South Mountain Phoenix is one of those places that fits right in to most people's classic image of the desert Southwest. You can almost feel the times when hard scrabble pioneers built farms and ranches next to the Salt River and brought the desert to life, alongside their Mexican and Native American neighbors. If you’re moving to the greater Phoenix metro this is one area that you don’t want to overlook. South Mountain is not yet on the radar of most real estate agents, but those who are paying attention to what’s going on in Phoenix real estate know that this area is ready to bust wide open. One of the reasons is the unique vibe and history of this part of the valley, different than the sprawling communities that have been built in recent ears north and west of Phoenix. South Mountain, or SoMo for short, was one of the first areas settled in the Valley of the Sun and in many ways still retains an Old West vibe. This is not the cowboys and Indians old west, but one of farmers and traders who were the first to bring commerce to this desert outpost that is now the twelfth largest metropolitan area in the United States.
Before the 1970s, SoMo was strictly an African American and Latino area. And until the 1990s, the area was sorely neglected and became a very undesirable part of the city. Now however, with all the growth in the valley, SoMo is on the rise and people are realizing the benefits of living in this area close to downtown, but with a rural feel. As with all of Phoenix, demographics are changing and much of South Mountain is now a healthy mix of diverse races and nationalities, and socioeconomic classes, which makes this neighborhood feel alive.
One of the best things about South Mountain is the farmland. Particularly, in the areas between Baseline Road and Southern Avenue you will pass miles of farms and nurseries growing flowers, trees, lettuce and vegetables for the Phoenix area and beyond. It is a unique feeling in the desert to be surrounded by vibrant farms. One in particular, simply known as The Farm, has opened several onsite restaurants serving organic food and offering several acres of tree-studded picnic area for the public. Thanks to South Mountain, Phoenix has a growing locavore movement that at this point is still getting the word out to the rest of the valley. Unlike many cities, here you can get in on the ground floor of a growing movement.
The namesake mountain looms as the southern border of this neighborhood. This long and low desert mountain is encompassed by South Mountain Park, which is now the largest urban park in the United States. The park was created back in 1924 with land bought from the Calvin Coolidge administration, long before saving public lands was popular. Along with over fifty miles of hiking, jogging and multi-use trails, the view from the one thousand foot high overlook area takes in the city of Phoenix and the open desert beyond. There is a loop road through the park and plenty of picnic tables too. The park also has some quirky Phoenix-style history for visitors to take in. There’s the Mystery Castle, built by an eclectic settler using found items (which is now regaining popularity as an art form!) and at the entrance to the park is the Scorpion Gulch Store. This historic site, built from the surrounding rocks, was an iconic curio shop and store, with a great name, that is now part of Phoenix lore.
The northern edge of SoMo has a healthy business/office park area. Many small businesses are thriving here, which may be contributing to the growth of the area. In addition, major companies such as the University of Phoenix and SuperShuttle have corporate offices in this area.
There are several elementary and middle schools, as well as the local South Mountain High School. In addition, South Mountain Community College is in the heart of this neighborhood and not only offers degree education, but cultural activities for the community including art and theater performances.
South Mountain is dotted with shopping centers for all the daily conveniences along with chain stores and restaurants. The area is also dotted with plenty of locally owned and one-off shops and restaurants. In this area you can find your pick of flavors including, of course, authentic Mexican, Asian and simple hamburger joints or roadhouse-style joints. In addition, the huge Arizona Mills mall is close by with all the big box stores and a movie multiplex, including the area’s only IMAX screen.
Located in the heart of South Mountain is the Legacy Golf Resort. Legacy is on the site of a former cattle ranch and retains a Spanish mission-style atmosphere. The championship golf course, pool, and spa is often voted the number one golf resort in the Phoenix area. This area now also encompasses a gated residential community. The Phoenix Valley of the Sun encompasses a huge area in both Maricopa and Pinal counties, and much of the area around Phoenix has experienced rapid growth in the last three decades. This has meant urban sprawl of course. But, Phoenix South Mountain has been able to escape this kind of growth and maintains its rural feel and relaxed atmosphere. The looming South Mountain Park and the natural border with downtown formed by the Salt River may be the reason why. But, people are now discovering this special area and the natural spaces it has to offer. If you are looking for something unique in Phoenix, don’t miss out on SoMo.
