There may be no better road house – cowboy centric or otherwise – than the watering hole in north Scottsdale known as Greasewood Flat.
And after “losing” Rawhide, as well as a public relations battle with the spunky Town of Cave Creek about which community is more chaps than chatter, the thought of a sunset for the most western bar in the “West’s Most Western Town” is downright depressing.
But just as sunsets always yield to sunrises so too may be the case for the beloved Greasewood.
No matter who came up with the idea of expanding the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in such a way that enriches Scottsdale’s greatest achievement along with providing breathing room for a family that was forced to sell Greasewood Flat in order to pay estate taxes, it’s worth a “cheers” or three.
There once was an author who wrote a book called the “Great, Good Place.” It was an attempt to analyze the how’s and why’s of places that are wonderful, just because they are, like Greaswood Flat. Down the driveway, under enormous trees, with a conglomeration of bar, picnic tables, animals and music that for whatever reason creates this wonderful zoo of people, a wonderful sense of place.
But even if this municipal creativity hits a roadblock a Plan B might be available too, courtesy of the private sector. If the family is forced to sell word on the street is that at least responsible bidder on the land is prepared to save the beloved bar, as other parts of the property are redeveloped.
We can’t think of a better reason for a “Happy Hour” in Scottsdale if either one of these scenarios to aid the preservation of Greaswood Flat comes to pass.