Paradise Valley, Arizona

Paradise Valley is the wealthiest town in Arizona. According to the U.S. Census, it has a median family income of $225,227. The town has 8,700 homes within approximately 16 square miles. 

Where Is Paradise Valley?

Paradise Valley is in the metropolitan region of Phoenix, Arizona. It is surrounded by the City of Phoenix to the south, west, and north and the City of Scottsdale to the south, east, and north. Its specific boundaries are the Phoenix Mountain Preserve to the west, Camelback Mountain to the south, Scottsdale Road to the east, and Shea Boulevard to the north. There are some exceptions.

Why Is It So Expensive?

One reason for this affluence is that town zoning requires most homes to be on one-acre lots, or larger. This keeps density low, and maintains privacy for its residents. As a result, it has a very spacious and resort-like feeling, despite being near the downtowns of both Phoenix and Scottsdale. 

It is almost completely built out, which means, there are very few buildable lots available. As a result, existing homes are often torn down to make way for new construction. As a result, home values are continuously rising. 

Residents also enjoy spectacular views of Camelback Mountain to the south, and Mummy Mountain in the middle of the town.  The town attracts high end resorts, country clubs, golf clubs, schools and restaurants. There is also world-class shopping nearby at the upscale Fashion Square mall in Old Town Scottsdale. Residents can also easily enjoy the best that both Phoenix and Scottsdale have to offer. This includes galleries, museums, theatre, destination spas, spring baseball training of 15 major league baseball teams, Scottsdale Airport for private jets, and many outstanding medical centers.

Celebrities Who Live in Paradise Valley

One of the most well-known and often-seen celebrities in Paradise Valley is Alice Cooper.  Other celebrities who own homes in the town are singer/songwriter Alicia Keys, swimming legend Michael Phelps, best-selling author Clive Cussler, and former vice-president Dan Quale.  Former town residents include former heavy-weight champions Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, "Family Circus" cartoonist Bill Keane, and actor Robert Mitchum, according to the Arizona Republic. 

Things to Do in Paradise Valley

Since it is a wealthy and very beautiful community, Paradise Valley has a lot to do. Within its borders are golf courses, luxury resorts, and a wide range of world-class restaurants. There are also great schools and churchses for the residetns. In addition, there are many free things to do that anyone can enjoy.

Golf Courses

There is one private and one public golf course within the town's borders. The Mountain Shadows Short Course is a 54-par, 18-hole public course. Its signature hole is the par-3 12th hole. It plays uphill toward Camelback Mountain. The Paradise Valley Country Club has a private course, open to members only and their guests. It has 18 holes, and is a 72 par course. There are 98 golf courses within a 20-mile radius of the town, including 62 public, 11 municipal, and 25 private courses. 

Resorts

There are eight resorts in Paradise Valley. All offer discounts during the  hot summer months. Conversely, they are booked up in March, the busiest month.

1. The oldest is the Camelback Inn,  (5402 E  Lincoln Dr.) which opened on December 15, 1936. 
2. The land for the Hermosa Inn (5532 North Palo Cristi Rd.) was bought in 1935, and the resort grew throughout the 1930s. It was destroyed by a fire in 1987, but restored in 1992. It was featured in the movie, "Waiting to Exhale."
3. Mountain Shadows Resort (5445 E Lincoln Dr.) opened on January 16, 1959. It closed in 2004, and was demolished in 2014 to make way for the new resort which opened in 2017. 
4. Sanctuary (5700 E McDonald Dr) is on the site of  the Paradise Valley tennis club, built in the 1950s. It expanded into a resort in 1965, and then became today's resort in 2001. Throughout the years, it was active in preserving Camelback Mountain, and was an attraction to many celebrities.
5. The Doubletree Resort (5401 N Scottsdale Rd.) was built in 1982 and sits on 23 acres 
6. The Montelucia (4949 E Lincoln Dr.) was built in 2008. It has a Spanish influence and even has a mini "Alhambra" walkway. The resort's "Castillo Lucena" was inspired by the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy.
7. The 23-acre Andaz (6114 N Scottsdale Rd.) is the newest resort. Built in 2016, is a renovation of the 1982  Cottonwoods Resort. Its theme is "desert modern." 
8. The Plaza Resort (7200 N Scottsdale Rd) was originally built in 1976 (Phase 1) and completed in the mid-80's (Phase 2). It was renovated in 2019. 

Restaurants

All but one of the restaurants in Paradise Valley are run by resorts. They are all excellent and offer a wide variety of menus.

The Camelback Inn offers six venues for food:

• Lincoln Steakhouse is named after The Lincoln Red, a famous breed of English cattle. This modern steakhouse is only open for dinner from Wednesday through Sunday.
• Rita's Kitchen offer Mexican food and is open all day, every day.
• Tavern 37 is the golf breakfast and lunch house.
• The Inn also offers dining at its poolside, and its spa. There is also a Starbucks on site.

The Montelucia Resort has five restaurants:

1. Prado has tapas for breakfast or brunch daily, and for dinner Wednesday through Sunday.
2. Mbar also offers tapas in a bar setting each evening Wednesday through Sunday.
3. Taqueria Centro is a Mexican restaurant open for lunch and dinner daily.
4. Crave Cafe has ice cream, wine, and snacks from 6 am to 6 pm daily.
5. The rooftop Joya Terrace is exclusively for spa guests.

Mountain Shadows Resort is home to Hearth '61, for local and organic dishes, and Rusty's at the golf course.

The Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort's main restaurant is the Asadero Cocina, which offers a Southwestern menu. The resort also has a lounge bar, a bar with snacks at the pool, and a coffee house with snacks.

The Plaza Resort's JD's Restaurant offers burgers, nachos, and pizzas for lunch and dinner daily. The Garden Court is for breakfast, and there is a pool cabana cafe.

Lon's at the Hermosa Inn has been around since the 1930's. It's open daily for brunch and dinner offers Inn. Groups can reserve the wine cellar during the summer for events. It is named after the Inn's original owner, cowboy artist Alonzo "Lon" Megargee. 

elements Restaurant at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain offers a sweeping view of Paradise Valley and a seasonal menu with local and organic produce. 

The Weft and Warp Art Bar + Kitchen is at the AndAZ REsort. The menu is Mediterranean-inspired in a very modern living-room-style atmosphere.

El Chorro Restaurant has been in Paradise Valley since 1937, and is not affiliated with any resort. It is open for brunch on Sunday, and for dinner Wednesday through Sunday. The menu is classic American. El Chorro is know for its sticky buns.

Schools

Paradise Valley is served by the Scottsdale Unified School District. These are some of the top-rated public schools in the valley. They include Cherokee and Kiva elementary schools, Mohave and Cocopah middle schools, and Chaparral and Saguaro High Schools.

Paradise Valley is also home to 15 excellent private schools. These include Phoenix Country Day School, Desert View Learning Center, the Tesseract School, and Montessori Academy Preschool.

Churches

There are 14 churches in Paradise Valley. There are representatives of most of the major denominations. In addition, there are several churches offering a variety of non-denominational communities. Churches range in size and approach and are scattered throughout the town. 

Baptist: First Southern Baptist Church

Catholic: Franciscan Renewal Center

Episcopalian: Christ Church of the Ascension, St. Barnabas of the Desert

Jewish: Temple Soleil

Lutheran: Ascension Lutheran Church

Non-denominational: Blessings Community Church,  Calvary Church of the Valley, Camelback Bible Church, Valley View Bible Church

Presbyterian: Palo Christi Presbyterian Church, Valley Presbyterian Church

Unitarian: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix

Free Things to Do

Most of the fund things to do in Paradise Valley cost money to enjoy. But did you know there are many fun activities that are free to the public? Here are the top five, and how to enjoy them.

1. Visit Cosanti. This working foundry is architect Paolo Soleri’s design studio. Here he created nature-inspired wind chimes and sculptures. You can schedule a tour to watch them make the bronze bells for free. To schedule a tour, call 480.948.6145 or email [email protected]. Cosanti is located at 6433 E Doubletree Ranch Rd, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253.  
2. Hike Camelback Mountain. This is the outstanding landmark in Paradise Valley.  There are two trailheads. The Echo Canyon Trailhead is located at 4925 E McDonald Drive. The Cholla Canyon trailhead is at 5150 N Invergordon Rd. These trails are steep! Take your time, and bring water and snacks.
3. Visit the Franciscan Renewal Center at 5802 E. Lincoln Dr. This active church and retreat center offers many free outreach activities. These include a walking labyrinth, a rose garden, and free counseling and spiritual direction.
4. Hike Mummy Mountain. This is another iconic landmark defining Paradise Valley. You start the hike at the northern end of the Camelback Inn, at 5402 E Lincoln Dr. For detailed directions, see Hike Arizona.
5. Visit Goldwater Park at the northeast corner of Lincoln Blvd. and Tatum Dr. It is small, but beautifully landscaped. Enjoy the pedestrian path inscribed with memorable quotes from Senator Goldwater's speeches and books.