Fountain Hills official details history, mechanics and upkeep of 560‑foot fountain

Kevin Snipes, community service director for the Town of Fountain Hills, described the town’s signature fountain, its history and how it is run during a recorded town presentation.

"The fountain's something that never gets old to me," Snipes said, describing both the site's attraction and his role: "My name's Kevin Snipes. I am the community service director for the town of Fountain Hills, also known as the person that gets to run the fountain."

Snipes told listeners the fountain was brought to Fountain Hills in 1970 and first ran publicly in December 1970, before most homes in the town were built. He described the fountain’s mechanical setup and performance: three pumps powered by three 600‑horsepower motors, with height settings that reach about 70 feet on one pump, about 330 feet on two pumps and up to 560 feet when all three operate. "At 560 feet, that makes us the tallest fountain in The United States and the third tallest fountain in the world," Snipes said.

He explained operational limits tied to wind and remote controls: staff can run the system from a phone app and monitor wind speeds; the fountain is set to run with two pumps at wind speeds up to 8 miles per hour and with one pump up to 15 miles per hour. Snipes also described the fountain’s physical setting and water volume: the lake is about 32 acres and 15 feet deep, holding around 100 million gallons of water.

Snipes walked through the pump house and lighting upgrades. He noted the fountain’s center nozzle stands about 7 feet tall, and the original nozzle installed in 1970 remains in operation. "This is the original nozzle that was put in in 1970. It's running at 7,000 gallons per minute when it's running at full strength. It was helicoptered in, and it's still in operation today after all these years," he said. He described the outer ring of the nozzle as the source of the spray and an inner air ring that creates the wave effect.

On maintenance, Snipes said the fountain’s uniqueness raises challenges because the original designers are no longer available and some came from Switzerland. "What stresses me out the most about running the fountain is the fact that it is the only one in the world that's like it. And so there's no one to ask for input on what we should or shouldn't be doing," he said, adding that staff are "constantly learning new things about it each year" and rely on local experience for upkeep.

Snipes also described tools used for maintenance, including a battery‑operated boat with a trolling motor for on‑water work, and new LED color‑changing lighting purchased by the town. He invited residents and visitors to see the fountain in person, saying he regularly brings friends and family to view it.

Town officials did not propose or record any new policy decisions or budget votes in these remarks; Snipes’ comments were a descriptive account of operations, history and maintenance needs rather than a request for action or funding.