
Local comedian, DJ Samar has tried
to contribute all of the above to
help others. You can help those in need and
be part of Cave Creek for years
In 2019, he has been a part of to come by joining DJ Samar and
comedy shows that have raised purchasing a “Wall Tile.”. Selling
more than $20,000 for various 1,000 tiles may seem like a lofty
charities in both Arizona and his goal but helping each other is just
childhood state of Michigan. part of the DNA for those living in
the area and even those that just
visit. We’d like to help get more
tiles on the wall. Please visit the
For upcoming shows and booking information, visit www.DJSamar.com that will help the Food Bank help
link below to make your donation
others for many years. https://
www.foothillsfoodbank.com/wall-
of-tiles/









In the past 24 months, he has
performed in more than 80 shows
which is completely shocking to
all who have ever known him.
However, all are equally impressed
with the amount of laughter he
generates for audiences of all types
and sizes.

“Although I’m nowhere near
retirement, my goal is to continue
to develop my act so that when
it comes time to retire from my
current full-time career, I’ll have

62 CaveCreekVisitorsGuide.com

 Interior Design 
Paint Color Selection
Flooring Selection
Personal Shopping
Furniture Arrangement
Staging for Home Sales Michelle Samar
Kitchen - Bath - Living Space Remodels Owner/Designer















602-799-0150
www.MongrelDesign.net

Cave Creek  Carefree  Anthem  Scottsdale


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