By Philip Haldiman | The Arizona Republic
Two Cave Creek residents hope to bring a unique residential development geared toward seasonal visitors, in particular horse owners, to the center of town.
Developer Mike Noonan has submitted a special-use permit application to the town, asking to allow for a recreational-vehicle park with horse boarding on a property owned by Western entertainer Collin “T.C.” Thorstenson.
The proposed RV park has been named O.K. Corral, after the famous location in Tombstone that hosted a gunfight involving Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.
The 5.5-acre lot is in the heart of Cave Creek’s historic core, 38020 N. Vermeersch Road.
Noonan said many RV parks do not allow seasonal visitors to board their horses on-site. The goal for O.K. Corral is to offer low-impact residential development for seasonal visitors, especially horse lovers, he said.
Statement by Adam Trenk, Rose Law Group equine law attorney and Councilman-elect: “This is a tremendous opportunity for Cave Creek. This low impact use can be a real boon for the town on an economic development front. The need for a hotel as a foundation for economic development has been brought up a number of times in this past election cycle, but the town cannot quickly attract that use and get it developed.
“This RV park, which as I understand it will operate like a KOA campground, not a trailer park, will host visitors and their horses in Cave Creek from all over the country to show case the beauty and appeal of our town’s amenities. These are visitors that will spend money in our local shops, dine in our restaurants, and help spread the word about all our community has to offer.”