For team ropers, the urban sprawl between the Phoenix metro area and Buckeye, 30 miles back toward California, has been more of an arena sprawl. Venues stretch from Wickenburg and Cave Creek out through the growing communities of Morristown, Wittman, and Litchfield Park before arriving in Buckeye itself. Check thearizonajackpot.com for jackpot dates and times, as well as producers’ Facebook pages.
The Tanner Family’s Dunns Arena
7653 North Sarival Avenue, Litchfield Park
623-535-4846;
dunnsarena.com
Facebook: Dunns Arena
• Two arenas (one covered), along with smaller cutting pen and warm-up arena
• Dry camping
• Boarding offered for up to 60 horses, stall barn plus outdoor pens
• Concessions available during jackpots plus Dillon’s KC BBQ across the road
Dillon’s @ Western Trails Ranch
37839 West Grand Avenue, Morristown
209-262-5231;
Facebook: Dillon’s at Western Trails Ranch
• One arena
• Dillon’s KC BBQ and the Buzzard Saloon, live music and bull riding
• Weekly jackpots and ropings
• No boarding or camping
Horns and Hooves Arena
39410 North US Hwy 60, Morristown
602-725-4576;
Facebook: Horns and Hooves Arena
• Two arenas
• Boarding, covered stalls, and RV hookups
• Jackpots four days a week with barrel racing on weekends
South Buckeye Equestrian and Events Center
10300 South Miller Road, Buckeye
623-691-6900;
southbuckeye.com
• Multiple arenas, both covered and uncovered; five round pens (two covered)
• Adjacent to The Tack Room Saloon & Pool Hall
• Full RV park including hookups with wifi (100 available)
• Several stall barns and tack lockers
• World Series qualifiers along with weekly jackpots, barrel racing and rodeos, plus the Royal Crown Futurity
Entertainment
Golf and baseball are the primary sports for entertaining ropers away from the arena. Spring training starts around the end of February and the Phoenix area is home to 15 Major League Baseball Clubs participating in the Cactus League. Stadiums on the west side of town include the Goodyear Ballpark (623-882-3120; goodyearbp.com) and Camelback Ranch (623-302-5000; camelbackranchbaseball.com).
Buckeye is home to three golf courses, Verrado Golf Club (623-388-3000; verradogolfclub.com), Sundance Golf Course (623-328-0400; sundancegolfaz.com) and Copper Canyon Golf Club (928-252-6783; coppercanyongolfclub.com), and golfing enthusiasts can also try out Pebble Creek (623-544-6010; golf.suncitywest.com/pebblebrook) in Litchfield, just a sampling of the many courses on the west side of the Valley.
Buckeye is home to numerous hiking trails for those so inclined; Skyline Regional Park (623-349-6350; skylineregionalpark.com) is a local favorite with 16 miles of trails for hiking, biking or riding through the White Tank Mountains.
The annual Buckeye’s Air Fair (623-349-6323) happens at the Municipal Airport in mid-February and is designed to be a learning experience with aviation exhibits and demonstrations. Many exhibits are interactive and you can even catch a flight in historic aircraft or check out simulator rides.
Food & Drink
For breakfast, check out local favs, the quaint Cafe 25: 35 (623-386-2535; cafe2535.net) in downtown Buckeye or the Sheep Camp Restaurant (623-386-2561) for good eats and terrific service.
The Verrado Grille (623-388-3013; verradogolfclub.com/verrado-grille) in the rustic clubhouse at Verrado Golf Club is open every day for incredible views from the open patio and offers everything from fried pickles, to strawberry poppyseed salad, to green chile cheese tamales. Finish off with apple pie cheesecake, a hometown concoction.
A Buckeye visit wouldn’t be complete without a meal at La Placita Cafe (623-386-4632) for some traditional Mexican delights.
If chains are your comfort away from home, there’s a Cracker Barrel in Buckeye and just about everything you could hope for in Surprise and Litchfield from PF Chang’s to Stuart Anderson’s to the Olive Garden.
Shopping
You can find plenty of your staples at Sundance Towne Center just off the I-10 on Watson Road, including Wal-Mart, PetSmart, Lowe’s, AutoZone and numerous restaurants, all just one exit down from Miller Road and South Buckeye Equestrian Center.
For more specialty or recreational shopping, try the Enchanted Bullfrog (623-687-0289; theenchantedbullfrog.com), offering creative local gifts, vintage jewelry, and other handmade items, or Screws and Sparkles (623-386-6576; screwsandsparkles.com), another Buckeye boutique bringing 30-plus local vendors together.
Not finding what you want? Travel west to the Westgate Entertainment District (westgateaz.com) in Glendale, a huge conglomerate of shops (including the Tanger Outlets), dining, and bars along with a movie theater and Gila River Arena (623-772-3240; gilariverarena.com), where you can catch one of numerous concerts.
Essential Services
Feed & Tack
• Stockman Feeds & Western Wear
7315 West Buckeye Road, Phoenix
623-936-5549;
stockmanfeedswesternwear.com
Apparel, boots, feed, vaccines and more
• Bales Hay
20600 West Beloat Road, Buckeye
623-386-2988;
baleshay.com
Hay, feed, tack and local products
• Santa Maria Feeds
3836 South 67th Avenue, Phoenix
623-936-8203;
santa-maria-feeds-llc.square.site
Hay, tack, medicine, bedding, etc.
• Barn 21, LLC/Cardew Hay Co.
602-980-4940;
barn21.com
Hay deliveries by tractor-trailer load
• Tatum Hay & Grain
602-237-4556; hay deliveries only
• Dale’s Town & Country
14320 West Waddell Road, Surprise
623-584-5736;
shopatdales.com
• C-A-L Ranch Store
2075 North Pebble Creek Parkway, Goodyear
602-474-2270
Veterinary Care
• Durango Equine Veterinary Clinic
20908 West Durango Street, Buckeye
623-386-2928;
durangoequine.com
• Desert Edge Equine Veterinary Services
19840 West Mitchell Ct., Buckeye
623-225-5112
Vehicle Repairs and Maintenance
• Hernandez Road & Tire Service
23740 W. US Highway 85
602-403-1749
24-hour service, roadside, truck and trailer repairs, tires, electrical
• Cummins Sale & Service
651 101st Avenue, Avondale
623-474-2600
Dealerships
• Jones Ford Buckeye
24600 West Yuma Road
623-386-4429
• Sands Chevrolet Surprise
16991 West Waddell Road
623-748-0856
• Rodeo Ford
13680 West Test Drive
623-298-3900
