Pera Club
Rate this placeNearby: Papago Park Papago
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
The Pera Club is a historic private club located in Tempe, Arizona.
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Summary
It was founded in 1909 and originally served as a meeting place for the Arizona Society of Engineers. The club is known for its beautiful Spanish Mission Revival-style architecture, lush gardens, and stunning views of the nearby Papago Buttes.
Visitors to the Pera Club can enjoy a variety of activities, including dining, social events, and private parties. The club's restaurant, The Pera Bistro, offers a menu of classic American dishes with a modern twist, and features a full bar with signature cocktails.
One of the most popular points of interest at the Pera Club is the outdoor patio, which features a stunning fountain and panoramic views of the surrounding desert landscape. The club's gardens are also worth exploring, with their colorful flowers and towering palm trees.
Interesting facts about the Pera Club include its status as a designated historic landmark, and its ties to the early development of the Tempe area. Over the years, the club has hosted a number of notable guests, including former president Dwight D. Eisenhower and actor John Wayne.
The best time of year to visit the Pera Club is in the fall and winter months, when the weather is mild and the gardens are in full bloom. However, the club is open year-round and offers a variety of indoor and outdoor activities throughout the year.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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