Get a Hearty Dose of Scottsdale History on a Best of the West Tour with JoyRidesAZ

Scottsdale, AZ is a prime destination for visitors who flock to this desert oasis for sunshine and warm temps, particularly when much of the rest of the country is dealing with true winter conditions. Though the weather is a definite allure, there’s so much more to Scottsdale that beckons travelers. They come for its upscale charm, vibrant arts and culture scene, award-winning restaurants and hip watering holes, easy access to nature and plenty of golf courses and spa resorts. 

Old Town Scottsdale is typically on most people’s itineraries, especially those who are first timers. This area, often referred to as the “beating heart” of the city, is full of eclectic shops, plenty of dining and nightlife options, art galleries, museums and unique landmarks, all packed into just over one square mile. And every Saturday morning from October – June, you’ll find the festive Old Town Farmers Market buzzing with energy, organic produce, locally made salsas, artisan baked goods, handmade gifts and more.

The story of Old Town Scottsdale, though, is probably one many visitors (and perhaps even some locals) don’t know. To dive into the colorful history of this place and learn how Scottsdale evolved, opt to take a private tour with JoyRidesAZ. The company, which is owned and run by Kirk and Monica Nicodermus, has been in business since 2013. The couple love Scottsdale so much, they created a luxury golf cart experience to show off the best of their hometown to visitors. And if you’re a local, they promise you’ll learn something new. 

JoyRidesAZ specializes in boutique tours with a variety of themes, such as Best of the West, Fiesta Margarita and Tacos, Wine Tasting, Brew and Spirits, Sip and Shop, Native American Culture and Art, Public Art and more. Or you can customize your tour to get a little taste of everything. 

Being a neophyte when it came to Scottsdale’s history, I opted to do JoyRidesAZ Best of the West Tour. Captain Kirk, as he is called, met my husband and I at the Canopy by Hilton Hotel in Old Town. We proceeded to head to the rooftop of this hotel for a picturesque overview of the area. 

Captain Kirk pointed out the various mountains, including Camelback, McDowell and Papago. Of these, he said that Camelback is very popular with hikers. He also told us that Scottsdale and its surrounding cities such as Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe, are part of the Salt River Valley. The sprawl of housing developments as far as the eye can see is a result of the constant growth in the region, due to its desirability. 

Captain Kirk gave us some important dates to provide a perspective on Scottsdale’s history: 1896 – the town was founded, 1912 – Arizona became the 48th state, after taking 49 years for this achievement, and 1951 – Scottsdale became a city, population 2,000. Compare that number to 250,000, today’s stat. 

We hopped on the spacious golf cart, with Captain Kirk at the wheel, and began driving around the colorful streets of Old Town. As we did, he told us that people were originally drawn to Scottsdale for agricultural reasons, to farm, as it had a favorable climate and an irrigated desert location, plus the scenery was easy on the eyes. Ten East Coast families were its first residents and they built adobe homes of sand, straw and dung, as that was the only local material available. 

Old Town is where settlement and development in Scottsdale started. Initially, the town was called Orangedale due to the many orange groves, and then in the 1900s, it was changed to Scotts-dale. Finally in the 1930s, the hyphen was dropped to become Scottsdale. 

Winfield Scott, a Baptist minister and former U.S. Army chaplain is credited with being Scottsdale’s founder, which is how the town got its name. He is also credited with promoting the area and encouraging its growth.

Scott initially came to the area in 1888 for health reasons, but was inspired with its possibilities and put down a deposit on 640 acres (at $2.50 an acre!) to begin farming. He was the first to plant olive trees, several that are still standing today.

Other health-conscious visitors were attracted to the region, too, and it eventually became a wellness mecca. In the 1920s and 30s, health camps and other resorts were built, where guests could convalesce and/or enjoy the outdoor activities afforded by the 300 plus sunny days a year.  

It was the development of the town’s ranching operations, however, that later inspired Scottsdale’s famed moniker, “The West’s Most Western Town.” With this name came a Western design theme to capitalize on the Western image and lifestyle that appealed to tourists at the time. The Chamber of Commerce encouraged local businesses to get in on this identity, enhancing the movie set-like impression and cowboy glamour of the Wild West. 

It is a credit to their successful campaign that Scottsdale’s tourism industry continues to thrive today. Tourism is the city’s major industry and largest employer. And ten million plus people visit the city each year, populating the thousands of hotel and resort rooms. 

Some of the notable sights along the tour included the Little Red Schoolhouse, the Parada del Sol Rodeo Museum, Old Adobe Mission, Cavalliere Blacksmith Shop and the Rusty Spur. The schoolhouse, now the Scottsdale Historical Museum, opened in 1909 and was the Scottsdale Grammar School. It contained two large classrooms to accommodate the expanding enrollment of students. Though it was a school, it was also the hub of social life for the community and used for a church, polling place, and other civic purposes.

After it was no longer a school, it served as a police station, town hall and library. Then in 1968, the city decided to tear the building down, which is when the Scottsdale Historical Society formed to save the place. Flash forward to 1991 when the Society opened the Historical Museum.

Step inside for a flash from the past. There are displays of old photos, a classroom set up as it would have been in 1910 and other exhibits depicting life in Scottsdale and the Southwest. 

Outside the museum, Captain Kirk showed us the giant Indian Banyan Tree and a number of sculptures, including the “Winfield Scott Memorial,” by George-Ann Tognoni. It depicts Winfield with his wife Helen, who sits astride their mule Old Maud. Nearby is another of Tognoni’s bronzes, “The Yearlings,” featuring a trio of foals in running mode. Captain Kirk noted that Scottsdale has 150 plus public artworks and more than 800 portable works found in city-owned buildings, making it the city with the largest collection of outdoor art in the country. 

The Rodeo Museum was another highlight of the tour. Inside, we met owner Dave Alford, a born and bred Scottsdale resident, who rode bulls for ten years. He opened the museum to offer people an insight into Scottsdale’s rich rodeo history, which began in 1953. Though he will tell you that the real reason for the museum was that his wife wanted him to get his vast collection of memorabilia out of the house!

Alford’s collection includes rodeo artifacts, original posters with artwork by the talented Western artist Kenneth M. Freeman, programs, saddles ridden by famed rodeo champs like Jake Barns, a 7 Time World Champion Team Roper, along with bull ropes and other memorabilia. And of course, there’s a rodeo bull you can sit on and have your pic taken!

Alford is a font of knowledge for everything rodeo in Scottsdale. His life-long involvement in rodeo and the local community has given him plenty of stories and local lore. I liked the one about the cowboy featured in the Welcome to Historic Scottsdale sign. He was designed after “Harvey” Noriega, a ranch hand and local celebrity who once owned the museum building. 

Dave also told us about the Parada del Sol Rodeo, which is an annual event held in March. This is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctioned rodeo, one of the oldest in the country.   

In advance of the rodeo, the Scottsdale Parada del Sol Historic Parade and Trail’s End Festival rides into town, featuring floats, mounted horse-riders, horse-drawn carriages, bands, wagons and stagecoaches representing many cultures from Mexican and Native American to Arabian and Western. Following the parade, Old Town transforms into a large Western-style block party with food, entertainment and vendors selling an assortment of merch. 

Across the street is the Cavalliere Blacksmith Shop. Captain Kirk told us that when looking at then and now photos, the place still looks a lot like it did when George Cavalliere opened it in 1909. It’s now operated by his grandson George Cavalliere.

In the early 1900s, George Cavalliere was a blacksmith who worked on the Arizona Canal. When the project was completed, he was allowed to homestead land in Scottsdale and chose a site on Main Street. His business was well needed in the area, as many folks lived on nearby farms and the closest blacksmith back then was in Tempe. Over the years, George moved away from making wagon wheels and harnesses, repairing farm equipment and shoeing horses, to more ornamental work.  

The shop was unfortunately not open when we stopped by, but Captain Kirk told us that inside it’s jam packed from floor to ceiling with all sorts of old items. We peered through the windows and it looked like an antique store on steroids! He also mentioned that George doesn’t keep set hours and it’s hard to catch him in action.

Down the block is the Old Adobe Mission, an historic monument and one of only three remaining adobe structures in downtown Scottsdale. It was built by hand by the Mexicans who first settled in Scottsdale in the late 1910s. They came to work on the farms, put down roots and build a life in this area. Designed by Robert T. Evans, the church, now lovingly restored, is an excellent example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and boasts beautiful stained-glass windows. 

Another historic landmark is the Rusty Spur, Scottsdale’s oldest cowboy saloon. It’s housed in a former bank building, circa 1921, where the vault now contains beer and liquor instead of cash. Stop in for a libation at the legendary bar, hear live music, show off your moves on the dance floor and enjoy the Old West ambiance.

Captain Kirk dropped us off where we began the tour and reminded us to visit Western Spirit: Scottsdale Museum of the West, located next to the hotel. The museum is one of the top western museums in the country, featuring an array of exhibits on art, culture and history. An ideal place to continue our deep dive into the “Best of the West!”   

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