Enjoying Rustler's Rooste on my Bday last year.

So if you’re a frequent reader of iTourAZ.com you saw our “Eat More Rattlesnake” posting a couple months back. If you didn’t, let me give you a quick synopsis: we heart Rustler’s Rooste. That’s right a few months ago we professed our love for Rustler’s Rooste. I think we told you that we had been long time fans of this great restaurant. Well just to prove it I wanted to share with you a paper I wrote in my freshman year of college at ASU. I think the assignment was to “show through words” as opposed to “telling”… well I don’t claim that I did a fantastic job of that, but as you can see it definitely proves that we’ve loved the Rooste for a while now! So here it is in its entirety, enjoy!

From the moment you enter the Marriott resort center, you know you’re in for something special. As you slowly wind up the mountain towards Rustler’s Rooste you are constantly getting a better view of Phoenix. Rustler’s Rooste is a very unique restaurant. It combines both a fine dining experience and a fun dining experience. People of all sorts come from all around to eat there. There are cowboys, rich people, white trash, and common people alike. After you either park the car or ask the Valet to do for you, you enter the restaurant through the side of the mountain. Next to the entrance there’s a giant bull named Horny (because of the fact that he is a longhorn steer). As you enter the restaurant the smell of food cooking overcomes you, and it sets your taste buds alive.
Rustler’s Rooste was built almost 35 years ago by two people from Tempe. These people built the restaurant from scratch. They poured the concrete and built the tables in the morning, while they ran the restaurant and bar at night. In 1981 the Rooste became the main attraction of the point on South Mountain resort. However, on May 3, 1985 there was an electrical fire. This fire came very close to completely destroying the restaurant. The people who worked there loved the place so much that the very next morning at 6 AM they started cleaning up the place and had the kitchen in working order by the end of the day. Since Rustler’s Rooste opened back up for business it has served 89 tons of red meat, 27,600 pounds of ribs, 17,000 chicken wings, and 3 tons of rattlesnake. There are lots of other statistics but I won’t go into them, and if you are still interested they have them at the Rooste.
Rustler’s Rooste is located on the side of South Mountain in Phoenix. After entering the front door, you walk up a slightly inclined old hardwood floor. On both sides of you are the sheer rock walls of the mountain. A feeling comes over you as you walk up the ramp to the dining area. It is almost as if you have been transported back to the 19th century. As you walk up to the spot where the host stands you can see down to the main dining floor and out the big windows. The view out of the window is absolutely gorgeous. You can see the whole valley and all the lights with the mountains in the background fading slowly away. The hostess behind the counter is wearing a button up collared shirt, black jeans, and cowboy boots. On her head she wears a headset which she can talk to the other hosts or hostesses with, and this sets her apart from the waiters. Once you have told the hostess the name that the reservation is under she leads you off to where you are seated. To get to your seat you have to cross over a wooden bridge. The wooden bridge takes you over the sheer rock side of the mountain, where they have a waterfall running down the side of it. Once over the bridge, you come to a giant slide that goes from the second floor to the first floor, where the main dining areas is at. You can choose to take the slide down or you can take the stairs down. Your hostess then leads you across the dance floor, which is scattered with sawdust, in front of the band and to your table.
After you sit down the waiter arrives and ask you if there’s anything that you would like to drink. He then takes your drink order and tells you that he will be right back with your drinks and complimentary bread, and to see if you are ready to order. He then leaves. The menu itself adds to the whole atmosphere of the place. It is printed on an old yellowish white paper, and it tells the whole story behind Rustler’s Rooste. Everything is named in cowboy lingo. For instance, there is the “Rustler’s cut”, the “Trail Boss”, the “Cattlemen’s”, the “Bronco Burger”, and rattlesnake. They also have areas for people who don’t like steak. For instance they have “The Fishin Hole” for people who want fish, and they also have a section titled “Hey Grazers! (Vegetarians)”, which simply says that they “will have cookie (the chef) whip up something vegetarian (without any meat in it).” The meals range anywhere from $8.95 to $21.95. Our waiter comes back with complementary bread (biscuits and Indian fry bread), which I must say is quite exquisite, and takes your order. He is very polite and takes care to make sure he has everything correct before taking the orders to the cook.
Outside the sun is setting providing a very romantic picturesque view. There is a big group of people outside eating corn on the cob which is being grilled next to a bonfire that the people are sitting around. The waiter returns moments later to refill our drinks and bread basket. I asked him if it would be all right if I asked him some questions about his job. He says that he would be more than happy to answer any questions that I have. “So how long have you been working here?” I ask. “About four years,” he replies. Then I asked how he got into the job and how he actually got the job, to which he replied that he was going to school at ASU and needed the money, and that he actually got the job through a friend. “How much do you get paid,” I asked. “I get a base pay of $2.35 an hour plus tips, but it works out to somewhere around $20 an hour.” Then I asked him what kind of clientele usually comes through the Rooste. He said that in the summer it was mostly locals, with businesses and corporate executives. When I asked him if he had many famous people (which there are lots of that come through the Rooste) he said that he had met Herschel Walker and Ricky Henderson. He also said that there was a list by the guest book that had all the other famous people that had never been there. Some of these names include: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. T., Kirk Douglas, Wilt Chamberlain, Mike Ditka, Richard Dreyfuss, Don Shula, Michael Jackson, Magic Johnson, Steve Martin, Madonna, Dan Marino, Robin Williams, John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, John Travolta, Bo Schembechler, and Dick Van Dyke. He said that the best part of the job is working only nights and that the pay was great.
The people sitting next to us overhear me asking the waiter questions and start remarking about how much they love the place. They also include how much more often they would come it wasn’t so expensive.
After finishing my meal, which was the “Bronco Burger”, and included the Burger, a salad, fries, and cowboy beans all of which was served on a big metal plate/bowl’s and was absolutely divine, we paid the bill and got up to leave. On your way out you pass by a display case that is filled with T-shirts, jewelry, Rattlesnake key chains, hat tacks, belts, paperweights, knives, and antique guns. As you exit you notice a giant guestbook filled with names and addresses from all over the world, and written in several different languages. I then go home with my belly full and my pockets empty and a big smile on my face because even though my stomach hurts from eating so much and my wallet is now a lot lighter it was well worth it because it is such a great restaurant.

So, there you have it in all its glory! Not too shabby for a freshman year English paper by a guy from little old Dryden, Michigan. What grade did I get you ask? Well I got a “B” on this paper the professor said the following:

“Josh, this is good — it makes me want to go. You tend to go a little overboard in the step-by-step details (we can assume the waiter leaves) you also may have wanted to interview someone else — the Cook or the hostess or even the waiter. This may have required more visits at a profile of a good place should be based on more than one visit.”

So that’s the skinny, like I said we LOVE Rustler’s Rooste! Now head on over and enjoy yourselves a rattlesnake!

1. The Phoenix Zoo is the Nation’s Largest nonprofit zoological park that does not receive public subsidies for its operation!
2. The Phoenix Zoo is responsible for the existence of the Arabian Oryx successfully breeding them back from the brink of extinction.
3. More that 42 million people have visited the Phoenix Zoo since it opened its doors in 1962.
4. The Phoenix Zoo has been a field trip destination for more than 5 million children!
5. More than 200 endangered species call the Phoenix Zoo their home.
6. There are 2.5 Million Lights used for the Phoenix Zoo’s Annual ZooLights Event!
7. It takes over 2,400 man-hours to install all the lights for the Phoenix Zoo’s Annual Zoo Lights Event!
8. Gaia, a female Komodo Dragon that is part of the Phoenix Zoo’s newest exhibit (Land of the Dragons at the Phoenix Zoo), is the first Komodo Dragon in North America to Lay and hatch eggs with out a male mate.
9. The Phoenix Zoo was originally named the “Maytag Zoo” in honor of it’s founder Robert Maytag.
10. The Phoenix Zoo has about 1,200 animals on exhibit at any given time!

The four of us here at iTourAZ.com are huge fans of the Phoenix Zoo and so we’ve dubbed this week Phoenix Zoo week! We’ve got lots of exiting blog posts planned so stay tuned for some great posts from the entire team.

Photo Courtesy of @kevinspencer

A little bit about why we chose the Phoenix Zoo as one of our themes weeks:
Well, for starters, they are a fantastic organization that has become a staple of visiting the the Phoenix Metro area as well as Arizona in General. The Phoenix Zoo is home to some 1300 animals and is the largest privately funded zoo in the nation! Additionally the Phoenix Zoo has recently been voted into the list of top 5 zoo’s for children! Though only recently voted on to this list we’ve been enjoying the the Phoenix Zoo since we were children and was a top vacation spot destination for us before we lived in this great state of Arizona!

There’s so much to see and do at the Phoenix Zoo and we plan on sharing our favorite activities, memories, and events that enjoy at the Phoenix Zoo! Here’s a little sample list of some of the articles we’re working on for Phoenix Zoo Week!

1. The top 10 fun facts about the Phoenix Zoo.
2. The top 10 exhibits at the Phoenix Zoo.
3. Support the Phoenix Zoo – 5 Ways you can Help!
4. Kids Corner: THe Top 5 Things to do with your Kids at the Phoenix Zoo
5. Five things you wouldn’t think of doing at the Zoo… but now will

So, stay tuned folks… we’ve got lots of great content on the Phoenix Zoo coming your way!

Please let us know if there is a particular topic or question about the Phoenix Zoo you would like to have answered by hitting us up in the comments!

We built a house in an up and coming area that was being newly developed.  Since I have lived here my whole life I thought I knew what I was doing!  Of course it was during the building boom.  Not much existed but farms, ranches, new strip malls and schools.  A few years later it is a different story.  Our new neighborhood is riddled with graffiti.  The last place you would expect to see crime and gangs…right in this pristine and new tree lined community.

The purpose of this it to inform others about Phoenix and the surrounding communities.  Real estate can always be a good deal if it is in the wrong place to live.   Here are a few facts and tips:

Phoenix: Being the main draw to tourists and visitors it is the most populated city here in AZ.  But, being a native I can say there are selected places to actually settle down in.  Downtown has new lofts that are modern and new age but have yet to find a real draw for everyday people.  Most places are far from shopping and parks.  The smog and traffic leave something to be desired.  There are still many streets riddled with condemned houses and the homeless.  I’d say move there because your job is next door or your single and love culture.  Great Museums!

Scottsdale: Often if anyone famous visits our fine city they stay in Scottsdale.  Nothing comes close to the nearly pristine conditions you can find on every corner and building.  The shopping is spectacular with a wide variety and convenience.  Really, the customer service is the best.  But, you get what you pay for.  Look at paying up to 10% more just for the zip code.  And, on top of that, expect to work hard to keeping up with the Jones’s.  Great place to visit: Old Town Scottsdale!

Mesa: Talk about a split city.  Mesa has really worked hard the last 10 years to renovate their Main Street.  Putting a lot of dollars into sculptures and a huge convention center.  And, it has been worth it.  Now you can shop, eat and work in a quaint and picturesque little area.  The housing is riddled.  It is a strange demographics of working poor and elite socialites.  Some streets are full of old run down cars while others boats and RV gates.  And, the streets touch. It is also known to be a very religious community.  Great place to see: Main Street.

Chandler: Well the fabulous mall certainly put it on the map.  Located at the 101 and Chandler Blvd.  It is surrounded by shopping and great restaurants.  What a great place to live.  Right in the middle of all the cities and a freeway is always close by!  I have however seen some old and probably what some some would see as historic district filled with what should be condemned houses and in need of an HOA!  But, there are a majority of new homes in gated communities that are real perfect!  Great Shopping!

Avondale: It’s pretty far from downtown but, if you are looking for a little more quiet and new….Here it is.  Not far off the freeway it is easily accessed and easily navigated.  With a majority new homes and shops it is great for a new family that is looking for a deal on a house!

Laveen: Let’s think country.  This community is tucked up near South Mountain and filled with new communities and farmland backing up to each other.  It is still quaint and small with some great custom lots and cookie cutter homes.  Not close to the freeway, no shopping but grocery, and has some rough neighborhoods that are filled with section 8 housing.  Look carefully.  Great place to hike or see South Mountain!

Gilbert: Talk about a town that has grown by leaps and bounds.  They have managed to keep the small town feel and add the eloquent shopping.  A great place with custom and clean homes.  Perfect place for a family.  TOTAL family community.  Everyone has kids and dogs!  Quite a haul from Phoenix but may be worth it!  Great idea of Perfect Suburbia!

Glendale: It is the community that used to be new… and, is now old.  Most things are older and worn.  Homes, shopping and buildings.  But, it does add to the charm.  Some areas are still decent and others not worth looking at.  Great thing to do: Close to the I17 freeway and has a spectacular chocolate affair near Valentines Day!

Paradise Valley: Great place to shop and enjoy the outdoors.  On the edge on the city it is a bit isolated.  pretty far from Phoenix but with a great view.  A little hard to navigate and a lot of homes are custom.  Great Sunday drive!

Queen Creek: What a great city away from the city.  More for families that don’t need a lot of shopping or eating out.  Limited fun and access.  But has a total country feel!  Great way to get out of the city!

Well, These are just of few of our fine cities that make up Phoenix and the surrounding areas!

I instantly loved the clean & open spaces of the museum.  I was each area of the museum was unique with great lighting and allowed the viewer to move into a new direction without getting bored or overwhelmed.   I was impressed with the unique work they had along with the more classical pieces.  I feel that they truly had a little something for everyone.

Some of the Art was very moving.  I personally like Impressionist more than modern art and found that they had many great and interesting pieces.  I feel like they had a good mixture of each of the major areas such as: Native American, Asian, Modern, European, American, Unique, 3 dimensional and kids.  I can say I am glad I did not take my 2 toddlers as the museum does have a lot of steps and levels and it is quite calm and quiet.  

Overall a great place to visit and see.  I toured most of the exhibits within 2-3 hours.  I will definitely go back again!  To See more great pictures click here to see a slideshow!