In 1935 a man named Johnny Walker opened the Corral Bar in Cave Creek, to serve the workers building Bartlett Dam. It 1950 by a man named Harold Gavagan, and largely served aging miners and local ranchers, followed by the elites who settled Carefree. For decades it has been owned by the Piaquadillo family, originally from Pittsburgh.
Cave Creeks’ oldest and most famous saloon, which served for a time as the ‘local’ for such notables as Dick Van Dyke and Hugh Downs is undergoing further expansion of it’s lower bar and patio. The southern interior is being remodeled, significantly enlarging the popular indoor/outdoor lower bar and expanding the wrap-around porch/patio to the rear.
The Western bar has for a long time offered a very popular off-track-betting booth, which is being relocated within the bar to facilitate the expansion of the covered patio and enlarged bar. The cavernous venue already currently seats 600 inside and 200 on its’ existing patio.
The new configuration is expected to better facilitate and serve their outdoor live stage and music. These shows have become popular, many featuring tribute bands. Harolds’ is widely known by locals as having the finest happy hour around from 2-6 daily in summer, with half-priced appetizers and great drink specials.
