Camp Verde

Named for a limestone sinkhole and indigenous settlement listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Lake Montezuma retains its wealth of natural beauty nine centuries after its first settlement. Realtor Dyanna Nichols with Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert Sedona says, “Lake Montezuma is also known as Rimrock, but I call it the ‘last frontier of the Verde Valley’ because it’s the least developed, and you can get the most bang for your buck.” Unlike the nearby and densely populated Cottonwood, Lake Montezuma’s community of more than 5,000 residents is both sprawling and sparsely populated, as many homes have acres of desert between them. With direct access to Interstate 17, residents of Lake Montezuma have expedient journeys to the urban hub of Cottonwood and the entertainment that Camp Verde offers, all while living in scenic seclusion on the edge of the desert. Lake Montezuma is surrounded by opportunities for outdoor recreation, including trips to historic natural features. Beaver Creek runs through the heart of the neighborhood and towards the Montezuma Well, a large sinkhole named for an Aztec god and the site of ruins from the ancient Sinagua people. Hikers can walk around the sinkhole and view dwellings cut into the cliffsides around 800 years ago; at the southern end of Lake Montezuma, the related Montezuma Castle National Monument offers a similar experience. A wealth of wildlands also surrounds this area. “Rimrock and Lake Montezuma also border national forest land, meaning that, if you have the luxury of owning horse property, you can take your horses out on the trails that are deemed ridable,” Nichols says. “Some trails are just for feet only, for biking or motorized vehicles, and some allow horses.” Hiking trails branch off from Lake Montezuma’s rural roads, leading through desert scrubland in the shadow of the Mogollon Rim’s towering mountains. “The hiking trail accessibility is nice, and the terrain is more barren, so you don’t have as much thick shrubbery or as many taller juniper trees like Sedona. It’s a more open, rugged feel,” Nichols adds. More relaxed recreation can be had at places like Sycamore Park, which has a small playground, or at Lake Montezuma, a popular destination for picnics and duck-watching. Lake Montezuma was first developed in the 1950s, but a settlement called Rimrock existed three decades before them; today, both names are commonly used. Homes dating to the mid-20th century mingle with recently built ranch-style, Pueblo and New Traditional residences. Homes typically cost between $170,000 and $405,000, while newer homes can cost between $500,000 and $1.23 million. All of these homes tend to be situated along quiet streets, while some have vast stretches of undeveloped land between them. “It doesn’t really have community amenities like a grocery store, but it does have that rural, ‘Wild, Wild West’ feel because it’s the least-developed community in our area,” Nichols says. “It’s got the lowest price per square foot anywhere in the Verde Valley.” Students can start their education at Beaver Creek School, a Kindergarten through grade 8 school that Niche gives a B-minus rating. High schoolers can attend B-rated Mingus Union High School or C-rated Camp Verde High School. Mingus Union has a wealth of extracurricular activities that build career readiness, including Auto Club, Debate Club and Future Farmers of America. As a deeply rural community, Lake Montezuma doesn’t have access to many brand-name retailers; however, this shapes part of this neighborhood’s charm. “People trying to get away from the big, big city think it’s quaint to support a local business, and, in, Lake Montezuma and other areas in the Verde Valley, there’s a big emphasis on family-owned and little businesses like mom-and-pop restaurants and shops,” Nichols says. “Peach Tree Café is a sweet little place, baking from scratch. Robbie’s is a little, local dive bar and pizza place, and a lot of my friends who live over in Rimrock really like it.” A local Dollar General keeps residents’ shelves stocked, while neighboring Camp Verde has a Bashas’ supermarket. Lake Montezuma’s remote location means that there are no public transport options, but Interstate 17 carries travelers into Camp Verde within an 11-mile journey and the urban and healthcare hub of Cottonwood within 18 miles.