From Judy Hedding,
Your Guide to Phoenix.
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Surprise was little more than a gas station and few small houses in 1938 when founder, Homer Charles Ludden, a Glendale real estate developer and state legislator, subdivided the rural square mile parcel into low-cost home sites for the area's agricultural workers, naming it after his southeast Nebraska hometown. Today, it's a 74-square-mile city on the move.

Flanked by one of Arizona's largest mountain preserves, and situated in the stunning Saguaro-dotted Sonoran desert on the northwestern edge of the thriving Valley of the Sun, it's no "surprise" that Surprise has been named Arizona's fastest growing city four years out of the past five. From 10,187 in 1995, the population has more than quadrupled to an estimated 54,000 today.

Even the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers decided to take up residence here. The once-sleepy square mile farming community surprised just about everyone when it successfully courted the two teams away from their Florida training homes, and snagged $32 million in funding from the Maricopa County Tourism and Sports Authority. The $48.3 million Cactus League Spring Training facility and stadium – along with a regional library, aquatic center, recreation center, and 57-acre passive park – open in 2002 as the centerpiece of a new square-mile-plus downtown development, putting Surprise well on it's way to becoming the playground of the West Valley.

• Looking for some cool and affordable summer fun? Surprise's 10,562-square-foot Aquatics Center takes swimming beyond the box. It includes a 4,700-square foot water play area with zero depth entry, eight-lane competitive pool, diving well with two one-meter boards, two slides, vortex whirlpool, classroom, concessions and more.
  

• Explore a world of art at the well-respected West Valley Art Museum , presenting in its five exhibit halls an exceptional offering of artists and collections from around the globe.
  

• Hike or bike to a rare desert waterfall at White Tank Regional Park located on the western edge of Surprise.
  

• Hit the greens at one or all eight of Surprise's championship golf courses. The newest, Cimarron at Sun City Grand, was designed by Greg Nash.
  

• Take a computer course or earn a degree at Rio Sun Cities Lifelong Learning Center. Through the Rio Institute for Senior Education, older adults are privy to a bevy of non-credit, college-level special interest classes ranging from handwriting analysis and travel, to details of the JFK assassination.
  

• Hit the track or take a seat in the stands--either way there's drag racing excitement at Speedworld Motorplex just north of Surprise.
  

• Spend a day at Maricopa County's northwest regional library. The $5.5 million, 20,000-square-foot library features gift shop, and 66 public access flat screen computers and separate adult, teen and child areas with greenhouse reading rooms overlooking a five-acre lake.
  

• Enjoy Cactus League Baseball in Surprise! See the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers in action at their new $48.3 million, 10,560-seat, multi-use stadium. Spring training baseball games are held during the month of March.
  

• When the holidays roll around, think Surprise. No matter the temperatures, there's always plenty of snow at the City's annual "Surprise Party" in December, as well as fireworks and fanfare on the Fourth of July.

Enjoy your visit to Surprise, Arizona!