Surprise, Arizona

Welcome to Surprise, Arizona

107 average summer temperature
41 average winter temperature

Surprise, Arizona located in the northwest valley along the U.S. Route 60 was founded in 1929 by Home C. Ludden, originally from Surprise, Nebraska. Once a small farming village has now sprawled over 70 square miles to include urban, commercial development, ranches and industrial parks. For decades, Surprise has been recognized as one of the fastest growing communities in the United States and the ranked the 2nd safest city in Arizona. Today, Surprise offers affordable real estate for people and businesses looking to live, work and play.

Within the residential subdivisions of Surprise, there are also a number of retirement communities that provide for the needs of active adults. There are recreation facilities, plus golf courses and the Surprise Stadium, home to Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals spring training.

Lifestyle

Whether you are a first-time homeowner, a move-up buyer, investor or a snow-bird, Surprise could be the place you are looking for. There are multiple subdivisions made up of single family and multi-dwelling housing to include luxury homes and golf course properties.

The homes are built with stucco exterior and concrete tile roofs. Architecturally, you will appreciate high ceilings, bright windows, open floorplan designs and backyards that are perfect for enjoying the Valley of the Sun weather conditions.

Entertainment, Shopping, Dining

Shopping and dining is made easy in Surprise with choices from the Bel Mar Plaza, Surprise Town Center or Marley Park Plaza to name a few. Convenient access to the 303 Loop and Grande Avenue provide access to other Valley attractions, such as Westgate City Center and the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium.

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is home to Arizona’s largest collection of exotic animals with over 6,000 animals that represent more than 600 species. Annually, the zoo receives over 500,000 visitors, including approximately 85,000 students. The Wildlife Zoo & Aquarium is privately owned and operated, relying solely on gate admissions and retail sales to generate operating budgets.

For those who are thrill seekers and adrenal junkies you will want to visit Speedworld RC Field just to the west of Surprise. Speedworld RC Field features a ¼ mile NHRA dragstrip, motocross and BMX tracks, RC flyers, sand drags and mud bogs, Paintball Park and much more.

If the fast and the furious is not your style, then perhaps you would rather enjoy a leisurely hike or camping at the White Tank Mountain Park, the largest regional park in Maricopa County. Stretching out across nearly 30,000 acres of the rugged White Tank Mountains, there are ridges and canyons peaking over 4,000 feet. You can enjoy hiking trails surrounded by lush high desert landscape or spend a relaxing weekend camping under the big Arizona sky.

There are 7 golf courses located in Surprise, ranging from private to public, 18-holes to championship courses. Coyote Lakes Golf Club, designed by Arthur Jack Snyder and Forrest Richardson is a championship 18-hole course which provides year-round tee times with affordable rate. Arizona Traditions Golf Club is a challenging par-70 parkland style course with amazing views of the White Tank Mountains. Within the adult community of Sun City Grand are the private courses: Desert Springs Golf Course, Cimarron Golf Course and Granite Falls Golf Course. To learn more about Sun City Grand living, please visit our community page for Sun City Grand.

Parks, Recreation

Rated the “best place to watch a spring training game” by the Best of Phoenix, Surprise Stadium is home to the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals. The award-winning facility is used for more than just sports, including kid-friendly Movie Nights, Fourth of July fireworks and other entertainment festivals.

There are 4 recreation centers located within Surprise:

Countryside Recreation Center
Sierra Montana Recreation Center
Surprise Recreation Campus
Villanueva Recreation Center
There are also 3 public libraries:
Hollyhock Branch
Surprise Regional Library
White Tanks Mountain Library
In addition to recreation centers and libraries, Surprise has municipal tennis courts, community park tennis courts and Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex plus 14 public parks and a doggie park.

DreamCatcher Park in Surprise is a fully accessible multi-generational, multi-purpose facility, designed with special needs athletes in mind to provide a fun and safe place to recreate. DreamCatcher Park is barrier free with a urethane based surface which makes it safe and easy for mobility devices such as walkers and wheel chairs to maneuver.

Surprise is proud to offer sports for adults, teens, youth and adaptive for the physically challenged. One program offered through the city of Surprise is Buddy Baseball. The Bambino Buddy Ball League was established to allow physically or intellectually challenged players, ages 4 and older, to participate in baseball. The league allows a “buddy” to assist the player throughout the game as needed, like swinging the bat or running bases.

Other adaptive sports/activities include power wheelchair soccer, buddy basketball, social dances, pool parties and other important developmental events.

Education and Schools

Surprise is serviced by the Dysart Unified School District with 4 high schools, 20 elementary schools, 1 alternative program campus and 5 charter schools.