Cave Creek is a small town in Maricopa County that is counted as part of Phoenix's metropolitan area. Its history dates back to 1870 when U.S. soldiers settled the area and named the town after both the cave and creek on which the town was established.

It has a population of just under 5700 residents. Its population continues to grow as more people come to the Phoenix area to live. Since 2010, Cave Creek has gained around 800 new residents, and its populace is expected to continue growing rapidly.

Boundaries

Cave Creek spans a geographical area of 37.71 square miles. Its northern border reaches to the Tonto National Forest. Its eastern border ends at approximately North 80th Street.

Its southern border ends at close to East Tapekim Road. Its western border ends at close to North 26th Street.

Cave Creek has a small downtown. Some of its prominent features, like its retail center, are found on East Cave Creek Road. While it does not have its own airport, it is served by the nearby airports of Phoenix Sky Harbor International and Mesa Gateway Airports. There is also the smaller Deer Creek Airport available.

Real Estate

Cave Creek offers a variety of real estate for interested home buyers. Spacious one and two-bedroom townhouses and condominiums are routinely available in this small town. However, the larger share of the real estate market there is comprised of single-family houses.

The average home price in Cave Creek is significantly higher than in other parts of Phoenix. The average price is around $620,000. Townhouses sell for around $189,000 while condominiums are priced slightly higher and average around $210,000.

Typical homes in Cave Creek have upwards of three bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. They are as large as 4700 square feet.

Features

Cave Creek has one primary public park for residents to enjoy. Cave Creek Regional Park is located on North Lava Lane and sits on more than 2900 acres. It offers hiking trails, campgrounds, and picnic areas.

There are two public libraries in Cave Creek, Desert Foothills Library and Desert Broom Library. Cave Creek. There are two school districts to serve the city, Deer Valley Unified School District and Cave Creek Unified School District.

Freeway Access

The nearest major thoroughfare to Cave Creek is Interstate 10. To reach it, Cave Creek drivers can take West Carefree Highway west until it intersects with I-10.

To reach Highway 101 to the city's south, drivers need to take Cave Creek Road to the southwest. They can then take Highway 101 to other major thoroughfares like Highway 51.

Communities

Cave Creek is home to dozens of neighborhoods located throughout the city. Many of them are upscale, gated communities that offer numerous amenities to residents.

Willow Springs Estates is one of the communities in Cave Creek that both single-family homes and empty lots ready to be developed. Prices here start as low as $155,000.

Stagecoach Pass Estates is another community in Cave Creek. It has upscale luxury homes for sale, some as large as four and five-bedrooms with outdoor pools.

Longview Estates in Cave Creek has affordable midsize homes for sale. Average prices are around $214,000 and have as much as 2100 square feet. There are also undeveloped lots that are available to home builders.

Carefree and Cave Creek, recreational-resort communities, offer a pleasant blend of the older historical theme of Cave Creek with the newer planned community of Carefree. Both towns are nestled in the Arizona desert foothills, directly north of Scottsdale and approximately 15 miles northeast of Phoenix. Cave Creek, settled in the late 1870s, became a booming mining camp during the 1880s and incorporated in 1986. Carefree, on the other hand, was established in the late 1950s is a planned community and incorporated in 1984.

The two communities are residential areas with a heavy emphasis on resort-style living. Tourism contributes largely to the area economy. A substantial number of retail and commercial establishments serve the residents of the communities.

Carefree and Cave Creek are communities so embroidered into the surrounding landscape that it is difficult to determine where one begins and the other ends. Much of the natural scenery is spectacular, with massive piles of granite boulders, sharp mountains, and an abundance of desert growth that thrives at this 2,200- to 2,700-foot altitude. Because of the low-density development, residents share the area with deer, bobcats, cardinals, coyotes, javelina, coveys of quail, and an occasional mountain lion. The area's man-made attractions include the many unique homes perched on the mountains, Los Portales Mall offering two levels of owner-operated shops, Spanish Village shopping center, modeled after a village in old Spain, and the Easy Street shops offering an unappealing mix of items; the Carefree Inn and Conference Center, renowned for its facilities; the Carefree Sundial, the largest and most accurate in the Western Hemisphere; the huge Kachina doll at Tonto Hills, east of Carefree; Frontier Town, a recreation of an Old West town; the Cave Creek Museum, and an eclectic assortment of shops, bars, and restaurants. Scenic drives abound in the area. Black Mountain looms over the foothills from any vantage point. The Tonto National Forest borders the area on two sides with its untouched desert beauty. The Sonoran desert south of Carefree, along Scottsdale Road, offers a wide variety of plant life and color. The best way to enjoy the “backcountry” is on foot, horseback, or jeep tour. Nearby lakes at Bartlett Dam, Carl Pleasant Dam, and the Verde River provide scenic areas for all water sports including swimming, boating, water skiing, tubing, and fishing.

Cave Creek New Home Developments

Cave Creek new home developments reveal the laid back attitude of this community. Majestic mountains dot the surrounding area around Carefree, north of Phoenix. This is the perfect place to get away from it all.

Cave Creek Golf Courses

You can experience amazing views and a great game of golf in Cave Creek, Arizona.

Golfers in Cave Creek take advantage of this one of a kind experiences every day. It is time for you to sample the warm sunshine and witness spectacular desert mountain views. Come to Cave Creek, Arizona, and play a round of golf!

The following is a long list of golf courses available in and around Cave Creek. These courses provide golfers with course challenges and opportunities to practice. Cave Creek area golf courses are a golfer’s dream that has come true!

Boulders Golf Club – Private/Resort
34636 North Tom Darlington Drive
Carefree, AZ 85377

Cave Creek Golf Course – Public
15202 North 19th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85023

Country Club at DC Ranch - Private
9290 East Thompson Peak Parkway
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

Desert Forest Golf Club - Private
37207 North Mule Train Road
Carefree, Arizona 85377

Desert Highlands Golf Club - Private
10040 East Happy Valley Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

Desert Mountain - Private
10333 East Rockaway Hills Drive
Scottsdale, Arizona 85262

Dove Valley Ranch Golf Course - Public
33244 North Black Mountain Parkway
Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Estancia Club - Private
9801 East Dynamite Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

Grayhawk Golf Club - Public
8620 East Thompson Peak Parkway
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

Legend Trail Golf Club - Public
9462 East Legendary Lane
Scottsdale, Arizona 85262

Paradise Peak West - Private
3901 East Pinnacle Peak Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85050

Paradise Valley Park Golf Course – Executive
3505 East Union Hills Drive
Phoenix, Arizona 85050

Pinnacle Peak Country Club - Private
8701 East Pinnacle Peak Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

Rancho Manana Golf Club - Semi-Private
5734 East Rancho Manana Boulevard
Cave Creek, Arizona 85331

Tatum Ranch Golf Club - Private
29888 North Tatum Ranch Drive
Cave Creek, Arizona 85331

Terravita Golf and Country Club - Private
34034 North 69th Way
Scottsdale, Arizona 85262

TPC (Tournament of Players Course) of Scottsdale – Public/Resort
17020 North Hayden Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

Troon Golf and Country Club - Private
25000 North Windy Walk Drive
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

Troon North Golf Club - Semi-Private
10320 East Dynamite Boulevard
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

Wildfire Golf Club - Resort
5225 East Pathfinder
Phoenix, Arizona 85054

Cave Creek is a recreational-resort community that offers a pleasant blend of the older historical theme of Cave Creek. Nestled in the Arizona desert foothills, directly north of Scottsdale and approximately 15 miles northeast of Phoenix. Cave Creek, which was settled in the late 1870s, became a booming mining camp during the 1880s and incorporated in 1986. Next door is Carefree, a newer community established in the late 1950s as a planned community and incorporated in 1984.

The residential area has a heavy emphasis on resort-style living. Tourism contributes largely to the area economy. A substantial number of retail and commercial establishments serve the residents of the communities. The Cave Creek community so embroidered into the surrounding landscape that it is difficult to determine where one begins and the other ends. Much of the natural scenery is spectacular, with massive piles of granite boulders, sharp mountains, and an abundance of desert growth that thrives at this 2,200- to 2,700-foot altitude. Because of the low-density development, residents share the area with deer, bobcats, cardinals, coyotes, javelina, coveys of quail, and an occasional mountain lion. The area's man-made attractions include many unique homes perched in the mountains. There is also the Spanish Village shopping center, modeled after a village in old Spain.

The Carefree Inn and Conference Center serve the growing tourist industry. These facilities are renowned for the Carefree Sundial, the largest and most accurate in the Western Hemisphere; the huge Kachina doll at Tonto Hills, east of Carefree; Frontier Town, a recreation of an Old West town, the Cave Creek Museum, and an eclectic assortment of shops, bars, and restaurants. Scenic drives abound in the area. Black Mountain looms over the foothills from any vantage point. The Tonto National Forest borders the area on two sides with its untouched desert beauty. The Sonoran desert south of Carefree, along Scottsdale Road, offers a wide variety of plant life and color. The best way to enjoy the “backcountry” is on foot, horseback, or jeep tour. Nearby lakes at Bartlett Dam, Carl Pleasant Dam, and the Verde River provide scenic areas for all water sports including swimming, boating, water skiing, tubing, and fishing.

The Tonto National Forest borders the town to the north and east. It is a unique town with tall saguaro cactus, mountains circling the area, and large piles of boulders placed formations, that will make visitors marvel at nature's work. It is 30 miles northeast of downtown Phoenix in the North Valley. Cave Creek covers 25.5 square miles.

Cave Creek is a desert community hosting spectacular views, native plants, and wildlife. It began as a mining camp and has grown to a popular place for tourists, artists, and celebrities alike to visit and live. Visitors will get a taste of the Old West by roaming the rustic shops and sampling the cowboy restaurants lining the main street. Today Cave Creek has a population of 3,255. The town sits at an elevation of 2,500 feet. The climate is on the average eight degrees cooler than the Valley of Phoenix. The summer high temperature is 100 degrees and the winter low temperature is 40 degrees. Cave Creek has a way of blending its old west history, along with its small-town charm, in such a way that you will want to make a return visit.

There are several attractions in Cave Creek. The Cave Creek Museum is a great stop to learn about Arizona's history. There are an Indian wing and a Pioneer wing that hold many artifacts highlighting these two important influences in Arizona's history. The Cave Creek Mistress Mine is a fun place to go for both the young and old alike. Here you will learn about the minerals that so many miners were in search of to strike it rich. You can even try your hand at panning for gold.

One great outdoor activity is the Cave Creek Recreational Area. Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to choose from hiking, camping, and picnicking. It is just a short mile and a half drive from town.

Events:
Annual Fiesta Days April
Annual Fireworks Extravaganza July
Oktober West Fest October

History
Gold was discovered in 1848 and the rush was on to get to California. A wagon road was established in 1865 through this section to help those traveling to the west. The road passed this way because of the natural water supply in the area. The army also used it to travel between Fort McDowell and Fort Whipple.

In 1874, William Rowe located gold on Gold Hill northeast of Cave Creek. The Cave Creek Mistress Mine came into being and the town became more popular.

Then in 1877, Jeriah Wood chose Cave Creek to establish a cattle ranch. Wood's home along the wagon road became known as the Cave Creek Station. He also opened a post office and called it Overton. Later on, the first stamp mill opened nearby at the Golden Star Mine.

By the 1880's, Andrew Jackson Hoskin took over Cave Creek Station. Hoskin cleared the land and began growing crops. He used the plentiful water supply to irrigate his crops. Others decided to come and try their hand at both mining and ranching. In 1886, the town needed a one-room schoolhouse. It was also during this time, that the Phoenix Mine became a big mine and included the largest 100-stamp mill in Arizona. However, this was short lived and the mine eventually closed.

James D. Houck showed up in 1900 to become a successful sheep-shearing rancher. He bought Cave Creek Station and built a store. There was regular stage service to Phoenix. Things began to change. In 1908, the Tonto National Forest was established and new water regulations were set in place. These regulations made it difficult for ranchers and their livestock. Soon ranchers began to leave and eventually the school closed.

It wasn't until 1928 when the land south of Black Mountain near Cave Creek opened for homesteading that the area received an influx of people. The school reopened in 1930. Then in 1935 when the construction of Bartlett Dam began, the town experienced another growth spurt and again in 1940, with the building of the Horseshoe Dam.

In 1943, Andrew Dahlstream bought Cave Creek Station. He used it as his winter home. Many others also decided to live in the area. In 1952, Scottsdale Road was extended to Cave Creek Road and more people chose Cave Creek as their home. In 1986 Cave Creek was incorporated. Today, visitors will see wonderful desert views; discover the town's rich history and experience the relaxed atmosphere Cave Creek has to offer.

Things to Do

Visit Bartlett Lake
Bartlett Lake is the closest lake to the Phoenix area on the Verde River. It is 22 miles east of Carefree. To get to Bartlett Lake from Carefree, Arizona, take State Road 223 east 22 miles. Upper Bartlett Lake, Rattlesnake, and South Cove recreation sites provide areas for camping with trailers, picnicking, fishing and boating and are open year-round. Trailers longer than 16 feet are not recommended. The Jojoba Boating Site provides a paved launching ramp, except during low water levels. A new marina facility, which will provide a variety of services, is being constructed at this reservoir.
Fishing at Bartlett can produce largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie. The road to Bartlett is paved.

Cave Creek Golf Courses

You can experience amazing views and a great game of golf in Cave Creek, Arizona.

Golfers in Cave Creek take advantage of this one of a kind experience every day. It is time for you to sample the warm sunshine and witness spectacular desert mountain views. Come to Cave Creek, Arizona, and play a round of golf!

The following is a long list of golf courses available in and around Cave Creek. These courses provide golfers with course challenges and opportunities to practice. Cave Creek area golf courses are a golfer’s dream that has come true!

Boulders Golf Club – Private/Resort
34636 North Tom Darlington Drive
Carefree, AZ 85377

Cave Creek Golf Course – Public
15202 North 19th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85023

Dove Valley Ranch Golf Course - Public
33244 North Black Mountain Parkway
Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Rancho Manana Golf Club - Semi-Private
5734 East Rancho Manana Boulevard
Cave Creek, Arizona 85331

Tatum Ranch Golf Club - Private
29888 North Tatum Ranch Drive
Cave Creek, Arizona 85331