Running the entire length of the city, the street most identified with Scottsdale is its namesake, Scottsdale Road. But, thanks to its character and heritage, by far the most interesting roadway is one that runs east and west through Southern Scottsdale: McDowell Road.
The short two-mile stretch of McDowell Road from 64th Street to almost the Loop 101 is the Southern Gateway to the city – so it makes sense that its reputation over the year has had a lot to do with transportation one way or another.
And, if recent events are an indicator, things along the McDowell Road Corridor are about to start rolling again.
In 1960 McDowell Road opened between the picturesque Papago Buttes, making it the primary route connecting Phoenix with the East Valley. That not only triggered increased retail activity and new development – it transformed McDowell Road into “The McDowell Road Corridor.”
Shortly after that, the first car dealership popped up on the Corridor at the prestigious corner of Scottsdale and McDowell Roads. Brand new Impalas, Novas, Cameros and Corvettes lined the lot of Ray Korte Chevrolet. It didn’t take long for other dealers to follow Korte’s lead. Eventually, 32 car dealerships populated the McDowell Road Corridor – the largest concentration of dealerships in one area in Arizona.
That distinction earned the western half of McDowell Road the nickname of the “Motor Mile.”
Just down the street to the east of the dealerships was the home of Scottsdale’s iconic “Ollie The Trolley.” There is no more recognizable vehicle traveling the streets of Scottsdale today than “Ollie,” the city’s unofficial ambassador to tourists and residents. The trolley’s bright red exterior and throwback design brings a smile to faces wherever it goes.
“Ollie” and his fleet of friends at Dunn Transportation have helped keep Southern Scottsdale’s transportation tradition alive and well for more than two decades.
In the 7800 block of McDowell Road and nestled on the north side of the street is Eldorado Park, the city’s first park, which was built in the 1960’s. On any given day at Eldorado Park, parents can be seen pushing baby strollers, while skaters glide down sidewalks and people of all ages on all types of bikes peddle through the park—the most courageous of them gathering at the Wedge.
Wedge Skate Park, a 20,000 square-foot skateboarders’ paradise, sits at the southern end of Eldorado Park next to McDowell Road. Wedge Skate Park provides a safe, teen-friendly atmosphere with everything a skateboard or bike enthusiast would want to test their skills and agility—curbs, bowls, boxes and a quarter-pipe, pyramid and rails.
Today, entrepreneurs, long-time residents and property owners are driving a new era of economic development on McDowell Road, bringing a new vibe to the area that will revitalize McDowell Road Corridor.