El Dorado Holdings, Inc., began with one property south of Phoenix—which happened to belong to John Wayne for more than 42 years—the El Dorado Ranch.
Within a year, the real estate market in Phoenix started to flounder. Instead of panicking, Mike Ingram gathered a group of investors who shared his belief that the Phoenix market would weather the storm. This confidence, support and long-term vision allowed El Dorado Holdings to purchase additional properties and grow its portfolio.
Over the years, El Dorado has faced numerous challenges and economic downturns, but the company has weathered each and every storm and today is one of Arizona’s largest private landholders, with assets exceeding $1.0 billion.
The Development of Maricopa
(formerly John Wayne’s El Dorado Ranch)
The population of Maricopa soared from 500 residents in 2000 to more than 43,000 by 2010, setting the stage for commercial development for retail, entertainment, health care and educational providers. (Maricopa as shown from aerial images in 2003, 2006 and 2011, respectively.)
