Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley Overview
This is metro Phoenix’s original million-dollar neighborhood. This town is home to the biggest selection of Arizona’s mansions and has some of the best views of the region’s most well-known desert landmarks, including Mummy and Camelback mountains. The neighborhood, surrounded by Phoenix and Scottsdale, is home to celebrities, professional athletes, politicians, business leaders and upscale resorts. Don’t look for much future development because the town is landlocked, and there’s little commercial development because of zoning restrictions.
Transportation
Tatum Boulevard and Lincoln Road are the main thoroughfares in Paradise Valley. The town is centrally located, and State Route 51 runs near its western border.
Explore the 1 area of Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley is metro Phoenix’s most upscale place to live. Mansions are the norm, and so are one-acre lots. The town is home to some restaurants, resorts and spas. Paradise Valley Country Club is located in the middle of this high-end home mecca.
Housing
Most older houses in Paradise Valley have been renovated, but many have been torn down to make way for new mansions. Home styles vary, from Frank Lloyd Wright designs and looks to desert and modern architecture. There’s little land left for new development. The priciest homes can be found on the mountains and around Nauni Valley Ranch.
The Market
- The town draws many second-home buyers and some investors. Sales tend to climb during the winter and early spring when more people visit the Valley for the warm weather and multitude of events.
- Rental homes, not apartments, can be found in this high-end housing area, but monthly rates are steep.
- There are few vacant lots left in Paradise Valley, so new-home sales are a small part of this market. But homes are constantly being renovated and expanded in this neighborhood
Living here
Expect a resort-style atmosphere with many part-time and affluent residents as well as visitors. The mountains draw many hikers, particularly early in the morning. About a dozen restaurants and resorts are the only commercial development in this million-dollar-home enclave, and they draw many people who don’t live in Paradise Valley. No freeways run through Paradise Valley, but the town is centrally located, and commute times to Phoenix and Scottsdale can be short. No big employers are located here, and strict zoning means they won’t likely ever be. Most homes are on one-acre lots or bigger. Golf courses are private.
Things to do in Paradise Valley
Main attractions
Paradise Valley is where the upper crust, or those who want to feel like the upper crust for a day, go to play. Camelback Mountain and Phoenix Mountains Preserve loom in either side, so there’s no shortage of breathtaking vistas for dinner. You can play golf at some of the Valley’s most scenic resorts.
Out on the town
Splurge on some of the Valley’s best dining. At the top of the list are Elements at luxurious Sanctuary Resort, nestled next to gorgeous Camelback Mountain. In the shadow of Mummy Mountain, there’s historic El Chorro. Nearby Biltmore Fashion Park is home to dozens of luxury retail stores and boutiques. And Scottsdale Fashion Square, one of the Valley’s best and biggest indoor malls, is close, too. For family fun, take the kids for a train ride at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
Outdoors
Like the name says, this area is Paradise, especially for those who love getting outside. The Phoenix Mountains Preserve sits to the west, with myriad trails for hiking, mountain biking, running and nature watching. Piestewa Peak includes a popular hike to a 2,600-foot summit with spectacular views. To the south, Echo Canyon Park provides access to three hiking trails on Camelback Mountain. The Echo Canyon Trailhead leads to a steep, difficult hike that still requires strong shoes and stronger legs and lungs.
Who lives here
The Paradise Valley area features high incomes; nearly half the children attend private schools. Nearly half the houses were built before 1980, making it among the older housing areas in the Valley. The town of Paradise Valley (85253) has little racial or ethnic diversity.
5 things to know about Paradise Valley
- It is small: Paradise Valley encompasses about 17 square miles and is landlocked.
- Its government is run by many volunteers: Resident volunteers serve as judges, planning commissioners, police aides and on the town’s boards.
- It has many famous residents: Well-known Arizona politician Barry Goldwater made Paradise Valley his home. A memorial to him is in the center of the town. Rocker Alice Cooper is a longtime resident.
- It is a relatively new town: Paradise Valley only incorporated in 1961 to protect its borders from Phoenix and Scottsdale’s growth.
- It wants a small government: The town’s mission is to maintain a residential community in a “quiet and country-like setting with little government intervention.”