At first glance, you’d think Mesa Arizona is a relatively new, modern suburban city like so many that have sprouted up in the Southwest after World War II. In fact, Mesa is actually one of the oldest cities in the United States. As early as 300 BC, the Hohokam tribe – which, unfortunately, means “all used up” – set down roots and over the centuries built an amazing community which was quite modern for its day.
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According to the 2020 census, Mesa is the third most populous city in Arizona with over 500,000 residents and has all the amenities you expect to find in an affluent, sun-drenched Arizona community. Mesa rightfully boasts of its stunning views of the Superstition Mountains and its lovely desert landscape. Read More...
Things to do in Mesa (there are a lot of them)
There is certainly no shortage of things to do in Mesa, quite the opposite. There are so many options for indoor and outdoor entertainment, many folks have a hard time deciding. A good starting point might be the Superstition Springs Center shopping mall that is the go-to place for locals. Not only does it have a large selection of retail outlets, but it also features a double-decker carousel to keep the kids – and parents – happy.
If the performing arts are more to your liking, there’s the Mesa Arts Center. This massive entertainment and performing arts venue is 210,000 SqFt in size. You can see hit Broadway shows, world renowned dance companies, and much more.
One of the area’s favorites is the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum. Like the Washington D.C.’s Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, you can see children and adults alike looking on in amazement at these historic aircrafts. You can even experience what it was like piloting a World War II era fighter and torpedo bomber. It doesn’t get any cooler than that.
If the great outdoors is your preference, there’s the close by Usery Mountain Regional Park to keep you sweaty. It features 29-miles of trails, 73 camping sites all in 3,648 acres of natural beauty. And speaking of parks, there are over 200 of them inside Mesa itself.
Another popular activity is taking a boat cruise on Saguaro Lake aboard the Desert Belle, where you can hop on a two story riverboat and enjoy a 90-minute ride in – and this is important – an air conditioned environment.
Native-American Ruins and Baseball
Before Mesa became the large suburban city that we know today, it was equally impressive well before the first Europeans set foot in North America. Between 1100 AD and 1400 AD, the Hohokam tribe built a really sophisticated mini-metropolis in what is Mesa today.
While at first glance the ruins don’t look like much, once you realize that under the small dirt hill lies a massive ceremonial mound. Adobe walkways, platforms, and houses for the 2,000 residents are also sprinkled around the area.
But what’s really amazing is the 500 miles of canals that once meandered throughout the area, some 100 feet wide and 12 feet deep. If this canal was working today, it would give California’s massive aqueduct system a run for its money.
There’s even a reproduction of an ancient ballcourt there. The game, as far as anyone can figure out, was played with a rubber ball. There are two large posts at each end of the court which were probably goalposts of some sort.
Carrying on Mesa’s tradition of ball games, we need to fast-forward to the early 20th century when Mesa was the home of the Cactus League where some of the greatest baseball players once swung their bats. Those included greats such as Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Willie McCovey, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.
Hollywood Comes Calling
When people think of Mesa, Arizona, it's unlikely that they associate it with Hollywood movie stars, or the words “lights, camera, action…”. Well, they should because there was a time when Mesa was packed with Hollywood film crews and long forgotten movie idols.
As far back as 1933, Paramount Pictures filmed “To the Last Man” starring Randolph Scott in Mesa. The all-but-forgotten 1940 “The Texas Rangers Ride Again” was also shot in Mesa, Arizona – not Texas – as were a number of other Westerns.
During World War II, Mesa was used as the backdrop to several war-themed movies including “Thunderbirds: Soldiers of the Air” and a Nazi spy thriller starring Veronica Lake called “The Hour Before the Dawn.”
Remnants from those days are hard to find today in Mesa, but if you go to an online “vintage movies” website you might run across some of the very forgettable Westerns and World War II era movies.
Real Estate in Mesa Arizona
If you are thinking of putting down roots in Mesa, here’s the lay of the land. Home prices in Mesa are a bit less expensive than you find in some of the close-by towns like Scottsdale, Chandler, and Gilbert. They are slightly above the national median average. That’s pretty good for living in such a nice area.
In the upper end of the market, you will find some really beautiful homes, but you’ll have to pay a lot for them. For example, you can buy a 5-bedroom, 8-bathroom house with all the cool stuff you’d expect in a pricey place.
Mesa has hundreds of homes on the market today. That’s a lot, and that's why you need local, professional expertise to help you sift out the right home. At Arizona Network Realty our local agents and network of Preferred Referral Agents are expanding across the entire state so you get the local, real estate expertise you deserve and expect.
We are honored to help you with all your real estate needs and look forward to speaking with you when you're ready to make your Mesa move. Whether buying or selling give us a call today, you'll be glad you did.
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