Arcosanti

Love this brutalist colony in the middle of the desert landscape. The architecture is beautiful and surreal, almost eerie to see people still living in an academic and cultural community. We stayed about 3 nights in one of the rooms in Sept 2021. I recommend taking a trip out for a guided tour but not staying over night. We didn’t have an air conditioner so it was unbearably hot… some long term visitors did have air conditioners but they were staying there for months. We asked in advance to see if we can get a room with an AC, but nothing could be arranged at the time. There isn’t much around other than some fast food chains and it’s in a remote area so you have to drive out to get some food and necessities. Even though the foundation welcomes people to take tours and learn about the significance of the architectural and sociological movement, we didn’t get a sense of hospitality from the residents. Maybe it’s because they had families with little children around who were being exposed to strangers everyday. Regardless, I highly recommend taking a guided tour to learn about Arcosanti.

Really unique place with a lot of interesting history to learn about. We only had time to stop and get some food and drinks at the cafe but we want to come back to stay and do a tour next time. So it's still worth it just for a quick stop.

Beautiful setting and interesting architecture! Try to go on a day when casting bells. Cafe on site for a snack. Bring water, preferably in a reusable container.

Interesting place to say the least. If you're on a motorcycle be prepared for a mile and a half of not so good dirt road. It's doable but it will rattle stuff off if you get in a hurry.

This was a very cool place to visit. The architecture is so interesting, and I enjoyed learning how the intentional community functions. We friend and I did not stay the night here, but we did go on the guided tour. Our tour guide was great and patiently answered the questions asked by the Boomers from Orange County California. The tour guide was so knowledgeable because she was a resident of Arcosanti! This place is out in the middle of the desert, so I bet it's quiet at night and the sky is just full of stars.

This is where my son brought me while I was staying in Arizona. I think I should have looked into Arcosanti before coming. But I came here without knowing anything, and the unique architecture of Arcosanti was impressive. We came in four, but there was no one else. We walked around the building from where we could enter and arrived at the gift shop. What caught my eye was Bell, all of which had good tones. I regret that I should have bought one. Handmade items are displayed and available for purchase. I also found a cafe, but there was no one there, so I just peeked inside. After that, there was a trail outside the building, and the four of us walked. The view of Arocosanti from there was indescribable. If I have a chance to come back again, I want to buy that handmade bell and relax at the cafe.

Arcosanti is absolutely stunning! We stayed in the guest room for one night and didn’t want to leave. Wandering through the building feels so calming and uplifting, like you can leave all your worries behind.

Pros: 1) Scenic views 2) Awesome handcrafted chess board 3) chai latte wasn’t bad Cons: 1) seems like a pseudo cult 2) so many areas are restricted 3) background music and loud chimes 2 stars

The tour is great. I wasn't sure what to expect, the vision for this community is amazing, it's a shame it couldn't be brought to full fruition. Our tour guide was funny and informative.

Very dated. Needs renovation, at least a good cleaning and modernization. Love the bells they sell and the gallery is good, but kind of creepy from the outside and inside, as well.

Was it neat? Yes. But we couldn't bring ourselves to pay $22 a person to get a guided tour. It didn't seam THAT neat. You can walk in a few places without paying, but not on the grounds. The driveway up there is very long and is a muddy/bumpy road. It was basically a micro hippy vibes "village".

We've been visiting Arcosanti several times and it never disappointed us. It is renowned for its iconic structures, and has been ingeniously designed for versatility, ensuring its value extends to facilitating a myriad of performances, workshops, and cultural events held throughout the year. 1. Location and Visit Duration: Conveniently situated between Phoenix and Sedona, our visit to Arcosanti required a travel time of approximately 2 to 3 hours. Stopping by during your journey is recommended, as a brief tour can truly enhance your experience. However, due to its location, embarking on a dedicated trip might not be the most optimal choice. 2. Accessibility Considerations (NO elevator!): It's important to acknowledge that Arcosanti might pose accessibility challenges for those with mobility limitations or families with young children. The first time we went there with a stroller and it was not convenient. The rough and dirt-laden road leading to the site necessitated a car cleaning after our visit. 3. Café and Selections: While the café's menu has the potential to offer a wider range, our experience was characterized by limitations in terms of available items and timing. Following our tour, by around noon, only a handful of muffins remained. 4. Preparation and Research: Comprehensive research ahead of your Arcosanti visit is highly recommended, given its remote and expansive nature. The location presents a wealth of information for those eager to delve deeper. 5. Lodging Options: Accommodations resembling "Airbnb" are available, with prices spanning from $100 to $200 per night, contingent on size. It's important to set realistic expectations concerning cleanliness, as these lodgings offer a distinct and simpler experience. 6. Scenic Views and Unique Stories: Fully charge your phone/ camera! Arcosanti stands out through its breathtaking vistas and captivating narratives. Families with children aged 6 and above can indulge in the pleasure of hiking trails, weather permitting. 7. Community and Interactions: The individuals and residents at Arcosanti are generally amiable. However, it's vital to acknowledge that many are residents, leading their own lives; their level of responsiveness might not mirror that of customer service. 8. The souvenirs offered at Arcosanti were not only charmingly cute and distinctly unique but also impeccably designed and skillfully handmade. However, it's important to note that these treasures come with a significant price tag. Our choice was a handcrafted ceramic necklace, which carried cost around $80. Making the payment was a seamless process facilitated through a digital device. 9. Tour Details and Ticketing: Arcosanti offers two daily tours, scheduled at 9:30 am and 11:00 am. To secure your spot, tickets can be reserved online, accompanied by signing an online waiver. Alternatively, you have the option to purchase tickets on-site, but it's important to note that availability can be limited, leading to potential sellouts. For Arizona locals, certain libraries provide a "culture pass" that grants FREE access to tour tickets. It's worth clarifying that entry to Arcosanti itself is free of charge, while participating in the guided tour incurs a cost of $13- $20.

We really enjoyed our visit although there isn't much to see if you don't join a tour. So, go online and book a tour a few days before to ensure your spot. Otherwise you can't really explore the grounds without a guide. Ours was excellent. We learned all about how they built the structures and the bells, how many people live there and their expected duties/jobs, where they hang out as a community, and of course the purpose of the arcology. If you're a member of the public library system you can get a free culture pass for Arcosanti that provides you with 2 free tickets for a tour. When booking just go on the Arcosanti tour site and select "culture pass" as your means of payment. Just be sure to bring it with you because they collect it at the door.

Disappointing visit. It might have been a nice place during the 1970's when first developed as an experimental town but not anymore. You must traverse a 0.8 mile dirt road to get there, which isn't too bad if it hadn't been raining the last few days in the area--plenty of ruts although that's relative since it would be dusty otherwise. Anyway, it's basically a big concrete structure that's seen better days. It seems obsolete and perhaps not ecologically friendly by today's standards.

I was really excited to stay at Arcosanti for my birthday but unfortunately cannot go because of a personal emergency. However, I have not been able to reach anyone to get the $200 refund for my room, despite many calls and emails. The refund policy says guests can cancel up to a week in advance for a full refund, so this is really frustrating. It has made an already stressful birthday worse. I probably would have rescheduled the trip if this had not happened, but definitely won't now, unless this issue is resolved. UPDATE: after several days, I was able to speak to a real person and get a refund by contacting the gallery instead of guest services.

This is a beautiful place to visit. Find an artist item, walk the trails, and hear the bells made on sight. A must stop in your travels. So peaceful and a wonderful project for humanity.

Truly a cool and educational spot. I got tickets through the Gilbert Public Library culture pass (more at the end of this review if you are interested), but otherwise tickets are free-$22 depending on age/student/youth. You cannot tour the grounds yourself, although you can view the bell shop. It's located a mile off I-17 via a dirt road. Tours are Thursdays - Monday @ 9:30am, 11am, 2pm. I'd recommend making a reservation online so they know to expect you (especially if you are running late, oops!). It starts with a ~15 min video, followed by a ~1 hr long tour by an Arcosanti resident. Our guide, Ashleigh, was extremely friendly and informative, answering the multiple questions our group had. The tour was a mix of exemplifying the vision of the architect (Paolo Soleri) through touring varying on-site structures and multi-use spaces, learning about bell-making, as well as sustainable practices. There were residents going about their daily life around Arcosanti, so be mindful this is their home. The tour does include walking from x to y to z, with stairs throughout, so keep that in mind. We opted for a 9:30am tour during the summer to avoid the heat. Overall, very interesting, learned a lot, and it made me think about the efficiency of how our homes, workplaces, cities, etc. are laid out from micro to macro levels. More about the Culture Pass: one pass grants free admission for 2 (valid one week after check-out) for participating museums/attractions around Phoenix/Tucson/Sedona/Flagstaff through any local library card (Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, etc.). Google "Maricopa County culture pass" for more info and a list of participating museums. I like to call the library ahead to make sure the pass is available, since there is a limited amount of culture pass admissions per week. And I will end my probably LONGEST review here. Check this place out!

This place was the perfect spot to stop at on our way home. I hope to come back soon for a guided tour.

I am filled with awe and admiration for Paolo Soleri and Frank Lloyd Wright, two of the most forward- thinking, contemporary organic architects of this era. Both were known for their ideals of architecture inspired by and in harmony with nature and of building upwards to preserve space, and reduce the commercial-driven footprints of urban sprawl. I graduated from high school in Phoenix in 1970. In that year, Paolo Soleri began the physical construction of that which had been a vision, years in the making, now upon the dawn of reality: and he called it Arcosanti. I moved from Phoenix before there were any on site structures. But it has been one of my desires to visit and experience Paolo's dream up close and personal. Today was that day. Leaving the pavement, the last 2 miles in my architectural pilgrimage was a primitive dirt road with washboard ruts as deep as the Grand Canyon (not really but they were deep) and dusty. I slowed to a snail's pace which took nearly 10 minutes on this road, for fear that my car would shake apart or that I would lose 5 pounds. Now this, I thought, was about as organic as it gets. All cheekiness aside, it was totally worth the trek. As Mecca came into view, it was surreal like a scene from a sci-fi Babylonian gardens movie, replete with Italian cypress and olive trees. It was breathtaking. I had booked the 90 minute tour, which was led by a resident. Her name is Maria. She is the ultimate ambassador for Arcosanti. There is no question asked to which she did not know the answer to. The tour, from the introductory video to the amphitheater, metal forge where we were fortunate enough to witness the bronze castings of Arcosanti's signature bells (a main revenue product), ceramic studio, concert venue, resident cat "Whiskey, breathtaking canyon views, the vault ... it was too much to take in in one visit. If you dream of indulging in an architectural and sustainable living project that minimizes strains on nature, put this venue on your bucket list. Who knows, as others have before, you may visit and never leave again. But don't worry, it's not like the Hotel California. There are two suites available for stays on AirBnB if you would like to further experience this exceptional place. Arcosanti is a certified Dark Sky location where the Milky Way and infinitesimal luminous heavenly spheroids (stars) are visible year long. My trek to Mecca was a highlight I will never forget.

So rude we walked in to order from the cafe and they had a customer but when we walked up she up up a closed sign it was 8:40 then she said sorry we closed because of heat but she clearly made a drink for someone before us.

Arcosanti is an 'Arcology' design by Italian American architect Paolo Soleri. These are urban communities that are integrated into their natural environments, and aim to reduce urban sprawl. Closely connected cities with no roads or necessity for cars are one of the guiding principles of this urban experiment which combines ecology with architecture. Arcosanti is also the Site for the bronze casting and the beautiful brass wind chimes that can be found all over Arizona. Artists can live and work here. There is a studio for clay works as well as the bronze casting apse. A cafe on site serves breakfast and lunch - and the best lemonade!

An intriguing concept of a social experiment. I enjoyed the architecture and learned more about people's lives here and the arcology of the building during the tour. The price is kind of high for a tour like this.

This place is cool. I would highly recommend not visiting in the summer (May to August at least). I learned a lot about arcology (architecture and ecology) and Soleri. They have around 80 people who live at Arcosanti at any given time. I can tell the residents aren't happy to see tourists. They only offer you to explore the place on a tour and not on your own/self-guided. There is a long (maybe half mile?) dirt road you have to take to get here, so account for that. There is also no air conditioning inside any of the buildings open to the public. It's gorgeous but go on a cool day!

Really cool place. Worth the tour. The grounds are really nice to take the visitor trail. The tour guide was very friendly. The concept is very cool and I think worth visiting.

Before I get started- let me address the dirt road. It's about a 2 mile stretch each way, and very bumpy. We were able to drive it in a Toyota Corolla. We drove super slow. There were 2 holes that if we had driven over them, I think we would have gotten stuck. I did see a woman in a Prius FLYING over the dirt road, so it appears to be do-able in a Prius as well. ABOSLUTELY do not make this trip in the rain, unless you have a vehicle equipped for those conditions! Now on to Arcosanti. What a weird and frustrating experience. I purchased tickets for a 2 o'clock tour last year. When we got there, we were told by an aggressively rude guy (older, bald, mustache) that they didn't do 2 o'clock tours, and aggressively tapped on a sign at the counter. Even after I pulled up the email confirmation, he still insisted that they didn't do tours at 2, and did I go the the wrong place? Luckily, there was another person at the desk who made the effort to apologize for the mix-up- they stopped doing afternoon tours- and said that someone should have contacted me by email or phone. (I don't think I ever was.) She made an effort to refund my money, but couldn't do it since they had just gotten a new system, so she gave me a number to call. Long story short (too late), I got my money back. The woman who helped us let us watch the short film they show before each tour, so that was nice. I really wouldn't recommend coming here. The movie made the place feel like a cult, the cafe was beautiful but also felt... off. Between the dirt road, the rude guy and their lack of communication about the cancellation, they really do make it seem like they don't want people to come.

It was an interesting place to visit. I would recommend the tour. I would not recommend staying at the Airbnb. Although the view was spectacular from the sky Sweet, the unit seemed very unkept and old. Lots of dust on counters and floor.

9.16.2020 We stopped by this place on our way back to OC. We tried on booking a tour online beforehand but there were only 2 tours per day and we were not sure exactly what day and the time we will visit so we canceled the booking and just drove there with the hope to see the architectures of this place which we interested very much. We were stopped by a lady after 5 minutes wandering in there, we were asked if we stay there overnight or if we booked a tour, we explained we tried to book a tour but didn't, she asked us to leave and walked us to a door leading to visitor center, she said for liabilities which we totally understand. I felt the pain and sadness for the Italian artist who had such an amazing vision and ambitious project for this place in the middle of no where. The management should charge a fee for any walk-in visitors with a fine line for liabilities instead of letting visitors book free tour on line with suggested donation. With the fee, this place could be kept for a better and much needed maintenance. It would be great to see some rich companies to invest in this place to make it a true landmark and keep it as it should be, not a run down place as it looks now.

My husband and I enjoyed the tour. The staff was very friendly and informative. The only downside for us was that it's on a dirt road. We used the Culture Passes from the library. The Arcosanti website made it easy to reserve our tour. We also enjoyed the visitor's tea to get a different view of the buildings. I'd go back They offer overnight stays and workshops.

Don't go. If you go, don't pay for the tour. Just stop at cafe place is more than enough for photos and get to understand what happened to this so called new concept. Looks much smaller compared with the pictures I saw online. Waste one hour to listen how to make bell... I'm not here to learn how to make bell

You do not need to pay for the tour if you have a cultural pass from the library. On their website, when booking the tour, you can select "culture pass". They will ask for the culture pass upon arrival. I did not pay anything to visit except a tip for the tour guide. I thought it was a cool place to stop and learn about. Check out Cosanti if in Scottsdale. There are some trails to walk around the property and explore more. Be aware there is a dirt road to get there but I believe it's doable in just about every car.

This is a good diversion if you are nearby or headed north or south on I-17, especially recommended for fans of architecture or sustainability, also the sandwiches at the cafe looked great (we didn't try as they were closing), and the gift shop has a very large selection of rustic sand cast bells/wind chimes, interesting ceramic tiles and bronze tiles. The tour is about an hour long and starts with a short video that has heavy emphasis on sustainability. The compound has some interesting structures which can make for dramatic photography and it is situated on a small cliff, providing nice views. The structures are all looking a bit dilapidated though. Recently, new management was put in place from Fortune 500 companies so hopefully they can fund raise and finish additional portions of the plan.

I've been living in AZ for 13 years and had always wanted to go and finally went on a tour this past weekend. I was extremely disappointed about the dilapidated state the place is. You'd think that with about a 100 people living there that they would be taking care of the grounds and make it more welcoming, but the place looks really run down. The tour guide was not very engaging or seemed very excited about doing the tour. Maybe it has to do with Covid. Not sure what Paolo Soleri would think about the state of his creation. The bells are beautiful and I did buy one.

Absolutely amazing time and love they have sometimes guest speakers. They area around is easy to get to.

Accommodations were spartan but lovely in their way and suited my taste very much, but the completely dismissive staff have really soured this place for me. It took them several days to respond to an email about my stay before I arrived, but after a brief exchange about how to check in, the staff went ENTIRELY dark and did not respond to a single text message (which they say in the guest guide that they prefer for communications), phone call (to guest services or the main office--no one ever answers the phone or returns messages), or email. Wildly disrespectful and shows zero concern for guest safety or experience. Terribly disappointed by the lack of community feeling in what is meant to be a community space.

I live in Cordes Lakes which is adjacent to Arcosanti. Many people I know work and/or live there. I was tasked with the mission to go there and ask for a Soleri Bell to auction off for our community. My hubby and I took the drive out there...and since we live in this area, the road was not that bad to us, it just could have been better marked as to when and where to turn on the path. We pulled up and parked, there was only 2 other cars there. As we got out of our car and started to walk towards the building: I suddenly felt like I was punched in the stomach and my body started shaking, then the headache came on quick. I looked over at my husband and he was bent over with his head hung down saying that he felt really sick and nauseous. So we stopped and sat on a rock and took some pictures. Still feeling sick and pained, we soldiered onto the building. When we got inside the door, we really got hit hard with pain and sickness. We both had to run to the restrooms. It was horrible. We didn't want to be there. Then we get to the front desk and waited for 10 minutes as our stomachs were turning and our headaches getting worse, I took pics of the place. Turned out the authorized person was nowhere to be found, they said to call to make an appointment. (Like we didn't already to do that before, the reason we were there) So we practically ran out of the place! As we got in our car, immediately the pain and suffering we felt left our bodies and we were just fine. Never ever will we go back, I avoid driving near that place and when we go 4-wheeling we take alternate routes to keep clear of that place, It is riddled with bad bad energy. I read about the land before it was bought out by Paolo Soleri. A lot of death surrounds that place.

Arcosanti was a major disappointment. Founded in 1970, Arcosanti still hasn't gotten off the ground. Grimy, dirty, unwelcoming - with architecture that reminded my girlfriend of 1970s Soviet Russian housing units. To my mind, it was more like Spahn Ranch without the cowboy facades. The overtly rude old "gentleman" behind the counter looked a lot like George Spahn to me. I was expecting to see Charlie ride in with the rest of the Family on stolen dune buggies at any second. They even had a young Squeaky Fromme acting as a tour guide. Since Charlie don't surf, we got the heck out of there.

They have a scam where you can get a free cultural pass for Arcosanti at the local library. It's a scam because you can't see the place without paying for the tour, which is not included with the pass. So they are just suckering people out there, hoping they will pay for the tour after driving all that way. With the pass, all you have access to is a short, boring path and their WAY overpriced gift shop. And by the way, you can view those without the cultural pass, so basically the cultural pass is just to get you out there.

Interesting idea and wonderful piece of land to stroll about. We had a fabulous, knowledgeable tour guide however he left us with a few curiosities. As soon as we were back in the car, a friend used Wikipedia to find out some background for the scoop. Why did wife and daughters leave the foundation? We 3 were quite relieved we didn't purchase any wind chimes to further support this place. Do your research and then make an informed decision. It's difficult to give a good rating now.

I heard about this place via an internet article so I checked it out. I took the tour and was impressed with the ideals of the builder, Paolo Soleri. Soleri wanted to combine architecture and ecology in his design of a modern city. He coined the concept, "Arcology". Architecture + Ecology = Arcology. I recommend visiting their website first as it will explain everything, and make your visit more enjoyable. Arcosanti: https://arcosanti.org This is not a luxurious resort nor a plush fun-spot. This is more a museum mixed with a neo-hippie commune. I admire the idealism and the romance of the concept, but it still needs more development. They estimate only 5% of the total city is built, with about 80 year-round residents. The tour is worth taking because you will be able to ask questions, and get some "behind the scenes" info. They do rent rooms via Airbnb which might be fun for a night; they say the night sky with all of the stars is amazing! It feels more like a "commune/co-op". We learned during the tour that if residents don't pull their weight and work, they are asked to leave. They offer rental space for seminars, workshops, events and retreats, which I think is their main income stream. They also make silt-cast bronze windbells; they have a ton of them for sale. Not my style but I can see where decorators would dig them. They offer a communal dining area with what looked like a buffet lunch; I didn't eat there. I would recommend this attraction to curious people, those that like history, architecture, ecology/environment and minimalist living. This would be a fun activity date with a girlfriend/boyfriend or significant other. I'm not sure children would find it all that interesting; there is no playground. Lastly, Paolo Soleri's wife Colly was extremely dedicated and as active in the project as he was. According to the tour guide, she was behind the arts and loved the amphitheater. The tour guide stated that after she passed away, in the early 1980's, he was never the same - that he lost his motivation. I thought that was touching.

If you decide to come visit Arcosanti, beware of the rough dirt road! I don't think anyone has mentioned how off really off the beaten path it is! You will traverse a rocky dirt road for a mile or two. It would be nice if they eventually pave it, but then again, people are coming here no matter what! Acrosanti... An Urban Laboratory. Interesting. This is the conceptualization of Paolo Soleri. At the first glimpse of the place, I had mixed feelings. The first thing I saw was what appeared to be a metal scrapyard. I know that isn't what it is, but it seems like it. I think they have a plan for the items there in the future. The second thing I saw was the 5-Story Visitor's Center, which looked rather promising and interesting. There are restrooms and an ATM on the first floor. There are tours given for $10, and if you walk around without a paid tour, it's not really recommended. However, we were there after hours, so we walked around. I didn't have much of any idea as to what this place was about and was surprised that they offer overnight lodging. From what I saw, which didn't include any living spaces, I decided that this place would not be a place I would want to spend a night at. I did walk around the Visitor's Center and in the Cafe. There's lots of art pieces available to purchase. It's a nice place to hang out. If you walk out onto the balcony, the view is really great! I would have loved to take a nice walk out there, but since I was here after hours, I decided it would be best to stay in the nearby area. There is a very artistic and cool semi-dome building used for making their arts. They make cast bronze wind chime bells here. I would be interested in listening to a tour guide talk about this place and seeing the other buildings. The tour is one hour. Since I am not usually in Arizona for excursions, I probably won't travel out here again. If you are curious or find it interesting, come check it out!

It was alright.. Something to see if your out hear in this part of town. But it really needs a revamp and people?? Kinda scary pulling in cause there was no one there. Not to mention., reminded me of a scary movie that I could have starred in.

I don't really understand the negative reviews here. This is not meant to be a luxury stop on your road trip. If you read their website you'll find out what it's all about. I always want to see new places, especially places that are different from societal norms. Arcosanti is a unique place in vision, values and architecture. You'll definitely learn something new about a different way of living, and if you enjoy architecture as I do you'll find most of the structures to be intriguing to the eye. Arcosanti lies 1 hour each direction between Scottsdale and Sedona. Yes, there is a short dirt road leading to the town. My Corolla had no problem making it and they're currently working towards collecting enough money to pave the road. They offer 1 hour guided tours at various times throughout the day. Check their website for the times because if you don't take the tour you'll really only be able to see the gift shop and cafe. Tours are given by residents on a donation basis. We ended up giving our tour guide Jesse $10/pp. He was informative and welcoming and was very open to answering questions. You can purchase a meal in the cafe, but we didn't try the food. I recommend stopping by Arcosanti for 90 minutes or so out of your day. You'll experience something new, learn a few things, and get some cool photos. It's helpful to read their website and/or a few articles to get a base knowledge before going.

Super strange, but the people I saw on the tour made it less weird. There are some older folk here, but there are lots of young creatives/hippies. Arcosanti is a strange little "city" compound and I was a bit sad to see that their buffet that day was boiled veggies, salad, soup, bagged bread because the sign says "bakery." Nothing fancy. What I found out was that the residents sometimes bake or add to the cafe. With that said, the price is low and set and on some sort of "honesty" pact. The tour is $10 and you get to see the people making the bells from scratch, their living areas, performance and multi-use spaces, and studios. I can't imagine living here, but it sounds intriguing. The space is retro - you can tell it was built a while ago without any updates to it unfortunately. They do still have internet and one TV and all that jazz so it's not backwards.

This beautiful visionary utopian complex of a "live and work" place is decaying. The place is not vibrant and less so than it use to be. It is not a bad idea, just a bad location and a dated design. This idea of work and home being close together have always existed. You can find them in Mesa Verde, Hill towns of Italy, countless villages and tiny towns all over the world. Apple is building the apple complex, by Norman Foster. It is 2.8 million square feet and can accommodate 12,000 staff members. ( So many just to make a few iphones and ipads? Lol ) It does not have living quarters but the idea of a single mega complex is envisioned here. A visionary idea powered by one of the biggest company in the world, Apple. Google have their own facility, with free chef cooked gormet meals, and a campus of unrestrained research. (only if they think your idea will be profitable in the future) Two great companies building mega complexes for the work place. Downtownl Los Angeles is reviving as a live and work community. Closer to Soleri's idea but not of his architectural vision or ecological ideals. Soleri's vision looks like a dated sci-fi movie set from the eighties. In addition, do people want to live in the boon dogs in Arizona? It may be more attractive if it had a beautiful view and situated in Sedona. Being in Corde Junction is not a plus. Never the less if you are interested in architecture this place is well worth a visit. Also consider going to Cosancti in Phoenix which is much more vibrant.

Great tour ( Pete great host) and great environment all together! Awesome place to visit and to experience in first person!

The tour was so interesting! The tour guide Maria was so informative! The place is beautiful and as soon as the Cafe opens I will be booking a stay.

Interesting place... for a 1970s model of a city that was never really finished. Now let's be fair: there were four of us in the party and I think they might add a star to this review.... but I own the Yelp account. Understand that this place is 'an experiment.' A 50-year-old experiment that I think we can say has not succeeded in convincing the world that we should change city life. How to describe the overnight accommodations: my dorm room was more comfortable. I think if they had a building inspector come through, there were would be a bunch of violations (like using blue carpenter's tape around the a/c units). Another reviewer nailed it: It reminded me of Soviet Union architecture. NOTE: If you own a truck and a car, use the TRUCK to get there. It's a two-mile dirt road to get in there. Here's a better idea: Travel down to Scottsdale and see the work places.

We drove 500 miles to this place, somewhere i've wanted to visit since I was a teenager. We paid for a guest room and didn't even stay the night we left at 9pm due to a major bug infestation in our room. I'm not talking a few bugs here and there i'm talking a nest of newly hatched flies or mosquitoes, cockroaches in the shower, and hundreds of ants. And extremely large spiders. All in our room. No one around to talk too had a bit of an eerie feeling about it. The place is beautiful and has tons of potential but man, what a bummer.

It was a dream of mine to visit this establishment in person! It was awe inspiring!! Love seeing people working and living together in perfect harmony with nature and ecology . I also purchased art work from the artists. Magnets, molar earrings and a necklace!! Beautiful artistic creations! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic!

Cool place to visit...our guide was lovely. Place is a bit run down, and COVID definitely interfered with the tour.

Arcology = the combination of architecture and ecology to create an environmentally low-impact and architecturally beautiful community For my 300th review, I decided to review a "place" rather than a restaurant. With my many visits to Arizona, I had always wondered what "that bell place" was about. Knowing nothing other than it was designed by a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, I got the hubs and my parents to go there on my birthday. Arcosanti is a short drive north of Phoenix and yes, it's rural, but nothing that your car can't handle. Once you get on the dirt road, it's maybe another 3-4 minute drive back to the actual buildings, which you can see the entire time. You park, you go in the building on the right, you go upstairs. You pay $10 per person if you want a tour, or you simply shop. Boom, done! We chose the tour.....I didn't come all the way from Wisconsin just to stop in for 5 minutes! The tour started out with a short film about the history or Arcosanti as well as what Paolo Soleri's vision for the place was. There was a short Q&A session with our tour guide (a resident/volunteer/intern). She informed us that as of our visit, there were approximately 80 people living on the grounds; about 7 of them were children. There is one resident who is in their 80's and has been here since Soleri first broke ground. As we moved outside, our guide informed us that Soleri created half domes facing the south for the purpose of catching the suns rays. Made of concrete, the domes would absorb the heat during the day and reflect it back out at night, eliminating the need for heating. Other buildings lined up with the domes so that, as a breeze blew through the domes, it would be funneled into the doorway of the building behind it, creating kind of a wind tunnel effect that would cool off the building....his solution to avoid air conditioning. As we walked around the grounds, we were told more about the goals of the foundation and the struggles that they faced. Because everyone there is a volunteer, the place is being built, essentially, by lay people. Not being licensed professionals, codes knowledge is sparse and they don't get much funding to hire people, whether as builders or as "project managers". Thus, it looks as if the whole site is at a standstill, and for the most part, it is. Most of the funding they get is from the tours and the bells in the gift shop. Our tour took us to an amphitheater, of sorts, where the property hosts entertainment from theater to musical acts, open to the public. Living spaces for the volunteers as well as their "library" and "gym" (I use the terms loosely, as they were in the same room together and consisted of a few full book shelves, a ping pong table, a weight bench and a foosball table) and the foundation offices were also shown to us. We were informed that there is one guest room for rent on the property and that guests are encouraged to mingle with the volunteers down at the pool. Pointed out to us, but too far down the hill for us to walk, was another small area where volunteers lived and where goats and chickens were being raised, as well as a small green house where vegetables for the entire staff were being grown. We circled back to where the bells are made and were given a "walk through" of the process. From there, we went to the dining room where visitors can purchase something to eat and mingle with volunteers. There was a small art show put on by the volunteers in the room too, with anything from jewelry and handmade cards to pottery and other pieces of art for sale. Here, the tour ended. We could go back upstairs to the gift shop, eat, or leave (the grounds are only accessible if you are on a tour, so no do-overs). We chose to go back to the gift shop, because we wanted bells. Ahhhh, the bells. There are clay or bronze ones, hundreds of them! You can ring every single one to find the tone that is most pleasing to your ear. They come with patina, so you get to choose how much you want. Also, they are different shapes and have different designs molded into them. It took us about a good 45 minutes to pick out the ones we wanted. Living in AZ, my parents could get away with a clay bell. Living where it gets below 0, we chose bronze. There are post cards, a few T-shirts, a bit more jewelry, books and clay tiles for purchase as well. If you prefer to stay in the Phoenix area proper, there is a similar place called Cosanti in Scottsdale. I'm going there on my next visit. Come here with an open mind. If you have pre-conceived ideas of the place, you may not like it. I had no idea what I was in for, other than the guy liked Frank Lloyd Wright's ideas and tried to implement them in his own style. And keep in mind, it is a work in progress, and sometimes, progress can be slow.....remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? 6/2017

We got tickets at our local library here in Phoenix to visit Arcosanti. Had always been curious about it. Arrived at about noon. Very, few cars or people. Our tickets did not state that you needed a reservation for a tour. We were told they were full for the day. Mind you, no people around and only a handful of cars in the lot. After seeing the little we saw I was not disappointed in not taking the tour. This is a sad, dilapidated, dirty place with overpriced, though pretty, wind chimes in a gift shop. The cafe was closed and looks like it hasn't seen food or a cleaning in a long time. Save your $ and don't go!

The energy is this place is unexplainable. I felt so good and balanced while taking the tour and our tour guide was great. I will be coming back to check out one of the Airbnb's and I am super excited for the cafe to open back up.

If you are older, infirmed, disabled or otherwise limited (by virtue of age or circumstance) AVOID this place completely. The ONLY handicap accessible space on the property is literally the parking lot. That's it. So if you are coming to see a dirt parking lot in the middle of nowhere this is the place for you. Even if you have a wheelchair, walker, scooter or crutches you will have no trouble navigating their parking lot. However, if you subject your car to the drive down a washboard, dusty road for a mile or so to actually go inside of Arcosanti's ugly, lifeless, unimaginative, design-free stack of cement blocks or any of it's other comparable areas you may not. When you ask a staff member/employee/hippie-that-won't-die their response to 'Are you serious?' don't be disappointed by the dismissive yet unmistakable 'we don't give a damn'. This 'self-sustaining dreamer' (I suspect from a contact high) only had the foresight to address the needs of healthy 30-somethings otherwise no one seems to have even the limited foresight that people get older. If you do have a zealous desire to part with your money to acquire one of their extremely over-priced bells you will find them everywhere 90 minutes down the road in one of the largest cities in the country. If large cities don't appeal to you, try Mayer or Dewey but don't waste your time here.

Don't waste your time! Tired, worn out & dirty! As a Phoenician, I don't want our tourists to waste their precious hours or money. Our tour guide was VERY nice, & knowledgeable. That being said.... she also was lacking in personal hygiene . As were all the people working or volunteering. Let's just say, one could smell them before their arrival. The utopian idea is wonderful! The reality is NOT! Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES could I recommend this as a tourist destination! Paint is fading. Cracks in the sidewalks, stairs and pathways. Road into Arcosanti was less then stellar. Accommodations from what I could see from the tour looked old, delapitaded, and in need of some renovations. Guide was beaming about the guest "common" room. You know what I saw? Paint peeling from the walls. Cool 70's furniture with cat scratches in the upholstery. And the stench of body odor & weed. Don't get me started on the vacuum cleaner sitting in the coffee shop / restaurant! As we were being given our tour, there it was. Sitting in the dinning room. Cord a tripping hazard. Vacuum bag container beyond full. Distrusting is the nicest description I can think of. Seriously, I have 2 dogs, a cat and even I was appalled! I have traveled the world. I am a professional in the travel industry. I have slept in yurts, tents & treetop hammocks. I would NEVER consider staying here, unless some major upgrades happened. I really wanted to enjoy this outing! Unfortunately, I did not.

Well, this review is on Yelp, a review platform that sells advertising, and in turn provides a way for the public to make decisions about whether to go to a location based on those reviews. Firstly, if you're looking for that simple answer on whether I think you should go to Arcosanti, I think you should; mostly because I think being there can expand your world perception, I know it expanded mine. Will you enjoying being at Arcosanti as much as I did? Well, that depends on what you're looking for. BACKGROUND Arcosanti, founded in 1970, is an experimental Arizona town and learning center that displays alternatives to living in the urban sprawl. Residents refer to the town as a prototype arcology (the combination of architecture and ecology), designed and architected by Paolo Soleri. Founded as an urban laboratory where the residents are part of a 24/7 living experiment, it's safe to say that only a certain type of person feels comfortable living in this new-age settlement. PAULO SOLERI Briefly, Paulo Soleri, an Italian architect, before Arcosanti, was most noteworthy for being Frank Lloyd Wright's apprentice. In 1948, Soleri was banished from Mr. Wright's Taliesin West, which arguably changed Soleri's trajectory entirely. ARCOSANTI (THEN) In 1965, Paolo Soleri and his wife Colly established the Cosanti Foundation in Paradise Valley, Arizona, dreaming of a settlement that reflected the future of development and community. Looking past the materialism of our capitalistic world today, Costanti literally means "before things" in Italian. Once founded, the Foundation focused on educational courses that centered on urban design. Come 1970, the Foundation began the construction of Arcosanti to test out Paolo's urban planning concept. Essentially, Paolo set out to demonstrate that urban development is possible without destroying the earth. The town began on 25-acres of a 4,060-acre land preserve with just a few people. After a decade of construction, the most recent building viewable in the settlement today was completed in 1989. ARCOSANTI (NOW) Today, Arcosanti is known for an eclectic population, and residents refer to it as a "company town," where they get a reduced rent of $300 per month in exchange for working 40 hours per week. In addition to the gift shop, construction, and festival rentals, a main product of Arcosanti is a molten bronze bell casting business that is used by local Arizona companies. The Arcosanti population varies between 50 to 150 people at any given time, many of them students and volunteers interested in exploring this kind of development concept. Since its inception, Paolo wanted the town to grow to 5,000-people. THE STORY & SERVICE EXPERIENCE Throughout my visit to Arcosanti, I was immediately, and consistently aware of the laissez-faire attitude that seemingly prevails at Arcosanti. I asked several employees/residents about that, to which I didn't quite get a concrete answer. I decided to take the 1 hour tour, which starts at the gift shop, with a video explaining the site. Walking through the settlement, I saw tilt-up concrete panels, that my excellent tour guide, Devron, told me, are cast in a bed of silt acquired from other areas, with most panels displaying vibrant art. Buildings are oriented southward to capture the sun's light and heat, positioned organically as opposed to the classic grid-and-lock system we see in cities. The organic development adheres to the earth's natural resources, building with nature instead of against nature. CONCLUSION I loved the futurism and individualism rampant through out the compound. However, it's hard for me to reconcile the strong ideas mixed with the lack of organization. I visited the Frank Lloyd Wright compound, Taliesin West, and where, in comparison, organization prevails. I believe that it makes it easier for the public to consume and digest one's concepts with easily accessibly, organization, and comforts, like air conditioning, all of which are lacking at Arcosanti. But Arcosanti doesn't seem to concern itself with such things. Self sustaining, the off-the-grid concept still draws in visitors from around the world, despite its rundown appearance. It's a new-age of thought that resonates with a lot of architects and visionaries today, creating a hippie-based community that is warm and welcoming to even the harshest of skeptics. As there's nothing wrong with trying to preserve the planet, Paolo might be onto something every city can try and emulate as the population continues to swell around the world. 4/5 RECOMMEND OF NOTE *Two mile dirt road, dirt parking area *Rooms available for rent; also on Air BNB *Compound available for rent *Workshops Available *For more information: arcosanti.org

Wonderful, interesting place in the Arizona desert. If you love architecture and ecology, you will love this site. Beautiful scenery and just a very peaceful community. The residents are friendly and you will learn that you don't need much to be happy. There is an Air BnB in the community along with motel rooms to get the true experience of this interesting place. Solari's vision of a community where you can live, work, and play without having to drive all over, like the suburbs we all know about, is a very interesting idea and hopefully more people will see and experience this vision.

If you see this review you probably already know what Arkasanti is. An amazing idea, a vision that was born in the seventies to build something new and unique. To build a city in the middle of the desert that will be an eye candy. A completely self-sustainable ecosystem, populated by amazing people that are driven to make this world a better place. To build a community, a city that sticks together to create and be creative. Well.. crap, this isn't it. This place is basically a left over after a movie Waterworld was drained of all the water. Apocalyptic, dying scenary with buildings slowly falling apart and everything deteriorating. Left over residents are struggling to make $$, trying to get every penny possible out of visitors. I can see how this place can be interesting to an ex hippie from the 70s, someone who escaped from Osho's meditation camp but if you're modern person looking for a new experience then I highly doubt you will like this junkyard. This is not the place that you have in your mind when you hear about this Utopian city project. Keep driving down the i-17, Sedona is where the beauty is.