Whether you come often, or are considering a trip for the first time, there’s some real fun in store for you at Arizona’s place to play, the Talking Stick Entertainment District within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC).
The Talking Stick Entertainment District is the pride and joy of the Salt River Indian Community, located just 20 minutes from Sky Harbor Airport and conveniently located along the Pima-101 Freeway, just 15 minutes from downtown Tempe and 10 minutes from downtown Scottsdale.
The Salt River Indian Community is one of 22 Native American tribes in the state of Arizona and is rich in history and culture. The Community is represented by two distinct Native American tribes; the Akimel O’odham (River People), more commonly known as the Pima and the Xalychidom Piipaash (People Who Live Toward the Water) commonly known as the Maricopa; both share the same cultural values but maintain their unique traditions. Today, more than 11,000 individuals are enrolled Salt River tribal members.
The Salt River Indian Community shares a Scottsdale address with its municipal neighbor to the west and is bordered by Tempe, Mesa and the town of Fountain Hills. The Community owns and operates several successful enterprises including hospitality enterprises: Talking Stick Resort, Talking Stick Golf Club and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, all within the Talking Stick Entertainment District, on the northern part of the Community. The culture and the history of the O’odham and Piipaash people is an important story to tell and have been interwoven at many of the destination amenities through building design, landscape and interior art.
With nationally known venues and one-of-a-kind attractions, Salt River’s Talking Stick Entertainment District is Arizona’s playground. Over 15 entertainment venues within a few mile stretch include Medieval Times Arizona, OdySea Aquarium, Imagine 3D Mini Golf, Mavrix Entertainment Center, Octane Raceway, and iFly, as well as annual festivals and cultural events. A new addition, and Arizona must-see, is the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River which honors the brave individuals that served aboard the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. When you’re in need of a backyard escape, staycations and getaways are yours at Great Wolf Lodge Arizona, Talking Stick Resort and other great hotels within the District.
When the weather cools, the Salt River Indian Community’s Fall Festival Season will keep busy. The Rock-n-Roll car show at the Pavilions at Talking Stick is a great space to enjoy muscle cars and motorcycles, while the Arizona Taco Festival and AZ Barrels, Bottles and Brews event at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is sure to delight your taste buds. Salt River Fields is also the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, a fan-favorite stadium to catch a Cubbies game away from home. Other must-see experiences in Salt River include the Native American dance showcase at Talking Stick Resort and Native Art Market. Combine all this with 330 days of sunshine, and some of the best places to see Arizona sunsets and outstanding mountain views, and you’ll quickly see why the Salt River Indian Community is Arizona’s place to play!
We hope to see you soon in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community!