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Gila River flooding in the spring of 1980

A long-time former Rainbow Valley resident Darrell McCarty piloting his hovercraft across the River at Airport Rd during the high water. He built the hovercraft expressly for this purpose to avoid the long drive to work out the Narramore Pass road, and across the River at Gillespie Dam to Old Highway 80, and then on in to Goodyear Aerospace in Goodyear, a drive of about 70 miles. The hovercraft had 2 motors, one for lift and one for propulsion. He stopped using his unique watercraft when somebody on the Rainbow Valley side of the River stole one of the motors when he left it parked near the riverbank.

River from the same location on the south bank: one as it was just coming up over the small, metal bridge on Jackrabbit Rd that was then the only bridged route into Rainbow Valley, and one taken later at the peak of the flood. Peak flows were estimated to be in the 180,000 to 220,000 cubic feet per second range. For comparison purposes, typical Colorado River flows are in the 15,000 to 25,000 cubic feet per second range.

Rainbow Valley History - Grandview Estates

As told by a 40 year Rainbow Resident.

Grandview Ranches was developed in 1965 as a direct result of a

group of five businessman who formed together to purchase and

develop land in this area. Under the leadership of Mr. Birger

Enstrom and Mr. Howard Stearns the 40 acre tract now know as

Grand View Ranches was selected for initial development.

Each of the 5 businessmen built a home for sale in 1965, as each

home was sold they built another home for sale. In January 1971

the managerial responsibility of Grand View Ranches was formed

creating a homeowners association, the Grandview Club, Inc. an

Arizona Corporation. Soon after, the homeowners created the

Grandview Water Company, Inc.for the sole purpose of supplying

domestic water to the 20 households.

In 1967 there was an old abandoned stone house just north of Elliot and Rainbow Valley Road. Always held a mystery? This area now the dairy and I would guess long ago torn down.

When the Great Gila River Flood of the 70’s hit, the Al & Jeri Lueck’s Dairy on Beloat Road was flooded out. The house and dairy operation was then moved to the present location on Elliot Road. The land was purchase from the estate of Birger Engstrom (founder of Grand View Ranches) We pleaded with Birger Engstrom’s daughter Gretchen with signed petitions not to sell the land to a dairy, however, they sold it anyway.

Where Grand View Ranches II now sits was an air-strip for area crop dusters to land for re-fueling of agriculture spray. Dr. Frank Lowery, the only Buckeye dentist at that time, also used the air-strip for his private plane.

In 1967 in deep Rainbow was the Sunkist Company a citrus growing area, lots of trees and smug pots for cooler Rainbow Valley nights. Lots of growing of Sugar Beets and trucks up and down Rainbow Valley Road delivering to the Speckles Sugar Company (now out of business)

Rainbow Valley was ‘open range’ and an occasional beefy would wander through the yards. Cattlemen had all the rights and if you were bothered by this…then fence your land. No one I knew ever did. Lowery’s did worry that some day a beefy would tumble into their unfenced pool trying to get water, but none ever did. No one seemed to really mind, except for occasional trampled flowers or bushes.

It was not unusual to see the sheep being herded into Rainbow Valley for grazing. Was wonderful to watch the sheep dogs at work, these dogs have my deepest respect.

It was common knowledge that the sheep owners place poisoned raw meat around the perimeters to keep coyotes away. People knew to watch your pets. If they should wander in and get the meat they could be seriously hurt, but people were warned and aware....keep your dogs away from the sheep. (Have you ever seen what dogs can do to a sheep? Then you would understand)

Do you have some stories or history of Rainbow Valley you would like to share with your fellow residents. We would love to hear from you!

I have heard "rumors" about the following interesting Rainbow history items.

Do you know anything about:

World War II Prisoner of War Camp in Rainbow Valley - I have been told there are some remnants left, mainly old building footings. Believe American-Japanese were held here.

Old Butterfield Stage Coach Line ran through deep Rainbow Valley...

The Sunkist Citrus Farms

The growing of Sugar Beets

The great flood of Waterman’s Wash and finding several dead due to being swept away in the flood waters.

The old stone house on Rainbow Valley Road north of Elliot

Farming of the area what is now Grand View Ranches, Grand View II and Southwest Desert Estates believe farmed by the Jones family.

Rainbow Valley farmers/ranchers/residents built the bridge on Jack Rabbit Trail using government supplies and good old fashioned (free) area labor.

Help us learn more about our wonderful community! Do you recall the details differently or have more to add? Submit your details and we will post them on this site for all to learn about.

Imagine 100 years from now someone reading the words you wrote about your memories of Liberty.

Valedictorian 8th grade student, reading his promotion speech to his class of 1922, foreseeing where they would be in 1962 titled

The Telescope of Time

"Friends, tonight I possess a magical telescope that enables me to pierce thru the long dark vistas of the future years, many visions pass before me, and I see my classmates as doubtless, they will appear in the year of 1962, 40 years hence".

Written by a former Liberty student in 1944 at graduation, during World War II

"It is not necessary for me to tell you how serious this war is. Or how much it has influenced the world, but we, the 8th grade, want you to know that we have appreciated the sacrifices and steadfastness that has kept our teachers and our parents with us. It is not an easy job for a child to become accustomed to change but it is even more difficult for an adult to make the adjustments that accompany a world at war. Therefore, we wish to thank all those who have helped us with our education and express the wish that we can finish the job as well as it has begun. --janene