About the Community of McCormick Ranch
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McCormick Ranch, Scottsdale, Arizona is considered by many to be one of the largest planned community developments in the country, McCormick Ranch is a model for mixed-use development. Encompassing approximately seven square miles of prime real estate in the heart of Scottsdale, Arizona.
McCormick Ranch was once the site of one of Scottsdale’s last big Arabian horse ranches.
Flattered by a just-right hint of California décor and design ambience, the homes in McCormick Ranch boast lush grass, tall towering trees and mature shrubbery. Styles range from beautiful single-family homes to luxury estates to gorgeous waterfront properties nestled next to one of the seven man-made lakes scattered throughout the community.
In addition, McCormick Ranch is home to golf course villas, townhomes, condominiums and patio homes…in other words, truly something for everyone and every lifestyle.
Winding alongside luxuriant greenbelts, some 25 miles of bicycle paths are a much-loved part of McCormick Ranch, so taking a leisurely ride, walk or stroll through the community is always a pleasure. If fishing is what tickles your fancy, no problem – Camelback Lake is stocked for fishing and sailing is permitted on both Camelback Lake and Lake Margherite. A number of homes snuggled around these lakes even enjoy boat docks, and it’s important to note that the lakes and greenbelt are not just for show – they’re also designed as part of the community’s water drainage system.
Golfers love McCormick Ranch because it has two 18-hole golf courses that mirror the landscape of many of the community’s homes – lush tree-lined fairways and a wealth of emerald-green grass. Both courses were designed by Desmond Muirhead and as its name implies, the Palm Course is graced with lots of soaring palm trees. This show-off course has ten water holes and the expert’s advice for the signature hole, number nine, is simple: A long iron fairway wood is your best choice, since a hard-hit drive will run you right through the island fairway. Meanwhile, the Pine Course is host to numerous mature pine trees that remind many residents of the Midwest.
Background Information
Its history begins in 1942, when the land was owned by Merle Chaney. This ranch, the largest ranch in the City of Scottsdale (160 acres), was sold not long afterward to the McCormick family (specifically that of Harold Fowler McCormick, Jr., a prominent Chicagoan and son of Harold Fowler McCormick, chairman of International Harvester; the elder Harold was the son of noted 19th-century American inventor Cyrus McCormick, whose mechanical reaper was the basis of the International Harvester empire). The McCormick’s had also purchased large amounts of land adjacent to the original purchase from Merle Chaney. The ranch was primarily used as a winter home by the McCormick’s, as they admired the warmer climate.
Anne McCormick (wife of Harold Jr.) was the primary overseer of the ranch’s operation, and spent a lot of time at the ranch. She was also responsible for bringing Arabian horses to Scottsdale (today, one of McCormick Ranch’s major arteries is named Arabian Trail).
Upon Anne McCormick’s death, a portion of the McCormick’s land, about 4,236 acres (17.14 km2), was sold to Kaiser-Aetna in the summer of 1970. The total purchase price was just over 12 million dollars, or 5 cents per square foot. Kaiser-Aetna then hired Richard F. Boultinghouse to plan a residential community on the land. The community was then developed in a series of phases, including several parks and man-made lakes.
McCormick Ranch Demographics
Today, the median home price for a home in McCormick Ranch (about 2,500 sf) is about $475,000.
Information about McCormick Ranch courtesy of Wikipedia.
