Mini-Golf and Condos on Sacred Ground? Bold New Project Sparks Debate at the Grand Canyon
The Scottsdale-based development firm Highland Nexus Group has unveiled plans to build a new events and entertainment center on the Grand Canyon’s northern rim. The development, named Atsá Biyáázh—the Navajo phrase for “Lone Eagle”—will include a mini-golf course, automall, theme park, movie theater, 5,000 units of luxury condos, and high-end retail and dining spaces. A spokesperson for Highland Nexus Group stated that the area could benefit from a cultural and economic boost, positioning Atsá Biyáázh as both a cultural landmark and a commercial hub for visitors.
At the announcement ceremony held last Friday, the developer opened with a land acknowledgment, recognizing the Grand Canyon as a sacred site for the Navajo, Hopi, and Hualapai Peoples. “We honor the deep spiritual connection Indigenous communities have to this land,” he said, adding that the project aims to balance commercial growth with “respect for the surrounding heritage.” The spokesperson noted that the parking lot designed to accommodate 2,000 cars will center around a 20-foot bronze statue of Geronimo, intended to remind foreigners of the land’s storied past.
Proponents of Atsá Biyáázh argue that the project will boost local tourism and create jobs while critics question whether features like a mini-golf course and an automall align with the goal of preserving Arizona’s landscape. In response to criticism, the development will incorporate elements reflecting local history, such as murals by native artists and interpretive displays highlighting Indigenous traditions. “I will paint a series of vibrant desert landscapes intertwined with native and western imagery that honors the spirit of this land and its people,” said Jake Longfeather, a Gilbert based artist of 1/8th Cherokee descent. “My art recognizes the cultures that have been continuously displaced and erased, while also reclaiming a narrative that envisions a more inclusive future where native values and western commerce can both prosper.”
