I agree with Ten W.'s review. While the concept is very cool, the project really fell flat. To quote Wikipedia, "Arcosanti is a self-contained experimental town that began construction in 1970 in central Arizona, 70 miles north of Phoenix. Architect Paolo Soleri, using a concept he calls arcology (a portmanteau of architecture and ecology), designed the town to demonstrate ways urban conditions could be improved while minimizing the destructive impact on the earth." Though the Arcosantian's would not approve, in my opinion, the concept was essentially a "commune." Though construction began 38 years ago, to date only a tiny percentage of Soleri's vision has been achieved. The buildings and property that do exist are not well maintained. To really understand what it's all about, I recommend visiting their website - www.arcosanti.org. I went on a group tour led by a woman who has been at Arcosanti since its early beginnings. Another person in our group (who apparently was involved in the project at the beginning) challenged her with questions regarding the lack of progress but she could not answer them. I guess no one really knows why it has not flourished as was intended. Perhaps finances. The whole place reminds me of Epcot's future exhibition. Really cool and cutting edge when it first opened, but now just sort of shabby and dated. Another comparison that kept popping into my head during the tour was I felt as though this could be the grounds of the Darma Initiative (Lost fans will understand this reference). On a positive note, the gift shop has a huge selection of the gorgeous bells that are produced at the Arcosanti foundry. The money Arcosanti makes selling the bells goes toward the building and maintenance of the site. read more

i think that if you go to this place expecting it to be an utopia of sorts, you will leave with a sub-par image of it. much of it has to do with a lack of funding, and as the cost of construction skyrockets, their masterplan becomes even more intangible without big donors. having always studied architecture history, this trip was well worth it for me. i had gone to Scottsdale for a wedding, but had some time before my flight home so i made the 1 hour drive north. off of the 17 at exit 262, you will find your way to a dirt road that leads into Arcosanti. don't drive too fast or you might run into cows crossing. here are my pros & cons: Pros: - exploration of sustainable living - Arcology - $8.95 buffet lunch, mix of vegan & non-vegan. - composting bins for left over lunch - interesting composition of architecture - the incomplete forms & materials are reminiscent of roman ruins, but has an amazing juxtaposition since you know its a work in progress and you try to imagine what it will be like (kinda like old books that tell you what the roman ruins USED to look like) - a good mixture of presentation boards that show oldschool models as well as high-tech renderings. - concrete silt casting...first time i've seen it and its quite an elegant way of adding coloration Cons: - as with a lot of avante garde architecture, a lack of maintenance will give off a sense of dated-ness. - it is still plugged into the grid. for a self-sustaining complex, it really should be completely utility free. it is already zero-discharge, so that's good, but its gotta be zero-energy with all that free arizona sun & canyon winds. - ironically, the only way to get there is to drive (the car is this antichrist in this urban lab) - the tour was informative but mainly on the focus of the production of the bells & commune events, not enough about the architecture...but you need to be a part of the tour to see the site. read more

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Once upon a time, perhaps this was a wonderful place to visit. Our tour guide told us his last day was going to be that week, so maybe he was a little unhappy with the place and unmotivated to try to impress us. Even if he had been trying to impress us though, it probably wouldn't have helped. You can read their website for the full history, but not much of that cool stuff seems to be going on anymore. Arcosanti was showing its age with cracked pavement and broken windows replaced with plexiglass that also got cracked. The Bakery was closed. They don't grow their own gardens anymore. They do have solar power and wind turbines, but they only produce 18% of their own energy. There were chemicals leaking on the ground around the area where the copper bells were made. The buildings aren't made with recycled materials. 65 people live and work there most of the year. There are still students that pay tution to take workshops there, but I felt a little bad for them, paying to work on what appears to be a failed experiment. It seems that they are definitely in need of new management to revitalize this project. read more

Perhaps growing up in the strip mall and tract home dominated world of the West Valley has turned me into the architecture enthusiast that I am today. Finding any building that isn't in the "southwestern/territorial" design is pretty difficult. Arcosanti was a sight for sore eyes the first time I saw it. I have stayed at Arcosanti twice and never gone on a guided tour. I read the wikipedia page before I visited, and I explored the area myself. I think that I was able to take away as much from that experience as I would have from a guided tour. The first time, I made reservations and stayed in guest quarters (a small strip of rooms located far from the main grouping of structures). My friend and I paid for the whole dinner/breakfast experience. We swam in the pool which is very beautiful, and we watched the sunset from the top of the amphitheater. (Sidenote: you can climb all over every structure if you want and the food isn't that great.) My second visit was on a whim. We went to see the Perseid Meteor Shower in August; this was a great decision because the surrounding area is practically uninhabited and very dark. The guest rooms get a little hot in the summer months because there is no AC, but they provide fans in the rooms. The guest rooms are a cheap way to escape the valley for a night. The most expensive one is only $45, and you can stay for as low as $25. This is a great place to sit out, enjoy the scenery, and enjoy a bottle of wine. read more

It is honorable to appreciate another mans dream. I recently visited Paolo Soleri's dream many unfinished ideas. From a visitor perspective that is pretty much it-- your a visitor entering into his ideal theory of environment and nature coexisting. I didn't feel welcomed into the space. Your not allowed to meandor on the premises so all your invited to do is eat in the cafe and take a tour spend a night if you wish. I cannot totally explain what is lacking here in terms of a quality experience but before you visit set your expectation low. The residence were very gracious. But it was the Bells that spoke the loudest and that I found to be the most interesting part of the entire visit. Paolo's concept even the landscape echos a lack luster and stagnate dreams uncompleted. However, walking Paolo's bridge design on the Waterfront in Scottsdale I found to be a more enjoyable and personal experience enticed to embrace a moment with nature even though surrounded by the busyness of the city. I understand Paolo didn't speak the language of fundraising but it may benefit the community now to acquire those skills read more

It's probably safe to assume that most people don't know what Arcosanti is. The Arcosanti Project and I quote directly from the website is, "an experimental town in the high desert of Arizona, 70 miles north of metropolitan Phoenix. When complete, Arcosanti will house 5,000 people, demonstrating ways to improve urban conditions and lessen our destructive impact on the earth. Its large, compact structures and large-scale solar greenhouses will occupy only 25 acres of a 4060 acre land preserve, keeping the natural countryside in close proximity to urban dwellers." Interesting, huh? People do live there now and plenty of tourists visit, although I don't know anyone else besides myself that has. There is a gallery, bakery and a cafe too, and even rooms for anyone interested in an overnight stay. If you want to take a road trip this summer, I recommend you go to Arcosanti. It will be unlike anything you've ever seen before and you just might learn something new, too. read more

Arcosanti - Tours Near Me - Mayer, Arizona

Got a great tour on the way back to Phoenix from Cottonwood last month and decided to follow it up by going to Convergence, a three-day music festival/workshop/retreat, this weekend. Both were great experiences, and I had a wonderful time. The people working/living there and the people who came to put on workshops all seem very thoughtful, creative and forward-thinking and it was a pleasure to be immersed in that environment. read more

Learning about this place in architecture school, I thought it would be this neat oasis out in the desert. When I explained it to my husband, he thought it was such a neat concept, and we stopped on our way to Phoenix. We were both so disappointed. I wasn't even born when it was originally constructed, but you can tell the whole site is in need of a major uplift. Everything is in complete disrepair, and looks more like a junk yard than a city in harmony with the desert. There isn't even a paved road to get you out there. I was afraid our rental car's suspension was going to give out after every rock we drove over. If the reason for no paved road is maintaining natural hydrology, at least some sort of gravel road that's maintains and at least somewhat level. Or bring a 4x4. We didn't really plan stopping there - it just happened because we had time to kill. We arrived just before noon. And noon happens to be the only time of the day that they don't give tours. But you're only able to see the grounds if you're on a tour. We also had just eaten, and weren't hungry enough to eat at the cafe. There is a public trail you can walk to see the site from across a creek, but even the trail is in disrepair, and we actually turned back at the creek because it wasn't clear where to go. We bought some postcards and then left. What I could see of the buildings, they did look pretty neat, and I wish I could have done the tour. But the whole site is in need for some major TLC. read more

An interesting place to visit for anyone interested in unique architectural concepts and especially those bent on helping the environment. If you like Taliesin West, you'll like Arcosanti. In fact, the creator, Paolo Soleri was a student of Wright. The only problem was that after driving all that way up there, at the last minute we were informed there would not be another tour until later in the evening. Would've been nice to have been told on the phone, don'tcha think? The cafe was closed as well. Ooo, fun. So unfortunately I have to give a 3 star rating for now until I can go back and actually take the tour. I did end up home with a Soleri bell. It's a beautifully designed copper bell molded from dirt! It's no wonder Paolo Soleri made his fortune from the bells. It intrigued me enough to make me want to go back to see the actual tour, and maybe even staying overnight. A night in the Sky Suite, the penthouse of Arcosanti will run you $100, not the $75 as stated in the website. But heck, you practially spend that much in a one bed room at other hotels. However, there doesn't seem to be any airconditioning in the suites, so I'd suggest going for an overnight when the air is cooler. read more

Seeing arcosanti is a one of a kind experience. I've never seen a place quite like this. The juxtaposition of inspired architecture, an urban community and a vast and beautiful natural surrounding wrapped up in a loving and inviting community is a true rarity in this world. Come, take the tour, come back for a concert or an event, you won't regret it. read more

I was oblivious to the innovative works of art of many architects in Arizona. Most people know about Frank Lloyd Wright but I had never heard about Arcosanti and Paolo Soleri. Call me crazy but I had to have a boyfriend point out the beauty of architecture and this place left me at a loss for words. We were on our way to Prescott and he kept saying that we were going somewhere really cool. Once we pulled up, I knew I was going to experience something amazing. This place was designed to have people live there and utilize the concepts of arcology while taking advantage of natural resources found in the desert. I remember the tour guide something on the tour about how smart Soleri was and he knew that here was a water supply in the middle of the desert. They grow their own food, have schools there, amphitheater for art and music, and serve dinner to the guest as well. We stayed for a live concert that night and the beating drums seemed like they were going through my body. There was also a light show as well and it was super romantic. I feel sad that this was in Arizona the whole time and I was just finding out about it. Apparently he tried to book a room that sits on top building and the roof is open so you can see the sky at night. I heard it is booked up well in advance so plan ahead if you want to take the romance up a notch. There were some cottages not too far from there that you can stay at if you want to be close. If you are making the trip up north, make the stop in Mayer as you will not regret it. I am planning to go back when I get the chance. read more

I did a workshop a decade ago Was so geeked up that I thought it would be completed by now but I was just a young idealistic college student who did not know better. A recent visit left me a little bummed that progress was well minimal. That said ARCOSANTI is still the coolest place in the area and well worth a visit. It is a niche project and it is not for everyone...The scenery is magical and its a great place to un- plug from the world for a few days Understand, if you are going to visit this place the day to day operations are run mostly by volunteer college aged 20 somethings,.Many do not have real world work experience. Complaints about service does not surprise me, but its not intentional. Arcosanti is and always has been a somewhat anarchistic left leaning project, Go in with low expectations and you will find yourself pleasantly surprised, and make sure you buy a couple of bells. read more

We sang here at the outdoor amphitheater with our choral group, and had a chance to tour the artists' studios and gift shop. A unique communal lifestyle, reminiscent of the 70's. read more

I recommend making a day out of visiting some sites in Arizona. Either stop here before checking out another great site Montezuma's Castle or like we did, on the way back! The place closes at 5 pm and the last tour is at 4 pm, so plan accordingly. It's great to take the tour because you'll get to see parts of the property that only tour guides can take you on. Plus, if you get Conrad as your tour guide then you'll be able to learn so much more about the history of Arcosanti! He was an awesome tour guide that explained everything so well. Also, keep in mind that people are still actually living or renting a room at the hotel portion on the site so many parts of it are off limits unless supervised. Also be aware that most of the property requires walking or climbing up and down stairs. There are no elevators. My uncle is disabled and requires crutches, he is able to get down to the site because they do have an ADA ramp to get you down from the parking lot to the entrance but after that there are no other ADA ramps. He has been able to go on part of the tour but a majority of the tour would be too difficult for his mobility. The maintenance of the grounds are very organic, the upkeep depends on who is living on the property or maintaining the property at the time. Just FYI don't expect a super clean site, mind you the property is in the middle of an open plane and built into the earth next to a ravine. Overall, the space is maintained pretty well. The history of the site is interesting. If you are into architecture and sustainability this is a place you should visit if it's not too far out of your way. Also, FYI there is no A/C in the parts we had access to on the tour, they have engineered ways to make parts cooler than others but it will definitely not be as strong as an A/C unit. Be prepared if it's a super hot day in AZ. Overall, I enjoyed our visit at Arcosanti. Restrooms: They do have different locations on site. The only one that I used was down 2 flights of stairs under the cafe. The bathrooms are separate for men and women. read more

I'm confused about the reviews for this. I get what the intentions were of Arcosanti 40 years ago but I don't think it is working out very well for them. The high populations in the 70's is for obvious reasons but in 2014 they've lost the majority of their residents for whatever reasons. When we first got there we didn't know where to go. Finally we made it to the top level and I asked the cashier what we supposed to do. She was quite rude and told us the tour started and pointed to the corner where a video was playing. Then we went on our walk. The tour guide had been a resident since the 90's but moved away for several years then came back. I didn't ask her where she went or why. She said she was there for social reasons. Given that they have such a low population I can see why they haven't completed the place and have suffered being self sufficient. It also looks a bit run down. She was explaining that we could pay for a five week workshop which is basically an evaluation to see if you like them and they like you. If you live there you work there and that is basically your life. She commented on their leadership council of 6 and they're basically mediators because they do have problems with residents getting along. I'll end there. Well, I was unimpressed and given that I have been watching the TV show "The Following" I was a little skeptical about the place in general. I'm not a big architectural buff but can appreciate a good structure and I did not see anything spectacular. But if you want, they have rooms if you want to stay the night! read more

The many reviews detailed the place really well so I will just add my 0.02. We arrived after 1:30pm so missed lunch but enjoyed the tour and looking about the bell shop. It really is an amazing concept which continues as a bell making organization. If you are interested in futurology or architecture it is definitely worth a stop. In addition, while the bells are expensive they really are great examples of hand-made craftsmanship and they ship them out so you don't have to lug them if you don't want to. The views are really neat as well. read more

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This is a 3 stars with hesitation. The idea and concept of this urban experiment is amazing, but the execution and what's been built are not quite amazing. I heard about this italian architect Paolo Soleri's project awhile ago and always admire his attempt to such scale of urban experiment. Because it's an experiment, the place doesn't have to be prestine or highly planned, but it should look like a abandoned junk-land either. We drove about 1.5 hours from Scottsdale to get there because we wanted to see the real project and not just the "Cosanti" tiny souvenir shop in Scottsdale. We were extremely disappointed once there. There's no sense of direction around the complex. The complex is a series of construction in progress buildings. The main concrete tower is quite nice, the access point wasn't that obvious but we figure out eventually. Take the exit stair tower instead of first floor of the building itself to the upper exhibition floor. The tall space filled with light is really nice. They have somewhat comprehensive exhibition of Paolo Soleri's concepts, ideas and projects, which are very interesting and educational. After that we were told the tour guides weren't available for that day so we tood a "self-guided" tour. Hmm.. that was basically walking around and getting lost. One cool thing about the site is that they have resident artist lofts. Actually that would be a nice place to getaway and just do arts. To learn more about Arconsanti, the website contains all the information you need to know: http://www.arcosanti.org/project/main.html read more

We arrived to Arcosanti on Friday evening, shortly after sunset. The property is dark (community policy that lights are flipped off at night when not in use) so it was pretty exciting getting to the property with limited vision of what surrounded us. We booked a room through Airbnb and Lana was our host. The room we stayed in is called Light Scoop. It's a small studio type space with 2 twin beds, a kitchenette and a bathroom. My boyfriend, daughter, 2 little dogs (both under 10 lbs) and I were comfortable in this space, even though it is quite small. The room was warm (no a/c) but the fan was blowing and the property is so quiet, we left our front door wide open. A few bug friends joined us in the room, but we really didn't see any body around at all! Lana gave us a tour of the property showing us as much as she could in the dim light. This place is so unusual, and arriving late peaked our curiosity even more! Friday night was the start of a meteor shower, so we stayed up most of the night admiring the sky show. We could see thousands of stars as soon as the bright moon set and the Milky Way was visible! Gorgeous! It wasn't too cold, so we stayed outdoors for several hours. We woke up early the next morning, despite our late night, and I walked our dogs through some of the main parts of the property. No one was around. I could hear a few people talking in their living quarters / work space, but it's really peaceful on property. We enjoyed continental breakfast in the cafeteria. Not many gluten free options for breakfast (mainly just bagels and cereal), but it was fine because I brought a bunch of food to cook in the room as a backup plan! (FYI there's no convenient market on property.) There are tours available from 10am to 4pm for $10 per head (kids are free). Whether you stay on property or not, the tour is definitely recommended! We joined the 11am tour and Lance was our guide. This tour offered us a deeper understanding of the history of Arcosanti and the reasoning behind its existence. It is such a unique place. We had lunch in the cafeteria, $10 per head (kids are less). I have a very restricted diet (no gluten, no iodized salt, refined sugar, red meat), but I was able to enjoy the salad bar! My boyfriend and daughter both ate healthy servings of the hot food which were all noted as Gluten-Free and several items were also vegan! We spent the afternoon in the community pool, where only a handful of people joined us over the course of a few hours. We took advantage of how quiet and disconnected Arcosanti is. Yes, there's free wifi throughout the property, but we weren't on our devices much. I can understand why some people would not view Arcosanti as a positive experience. You must go with an open mind and ready to learn about a different way of life! It's a beautiful place with a handful of people who support its existence, all living without the daily use of vehicles and the "luxuries" (or the pollution) of a big city. Everyone is friendly and relaxed. Life is simple. There's no crime and there's a sense of respect that supports this mutual trust between everyone on property. Overall Arcosanti gave us exactly what we were hoping for in a weekend getaway! We learned, met interesting people and had tons of quiet time. We look forward to returning to Arcosanti some day soon! read more

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This is a great place to visit for the atmosphere. Beautiful, peaceful, serene environment. The check in and check out process are very easy and the rooms have a beautiful view. I would give low ratings on the quality of the rooms. Mattresses were old and stained. Very basic settings. Don't expect luxury that's not the point here. Pool is open 24 hours so it's a great place cool off at night and look at the stars. I would go and stay here again read more

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Ran by ex-hippies, aimed at rich folk, total ripoff! It's small, dirty, paint chipped virtually everywhere, rust is visible, none bothered to wash the giant windows in the visitor center, the "art" for sale is insanely expensive.... To quote their web site: "The suggested donation for this guided tours is $10." They make damn sure you donate that, before the tour, which makes this "donation" in fact a ticket. Cafeteria is sortof veggie something, pricey, half-good, half-inedible. You'd get much better food in, say, Amish restaurant on I-17. The only interesting part is an exhibition of the grand project they had in mind, and of course, never built. It's 40 years old now, surely if could work they'd figure it out by now! It's located quite far from anything, thus undestandably none who does anything of consequence lives there (they'd have to commute to phoenix killing any self-sustainability in gas alone) Reviewing the drawn art, I came to the realisation that Mr. Soleri really got it going on (back then), he got hippies to try and build his dream and draw a whole bunch of nudes (women) in the process. I bet he had some fun, as women show some fascination with the place, ideas and the architect (thus some were willing). For men he's just a dirtbag who got way more than his fair share of shags. read more

Neat ideas, innovative at one time, but now a concrete monolith. Perhaps they should take a month to spruce the place up a bit. It's a mess with a lot of potential but nothing has improved since my last visit nearly 15 years ago. Disappointed. read more

Arcosanti - Tours Near Me - Mayer, Arizona

Definitely go hiking and stay the night here. It's a good affordable hotel spot Pre-Burning Man FYI. Side note: We took a private recycling tour of the facility operations and what is called CAMP. Arco's resourceful attitude is really an example to America's potential. Food is organic, mostly local, with vegan options read more

It's like seeing unfulfilled dreams in concrete... What has been built is beautiful as is the setting. I love the structures and the social architecture. There are some interesting ideas here, a bit dated and many are so impractical. I admire and wince at the same time - you want me to share my commode with my neighbor?? You live next to a foundry? The tour was boring. Our guide was a bit of a neophyte and a Soleri sycophant. I can't help but compare it to the tour at Taliesin West which was so much more engaging. Here I felt like I was able to snap some pretty pictures but not ask any deep questions about the why's. Also, lots of talk about the next big build which after 40 years this seems like wishful thinking. Still, it's easy to be a critic. While Most of Arizona development is driven by real estate prices or big bottom-line focused developers with uninspired and recycled master plans, or strip-malls with lots of parking, it's nice to see a place that aspired for something more. It's worth a stop next time you're heading down the 17 freeway. Here's my flickr set from the trip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/renegadeoffunk/sets/72157622896533696/ read more

I found this to be more fascinating than I expected. Between the intro video and the tour guide, who did a great job, I learned a lot about the project and the possibilities. Arcosanti is too extreme for most people, but a lot of the concepts could be applied to urban development in a more middle ground way. The structures are pretty cool and for whatever reason, some of them reminded me of the old Planet of the Apes. read more

I attended their Jazz festival (which was really just a music festival with various types of music) and had never been there before. I was amazed at how tranquil the place felt and I just wanted to relax for once. They have a great pool, a very limited buffet lunch (only a few choices) and of course a gift shop to purchase bells. I ended up staying several hours and suggest it if during one of their special events. Pay to go on the tour as well. They also offer beds you can rent if you want to stay overnight. The only downside was the group I was with was questioned about if we had paid to attend the event (likely because the person with us used to work there). I did not think it was cool that we all had to show our tickets several hours into the entertainment schedule in this tranquil setting. read more

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Arcosanti has been a major impact on me and my families life For years! We have gone there to festivals, performances, speeches , and celebrations. Arcosanti brings a force of culture to Arizona from Arizona. Artists have converged in this space since its creation. It is such a great place to stop on the way to flagstaff for lunch or dinner. Or to have a getaway . or to just be at . Arco Love for Life ! See you there next time ! read more

How can this place get less than 5 stars? It's either "5" or "1," perhaps: Utterly fascinating to those of us who love architecture and urban planning and sociology. (And the 1970s!) But maybe not-so-interesting/kinda weird and dirty if you aren't. read more

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Not impressed with this concrete town. We were expecting a sustainable town, for agriculture, living off the grid. Yet there's so much junk on the land from concrete, to steal, to Wood, to trash, not really working with the environment but actually suppressing the environment around it. For a vision that was started in the seventies it hasn't gotten anywhere almost 50 years later. Don't get me wrong, the concrete buildings are cool looking but I expected more of a permaculture setting really working within the environment and on it not destroying it with concrete. read more

Learned about this from another guest who was staying at the same hotel as us in Sedona. He was well-informed on Arcosanti, and shared with us enough information at the wine hour that we had to check it out for ourselves. Heading home, we stopped here and were blown away. We only visited the cafe and gift shop, as time was pressed, but we definitely cannot wait to go back! If visiting the giftshop, ask the cashier if you are able to watch the 13 minute video that they play every day. It is a great little video with lots of information on the whole idea and concepts behind this place. The bells are all of excellent quality and very reasonably priced! We bought a beautiful one to bring home! The cafe had phenomenal food. It was a buffet-style kitchen, with spectacular views and phenomenal vegetable curry!!!! Everything was great and we were thrilled that we stopped! We are DEFINITELY looking forward to going back for more tours of the place!!! read more

Worth visiting once and you can get a free pass for the tour from the public library.

About 3 miles of dirt road. Well worth finding. Relax and don't expect fast pace here. Take the tour. Kick back and take in the feeling of what is around you. People are very nice. read more

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This was quite the experience. The washboard road to get out there would surely discourage visiters. Paolo Soleri had a great concept. But I think after his death the place has going down hill. Yes they make and sale bells but you can also buy them in Scottsdale. The compound is in dire need of up keep. We took the tour for $15/person. Couldn't understand the tour guide. Wouldn't do this agian. read more

Stopped to stretch legs on my way to Sedona. Incredible place and experience right out of blade runner set. Enjoyed learning about it.

A great opportunity to witness a dying concept. Tired, worn-out and dirty just about covers it. I was NOT expecting a luxury stop but was expecting a project that was moving forward; or at least trying to move forward to validate Palo Soleri's concept. Hey, I was a 70's person so it was nice to go back in time to witness some of the things which failed me then. It's OK to have a concept; and OK for it to succeed or fail. This project is being sold as successful when it's not or even trying to be. I have travelled the world and this smells like the socialism I smelled in numerous third world countries... which is fine because many people like "3rd-world." In fact, in this instance you can enjoy Phoenix; and with this very short drive, experience "3rd-world!" We DID have a great tour guide. She was well-spoken, humorous, courteous, and I am sure-- destined to find herself. She told us very much about the little we saw. She was all in. It was a great education but I am siding with FL Wright in thinking an acre is just about right! Peace. read more

I highly recommend a tour to get familiar with the founders original philosophy and idea of so called Arcology, great experience, I look forward camping here in a near future & learn more about this unique urban laboratory read more

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I had long ago heard of this place in my architecture lectures and wanted to stop by. Friendly and knowledgeable tour guide and witnessed a bronze pour while I was there, as they made the bells they sell in the gift shop. Buffet lunch in their cafeteria was delicious. It was refreshing to hear about another way of life. The founder of this unique community, Paolo Soleri, was apparently the Father of Densification, an urban design dogma that it is now unfortunately destroying a lot of quaint historic neighborhoods in favor of high rises. But certainly worth a visit, conveniently near I-17 by a short gravel road to the scenic mesa. read more

There is a lot of restrictions around the place. Highly suggest you do do the tour guide. Tour guides are all super smart and love doing what they do:) its a beautiful environment and lovely for pictures! Here are a couple of my visit... read more

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Finally had a chance to tour this architectural experiment after first reading about it many months ago. I had visited Cosanti already, had seen the beautiful bells and heard of Soleri's visions of self-sustaining communities, and I couldn't wait to have a look at this dream in person. Judging after the 51-minute tour my cousin and I, and a few other couples, took it's apparent that a few of the community's 75 residents have woken up from that dream. Most of the minutes were spent watching a video describing Soleri's background (born in Italy, apprenticed under Frank Lloyd Wright, learned bell-craftmanship while in Europe), his dreams of self-sustaining communities, and how humanity's obsession with the automobile is so detrimental to society's happiness and very existence. While some parts of the community looked appealing (the entrance, the stairs leading up to the gift shop, cafe and bakery, and downstairs to the visitor's trail, and the pool), what tiny fraction of the grounds shown to us were in need of more than just dusting. The tour guide sounded to me like he'd spent many days memorizing his speeches detailing Soleri's plans for the community and its development, the bell-casting techniques, and the layout of what little has actually been built in thirty years; yet, he's only lived there for six months. I'd think that something as cool as Soleri's design of heat tunnels would be presented by showing us a model of these actual tunnels NOT being used as storage for folding tables and chairs. And were those residents who suddenly appeared in a courtyard watering grass, shooting some hoops, and just chillin' minutes after we were shown the area really enjoying a break? I hope so, but I left with a feeling that their appearances were all staged. If you're on your way to Sedona and going there by pickup or jeep (good tires and excellent shock absorption HUGE pluses), then do stop by and have a look. I suggest that the tour be reworked, though (why weren't we shown to the guest rooms and the sky suites? This could've been an opportunity to sell overnight lodgings- so close to Sedona!). If Arcosanti does not receive the financial support it needs, I can only see this site as a getaway community for those who have a few thousand dollars and five weeks to spare to make bells (and get a great workout), or, if you can get six others to join you, an overnight stay for about $20 per person, including continental breakfast, in a sky suite. Don't forget a dip in the pool. Skip the lunch buffet. Menu posted pasta, mini-burgers, meaty mac 'n cheese, soy entree, pinto beans, and rice, plus soups, salad bar, and bread. Right before buffet opened, mini-burgers were taken off the menu. Highlight for me was the natural peanut butter that may or may not have been freshly-ground on-site. I suspect it came from a jar. On-site bread was very good, but most of the breads were grocery-bought. Perhaps dinner buffet is better. read more

I can't wait to go back to Arcosanti! It's a wonderful/affordable place to stay if you're on your way to Sedona from Phoenix (or vice versa) and has a fascinating history. The place is unlike any other in that it's a living social experiment. The architecture that surrounds you and the craftsmanship you witness at Arcosanti is totally unique. You should check it out. read more

Arcology has noble goals, but suffers from lack of funding, being way too ahead of its time, not being tested with diverse groups of people, and not being aesthetically pleasing. I am excited about the cafe and staying here for AirBnB. The dirt road into Arcosanti was a turnoff. I learned the state owns it, but in the past they tried to get Arcosanti to pave it in return for a building permit on a phase of major renovation they did. My car is a sedan that is low to the ground. It made it with careful maneuvering. Walking up from the parking lot to the front desk was underwhelming. It gave me a Mad Max vibe with all the concrete and odd shapes. I found the designs on the bells to be Alien. I was starting to expect some folks with tinfoil hats. Not the case. I was greeted by a kind woman at the front desk. I paid my $15 suggested donation. I was disappointed to hear the cafe was closed to the public temporarily. Walking the grounds by myself didn't seem too interesting so I waited for the tour. Our tour guide was a cool guy. The video was very much dated (indicating to me that not many places around the world are picking up this type of architecture (I later found out the University of Guanajuato uses Arcology in a major way on their campus). The tour consisted of the creation process of their main income source (the bronze bells) and about the architecture. It ran over an hour. All useful information. I was happy I went to learn about this. My criticisms of the style: 1. Anti-Capitalistic (that's a tough one to sell). 2. Anti-Car (advocates the complete elimination of the car in urban centers. I support that, but much of the USA wouldn't. We are currently going into autonomous vehicles where many are against electric/giving up control to AI). 3. Timing was wrong - for example they preceded LEED green credentials. 4. Not a popular left-wing environmentalist idea (maybe due to lack of marketing or practicality). I'm from Seattle and haven't heard about this in any college classes or in the corporate construction industry where I worked. 5. The Belmont project (smart city planned for Phoenix) did not pick up the design. I asked and they only mentioned it socially within their circles. 6. Not aesthetically pleasing. 7. The more theoretical designs (on the bro tanks they sell in the store) couldn't be explained by the person at the front desk. I didn't quite get it either. All in all, check it out. The bells grew on me the more I learned about them. Staying here at least once is a must. read more