History of Turf Paradise

In 1954 Phoenix businessman Walter Cluer, purchased  1,400 acres of barren desert at what is now Bell Road and 19th Avenue.  Cluer a successful millwork founder and manufacturer, was also a horse owner.  Although Cluer’s education consisted only of an eighth grade diploma, he had a passion to make a personal dream a reality: Building a first-class race track in Phoenix.

The new millennium provided Turf Paradise with a new owner in Jerry Simms.  The self-made multi-millionaire purchased Turf Paradise on June 16, 2000 for $53 million.  Mixing business acumen and savvy entrepreneurship, Simms Midas-touched modest investments in automobile dealerships, residential and commercial real estate ventures and banking in southern California, into a fortune.  

Now...

Simms ushered his track into 2004 on healthy financial footing. Purchasing property at the busy 19^th Avenue and Bell Road intersection adjacent to the race track, Simms made astute use of land for commercial development while enhancing the racing operation.

Location

Located 18 miles north of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; 14 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix; approximately 9 miles east of Sun City; a short drive from Scottsdale and the East Valley region.  Just East of I-17 on Bell Road to 15th Avenue.