Abandoned places are all over Arizona. We have ghost towns, centuries-old ruins, and plenty examples of urban decay scattered throughout our cities and towns. While some people may find these to be eye sores and evidence of pending criminal activity, I like to think of them as signs of where life once was and, in some cases, where it continues to thrive.
Not long ago, we looked at the old abandoned trading post, Two Guns, and how nature reclaims things a little differently in the desert than in traditionally humid, foliage-rich areas. Here's another example of a commercial building that once housed an array of emotions—excitement, anger, frustration, joy—for a decade and a half.
The Black Canyon City Greyhound Park is just barely visible from the southbound lanes of Interstate 17, a white rectangle sitting against the dark hills on the north side of town. At one point, it was obviously this place once acted as a dog racing track. Large, bold letters reading "DOG TRACK," then "DOG RACK," and "DOG CRACK" were displayed against the highway side of the building before finally being removed completely.
At one time, the dog track was owned and operated by the Funk family (one of several, it seems, owned by the family) until it eventually closed in 1982. For a few years afterwards, the park was used as a swap meet location before being entirely abandoned for another 20 years until 2008 when some developers discussed transforming the area into an RV park. Those plans never came to fruition.
So, despite these 30-something years without human contact, what life continues to thrive here? Plenty. Birds and other wild animals have taken over the buildings, taking ownership of a place that some people may have considered exploitative of animal life. Natural desert flora has exploded in the area, hiding evidence of the old track and slowly claiming the buildings.
But perhaps more controversial are the signs of human life that continue to pop up here every so often, leaving traces of their existence behind. Buildings are coated in old (and some not-so-old) graffiti, the occasional trash from squatters and homeless, and even the obvious damage to decades-old property. While the track's neighbors seem put off by these damages, little has been done to detract trespassers.
This, despite the ridiculously high potential of inhaling mold and asbestos, seems like a pretty cool place for urban explorers. However, since I don't want to chance any of you lovely readers getting hurt or even arrested for trespassing, check out this interesting and beautifully shot video of the dog track.
So, what do you think? What other abandoned places in Arizona do you think are surprisingly beautiful?
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