MPI Article
By Deborah Gardner, CMP
President/Speaker/Author
COMPETE BETTER NOW!
As a marine brat, I’ve had the opportunity to visit and live in many places. As a matter of fact, I have moved over 26 times in my life. So, to remember or experience one city over another was very hard growing up to adulthood. However, Arizona keeps drawing me back to where I permanently reside now. Now, to narrow it down on where my favorite area or city within Arizona makes it more difficult as I enjoy the entire state. It’s true when the state recognizes the 5 C’s…Climate, Copper, Cotton, Citrus, and Cattle.
However, if I had to choose a favorite area, spot or town, I would choose Cave Creek, Arizona. Cave Creek is nestled in the magnificent scenic desert foothills north of Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Cave Creek’s western roots had created what it is today. The original town was built by miners in the 1870’s on ancient ruins when gold was discovered nearby. After World War I, people moved to Cave Creek for the weather and their health like those with respiratory problems.
For years, this town has had a healthy debate about where it got the name-“Cave Creek”. Some say it is named for the cave on the west side of Cave Creek Wash. Others say that it is named after a miner called Old Rackensack, whose real name was Edward G. Cave.
For many years, it’s been told that Creekers used to listen to the roar of the tigers that were kept behind, what is called Harold’s bar and restaurant today, and they slept on their roofs in the years before air conditioning. Also, there are many stories about the goats and other animals that were used in the annual Christmas pageants and what could happen when they got away while their owners were inside talking with friends.
Much of the appealing funkiness in this town is more than cowboys and Indians, it comes from all of the local and eccentric characters too. From cowboy “Dirty” Al Rance, and television stars like Dick Van Dyke and even hippes. You can find hippies living in teepees beside expensive homes that were going up back in the 1970s.
The history does more than define Cave Creek. It breathes life into it daily and is a constant reminder of the privilege to live in beautiful Arizona today.
Today Cave Creek is a pulsating and spirited community of just under 5,000 people where the true western experience still exists. Cave Creek has never lost that pioneer spirit that makes it a special place. Still today, there are more horses than vehicles on the streets when the community celebrates its Western roots.
It’ small enough to feature the western town, yet large enough to offer visitors with the complete Arizona experience. The town has multiple things to do like golf, art galleries, dud ranches, shopping, and outstanding restaurants and bars like tourist favorite the “Satisfied Frog”. A wide variety of hotels and bed & breakfast inns along with outdoor recreational activities including golf, horseback riding, and desert mountain biking and hiking are available to experience. Every time I’m in Cave Creek, I enjoy the wine & spirits coffee shop the best. It has a cozy, warm and friendly atmosphere. The wine selection and the specially selected menu is what I can always expect upon my arrival.
The essence of Cave Creek offers such an abundance of Arizona experiences. Anyone that has experienced this wonderful town gets the sense of freedom.. To me, Cave Creek is the impression of that and more in beautiful Arizona.
