Cave Creek is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, and it’s just 27 miles northeast of Phoenix. With a total area of about 28 square miles of land and a population of just under 5,500, Cave Creek offers plenty of historic charm along with its small town vibe. 

The town’s motto “Where the Wild West Lives,” gives an accurate description of Cave Creek’s western lifestyle and rural setting. Established as a mining town and camp for the U.S. Cavalry in the mid 1870s, Cave Creek’s western roots are preserved throughout the town’s building structures, restaurants, events, and within the community itself. Surrounded by the foothills of Black Mountain, Skull Mesa, and Elephant Butte, this region has amassed popularity because of its old western charm in the midst of increasingly impressive greater Phoenix growth

Homes

Southwestern Ranch Style House With Rooftop Solar Panels

View homes for sale in Cave Creek

Homebuyers looking for new construction single-family homes will find plenty to choose from in Cave Creek because the town has had a steady increase of new construction since 1997. About 85 percent of its residents are homeowners, much higher than the national average of 63.6 percent. And while the median property value in Cave Creek declined to $453,300 in 2016, homes and condominiums range between the high $100s and mid $5 million, coming in styles from custom modern homes on large lots to Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Revival homes scattered among the various neighborhoods. Many of the affluent neighborhoods of Cave Creek also have homeowner association fees that can go up to $2,500.

Some of the popular neighborhoods within Cave Creek include Tatum Ranch with a median home price listed at $345,000 and homes ranging between 742 to 4,581 square feet. Dove Valley Ranch has a median home price of $355,000 and features homes sizes from 1,218 to 4,865 square feet. Lone Mountain is another notable neighborhood that has a median home price at $600,990 and features homes ranging in size from 1,884 to 4,535 square feet. And Rancho Paloma features midsize homes priced around the high at $300s. Many of these communities offer luxury amenities like clubhouses and community pools, neighborhood parks, and recreational facilities. Cave Creek also offers an established, close-knit community setting ideal for families as well as retirees.

Attractions

Photo courtesy of Cave Creek Wild West Days

Don’t let the small-town vibe fool you because Cave Creek has a variety of attractions. Residents of Cave Creek enjoy time outdoors as much as they do spending time honing their cultural experiences, and luckily the town has plenty of both. Several saloons, western shops, galleries, and specialty stores can be found throughout the town and live music can be found almost nightly at several locations.

Cave Creek Museum

Preserving the historical heritage of the desert foothills is the Cave Creek Museum. Although the museum is closed for the summer, it’s scheduled to reopen in the fall. The Cave Creek Museum preserves the artifacts of the prehistory, culture, and legacy of the Cave Creek/Carefree foothills area through education, research, and interpretive exhibits. Along with informative exhibits in archaeology, you’ll find the historic first church of Cave Creek, the Golden Reef Stamp Mill, and the tubercular cabin, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Buildings.

Wild West Days

At the end of the day, this town is all about the Old West. During the month of November, Wild West Days is one of Arizona’s largest western celebrations that welcomes over 10,000 attendees annually. This celebration features pig races, a parade, dances, a Motorcycle Poker Run, and much more. 

The Cave Creek Rodeo

The Cave Creek Rodeo has been PRCA sanctioned since 1977 and features all the main events like bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, and bull riding. The Pro rodeo also has a kick-off dance and raises funds to assist with the maintenance, repair, and enhancement of the Cave Creek Memorial and traditions created by the town’s western heritage. 

Harold's Cave Creek Corral

Pittsburgh Steelers fans will love having their very own Steelers nation base at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral in the Hidden Rock at Cave Creek neighborhood. This sports bar is the official Heinz Field West, making it one of the most well-known Steelers Bars in town. A local neighborhood staple, this popular bar been around for over 80 years. 

Outdoor Recreation

Photo courtesy of Rancho Manana Golf Club

Golfers will appreciate the ease of access to three local golf courses including Rancho Manana Golf Club, which is a par-70 championship golf course with dramatic elevation changes and unspoiled desert terrain. Dove Valley Ranch Club, designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., is a championship golf course that gently shifts between panoramic openness and lush foliage along Willow Wash. Golfers will also have access to over 200 golf courses within the Greater Phoenix area.

Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the wildflowers of Gateway Desert Awareness Park where you can take self-guided tours and learn about the variety of naturally occurring plant life in this beautiful Sonoran park. There’s also a children’s playground, ramadas, and BBQ areas for picnics. Another outdoor spot is the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, which has more than 2,100 acres of rugged upper Sonoran desert just five miles from Cave Creek. This outdoor area is perfect for hiking, horseback riding, picnics, and wildlife viewing.

Transportation & Economy

Cave Creek, Arizona

Cave Creek is a car-focused town with over 70 percent of its residents driving to work as the most common method of commuter transportation. The average commute time, per Data USA is 24.7 minutes with 2,243 employed within the boundaries of the town. The town’s prime location also allows residents to easily drive to big-city amenities found in nearby Phoenix. The town’s economy is specialized in agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, finance and insurance, arts and entertainment, and recreation. The largest industries in Cave Creek include healthcare and social assistance, professional and scientific tech services, and food service.