Anne
and Fowler McCormick (grandson of John D. Rockefeller)
began to assemble the vast McCormick Ranch parcels
of land between 1942 and 1954. At the time of Anne's
death in 1969, the ranch covered nearly 7 square
miles. Within the 4,236 acres were over 640 acres
of irrigated land, plus water tanks for livestock
and wildlife. The ranch was also used for raising
the finest purebred Arabian horses and Angus cattle.
The McCormick Ranch horse operations were located
at Scottsdale Road and Northern Ave., where the
main entrance to McCormick Ranch housing development
is today.
Gauche,
Rona and Solay
The
McCormick's main living area was located on the
northeast corner of Scottsdale and Indian Bend Roads.
Also owned by the McCormick's was an 160 acre ranch,
which was originally built by the Jolly family in
1921, and was eventually purchased by Merle Cheney
in 1943. Just south, across Indian Bend Road (where
the park now exists) were alfalfa fields and the
ranch bunkhouse, used as guest quarters for family
members and visitors. This area served as the main
kitchen and dining area for family activities. The
bunkhouse, dating from before the McCormick Ranch
era, is the only structure left on the original
ranch.
Anne
and Fowler McCormick (grandson of John D. Rockefeller)
began to assemble the vast McCormick Ranch parcels
of land between 1942 and 1954. At the time of Anne's
death in 1969, the ranch covered nearly 7 square
miles. Within the 4,236 acres were over 640 acres
of irrigated land, plus water tanks for livestock
and wildlife. The ranch was also used for raising
the finest purebred Arabian horses and Angus cattle.
The McCormick Ranch horse operations were located
at Scottsdale Road and Northern Ave., where the
main entrance to McCormick Ranch housing development
is today. 