Harold’s Cave Creek Corral is located in Cave Creek, Arizona. Cave Creek was settled in 1870 by soldiers as an outpost from Fort McDowell which is some 30 plus miles away. In 1873, gold was found in the Bradshaw Mountains near the town. Cave Creek has changed over the years from a town of prospectors and builders of a local dam in the 1930’s to a hub for dude ranches. And now Cave Creek is an artist colony, a secluded place for desert living and a weekend hang out for bikers and families alike.
Johnny Walker opened the Corral Bar in 1935 to serve the workers who were building Bartlett Dam. Fifteen years later, in 1950, Harold Gavagan purchased the Corral Bar. It took on the flamboyant character of its new owner. With many farfetched stories and exaggerated yarns over the years, Harold’s became the local landmark and city center that it is today.
Harold’s Corral became Cave Creek’s original “Wild West Saloon and Restaurant”
The tall tales, with some truth to them, included anecdotes about caged tigers and lions in the backyard, patrons including celebrities making movies and some famous locals like Hugh Downs and Dick Van Dyke. More recently there have been visits by Cuba Gooding Jr., Dan Aykroyd and Steven Seagal
This western-flavored establishment has been built and rebuilt many times through the years, but some things remain. A piece of mahogany brought over from the Crystal Palace Saloon in Tombstone stands by the entrance. On the wall, there is picture of a naked lady with bullet holes and boots hang from the ceiling.
Long time Cave Creek Mayor Vincent Francia says “We all end up at Harold’s at some point. Sedona may have it vortexes, but Cave Creek has Harold’s and it’s the center of the universe.”
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