Drive History

Maricopa County Supports the Drive

In May of 1966 the Maricopa County Planning Department prepared a detailed report on the drive. Vince Thelander, chairman of the study committee and resident of Cave Creek wrote, "The idea for this report was conceived with the thought .. that it might serve as an inspiration to other communities to take ACTION IN THE PRESERVATION OF natural beauties in their areas ... this is truly an example of a community doing things for itself with a minimum of government assistance."

Maricopa County followed up by establishing setbacks along the roads and putting up concrete slab markers (referred to as "monuments") with iron letters at each end of the drive. (see Historic Photographs ). For additional information see Maricopa County Planning Report.

"Plant Parents" Care for Drive

Over the years, the signs and plants were maintained by volunteers called plant parents. The volunteers including resident families, local Boy Scouts troops and school children. The Cave Creek Improvement Association, under the leadership of Jo Walker, assumed responsibility for the drive representing its interests before planning commission meetings related to new development. Note that most of the plant signs are on private property and not the responsibility of any government. For more information on CCIA and their efforts see Background Information.

The Drive in Decline

In the mid-1980s the area around the Cave Creek Road part of the drive was annexed by Phoenix; and the Scottsdale Road portion of the drive was annexed by Scottsdale. Not everybody that lived in the effected areas favored the annexations. Interest in the drive, which had been under the jurisdiction of Maricopa County and supported heavily by the residents of Cave Creek/Carefree, waned. New arrivals knew little of the drive's traditions. Most people didn't know who was responsible for maintaining the drive. Time passed. Plants died. Plant identification signs disappeared. But for the most part, the spirit of the drive and its setbacks were respected but not without effort. For more information on this period, see Paving the Way to Ruin.

Friends to the Rescue

In 1994 an informal group of residents, the Foothills Drive Homeowners Coalition, organized to oppose a proposed commercial development at the intersection of Scottsdale Road and Dynamite Road. A member of the group, Les Conklin, was concerned about the decline of the drive and organized a restoration effort. By restoring and promoting the drive, organizers sought to preserve the area's heritage and have a positive impact on future development. The vision was that the drive could provide a common theme - respect for desert character - that could influence the future of the entire 6 mile length of the drive. Encouraged by indications of support from Dick Bowers, Scottsdale City Manager, and then mayor, Herb Drinkwater, the restoration was completed and a relationship was fostered with the City of Scottsdale. In 1996 the group incorporated as Friends of the Scenic Drive with the primary mission of preserving and enhancing the drive.

On February 17, 1997, Friends re-submitted its application for non-profit status to the IRS with an expanded description of its activities. This document provides information on the group's activities and plans at that time. [Read More].

For a brief review of what Friends has done see What We've Done
For a blow-by-blow account based on newspaper headlines visit our Library.