Location, Location, Location: Prescott, Arizona

Robyn A. Friedman

11/03/2003

Prescott is just 96 miles northwest of Phoenix, but it is a world unto itself. Surrounded by 1.2 million acres of national forest—and the world’s largest contiguous stand of ponderosa pines—Prescott revels in its western heritage and natural resources. At 5,347 feet above sea level, residents enjoy a mild climate year-round, and its 300 days of sunshine each year make it ideal for hiking the 450 miles of trails or golfing.

It was gold that brought national attention to Prescott; the city lies next to Granite Creek, where gold was panned over a century ago. Prescott was founded in 1863, incorporated in 1883, and serves as the seat of government for Yavapai County. Named after noted historian William Hickling Prescott, the city was chosen as the capital of the Arizona Territory by Abraham Lincoln, who wanted the capital in the northern part of the territory, far away from the Confederate sympathizers in the south. (Click image to enlarge)

Midwestern and New England pioneers flocked to the area in the late 1800s, and their influence is still reflected today in the city’s architecture—turreted Victorian houses dot the city’s older residential streets, in stark contrast to the adobe structures so common in the Southwest. Due to Prescott’s emphasis on preservation, more than 500 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Prescott’s population increased about 250 percent between 1990 and 2002. Retirees have long known about Prescott’s attributes, even before Money magazine ranked it the top place to retire in 1994. Its climate and proximity to Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon and Sedona are attracting families as well as people purchasing second or third homes. And that has led to an explosion of new high-end construction in the area.
Buyers are drawn to golf communities such as Talking Rock, Hassayampa Country Club and American Ranch, a new equestrian community. (Click image to enlarge)

Prescott offers an array of cultural and recreational opportunities. Within a 10-mile radius are five lakes for boating and fishing, and the city hosts the World’s Oldest Rodeo, the Yavapai County Fair and the Arizona Shakespeare Festival. The vistas range from the moonscape-like terrain of the Granite Dells to the pine-covered Bradshaw Mountains.

---

Facts & Stats

---

Fly away: Ernest A. Love Field, Prescott’s municipal airport, can accommodate charter and private jets and is located seven miles north of Prescott. America West Express, connecting through Phoenix, provides scheduled service to more than 5,000 passengers per year. The airport is modernizing and will become a regional airport to better meet the needs of the area’s growing population.

Amenities/recreation: Prescott Lakes Golf Club has a par-72 course designed by Hale Irwin. Hassayampa Golf Club boasts an 18-hole course designed by Tom Weiskopf.

Real estate: Land is plentiful, with 1,089 lots on the market, ranging in price from $25,000 to $500,000. Larger tracts on the market inlcude the 1,071 acres with panoramic views listed by Arizona Land Advisors for $17 million.
Prescott offers homebuyers a mix of condominiums, townhouses and single-family homes. Prices for existing single-family homes range from $55,000 to $1.7 million. Condos are priced from $90,000 to $400,000.
A 6,000-square-foot home with three bedrooms and five and a half baths is on the market for $1.175 million through Kathleen Yamauchi at Russ Lyon Realty. One of her other listings is a six-bedroom, five-bath home on 40 acres for $1.475 million.

The first custom spec homes (above) at Talking Rock (928.776.4440, www.talkingrock.info) are being completed and are on the market for $685,000 to $950,000. The community will soon offer ranch cottages (maintenance-free single-family detached homes on small lots) as a high-country getaway for families fleeing the summer heat of Phoenix or Las Vegas.

With 188 total homesites, including equestrian lots, American Ranch (928.777.9500, www.americanranch.com) is all about horses. One- to five-acre sites are offered from $150,000 to $500,000, and the ranch has riding arenas, roping and training facilities, boarding and turnout pastures.

Realtor 101: Kathleen Yamauchi, Russ Lyon Realty, 928.717.9700, www.kathleeny.com; Lisa Stoken, Realty Executives, 928.771.2225, www.prescottazhouses.com;

Dale and Ginger Smith, Coldwell Banker–The Judd Group, 928.776.4100, www.daleandgingersmith.com; Wade Cunningham, Arizona Land Advisors, 928.445.4457, www.landadvisors.com

More information: www.visit-prescott.com, www.cityofprescott.net