Paradise

Arizona's ghost towns are sun-bleached and honest — copper, silver, and gold camps that lived fast and died the moment the ore did.

Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) is a public community college in Phoenix, Arizona. A branch campus, PVCC at Black Mountain, opened in 1985, with classes temporarily held at Paradise Valley High School. Once construction was completed in 1987, classes were held at its current location in what was then the far northern section of Scottsdale, Arizona, to serve this rapidly growing area. It provides greater access for the communities of Cave Creek and Carefree. The college mascot is the puma and the colors are royal blue and white.

The on-the-ground condition of Paradise is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Paradise is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Paradise is roughly 33.6529, -112.0104 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.