Gladden Farms fetes 20 years | News

The Marana master-planned community, Gladden Farms, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Developed by Crown West Land Group, the 3,000-home Gladden Farms was originally farmland owned by Stanley Gladden, a local businessman and member of the Marana School Board. He sold the land in 2002, and the first homes were built in 2004.

“Back in the late 1970s, I used to play softball games on a company team at the park complex just north of what has since become Gladden Farms,” said Dean Wingert, head of Crown West Land Group. 

“I had no idea that I would end up devoting over 20 years of my career to a major development in the area.”

Now, Gladden Farms is a thriving community with a variety of amenities, including parks, playgrounds and a neighborhood splash pad. 

A new Fry’s Marketplace shopping center and Chuck Huckelberry Loop access will open this fall. The community is also home to Gladden Farms Elementary School for grades kindergarten through sixth, which opened in 2016. A second school is expected to open in fall 2025 for grades kindergarten through eighth. Homebuilders have 700 lots remaining in Gladden Farms and a new apartment complex is underway.

Gladden Farms represents a significant economic impact to the region. With over $900 million in home purchases alone, Crown West’s contributions to water, utility and road infrastructure have led to other businesses and communities opening in the area.

“We are proud of what we have accomplished at Gladden Farms,” Wingert added. “Together with the town of Marana, we have created a community that is both beautiful and sustainable, and we are excited to see what the future holds.”

He explained that Gladden Farms is a testament to the power of community and the dedication of its developers, builders, town of Marana staff and the    residents.

“The community is a place where people can come together to enjoy a great quality of life, and we look forward to many more years of growth and success,” he said.