This is OPEN! Just went to visit Arcosanti with a friend that came to town and what a cool experience. You have to schedule a tour, self guided are not allowed. The tour guide Joseph was so kind and full of energy. The video you watch when you get there is a very heart felt explanation of the passion to continue this community. They own 800 acres and the property is built on 20 acres, it was built between 1971-1975 for the main spaces that are shared. 45 people live there but could range to 80. They show how the products and structure are made. I had no clue about silk casts and loved the hands on understanding and history. They have concerts, events, gatherings. Etc at the amphitheater. Check out the website. The cafe is closed. You can stay as a hotel guest overnight. They offer apprenticeship also. read more

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I'm not sure why the Yelp page states Arcosanti is closed. We were just there and is open and operating. Clearly what the original architect had in mind many years ago never came to fruition as it really hasn't changed in years. Is appears to be a small artist community but we didn't see anything going on at the moment so couldn't tell if it id still active or they make everything south in Scottsdale at Cosanti. There is a gift shop where you can watch a brief video on the history and learn about their wind chime creations. Personally I've received many of the wind chimes over the last 20 years for housewarmings or Christmas gifts. Each is unique. The greeter in the gift shop was friendly and stated there is a tour available as well. We didn't have time for the tour but purchased a couple of small gifts. He suggested visiting the Scottsdale location as well which is called Cosanti. I had no idea it was located in Scott's well. Will check it out. read more

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70s vision for communal living by architect Paolo Soleri, this is on the way from Phoenix to Sedona and worth a stop if you are into architecture and ecology, you'll see Soleri's unique "arcology" vision here which is a fusion of both. We signed up for the tour and yes the dirt road is rough leading to Arcosanti, our tour guide mentioned a future expansion in the living area but in order to keep building the road has to be paved, hopefully it's better in the future. The behind the scenes tour participants was twice as large as they normally have so at times it was hard to see and hear though our guide tried their best. We loved hearing about the different spaces and seeing what was hand made by volunteers though we enjoyed the more intimate feel of Cosanti more. The gift shop is one staircase above the cafe and it's where the tour meets. There is better bell selection at Cosanti If that's what you are shopping for but Arcosanti has more hand-made knick knacks by residents, there is also a nice selection of books about Soleri and Arcosanti. You can stay the night here and get a good view of the stars and a more intimate experience, we would do this next time. The architecture and vibe would make it worth it! read more

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We went in 2020. Cool architecture. Wasn't busy whatsoever when we went. Little trails to walk. Cool little spot to check out if you're near it and into 'nature' photography opportunities / architecture appreciation. read more

Arcosanti - Tours Near Me - Mayer, Arizona

Stopped by on Sunday on our way back to Phoenix from Flagg. The dirt road leading us up to the building was very rough and I totally do not recommend smaller cars. After what seemed like an eternity we finally arrived. There was only one other car there so there were plenty of parking spots. We arrived at 1:30pm and we decided to get a drink at the café first. The worker greeted us and quickly told us the café was closed, boo. We took a few pictures here and went down to the bathroom. The bathroom was clean. We took a few more pictures and left. Everything felt eerie and uncomfortable. Spent a total of 10 minutes. Should've booked a tour to learn about this place but from what we did see and experience, this is a pass for me. The views are nice though! read more

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I've always wanted to check out this feat of architecture and ecology so we took a day to head out and tour. It is about an hour north of Phoenix and hidden off the main road on a dirt path (low cars be warned). It is a fascinating spot where since the 1970s a group of artists and others have gathered and lived in a type of working community. The dream was for over 5,000 but due to many favors they can only accommodate 50 living there at any one time. The artists create bells and pottery as well as much of their own food and supplies. The atmosphere is one of an artists haven with a lot of connection and community. The buildings are fascinating and the bells are amazing! We were able to take the tour and enjoy some individual time with a community member that our friend knows. They have walking trails as well that we didn't do but looked inviting. My only concern was in all the concrete and steps it made for a hard journey for our older group. Keep in mind it is not accessible for those who can't do stairs. It is worth visiting and checking out, and I'm glad we went! read more

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The tour begins with a video about its history and then you are taken through to see everything. The tour is about an hour and there is a short hike to see Arcosanti from a vantage point. Overall it was a nice experience. Don't forget to check out a Culture Pass from a Phoenix valley library so you can bring 2 people in for free, but you will still need to reserve your tour spot on their website, just click Culture Pass. You'll want to spend your money on the Soleri bells, artisan pottery and bronze items in the shop, and tipping your tour guide. Parking on site, dirt road for a mile. About 1 hour north of Phoenix. If you enjoyed touring Taliesin West, read Fountainhead, or like architecture, then it's worth a visit. read more

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My daughter, Hubs, and I, really enjoyed the tour of Arcosanti and being allowed and welcome to explore the grounds, café, and the facilities! Firstly, I'd like to emphasize the importance of doing a little research before arriving for a tour. I read previous Yelp reviews, and this helped tremendously to prepare for the day. This is a very unique site with working artists and live-in staff and community that have family and pets. Don't expect a full service café experience here. The busy artists are giving their time at the café. This being said, everybody we spoke to at the café was super friendly and helpful and ready to serve food or drinks as soon as we arrived. I've been looking forward to visiting Arcosanti since last year, but was waiting for the temperatures to drop. Today, temperatures were just right for me. It was a windy day in the 60s. We had hats, jackets and scarves which were needed because of the cool breeze and sunshine. I frequently warmed up and had to take my jacket off because this site has lots of climbing and walking if you decide to book the tour. There are lots of stairs. This may make it difficult if you have mobility issues. They do provide a wheelchair accessible hike and pathway. Tickets are available online or at the gallery. After purchasing tickets, you will be asked to sign a waiver either through email or in the gallery at the iPad station. As shown on the entrance window, the TOUR SCHEDULE is Thursday-Monday, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM Tuesday-Wednesday, 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM. Prices listed as $22 per Adult, $17 per Student (with ID), $13 per Youth (12-17), Free for children under 12 Also listed - Before your tour: Check in at the front desk Pay for your tour Complete the waiver at the iPad station Meet your tour at the television! Self-guided tours through the site are NOT permitted. The Visitor's Center and Visitor's Trail are available to explore everyday from 9 AM-5 PM. Tours last about an hour. The tour is the only time you are able to freely and independently explore the grounds, so make sure to get all of your pictures and ask all of your questions at that time. After the tour is done, you have access to the Café, gallery, and hike, as well as the exterior grounds, for as long as you'd like. If you have a Phoenix Public library card or Glendale Public library card, you can check out a culture pass good for two weeks through the library. This culture pass is good for two tickets so you can bring a friend or family member. With this culture pass, the tour is free. If you paid for your ticket or got a free tour, tipping the tour guide is highly recommended. If you don't book a tour and just visit, the gallery, café and site, the stairwell has a complete history of the site framed as you walk up and down the stairwell. Our tour guide, Manny, did an excellent job explaining the history of the grounds and each designated facility. We stopped off at the bronze foundry just before bronze bells were being poured. Manny explained that complete silence is necessary during the pouring of the bronze and it's seen as a ceremonial ritual. I found this to be a beautiful experience, with the tinkling sound of the bronze bells blowing in the breeze while the entire foundry fell into silence. There were probably 20 to 30 people in the foundry, and we all watched silently as the bronze was poured. it's pretty cool that there is even a community thrift store here and it's more of a barter exchange type of a facility. I find it really important to mention that there are 13 cats that live at Arcosanti. They help around the grounds, but 13 is the limit because otherwise they start to reduce the native rodent population. Everything at the site I found to be beautiful and artistically pleasing, from the concrete, circular architectural details to the domed asps and opened amphitheater, to the all of Cypress, olive, and pomegranate trees brought over by the Italian architect, and the expanse of high desert views surrounding the property 360°, not to mention the bronze bells hanging from trees and roofs everywhere. Arcosanti began in 1970, when theoretical architect, Paolo Soleri, decided to design and build a prototype micro-city intended to blend architecture and ecology. Since then, over 8,000 volunteers. have worked tirelessly to bring nature and people closer together. Currently, there is a community of people living and working at the site, ranging in age from babies to the mid-70s. Some community members have been here since 1980! If you arrive while the café is closed, there is a Loves gas station, some fast food spots and some local eateries near the I17 freeway entrance. The road from the freeway to the Arcosanti is a rough, curving dirt road currently. read more

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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. read more

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We called first to verify that we'd be able to join the 2:00 tour. Our guide was Joseph and he was fantastic! He was engaging, articulate, knowledgeable, and patient with the questions (even from children). We greatly enjoyed our afternoon. What an incredible and interesting place. read more

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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". read more

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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! read more

Arcosanti - Tours Near Me - Mayer, Arizona

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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

I would not add this to my list of places to visit if you haven't already been there. In a nutshell, there is nothing to see. It's cold and rundown, the staff are not at all friendly or helpful, and there is nothing to do once you get there. Signs that tell you you aren't free to walk the grounds are not well posted, so we ended up getting screamed at and aggressively walked out of an area by a man who honestly made us nervous for our safely. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

Arcosanti - Cafe - Tours Near Me - Mayer, Arizona

Abysmal place. The tour is all about bell making rather than how they live-what you do see is very depressing. Not self-sufficient in any way, and the architecture is ugly and dilapidated. read more

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. read more

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

Arcosanti - The views are amazing!! - Tours Near Me - Mayer, Arizona

Really enjoyed coming here. The bells are amazing. We didn't book a tour this time but will next time. Everyone is very nice and helpful

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. read more

Arcosanti - Tours Near Me - Mayer, Arizona

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more