Relic (Abandoned Phoenix Trotting Park)

The Phoenix Trotting Park, a horse racing track, was originally built in 1964 in Goodyear, Arizona. It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. The large, futuristically designed structure gave an optimistic look for the 1960s.

Originally planned to be built for a cost of about $3 million, the facility ended up costing around $10 million. Various incentives during the events that were held, such as free parking and admission did initially lead to decent attendance. However, a variety of factors led to the inevitable closing of the track. The hot weather of the desert caused events to be uncomfortable to attendees. The location provided limited means to control rain, leading to floods that caused accessibility problems. The park is also located about 20 miles outside of Phoenix and was built long before any major roads made the area easily accessible to those in the city or its suburbs.

The main building of the park was used in the 1998 Charlie/Martin Sheen movie No Code of Conduct. Part of the feature involved a large explosion occurring at the track. Despite the original assurances by the production staff that no animals would be injured, hundreds of the birds occupying the abandoned structure were killed and injured when the effect went off.

Panasonic DMC-GH2
Lumix 14-140mm and 20mm lenses
Gitzo GT1830 tripod
Manfrotto 701HDV head

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Arizona
• Phoenix
• Avondale
• Buckeye
• Goodyear
• Phoenix Trotting Park
• Trotting Park
• Panasonic
• DMC-GH2
• GH2

[GESgeorgie69]

Very nice video, I have always felt so sad when I past it by, just standing all alone and forgotten. George

[superslowdan]

@GESgeorgie69 Sad but beautiful. Maybe a use will be found for it yet.

Thank you for watching, and the good words...

[57kingwoodtx]

Excellent job on this video thank you for sharing this love Arizona

[superslowdan]

@57kingwoodtx Thank you for watching.

[superslowdan]

@vrikey Thank you for watching. Happy to hear you enjoyed it.

[vrikey]

@vrikey I forgot to mention, this is a wonderful video, makes you wonder how long the place will remain standing. I imagine some specualtors have considered converting it into a modern casino or something, because of its strong retro quality - man, who knows what'll happen.

I used to drive past this park for years as a kid in the 60s, while out hunting with my dad - nice to see it's still around!

[vrikey]

Toilet paper still lingering on the rolls, after 45 years?? That's hard to believe, it should have crumbled away entirely 4:00

[TheJenn85345]

@jenihsu It wasn't dogs...it was horses.

[koalaballa211]

Dude that owl is there all the time it flies out when you walk in.

[rhauwert]

We saw that owl when we went! He was an absolutely beautiful bird...

[mrdave777]

@redneckman211 If you want to be scared for the rest of your life? Go down to the basement/loading dock of this building with only a candle...maybe you will see DIED people and MOBEIS....might scare you so much, it may teach you proper english! YOUR FOREWARNED!

[redneckman211]

I here alot of stuff happen there.there are died pepole down in the basemant.something to with mobeis.and that something was happening there.