From Racetrack to Classrooms: The Story of the Phoenix Trotting Park

For more than five decades, a massive concrete structure stood as a mysterious monument in Goodyear—a relic of the short-lived dream that was the Phoenix Trotting Park.

Located near present-day Cotton Lane and Interstate 10, the Phoenix Trotting Park opened with much fanfare in January 1965 as Arizona’s premier venue for harness racing. Harness racing is a form of racing where drivers ride in sulkies, or buggies, pulled by horses. The park boasted all the modern amenities of the time, including grandstands, betting windows, stables, and even a white tablecloth fine-dining restaurant, making it a state-of-the-art destination for fans.

The futuristic structure was designed by Italian architects and its bold look was as ambitious as its vision: to bring a new era of racing and entertainment to the Valley. But despite its impressive appearance and services, the Phoenix Trotting Park faced a challenge it couldn’t overcome, accessibility.

In the 1960s, Van Buren Street was the only real connection from the Phoenix metro area to the racetrack. The street in Goodyear was nothing more than a narrow two-lane road that often flooded during the winter, making travel unpredictable and frustrating for visitors. With no freeway access at the time, the trip was long and inconvenient, and attendance quickly dwindled. Just 23 months after opening, the park closed its doors in December 1966.

During the next 50 years that the racetrack would sit empty, the structure became a familiar roadside icon for generations of travelers heading west to California. Its hulking concrete silhouette loomed over the desert landscape until it was demolished in 2017.

In 2024, construction began on a new Goodyear landmark, Goodyear High School, built on part of the old racetrack property. And on Aug. 4, 2025, the school will officially open its doors to students, symbolizing a new beginning on land that once was filled with the sound of hooves and cheering crowds.

What was once a symbol of unfulfilled potential now stands as a place of learning, community, and future dreams, bringing new life to a site that has witnessed Goodyear’s past, and now shapes its future.

The History of Goodyear

The Goodyear of today exists because of the cotton of yesteryear. It was part of the 16,000 acres purchased in 1917 for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company by executive Paul Litchfield. Cotton was used to make rubber tires for airplanes at the time and was in short supply because of World War I. 

We invite you immerse yourself in the history of our great city with our interactive timeline. The timeline is part of the Goodyear Historical Project that is dedicated to preserving the history of Goodyear. Our timeline is ever unfolding as we continue to add to it.

Try our interactive Historical timeline:

In 1941, with the United States on the verge of entering WWII, the Defense Department started construction on an aircraft plant on land they leased from Southwest Cotton Company. The plant was operated by Goodyear Aircraft, a division of Goodyear Tire & Rubber. Del Webb started the construction of single family homes on 40 acres of land just north of Western Avenue and east of Litchfield Road.

Southwest Cotton Company built a business district on the north side of Western Avenue that housed Bowman’s Drug and Abraham’s Market facing Western and facing Litchfield Road a barbershop and a beauty salon. In May 1944, the residents and property owners chose the name "Goodyear."
 
The Goodyear Post Office was opened on Nov. 22, 1944, and the town of Goodyear was incorporated on Nov. 19, 1946. At that time, the town had:

• 151 homes
• 250 apartments
• a grocery store, drug store, barber shop, beauty shop and service station

The town became a city in 1985.

Do you or your family have historical images of our city?  Would you like to contribute to the Goodyear Historical Project?

Let us know by sending us a message! We will professionally scan your images and return them to you and credit you and/or your family when we use them.