Famous for having one of the world’s tallest fountains, up to 560 feet, and the stunning backdrop of the McDowell Mountain Regional Park to the north, the town of Fountain Hills has managed to preserve another of its natural assets, its dark sky.
Located just to the east of it’s more famous neighbor Scottsdale, the town was designated as an International Dark Sky Community in 2018, currently one of only 30 such communities in the world. Interestingly, six of those 30 are in Arizona!
Fountain Hills is a prosperous part of metropolitan Phoenix; popular with retirees, the town has a population of around 25,000…although that drops in the summer when many residents leave central Arizona for cooler climes! This is a safe, quiet community with easy access to Scottsdale if you are looking for more things to do. If you like small towns this is a location to consider!
The town is rated as one of the safest communities in Maricopa County; even though it is popular with retirees, it is a great place to raise a family. The Fountain Hills Unified School District draws students from the town, as well as nearby Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, and parents from elsewhere who prefer what the FHUSD calls a “safe, intimate environment.” The world-famous Mayo Clinic hospital is less than 30 minutes drive, and a new hospital – The Fountain Hills Medical Center – opens in early 2021.
As with all communities in and around Phoenix and the East Valley, residents enjoy close proximity to world-class hiking and mountain bike trails, fantastic parks and community amenities.
If you enjoy a round or six of golf, the area is home to the highest concentration of world-class golf courses in Arizona. The Sonoran Desert Golf Trail are six of Arizona’s finest public 18-hole courses surrounded by the beautiful McDowell Mountains and the Tonto National Forest.
The town holds spectacular events throughout the year from art and wine festivals, to live music, to cultural celebrations. Check out Fountain Hills Live for all the details.
If you want to get away, or need to travel for work, it’s an easy 30-40 minute drive to either PHX Sky Harbor International, PHX Mesa Gateway Airport, or Scottsdale Airpark. The town’s location on the east side of Phoenix means that you can access Payson and the spectacular Mogollon Rim country in a little more than an hour. It’s perfect for a quick, cooler weather getaway in the summer! In fact, many residents have summer homes in the White Mountains, just 150 miles north east in a car, but at 7,000 feet in elevation.
This is a fairly affluent community, and most residences are single family homes of varying sizes, from the more typical suburban homes, to large multi-million-dollar custom homes that take advantage of the scenic vistas surrounding this beautiful mountain community.
Check out our Fountain Hills listings below and give the Donnelly Group a call at 480-792-9700 if you would like to tour the area with us.
