Historic Arizona saloon Harold’s Cave Creek Corral adds 2 new co-owners

PHOENIX — Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, one of Arizona’s oldest and best-known saloon-style restaurants, has two new co-owners.

Carefree residents Jim “Z” and Kris Ziebart recently took over the ownership stake of longtime co-owners Bill and Marie Vale and will run the business alongside fellow co-owners Danny and Meri Piacquadio.

“After more than 21 incredible years, our dear friends and longtime partners Bill and Marie Vale have decided to pass the torch,” Danny Piacquadio said in a Wednesday press release. “Their leadership, dedication and passion have helped shape Harold’s into the iconic gathering place it is today, fostering a strong community spirit, supporting local charities and schools and making Harold’s a true Cave Creek institution.”

The ownership group plans on adding more live music entertainment and throwing a 90th anniversary party this fall.

What’s the history behind Harold’s Cave Creek Corral?

The historic establishment is located at 6895 E. Cave Creek Rd. in Cave Creek.

It serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner. New food items on the menu include fried pickles, loaded tater tots and a variety of entrees.

The restaurant opened as a bar in 1935 and was called the Corral Bar to serve the workers of Bartlett Dam, according to the restaurant’s website. 

In 1950, it was renamed Harold’s Cave Creek Corral when Harold Gavagan bought the old saloon. The 1970s movie “Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins” was filmed at Harold’s.

Today, the corral is the meeting place of the Heinz Field West, a club of faithful Pittsburgh Steelers fans. The restaurant makes sure to tune in and show every Steelers game on the television screens.

Former co-owner Bill Vale is known as Harold’s mayor and created a community with his restaurant guests. The Ziebarts want to continue to grow that sense of community.

“We have been friends with Bill and Marie for nearly eight years, and we have come to love Harold’s and the Cave Creek community,” Jim Ziebart said in the release. “Kris and I have tremendous respect for Danny and Meri, and our primary goal is to keep Harold’s a locally owned restaurant and support the Harold’s team so they can continue to thrive.”

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