Fountain Hills
Come for a Day, Stay for a Lifetime

by Katie Decker

While many once considered Fountain Hills a bedroom community to Scottsdale, it is quickly gaining its own identity as the height of desert living—an upscale community with hometown character. Situated on the eastern slope of the McDowell Mountains, the majestic range naturally separates the community from Scottsdale and metro Phoenix. The richness and quality of life is evident the moment you reach the mountain pass and leave behind the hustle and bustle of the rest of the Valley.

In the 1860s and 1870s, the land that now comprises Fountain Hills was one of the most productive places for farming and ranching in central Arizona, and the P-Bar Ranch was a notable cattle ranch. It wasn’t until the late 1960s that a developer had a vision of replacing cattle with a community nestled in the hills. In 1986, the McCulloch Oil Company purchased 4,500 acres and began mapping out a plan.

The fountain and surrounding lake were constructed as a thematic centerpiece for the community. As the focal point and source of pride for residents, the water feature is one of the tallest in the world at its full height of 560 feet. The fountain was built to attract attention and potential buyers to the area and was turned on for the first time on December 15, 1970, the “birthday” of Fountain Hills.

Every hour between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily, visitors and residents enjoy a 15-minute water show as the fountain’s white plume shoots 300 feet into the air. Creating this water spectacle is no small feat: two 600-horsepower turbine pumps force 4,667 gallons of reclaimed water through a custom nozzle imported from Zurich, Switzerland. The famous white plume can be seen from as far away as the Superstition Mountains and Carefree.

Community Life

The Town of Fountain Hills neighbors other communities rich in culture and activities, including the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The communities are only 20 minutes from Sky Harbor International Airport and big-city amenities such as sports arenas but are secluded from the bustle of the metro area by the beautiful McDowell Mountains. The saguaro landscape provides a scenic venue for a wide range of outdoor activities such as golfing, hiking, biking and boating. Fountain Hills has been able to share its resources and engage both communities in paper-shredding events, household hazardous waste recycling events and numerous other activities throughout the year.

Fountain Hills has taken an active role in helping residents reduce their carbon footprints. Currently, the town provides three types of recycling events each year. In addition to the paper-shredding and household hazardous waste, the community holds electronic recycling events that allow citizens to bring in old televisions, radios, computers and other pieces of technological waste to be dismantled and disposed of in the proper way.

Fountain Hills is also exploring how to spearhead new green initiatives through its Environmental Working Group. This consortium researches and makes recommendations to the city council on new ideas that could be implemented to further diminish our impact on the environment.

The community’s small-town spirit still exists in the community today. Fountain Hills has become known as an artist’s community with sculptures, water features and other works sprinkled throughout the town. In fact, nearly 50 sculptures, bronzes and water features, worth a combined $1.5 million, grace Fountain Hills. Twice a year, The Great Fair and the Fountain Festival of Arts and Crafts attract hundreds of thousands of art lovers to the downtown area.

But the real cultural hub for its residents is still the beloved Fountain Park. This 35-acre park holds the famous fountain, effluent lake, an 18-hole champion golf course and children’s playground with picnic tables and benches. The park has held numerous events such as Ballet under the Stars, Oktoberfest and even Movies in the Park.

The Fountain Hills community takes great pride in its unique shops and boutiques. In addition to staples such as Target and Walgreens, residents and visitors can enjoy specialty jewelry shops, a French bakery, numerous cafes and an award winning gelateria. A great destination in the Valley with unsurpassed desert beauty, dining, shopping and relaxation options, Fountain Hills is the ideal place to experience a host of adventures.

Katie Decker is Public Information Officer for the City of Fountain Hills.

Infolink:
www.fh.az.gov
480.816.5104