Exploring Queen Creek, AZ
Time Needed in this town: 1-2 days
Up until a couple of years ago, Queen Creek was considered a quiet farming town with lots of acres of farm land, sweeping mountain views, and rodeo nights. Well, word got out and today, while it’s all still there, the traffic to see it all has nearly tripled.
This is not a complaint, so much as testament to the growth of Queen Creek and how unique it is to experience. Want to go olive oil tasting and eat fresh food? There’s a spot for that. Want to pick your own veggies and pet farm animals? There’s a spot for that. Wanna go to a barrel race? You guessed it, there’s a spot for that, too. With a trend towards farm-fresh and country life, it’s no wonder Queen Creek has become so popular.
The below information is a complete guide of the best places to stay, the top rated places to dine and drink, and all there is to see and do. We’ve also included a summary of the history of this (insert adjectives and kind of place here).
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Where to Stay
There are not a lot of hotels in Queen Creek, though there are a lot of home rentals. If you would prefer to stay in a hotel and not in one of the rentals listed below, click here to find hotels in the nearby areas.
Where to Dine & Drink
Caldwell County BBQ At Pecan Lake
Offering delicious brisket, ribs, and pulled pork, with flavorful mac and cheese, corn casserole, and other sides.
Di Oliva Italian Bistro & Bar
Experience a unique outdoor dining experience at Di Oliva, featuring artisan wines, craft beers, and hand-crafted tapas.
QC Junction Cafe
Great food, served by great students, makes QC Junction truly a “Café with a Cause.” Each purchase provides our students with confidence, experience, and income in support of future independence, education and professional development.
Queen Creek BBQ Company
BBQ joint dispensing classics such as brisket and ribs alongside a full bar and a convivial feel.
Rock Point Coffee Co.
Laid-back coffee shop with ping pong, corn hole, and shuffleboard, plus a large patio.
SAge & Barrel Craft Eatery
Casual eatery serving burgers and other familiar fare along with local craft beers, wines and cocktails in a relaxed setting.
Sneakybird
Laid-back, family-owned eatery specializing in chicken sandwiches and wraps baked in an oven (not fried). They offer lots of gluten-free options.
Seven brothers
Informal counter-serve digs showcasing a modern take on American burgers, fries & milkshakes.
Switch Brews Coffee House and Taproom
Both a coffee and brewery also offering small bites.
Tapas al Gusto by Letty's Cocina
Family-run food truck known for its tacos and other Mexican eats.
The Bistro Queen Creek
Counter-service cafe with a garden patio serving eclectic breakfast & lunch fare & coffee drinks. They offer gluten-free bread options.
Things to See & Do
Day Trips
Apache Junction (25 minutes from Queen Creek)
Arcosanti (1.75 hours from Queen Creek)
Chandler (25 minutes from Queen Creek)
Florence (45 minutes from Queen Creek)
Gilbert (30 minutes from Queen Creek)
Mesa (30 minutes from Queen Creek)
Phoenix (30-45 minutes from Queen Creek, depending on where you are headed)
Scottsdale (1.25 hours from Queen Creek)
Tombstone (3 hours from Queen Creek)
Tucson (1.75 hours from Queen Creek)
Historical Exploration
San Tan Historical Museum
The Old Rittenhouse Elementary School, located on the S.E. corner of Ellsworth and Queen Creek roads was built in 1925. Used as a school through 1982, this building is now on the National Registry for Historic Places. The museum is open to the public every Saturday morning. Take some time to view the exhibits, and ask questions.
Unique Experiences
Hayden Flour Mill at Sossaman Farms
A family-owned flour mill focused on native seeds and growing hand cultivated heritage grains with minimal processing. Sossaman Farms has been growing wheat for more than 100 years in Queen Creek and visitors can enjoy a full-sensory culinary experience that starts with a tour of their milling operation. Hayden Flour Mills showcases flavorful grain and its importance to the American diet highlighting everything from artisan breads, pasta and wheat berries to bourbon, craft brews, grain-based oils and more.
Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre
Per their site, “This majestic, 38 acre facility, located in the Phoenix metropolitan area, provides ample opportunity for events of both the English and Western equestrian persuasion, as well as Vendor Fairs, Concerts, and Rodeos.”
Queen Creek Olive Mill
The Queen Creek Olive Mill is Arizona’s only working olive mill and a premier agri-tourism destination. Located in the heart of Queen Creek, their estate is where Arizona-grown olives are milled into authentic extra virgin olive oil using time-honored methods and modern craftsmanship.
TIPS: Take the tour and get there early for lunch or dinner - it gets busy! Dogs are allowed outside but not indoors.
NOTE: They do not have a lot of gluten-free options (no pasta, pizza, or sandwiches), but the salads are great!
Schnepf Farms
This family farm has been around for generations and it offers something for all, including gift shops, a bakery, a coffee shop, train rides, petting barn, and beautiful u-pick gardens and orchards. They also do great seasonal experiences, including a 4th of July BBQ, a Halloween event, and a Christmas event.
Walking Tours
Queen Creek Botanical Gardens
The Queen Creek Botanical Gardens inspires and educates about elegant edible plants, showing the future of sustainable food production in landscaping. As a unique component of the greater Pecan Lake development, this 3.4 acre Boutique Botanical Garden features the only fully-operational industrial-age water mill in the American Southwest, as well as themed demonstration gardens including English Formal, Japanese, Lakeside, Edible Flower, Mill Creek Medicinal, and Vertical Gardens.
San Tan Mountain Regional Park
San Tan Mountain Regional Park is a large rural/suburban park located in Pinal County. Although the park is administered by Maricopa County Parks, it is located within Pinal County. It encompasses over 10,000 acres and preserves a portion of the San Tan Mountains, south of Queen Creek.
A History Summary
1868 - Desert Wells Stage Stop was built for the Arizona Stage Company, providing water, shade, and protection for stages from Florence, via Olberg and on to Mesa.
1919 - Queen Creek was originally known as Rittenhouse, named after C. H. Rittenhouse who constructed a railroad stop after forming the Queen Creek Farms Company, in 1919. He built this railroad to be able to ship his produce.
1920s - The cotton gin came to Queen Creek. Before that, all cotton was picked by hand.
1925 - The Old Rittenhouse Elementary School, located on the S.E. corner of Ellsworth and Queen Creek Roads, was built in 1925. Used as a school through 1982, the building now houses the San Tan Historical Society. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
1928 - The Rittenhouse property was sold to Leo Ellsworth, who lived on the north side of Ocotillo Road. He and his brothers formed The Ellsworth Brothers Farms, an operation that soon consisted of cotton, large acreages of farm produce, cattle, sheep, and a dairy head. Leo is credited with bringing in the first phone line to Queen Creek. The Ellsworth Store was located on the southwest corner of Ellsworth and Ocotillo roads.
1940s - Former German prisoners of war from the P.O.W. camp in Queen Creek and Philippine immigrants joined farm laborers in local fields.
1946 - Local farmers, Raymond and Thora Schnepf, invited family and friends to celebrate the holiday with swimming, barbecue, and fireworks at their home. Raymond flew to Texas to purchase the fireworks, which were unavailable in Arizona. This tradition still continues on their farm, today.
1947 - The Queen Creek Post Office opened.
1989 - The Town of Queen Creek incorporated on Sept. 5, 1989 and was founded on a deep-rooted history in agriculture. There were only 2500 people living there at the time.
2024 - Nearly 84,000 people call Queen Creek “home”.
