Desert Dreams
Community Rallies to Save Carefree’s Last Wild Acres
Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Loralei Lazurek
The family of quail appeared like clockwork that morning, crossing Cave Creek Road in perfect formation — the father leading, six chicks trailing like marbles, the mother bringing up the rear. For Wendy Mattes, who drives this route twice daily, it was a moment of clarity that would change everything.
“Watching them, I wondered: What will become of these quail and all the other creatures that pass through or call this place home if the land is developed?” Mattes recalls. “That was when it really hit me.”
That moment of revelation has sparked one of the most ambitious conservation efforts in Carefree’s history — a race against time to preserve the town’s last remaining portion of accessible Sonoran Desert before it falls to developers’ blades.
The land in question represents something increasingly rare in Arizona’s rapidly developing landscape: 48 contiguous acres of untouched desert, bounded by Cave Creek Road, Mule Train Road, Stagecoach Pass and an extension of Windmill Road. To the casual observer driving by, it might appear unremarkable. But step onto the property, and its true character emerges.
“We once tried to count the saguaros and stopped after reaching 250 mature, old-growth cacti,” Mattes explains. “You’ll also find staghorn, crucifixion thorn, and ocotillo. That’s one of the main reasons many of us moved here — because the untouched Sonoran Desert is simply stunning.”
The terrain is far more complex than it first appears.
“While driving by, you don’t get a real sense of the land’s topography; it appears flat from the road,” Mattes notes. “But when you’re out hiking, you discover little arroyos and a large wash running east to west along Stagecoach Pass. The terrain is diverse — perfect for a hike that isn’t too strenuous but still far from flat.”
This ecological richness extends beyond flora to encompass the full spectrum of Sonoran Desert wildlife. Game cameras have captured bobcat families, coyotes and javelinas moving through what has become a vital wildlife corridor in an increasingly fragmented landscape.
But perhaps most remarkable is what lies beneath the desert floor — or rather, what crosses it. A preserved section of the Stoneman Road Military Trail, established in 1870 by Col. George Stoneman, winds through the property. This 155-year-old route, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, once connected Fort McDowell to Fort Whipple, cutting a dangerous 170-mile journey to just 98 miles.
The land’s beauty and history mean little to the Arizona State Land Department, whose constitutional mandate requires selling trust lands to the highest bidder. Recent appraisals value the property at about $7 million — money earmarked for Arizona’s public schools.
“We’re just a single phone call away from a developer deciding this is a prime parcel to build on,” Mattes warns. “That’s why there is such a sense of urgency — we need to accelerate our fundraising to submit our application as soon as possible.”
The threat is immediate and tangible. Development surrounds the parcel on nearly all sides, with 35 acres adjacent to the property slated to become 31 homes soon. Plans for about 2,000 homes near Cave Creek and Pima Road in Scottsdale loom on the horizon.
“Little by little, urban sprawl continues to expand northward, making this truly the last sizable piece of accessible land,” Mattes observes.
The urgency becomes even more pronounced when considering the current zoning allows for approximately 32 homes on the property. According to local water department calculations, such development would consume more than 4 million gallons of water annually — a staggering figure in a region where water conservation has become critical.
Mayor John Crane understands the mathematics of the situation all too well. With Carefree’s annual operating budget roughly equivalent to the land’s appraised value, a municipal purchase isn’t realistic. Instead, he offers what the town can: moral support, venue space for fundraisers and his personal endorsement of the grassroots effort.
“My hat is off to people who don’t look to government to solve every problem but roll up their sleeves and try to solve it themselves,” Crane says.
The mayor, who served on the Desert Foothills Land Trust board for a decade, sees clear community benefits beyond conservation. Preserving the land would mean less municipal infrastructure to support, dramatically reduced water consumption and enhanced property values.
“A preserved park with modest improvements would still require some water — for restrooms and maybe a drinking fountain — but far less than if homes were developed there,” Crane explains.
What began as one woman’s morning revelation has grown into a diverse coalition spanning municipal government, state agencies, community groups and individual donors. The momentum builds on solid community sentiment — during Carefree’s recent general plan update, about 89% of survey respondents identified open space conservation as the town’s top priority.
Arizona State Parks Executive Director Bob Broscheid recognizes the project’s alignment with statewide conservation goals.
“Finding the right balance between conservation and access for the public is critical, and we work with partners statewide to help identify needs and resources to help,” Broscheid states.
Local resident Jaye Perricone, who moved to Carefree in 2002, speaks for many long-time residents watching open space disappear.
“It has been disappointing to witness so much of the open space disappear and be replaced by development,” Perricone observes. “We now have a unique opportunity to provide not only Carefree residents, but also those living in nearby areas, with a safe, open desert space to hike, visit, and enjoy for many years to come.”
Even the community’s youngest voices have joined the effort, creating artwork and posters supporting the campaign — evidence that this vision truly spans generations. The support also extends beyond Carefree’s borders. Early donations included contributions from Scottsdale residents who simply love the Sonoran Desert and want to see it preserved. Community groups such as the Desert Mountain Desperados also have rallied to the cause.
“The Desperados are pleased to support Carefree Park’s preservation efforts,” a representative from the cultural and conservation group said in a statement. “Natural open space cannot be recaptured. Once lands are developed, the loss is forever. Future generations will applaud what we preserve today.”
Carefree Park’s strategy reflects both urgency and prudence. The organization has raised approximately $1.2 million in donations and pledges while identifying an additional $1.5 million in potential grant funding.
“Because the land can only be acquired through a public auction, we are primarily asking for pledges,” Mattes explains. “If we are the successful bidders, pledges will need to be fulfilled within 30 days. If we are not, the forms are simply returned and donors lose nothing.”
Those interested in supporting the effort can find pledge forms on the Carefree Park website. The organization is also planning fall fundraising events that will take small groups hiking on the land to experience firsthand what they’re working to preserve.
“We want people to really see and feel what this place is,” Mattes says. “More information about these guided hikes will be posted on our website as details are finalized.”
The park’s ultimate vision remains deliberately modest: a 4-mile loop trail system following the land’s natural contours, minimal parking, a restroom, picnic ramada and benches. No intensive recreational facilities, no manicured landscapes — just preserved desert accessible to all.
“We’re not talking about turf, playgrounds, pickleball or barbecue areas,” Mattes clarifies. “Our goal is to acquire the land and preserve it with minimal impact to the landscape. We’re thinking not just five or 10 years into the future, but a hundred years from now. Our legacy will be saving this beautiful piece of land for residents and visitors to enjoy in perpetuity.”
However, the specter of development hangs over every fundraising event and pledge drive. A single call to the Arizona State Land Department could trigger the auction process, potentially catching the nonprofit unprepared. This reality adds weight to every donor conversation and urgency to every community presentation.
Yet this same urgency has galvanized support in ways that might not have occurred under different circumstances. The “last chance” nature of the opportunity has motivated donors who might otherwise have waited, volunteers who might otherwise have remained on the sidelines and officials who might otherwise have offered only polite support.
In a region where development pressure seems unstoppable, Carefree Park represents something increasingly rare: a community choosing preservation over profit, legacy over immediate gain. Whether they succeed depends on rallying enough support before that inevitable phone call triggers the auction process.
The quail still cross Cave Creek Road each morning, oblivious to the human drama surrounding their habitat. Their daily journey — and that of countless other desert creatures — hangs in the balance of a community’s commitment to its natural heritage.
