ARIZONA CITIES

Cave Creek City Guide

Cave Creek was established as a mining camp in the 1870s after the discovery of gold. The town's relative seclusion has always been appealing to the down-to-earth folks who eventually settled here. Only incorporated as a municipality in 1986, the town remains proud of its colorful history and Wild West image. Cave Creek is home to a number of Western dining establishments, saloons and boutiques selling antiques and Native American crafts.

Unlike neighboring Cave Creek, Carefree dates back only a few decades. Founded in the 1950s, the town is one of the earliest planned communities in Arizona. The enclave is discreetly populated with gorgeous, multimillion-dollar homes in the shadow of Black Mountain, an ancient volcano. Street names like Ho & Hum roads and Easy Street accurately reflect the town's laid back nature. Carefree is home to the Boulders Resort, an exclusive hotel center nestled strategically among the unique rock formations here.

ATTRACTIONS

• Cave Creek Mistress Mine, located about 10 miles north of Carefree, is an old-fashioned 1883 gold mine and worth a stop if you're interested in local history. There is also a rock shop, specializing in local rocks. (480) 488-0842.
• The Cave Creek Museum displays artifacts and exhibits designed to introduce tourists and visitors to Cave Creek's colorful history. Located at the corner of Basin and Skyline in Cave Creek. (480) 488-2764.
• The Carefree Sundial, located on Sundial Circle, is one of the largest sundials in the world and the largest sundial in the Western Hemisphere. The metal gnomon, or shadow-casting portion of the dial, stands 35 feet above the plaza, is four feet wide and extends 72 feet.

• Bed & Breakfasts

The unique lifestyle offered visitors by "bed and breakfasts" is catching on throughout the nation, and more and more vacationers are using them. Several local home or ranch owners have opened their doors as "bed and breakfasts" as well -- with hosts ready to share the local western charm with their visitors. They include:

• Andora Crossing Bed & Breakfast

P.O. Box 7050, Cave Creek, AZ 85331. (602) 488-3747, 1-888-488-3747. Unique, tranquil rooms, Nuevo Vaquerro cuisine, Sonoran hospitality. Enrich your visit with the untamed splendors and unparalleled beauty of one of America's last wilderness regions. Come enjoy Arizona's desert unplugged!


• Cave Creek Tumbleweed Hotel

P.O. Box 312, 6333 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331. (602) 488-3668, Fax (602) 488-2936. "Cowboy Up and adopt a Western Attitude." Enjoy our unique Southern Style hospitality where our guests are treated as more than a 'room number.' Easy stroll to shops and restaurants. $59.00-$125.00


• Gotland's Inn Cave Creek

P.O. Box 4948, Cave Creek, AZ 85331. (602) 488-9636. "New West" guest ranch, affordable luxury with high desert mountain views. Walk to shopping, restaurants, golf. Minutes from Boulders and Desert Mountain. Convenient to Scottsdale.


• Inn at Fort Grizzly Arizona Territory,

34220 N. 53 St., Cave Creek, AZ 852331. (602) 488-1810, Fax (602) 488-6210. Located in the Foothills area. Western atmosphere on a 7 acre ranch. 4 bedrooms. We can make all your vacation arrangements. Just a few miles north of Scottsdale.


• Rancho de Vita Bed & Breakfast

41049 Echo Canyon, Cave Creek, AZ 85331. (602) 488-3128, Fax (602) 488-3128. I could say I have a pool, corral, private guest house fully furnished with an unobstructed view of the scenery. Call 1 (800) 894-4559 I'll tell you much more.

* Debra Ann's of Cave Creek, (602) 488-2644.

* Lazy H Ranch B & B, (602) 488-0264.



• Lutheran Retreat Center

The non-profit Lutheran Retreat Center in the heart of Carefree is a conference, retreat and seminar facility that can sleep up to 60 guests.

The renovated center houses 15 luxury suites, each with its own private balcony overlooking a spectacular desert mountain panorama. Swimming, tennis, and a Jacuzzi are available on site year round; for information call (602) 488-5218; office hours are 9-5 Monday through Friday. Although the center caters primarily to groups, individuals can obtain rooms on a space-availability basis.


• The Boulders

The Boulders has consistently been named one of America's top resorts by readers of Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report and has won other awards, becoming famous for its setting nestled in giant granite and feldspar rock formations.

The Boulders also has two 18-hole championship golf courses and a tennis park, fitness center, outdoor pool, hiking, jeep tours, hot air ballooning, horseback riding, etc.

All 160 guest rooms at The Boulders are southwestern-styled casitas featuring private patios, stocked mini-bars and luxurious bath and dressing areas. The resort also has patio homes available for rent. Call (602) 488-9009 for reservations.


• Carefree Inn

Carefree Inn (602) 488-5300. Carefree's first destination resort. 193 luxurious rooms and multi-room casitas. Amenities include free-form pools, fitness facility and tennis courts. Flexible meeting space, full-service business center and professional conference services.


• Tumbleweed Hotel

The Cave Creek Tumbleweed Hotel is located at the intersection of Cave Creek and School House roads, beckoning visitors with this phrase, "Where the hospitality of the Old West joins the modern motel convenience of today."

The hotel also features rooms with queen beds and kitchenettes; double and king beds available. For reservations and other pricing information, call (602) 488-3668.