Through KZZ's Q&AZ reporting project, a listener asked: “What is the history of the abandoned restaurant at the top of Shaw Butte?”
Cloud 9, located at the top of the Shaw Butte trail in north Phoenix, was a popular dining spot in the mid-1960s before it burned down.
In 1957, Richard Barker and his wife, Barbara, purchased 40 acres on the south side of Shaw Butte, near North Mountain. What began as a simple plan to build a house soon evolved into something more.
Douglas Towne, is a journalist and Valley historian who wrote extensively about the Barker family and became friends with Don Barker, Richard’s son.
"I guess he felt he needed to do more with it. So, in 1961 he opened it as the Cloud 9 restaurant," said Towne.
Don Barker played a significant role in preserving the stories of Cloud 9. According to Towne, Don would share snippets of information over time and took great pride in maintaining the legacy of the restaurant.
"He was a real nice guy and very generous with his time. He loved the Cloud 9. He loved talking about it, because he was very proud of it," Towne said.
One memorable aspect of Cloud 9 was its daring nature. The road up Shaw Butte was so challenging that even the cement truck driver wasn’t prepared for it. Barker ended up getting a cashier's check, not only paying for the load of cement but also for the cost of the truck itself.
"He had to drive the truck up the road himself because the guy just didn't trust him," said Towne.
Once Cloud 9 was open for business, the steep access road continued to be intimidating. Don and his brothers would stand at the base of the road, charging visitors a dollar for Richard to drive customers up and down in his station wagon.
The Cloud 9 restaurant quickly became a local sensation, offering more than just food— it provided a unique experience. From dining to dancing, the panoramic view was the highlight.
"Back then there wasn't many restaurants that were on top of mountains where you could kind of get a whole 360 view and the feel of exclusivity was very cool as well," said Julia Taggart, president of the Sunnyslope Historical Society. "It's such an amazing story that I don't think you'll find anywhere else. People don't build restaurants on top of mountains anymore. For obvious safety reasons."
The restaurant burned down in 1964 under mysterious circumstances. Today, only the ruins remain, but the site has found new life thanks to hikers like David Fitzpatrick, who grew up in the area.
As a child, Fitzpatrick's first hiking experience was with his mother to the Cloud 9 ruins. While the walls still stood then, now only the foundation remains.
Since 2020, David has hosted monthly full-moon hikes up to Cloud 9 through his Amazing Arizona Adventures hiking group.
"I'm blessed with meeting amazing people. I mean, it's not just Amazing Arizona Adventures, it's amazing Arizona people. I love it," Fitzpatrick said.
These hikes offer more than just exercise. Participants bring food to share, and there's live music on the remains of Cloud 9. Depending on the timing of the full moon, Fitzpatrick incorporates other festivities into the hike, such as tacos for Cinco De Mayo or costumes for Halloween. What never changes is his hiking attire. It's hard to miss Fitzpatrick with his signature tie-dye shirts and long ponytail, which he wears to honor his son, Joshua, who passed away five years ago.
"He used to make tie dye, he was an amazing kid, just an amazing young man. I miss him, so he gets to come with me everywhere," Fitzpatrick said.
The Cloud 9 hikes are about more than reconnecting with nature; they’re about honoring memories, building community and creating new experiences. Fitzpatrick's passion for Cloud 9 ensures that this historic site remains a place for people to connect with each other and the natural beauty of Phoenix.
"This is my happy place. It really is. And especially now I get a chance to share it with everyone else. It's just beautiful. I've been blessed with that," Fitzpatrick said.
The group’s next Cloud 9 hike is on Monday, Aug. 19.
