A Short History of Cave Creek   

• Cave Creek first attracted attention because of it's flowing stream as early as 850 AD, when Hohokam and other groups of Indians called the area home. When gold was discovered nearby, in the 1860's, settlers moved in to stake their claims.  A Phoenix businessman, William B. Hellings decided to build a road to Cave Creek, and join up with an army road that had been put in from Prescott, to ferry supplies between the forts.  Today, Cave Creek Road follows most of that original path.  Cave Creek Station was the first permanent settlement, constructed in 1877.  Gold was discovered in the 1870's and a number of mines were being worked in the area. Travelers to the area also enjoyed nearby springs providing a nice stopping off point.  If they were to come back today, they would still see one of the stagecoach stops,  Harold's Corral,  doing a booming business . Back then, and over the years, the saloon was filled with a host of characters. The Carefree-Cave Creek Foothills History book recalls that one of the favorite summer pastimes at Harold's was to see who could sit on a 200-lb block of ice the longest!  After incorporation, the Town of Cave Creek attracted a number of distinctive shops and stores, in addition to popular coffee and wine bars, and  became a new cult favorite.  Movie crews have always enjoyed the charming town, winding around the base of Black Mountain, and Cave Creek has become a favorite weekend short drive for Phoenicians, anxious for a taste of the country, close to home. When the weather's good, expect to see hundreds of tricked-out motorcycles coming up to Cave Creek.