There is, in fact, a cave in Cave Creek—a hiding place originally for the Hohokam and Apache tribes and later inhabited by Edward G. Cave, a yarn-spinning miner in the early 1900s. It has housed Prohibition-era distilleries, hosted church services and served as a hippie campsite. Today, the town of Cave Creek is an eclectic mixture of artsy and cowboy and is a mecca for visiting winter ropers.

Check thearizonajackpot.com for jackpot dates and times as well as producers’ Facebook pages.

Arenas

Yost Events’ Dynamite Arena
27619 North 42nd Street, Cave Creek
520-251-1495; dynamitearena.com
Facebook: Dynamite Arena

• Two arenas
• Weekly jackpots (senior-only days), NTR qualifiers; tack shop

Ponderosa Arena
39205 North 15th Avenue, New River
208-989-7448 for RVs and stalls; ponderosarebelarena.com

• One arena
• RV hookups and covered and open pens

Winchester Ranch
27619 North 44th Street, Cave Creek
602-882-1320 (contact Roger)
Facebook: Winchester Ranch

• One arena (adjacent to Dynamite Arena) and round pen
• Boarding and RV hookups
• Arena rental available
• Near 6,000 acres of open riding

Rio Rancho Verde
14307 East Hawknest Road, Scottsdale
480-227-0568; rioranchoverde.com

• One turn-out area
• RV hookups and casitas and bunkhouse; open-air barn, indoor pipe rail stalls; round pen; wash rack
• Laundry room
• Near 62 acres of Scottsdale Sonoran Desert Preserve & Tonto National Forest for 215 miles of riding trails
• Organic veggie garden for use by all boarders

Other Non-Profit Arenas

Memorial Arena Rodeo Grounds
37201 North 28th Street, Cave Creek
480-488-6622

Larkyn Memorial Arena at New River Kiwanis Park

48606 North 17th Avenue, New River
602-739-1235; newriverkiwanis.org

• Arena is part of an 80-acre park; the park is open from dawn to dusk
• Arena available for open riding with donation unless booked for special events
• Dry camping for overnights, temporary stalling, restrooms

Entertainment

If your outdoorsy side manifests in more than spending time in an arena, try out the Piestewa Peak Park (602-261-8318) in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. There are dozens of miles of trails for just about all skill levels, with the most challenging being the 1.2-mile Summit Trail, a climb of 1,200 feet offering a carrot of a 360-degree view of Phoenix from the top.

If hiking involves more sweat than you were hoping for, try one of the many golf courses on the north side of town. Carefree’s Desert Forest Golf Club (480-488-4589) is credited as the first desert course ever built, offering a round that is “deceptively simple,” according to experts. Meanwhile, Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club (480-488-0009) is designed to be challenging but still player-friendly.

For a taste of history and culture, swing by the Cave Creek Museum (480-488-2764) to explore the town’s past through prehistoric artifacts like prehistoric sandals and pottery along with newer items like spurs worn by Old West cowboys. You can even take in the Arizona Gold Mining Experience which demonstrates Arizona’s only fully operational 10-stamp ore crushing mill.

To fulfill your need for speed, try out some high-speed kart racing at Octane Raceway (602-302-7223). The Raceway also offers the very old-school game of axe throwing and more modern diversions like a full arcade and a free-roam multiplayer virtual reality arena.

Food and Drink

Cave Creek’s most famous establishment is the Buffalo Chip Saloon (480-488-9118), opened in 1951. In addition to enjoying some “Texas Style BBQ,” you can listen to live music, take dance lessons or watch bull riding, all in the same place!

For breakfast, try out the Wagon Wheel Restaurant (480-488-2291) for home cooking at affordable prices. The Ofrenda (480-488-2187) in Stagecoach Village in Cave Creek offers authentic Mexican cuisine in a colorful, vibrant setting. For something different, sample their agave spirits or try out their rotating tequila special.

Shopping

Cave Creek has a little bit of everything when it comes to shopping experiences. For something unique, try out the Rare Earth Gallery (480-575-4360), billed as the world’s largest mineral and landscape home decor gallery. View fossils and rare jewelry and shop for unique gifts—they offer everything from wine racks to chess sets and even gem-infused singing bowls for extra relaxation in between roping sessions.

When you’re just needing some essentials, there’s Desert Ridge Marketplace (480-513-7586), just off Tatum Road and the 101 freeway. You can buy everything from groceries to clothes, and grab food from numerous restaurants, from fast food to outstanding steaks and seafood.

Essential Services

Feed and Tack

Black Mountain Feed
6198 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek
480-488-9180
Facebook: Black Mountain Feed
Hay, feed and tack

Anderson’s Feed & Tack
1722 West Tierra Buena Lane, Phoenix
602-993-8770
Facebook: Anderson’s Feed and Tack
Hay, feed and tack

Karsten’s Ace Hardware
28220 N Tatum Blvd., Cave Creek
480-513-7020
Feed, tack, supplies

Tractor Supply
34350 North Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek
480-488-9551

Dynamite Horseman Supply
28232 North 42nd Street, Cave Creek
480-585-4073; dynamitehorsemansupply.com
Facebook: Dynamite Horseman Supply
Ropes, saddles and supplies, tack trailer available at many ropings

Vehicle Repairs and Maintenance

Anthem RV and Boat
44019 North Black Canyon Hwy, New River
623-465-7331
Facebook: Anthem RV & Boat

On the Road Again Mobile RV Service and Repair
15044 E. Montgomery Rd., Scottsdale
602-296-7549; azrvservices.com

Deer Valley Trailer
22228 N. 23rd Avenue, Phoenix
623-780-1551; deervalleytrailer.com

Veterinary Care

Cave Creek Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery
34705 North 14th Street, Phoenix
623-581-5508; cavecreekequine.com
Facebook: Cave Creek Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery

Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center
32100 North Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek
480-595-8600; cahosp.com
Facebook: Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center

Copper Ridge Equine 
3120 W. Carefree Hwy Suite 1 639, Phoenix
480-281-5682; cridgeequine.com 
Facebook: Copper Ridge Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery

Southwest Equine Hospital
6001 East Bell Road, Scottsdale
480-998-9460; swequinehospital.com
Facebook: Southwest Equine Hospital

Mobile Equine Veterinary Services

Phoenix Equine Veterinary Services
480-621-9293; phoenixequinevet.com

All Equine Veterinary LLC
480-250-1096; allequinevet.com

Sorum Veterinary Services
480-299-7526; scottsdalehorsevet.com

Dealerships

Van Chevrolet
8585 East Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale
480-428-4465

Airpark Dodge Chrysler Jeep

7801 East Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale
877-674-8890; airparkdodgechryslerjeep.com

Midway Chevrolet

2323 W. Bell Road, Phoenix
844-864-7126; midwaychevy.com

Sanderson Ford
6400 North 51st Ave., Glendale
623-291-0673; sandersonford.com

Chapman Ford
3950 N. 89th St., Scottsdale
480-291-5500; chapmanfordaz.com