By Beth Duckett | The Arizona Republic
Sixty years ago, George “Doc” Cavalliere purchased more than 40 acres of raw desert east of Pinnacle Peak, in an area that is now part of north Scottsdale.
He and his wife ran the famous Reata Pass Steakhouse on the property until 1975, when they leased it to another operator.
At that time, Cavalliere decided to convert a nearby bunkhouse into a hideaway for friends.
Fast-forward 40 years, and Greasewood Flat is considered one of the last bastions of the Old West in Scottsdale.
Rusty equipment and farm wagons cover the sprawling grounds that draw a lively mix of bargoers and bikers to the bunkhouse turned saloon.
Cavalliere died in 2009 at age 92, passing on the businesses to his grandsons: Jacob, Justin and Joshua Johnson.
The property, southeast of Alma School Parkway and Pinnacle Vista Drive, has been on the market in large part because the family faces a hefty estate tax from the inheritance.
With the property up for sale, the Sonoran Desert next to Greasewood has become a prime target for housing, posing a threat to the acres that have been in the family for decades, said Hoyt Johnson III, whose three sons own the businesses.
At least one option has surfaced that may save the land.
If you’d like to discuss real estate matters, contact RLG founder Jordan Rose, jrose@roselawgroup.com
