Fountain Hills, AZ The Early Days Pat 1

Fountain Hills, AZ The Early Days Part 1.

I was attending Northern Michigan University when my folks decided that they had enough snow to last them a life time and decided to move to Fountain Hills. I volunteered to drive the U-Haul from Kalamazoo to Arizona. My folks, two sisters and I opened McDowell Mountain Stationery and Office Supplies, which is now Gridleys of Fountain Hills in 1973 and it’s the oldest surviving business in town. I took a summer job with Rural Metro and became one of Fountain Hills first Firemen and Rio Verde’s first Fireman.

I fell in love with the desert, exploring the McDowell’s and Four Peaks in my beat up Toyota Land Cruiser and never went back to Michigan. There aren’t too many people that can say they’ve been in Fountain Hills longer then I have. In 1973 there was the world’s highest fountain, an old ranch, two trailer parks, a Sales Trailer, The Reception Center, La Fuenta, U-Totem, The Fountain Mountain Inn and the endless parade of white jeeps selling property. The closest gas station was Scottsdale and Shea and the closest grocery store was McDowell and Hayden. As time went on I opened a Sign Shop and latter CSI Printing.

The Town of Fountain Hills is a master planned community established in 1970 by McCulloch Properties (now MCO Properties, Inc.). Prior to 1970 the area was a cattle ranch and was part of one of the largest land and cattle holdings in Arizona. The land was purchased by Robert McCulloch in the late 1960s and the community designed by Charles Wood, Jr. (designer of Disneyland in southern California).

When I arrived in Fountain Hills July of 1973 the McCulloch Real Estate Sales Team all drove white Jeep Cherokees and the Sales Team was a rough and tumble bunch with names like Tex, and Corky. When they weren’t out chasing everyone that happened to enter Fountain Hills you’d probably find them at The Fountain Mountain Inn. The Towns only watering hole, owned by a former McCulloch Real Estate Salesmen. McCulloch’s Market plan was pretty shrewd. During the winter months he’d advertise in local newspapers primarily in the Midwest a free vacation in sunny Arizona for 3 days including Airfare, meals, transportation and lodging. Well that’s how I got here! Once you arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor you boarded a shuttle to Fountain Hills which at that time was in the middle of nowhere and 30 minutes from anywhere.

Fountain Hills in 1973 consisted of 2 trailer parks. One housed the sales force and the other held the labor force. The Reception Center with a helicopter pad which is now Messinger Mortuary, La Fuenta Apartments where they housed the clients a sales trailer at the front entrance on Saguaro and Shea and a handful of homes. Their also was the Old Ranch House located near where the High School presently sits and it was home to a few brave entrepreneurs. Saguaro was the only entrance to Fountain Hills and Fontana was under construction. And the World’s Highest Fountain which ran 24/7 back then. Saguaro was paved to the Fountain and the rest was dirt roads. The only place to get any groceries was a U-Totem. The only place to get food was the Fountain Mountain Inn. We had a small trailer that housed the 4 man Fire Department that also performed security. The medians were grass and it was lined with Mexican Fan palms, some of which still remain. Most all of Fountain Hills property that was over an acre was zoned for horse privileges. One home remains Grandfathered for horses. We did have a golf course! The Fountain Hills Golf Club now the Desert Canyon Golf Course.

So McCullogh Real Estate Plan was to get you to Fountain Hills, Take you on a helicopter ride, Feed you decent chow and pump you into some cheap dirt! It worked like magic. The lots were cheap and they had great views. My folks fell victim on their second trip out and have never regretted it and that’s how I got here and I never went back.

Fountain Hills was a much different place back then. It was VERY remote. Heck North Scottsdale was considered Camelback and it called it’s self “The Wests Most Western Town”. What’s now considered “Old Scottsdale” was a booming downtown area. Pretty much anything North of Camelback was ranches and it was famous for Arabian horses.

Fountain Hills was extremely laid back and everyone new everyone. As you drove down Saguaro you would wave to each vehicle which typically was a 4×4 with a gun rack in the back window or another white jeep. There was nothing to do in Fountain Hills in those days other then hanging out at the Fountain Mountain Inn and shooting some pool. We mostly hunted, fished, 4x4ed and in the summer went tubing on the Salt River.  On Saturday night we might all get together for a Desert Party.

We never would have guessed in those days that Fountain Hills Real Estate would turn into the Custom Luxury Home Market that is is today. Most homes in Fountain Hills in the early 70′s consisted of small 2 bath, 3 bath ranch style homes. At the time their were a few duplexes springing up and Fontana was the only Condos on the market. The vast majority of Real Estate in Fountain Hills was vacant custom home sights. Most people that moved here in those days were looking for a quiet, private lifestyle in the wide open desert away from city lights and noise. There wasn’t a street light, one stop sign and no neighbors back then. In away that is what still draws people to the Fountain Hills Real Estate Market. They are looking for a smaller, safe community with mountain views and low density living. At least now we have a Government, 3 grocery stores, Target, Ace Hardware and even a couple of Starbucks. You don’t have to leave Fountain Hills for anything anymore. That sure beats driving to Scottsdale for Gas and Groceries!

I love it in Fountain Hills, Arizona! It’s where I work, Raised my Family and Live! If your considering a Fountain Hills Home, Condo, Property or any Real Estate I hope you will consider me. No one can say they’ve been in Fountain Hills as long as the Gridley’s.

For More Information on the Community of Fountain Hills and Things to do Visit: Fountain Hills Information

For Homes and Condos for Sale in Fountain Hills, AZ Visit: Fountain Hills, AZ Real Estate

For Bank Owned, Foreclosed, REO Homes Visit: Fountain Hills Bank Owned Foreclosed Homes

For Horse Property in Goldfield Ranch, AZ Visit: Goldfield Ranch, AZ Real Estate

For Real Estate in Rio Verde and Tonto Verde Active Adult Golf Communities Visit: Rio Verde and Tonto Verde, AZ Real Estate

Looking for a Luxury Gated Golf Home? Visit: FireRock Country Club Golf Community or Eagle Mountain Golf Community.

Have something more secluded in mind? Visit: Eagles Nest, Fountain Hills Premier Guard Gated Community

I’m Mark Gridley, a Realtor with eXp Realty the World’s 1st Virtual Real Estate Company.

I specialize in the following Real Estate Markets: Fountain Hills, AZ and the neighborhoods of Eagle Mountain, Eagles Nest, FireRock Country Club, SunRidge Canyon and Copperwynde.

Rio Verde and Tonto Verde, AZ and Goldfield Ranch Fort McDowell, AZ.

Contact Me