LuxuryDesertHideaways

One of the first homes all visitors spot as they approach Carefree from the south is imposing Boulder Reign, located in exclusive Carefree Grandview Estates, on the south slopes of Black Mountain. Scroll down to see the epic scence from the MGM film Zabriskie Point, when this house blows up! (a model of course)

This home had a helicopter landing pad that was used for years, until the Town of Carefree banned helicopter landings within city limits, except in an emergency. On the rocks below, the director of the movie "Zabriskie Point" built a large replica of the home, which was blown-up at the end of the movie. Scorch marks are still on the rocks! The location was also used in a Bob Hope movie, also filmed in the area were "Flirting with Disaster", "Electra Glide in Blue" and nearby Cave Creek featured "The Getaway"

Boulder reign blowing up in Zabriskie Point

Epic finale from the MGM 1970's film Zabriskie Point, when Boulder Reign was blown up. Much of the picture was filmed in Carefree and centered in the Boulder Reign house above. The movie never made much money but had a lot of beautiful desert scenes in addition to promoting the young town.
For a story on the Carefree Studios and a list of the major movies done in the area, check out the Carefree Times Blog this month at:
http://carefreetimes.com/oct2010.html

Photo Credit: MGM Studios, Zabriskie Point, from Director Michelangelo Antonioni

One of the most extraordinary homes in Carefree was one of the first. The two founders of Carefree, Tom Darlington and K.T. Palmer had almost any choice of homesites in the new village. K.T. Palmer chose this one, bridging a wash between rock outcroppings on the east flanks of Black Mountain. The home is on Stagecoach Pass. It was later rented out occasionally to director, actor Orson Wells.

About a quarter mile to the north of K.T. Palmer's home, Tom Darlington chose to build on this fortress-like rock. The home even has a wine cellar down in the rocks!