Paradise Valley Architecture (Images of America: Arizona)

Those who know the town of Paradise Valley as one of the most affluent zip codes (85253) in the United States, and home to celebrities and captains of industry, find it difficult to make the mental jump back in time to when the Paradise Valley was an open desert landscape where cattle and sheep grazed during the early 1900s. Let us explore the natural forces, decisive moments, and mindset that created this desirable desert community with open space, magnificent vistas, and a quiet rural lifestyle in the middle of an urban metropolis. Three surveyors in the late 19th century were so attracted to the area�s desert beauty that they named it �the Paradise Valley.� Starting in the 1920s, adobe homes were constructed in various revival styles. In 1936, the Camelback Inn resort set a high-quality standard with an inviting and relaxed character. Other guest lodges arrived, including the Hermosa Inn and the El Chorro Lodge. The 1950s brought more luxurious resorts, including the Paradise Valley Racquet Club and the Mountain Shadows Resort. With the threat of Phoenix or Scottsdale annexing the area, the citizens started debating incorporation in 1949 and were successful in 1961. Churches, schools, town facilities, and single-family homes followed. Numerous town ordinances were adopted to preserve a quiet, desert lifestyle such as burying all utilities, restrictive zoning, and hillside preservation. Early settlement, 1890-1930 -- Town of Paradise Valley incorporation and facilities, 1949-2011 -- Academic pursuits, 1928-2008 -- Desert ranches, resorts, clubs, and recreation, 1928-2000 -- Religious expressions, 1950-1990 -- Domestic enclaves, 1915-2012.