Parker’s land rights and laid-back lifestyle
The town of Parker is located along the Colorado River, about 160 miles west of Phoenix. It lies within the Colorado River Indian Tribes’ reservation. In the early 1900s, tracks for the Arizona & California Railway were laid through town, and the government sold off lots along the railroad. The unsold land reverted to the tribes. Today, many of the in-town properties remain under private ownership, but the majority of waterfront land belongs to the CRIT.
Parker’s access to the Colorado River makes it a popular cool-weather retreat for many retirees, or snowbirds. “It has a laid-back lifestyle,” says Rey De Leon, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Parker and a member of the Parker town council. “If you were to walk around Parker, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between someone who has $1 million in their pocket and someone who is living paycheck to paycheck. They’ll be sitting side by side and not trying to one-up each other.”
Colorado River recreation, town parks and off-roading
The Colorado River is Parker’s primary source of recreation. “We drive our boats up almost to the Parker Dam and then just cut the motors and drift back down,” De Leon says. “There are floating bars where you can pull in for food or fuel — you really don’t have to come off the river if you don’t want to.”
The town also has a few public green spaces, including Western Park and Pop Harvey Park, which both have playgrounds and shaded picnic benches. Along 18th Street, there are ballfields and a skate park. When the weather allows, some people hike or take their off-road vehicles into the nearby Buckskin Mountains.
Housing options and land leases
Throughout most of the town, streets are laid out in an even grid, with sidewalks along the edges and wide, gravel setbacks to allow for off-street parking. Ranch-style homes from the mid-to-late 1900s are prevalent, and prices tend to run between $260,000 and $460,000.
To the north of the Main Canal, a mix of manufactured homes and site-built, ranch-style houses line the streets of the Bluewater Lagoon subdivision, which is on leased tribal land. The subdivision’s master lease will end in 2031. “Many people just aren’t buying because they don’t know if the lease will be renewed,” De Leon says. “Some lenders won’t lend in that area.” Sales typically range from $110,000 to $420,000, and owners pay about $70 in monthly lease fees.
Floating restaurants, the Desert Bar and in-town stores
Coffee shops, family-owned Mexican restaurants and chain eateries are sprinkled throughout the downtown area, but many residents prefer to spend their time at the floating restaurants and bars along the river. “People who have been here a long, long time like going to Fox’s to catch up, have a few margaritas and watch the boats go by,” De Leon says. “Flat-bottom boats will shoot up a little rooster tail of water as they pass — it’s like a little salute — and everybody at the bar cheers.”
In the cooler months, some locals take their off-road vehicles to the Nellie E. Saloon Desert Bar, about 10 miles northeast of town. “It’s out in the middle of nowhere, so once you’re there, you’re there all day. It’s all self contained and solar powered, and they have live music and a couple of food vendors,” De Leon says.
Parker has a Walmart Supercenter and several grocery stores, hardware stores and meat markets. “We try to do most of our shopping locally,” De Leon says. “If you’ve got to shop for clothing and don’t want to do it online, you pick a weekend and do an all-day trip to Havasu or Phoenix.”
Parker's public schools
Children may attend prekindergarten through second grade at Blake Primary School, which earns an A-minus on Niche. Wallace Elementary School serves third-through-fifth-grade students and rates a B-minus. Wallace Junior High School and Parker High School both receive B-minus ratings as well. Parker High offers dual-enrollment courses in partnership with Arizona Western College.
Off-road races and the annual Parker Tube Float
Parker hosts several events each year, including the Parker 400, a week-long series of off-road poker runs and races. In June, thousands of people gather for the annual Parker Tube Float. Participants launch from Buckskin Mountain State Park and spend the day socializing on the river and at the many floating bars along the way.
Car travel, access to emergency care and airports
The community is car dependent, and state Route 95 is the main thoroughfare. Emergency care is available at the La Paz Regional Hospital, and private pilots can fly into the Avi Suquilla Airport in town. “We’ve had some Learjets land in Parker. People fly in, enjoy their weekend here and then they fly back home,” De Leon says. The closest major airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, about 160 miles east.
Climate and wastewater concerns
Parker has a desert climate with mild winters and average summer highs that top 100 degrees. The region also experiences seasonal monsoon rains, which can lead to flash flooding along creeks and rivers.
In April 2025, the town of Parker issued a building moratorium until the community’s aging wastewater treatment facility and sewer system are repaired. The work is projected to cost upward of $20 million and may take over a year to complete once funded.
