Avondale Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in Maricopa County, Arizona


	Avondale Houses for Sale

Avondale

Avondale was incorporated in December 1946. Each year, Avondale and the neighboring communities celebrate the area's colorful past with Billy Moore Days featuring a parade, carnival, burro races, and a golf tournament. Billy Moore was the founder of Avondale. He settled near the Agua Fria River in the early 1880s, calling his settlement Coldwater. He served as Justice of the Peace, opened a saloon and general store, and served as Postmaster. The post office was moved near the Avondale Ranch in the early 1900s where the name was changed from Coldwater to Avondale.

Native Americans were the first to inhabit the Valley of the Sun. They farmed the area for more than a thousand years. Ruins can be found throughout Arizona, including a five-story structure used by the Sinagua Indians more than 600 years ago. There are 21 Indian tribes in Arizona today. They continue to live much as their ancestors did. Many sell their wares in galleries and on their Reservation. Some tribes allow visitors at their festivals. The early 1700s marked the influx of Mexican and Spanish peoples to the Valley of the Sun. The Latin influence remains strong today in art, architecture, food, and entertainment. The Old West and the life of the cowboy are preserved throughout Arizona at dude ranches, historical parks and in museums. Rawhide Western Town in Scottsdale features gun slinging street performers, stage shows and an old-time saloon.

Museums throughout the area celebrate Native Americans, Spanish and Mexican heritage and the Old West with art and artifacts. The Hoo-Hoogam Ki Tribal Museum houses Native American cultural items. The Heard Museum contains large collections of Indian art and cultural items, along with antique and contemporary European art. The Phoenix Art Museum houses contemporary and historic art works from Latin America, Europe, Asia and the West. The Shemer Art Center is in an historic Spanish-style house and features traditional and contemporary art.

Other area museums include the Arizona Science Center with a planetarium and hands-on exhibits, the Deer Valley Rock Art Center with nature trails and petroglyphs, and the unusual Hall of Flame Fire fighting Museum which features fire fighting equipment, photos and memorabilia. The Fleischer Museum is home to more than 200 Impressionist paintings, done in the California school style. Interesting structures dot the landscape at the Consanti Art Studio. Paolo Soleri has his studio here and displays his ceramic windmills and wind chimes. Taliesen West, a National Historic Landmark, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as a winter residence.

For sports enthusiasts, the Valley of the Sun is host to the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open, the Arizona Open Golf Tournament, the State Farm Women’s Tennis Classic and the Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic. Phoenix is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Phoenix Suns (NBA), Phoenix Coyotes (NHL), Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), Arizona Rattlers (arena football) and the Fiesta Bowl. The University of Phoenix Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium that opened in 2006. It is considered an architectural icon for the region and is most well-known for hosting the Arizona Cardinals (NFL) among many other sporting and entertainment events. Major League Baseball teams hold Spring Training in the Valley of the Sun. Fans can watch teams play practice games in what is known as the Cactus League. For those who want to do rather than watch, there are more than 300 golf courses in the Valley of the Sun along with tennis courts, racquetball courts and swimming pools. Other activities include hot air ballooning and tours by jeep, horse, bike, foot, or helicopter.

The McDowell Mountain Range, Mummy Mountain, the Continental Mountains, the Camelback Mountains, Tonto National Forest, Lost Dutchman State Park and Granite Mountain State Preserve offer hiking, camping, mountain biking, off-roading, and horseback riding. Three lakes in Tonto National Forest, the Salt River and the Verde River provide places to fish, boat, and swim. Whitewater rafting down the Verde River is an exhilarating experience. A more sedate, but equally cool time can be had tubing in the Salt River where birdwatchers often see heron, egrets and eagles.