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Think pink
Arizona Biltmore's builder, Arthur Chase McArthur, poured a hot-pink concrete sidewalk that ran two miles from the resort to a reservoir on one of the hillsides just south of the peak. Longtime Phoenician Ted Stratton, 52, remembers climbing the fence to the reservoir as a teenager to "make out on the pink sidewalk. It was great because there were palm trees," he says, "and the light would glow off the mountains." Portions of it still exist, safely guarded behind the gates of an exclusive community, although the reservoir was filled in years ago to make way for development.
Back when I was in high school we used to go to party at this place called the "Pink Sidewalk" which was east of 24th Street and Lincoln in the Phoenix Mountains. I think it was at the base of Squaw Peak which is now called Piestewa Peak. We would park on south side of Lincoln drive, and there was this pink side walk that was in the middle of the desert. The pink sidewalk then went north under Lincoln Drive up on to the side of the mountain, which I thought was Squaw Peak. Along the pink sidewalk on the mountain there was a large water reservoir or water tank which we used to go swimming in. At the Pink Sidewalk we did a few things which I am probably not allowed to mention per the terms of service at Tripod. I only went there at night, but being an untrusting sole that doesn't believe anything I took out my cigarette lighter to verify the color of the sidewalk and yes it was really a pink sidewalk.
I only heard the stories while attending Camelback HS back in the day. The Biltmore security jeep patrol would go after students that wanted to brag in school about their adventures on the Pink sidewalk. That res. was covered back then to avoid evap., keep people out and supply drinking water to Phx. I would imagine it is razor wired today.
Anyone remember the trail that lead from the Biltmore Hotel under what is now Lincoln Dr and up into Squaw Peak? It had a special name. What was it called? In HS we used to go up there to party until the security guards chased us off. Who led you on the trail, Lewis & Clark lol.gif The bat cave? The "Pink Sidewalk" It was an actual cement sidewalk that went up into the Squaw Peak area from the Biltmore. They used it to do western bbq's for the tourists. We used it to party.
Stephen As a Alhambra H.S. Grad, in the early 60's water skiing & tuibing in the SRP canals, Crusing Central Avenue and riding our dirt bikes on Wrigles "Pink Sidewalk" that he had placed trough the desert near Lincoln & 24th St. or the Desert Parties out at the flumes near the old Lake Pleasent .......And why did they call it Lake Pleasent?? but I diegress. My neighbor was the traffic guy for KNIX.. and the weather man on Channel 5 KPHO with Stu Tracey.. I wonder what ever happened to them?????
Does anyone remember the Pink Sidewalk (it ran kinda North from the Wrigley Mansion on the Biltmore Estates to a water facility back then. Now only a little of it exists North of Lincoln Drive - on private property. Be careful, I know you all.) Most of the grounds of the Biltmore have been redeveloped. How about Merriwether's or the 'Mews'? (which ones - 7th St or 40th St or . . . ?). And several other little oddities around town. Remind me of the names and locations of any you remember and I'll put together a map with all of them on it - and what may have become of them too.
Gerard HS! Now there is a name I haven't heard in a while... Gerard High School was a Catholic High School in Phoenix. I think it was on 44th Street, near McDowell Road. I think it was sold to developers and razed. If you went to St. Thomas and Camelback way back then, do you remember the "Pink Sidewalk" north of Lincoln and the Biltmore? A typical day when we were kids was to ride up 32nd St. to where it ended right at the canal, hang out at Shiprock for a while, cut down to the canal to the Biltmore, and ride on the Pink Sidewalk if we didn't caught by Biltmore Security. We did the loop CCW because it had a better decent. And yes, I got a Ladmo bag around spring of '72 or thereabouts. |
Very close to the Pink Sidewalk but on the south side of Lincoln, which turns into Glendale Avenue, and to the west of 24 Street is a large city of Phoenix water treatment plant.
I don't think that city of Phoenix water treatment plant had anything to do with the water reservoir which was on the Pink Side Walk