Founded in the 1950s, Carefree is one of the earliest planned communities in Arizona. Founders were inspired by the desert’s true beauty to create one of the most exclusive and prominent resorts in the country. They were also committed to preserving the natural beauty of the desert. While the integrity of their desert habitat was important, Darlington and Palmer also desired close proximity to the developed Phoenix metropolitan area. They counted on and received a northward extension of Scottsdale Road, which would connect with Cave Creek Road and run by their 2,200 acres of land making home sales easier.

Today, Carefree covers 8.5 square miles and is bordered by the spectacular Tonto National Forest to the north and east, and the untouched beauty of the Sonoran Desert to the south. It is a perfect spot to revel in the Western style of life at an elevation of 2,500 feet. Tourism is the largest contributor to the area economy. The area’s man-made attractions include the many unique homes perched on the mountainside; an eclectic assortment of shops and restaurants; and, the Carefree Sundial, which sits in the middle of the downtown business section. The Sundial is 90 feet in diameter and stands 35 feet above the plaza then extends an additional 72 feet. It is made with a steel frame and covered in anodized copper. Not only does it tell time, it also helps in the heating of water used in the nearby Darlington-Palmer Building.

Carefree offers a diversity of cultural interests and recreational activities - everything from the Music by Moonlight concerts to the Desert Foothills Community Theater. The Carefree Fine Art and Wine and Rose Festival are favorite annual events. The Los Portales Mall offers two levels of outdoor shopping. Bartlett Lake, located 48 miles from downtown Phoenix and 17 miles east of Carefree, is ideal for boating and fishing. Cave Creek Mistress Mine, located approximately 10 miles northeast of Carefree, Tonto Hills and Taliesin West, the Arizona home and architectural school of famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright are also popular attractions.

Of course, golf is one of the area’s most popular pursuits with dozens of local courses available to residents and visitors alike. There are also numerous tennis clubs in the area.

The art galleries, cultural events, unique shops and restaurants, as well as the rugged landscape and careful preservation of the desert, are all part of the allure of Carefree. Close to big-city amenities, but gracefully distanced from the hustle and bustle of the big city, Carefree is a wistful, charming upscale resort community.