Agritopia, Gilbert.
A planned community
built around a working farm.
Agritopia is a planned community in Gilbert, at the northwest corner of Higley and Ray roads, established in 2003 around an 11-acre organic farm on land the Johnston family farmed from 1960. The farm, Joe's Farm Grill and Barnone share the address 3000 E. Ray Rd.
Agritopia on the map
Approximate outline drawn around the recorded subdivision plats named for Agritopia on the Maricopa County Assessor map. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Homes, shops and a farm at Higley and Ray
Agritopia is a planned community in Gilbert. Its own site places it at the northwest corner of Higley Road and Ray Road, and lists its establishment year as 2003.
A planned community is one laid out as a whole by a single group, with homes, open space and businesses decided in one plan. At Agritopia the plan puts an organic farm, restaurants and shops at the center of the neighborhood.
The farm, Joe's Farm Grill, The Coffee Shop and Barnone all share the address 3000 E. Ray Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85296. Epicenter, the newest piece, sits at 3150 E. Ray Rd.
From the Reber homestead to the Johnston farm
Agritopia's own history says the land was first homesteaded by the Rebers. A homestead is land claimed from the federal government by living on it and farming it.
In 1960 Jim and Virginia Johnston bought the farm and built a home on it. Jim grew cotton and wheat. Two of their sons, Steve and Paul, studied agriculture at the University of Arizona and came back to farm. A third son, Joe, earned an engineering degree from Stanford.
The farm's own site adds an earlier date: in 1927 this land grew alfalfa hay, at a time when Gilbert was known as the "Hay capital of the world."
By the late 1990s new subdivisions had reached the edge of the farm. In 2000 Joe Johnston led the project to plan the land as a community, working with a land planner, landscape architects, the Town of Gilbert and community developers.
1960
Jim and Virginia Johnston buy the farm and build a house on it.
1966
The Johnstons build the house that now holds Joe's Farm Grill: a ranch-style slump block house designed and built by D. D. Castleberry. Slump block is a concrete block made to look like hand-formed adobe.
2000 to 2003
Joe Johnston leads the planning work with the Town of Gilbert. Agritopia lists 2003 as its establishment year.
An organic farm in the middle of the plan
Agritopia Farm is an organic farm on 11 acres of the larger site. The Town of Gilbert's tourism site, Discover Gilbert, describes it as a USDA organic farm surrounded by restaurants and shops.
The farm grows produce, honey and fruit for local restaurants. The Agritopia map lists date palms, citrus groves, tomatoes, peaches, olives and kale.
Agritopia Farm is the flagship farm of the Arizona Urban Agriculture Foundation. It runs a Farm Store, and Discover Gilbert lists guided farm tours, U-Pick harvest events and a farmers night market.
Restaurants, makers and a mixed-use district
Every business below is listed in the Agritopia directory. Addresses are as the directory gives them.
- Joe's Farm Grill, 3000 E. Ray Rd., Bldg 1.The restaurant is the Johnstons' 1966 house, updated into a mid-century style burger stand. The dining room and its fireplace were the house's original family room. It cooks with vegetables from the farm. joesfarmgrill.com
- The Coffee Shop, 3000 E. Ray Rd.Coffee, baked goods, breakfast and lunch, next to the farm.
- Barnone, 3000 E. Ray Rd.A maker space in a renovated Quonset hut, a prefabricated building with a half-round metal roof. Local makers build and sell goods there. Tenants listed include 12 West Brewing, Fire & Brimstone and Johnston Machine Co.
- Epicenter, 3150 E. Ray Rd.A mixed-use development on nearly 20 acres with shops, fitness studios, restaurants and apartments. Mixed use means homes and businesses share the same buildings or blocks.
- Cosmo Dog Park, 2502 E. Ray Rd.A Town of Gilbert park, west of Agritopia on Ray Road. It covers 17 acres, about 4 of them fenced for dogs, with a lake fed by reclaimed water. It was built in 2006. Town of Gilbert park page
Agritopia, answered
Where is Agritopia?
Agritopia is in Gilbert, Arizona, at the northwest corner of Higley Road and Ray Road.
When was Agritopia established?
Agritopia lists 2003 as its establishment year. Planning began in 2000, led by Joe Johnston with the Town of Gilbert.
Who owned the land before Agritopia?
The land was first homesteaded by the Rebers. Jim and Virginia Johnston bought the farm in 1960 and grew cotton and wheat.
How big is the farm at Agritopia?
Agritopia Farm is an organic farm on 11 acres of the larger site.
What is Joe's Farm Grill?
Joe's Farm Grill is a restaurant in the Johnstons' 1966 ranch-style house at 3000 E. Ray Rd., updated into a mid-century style burger stand.
What is Barnone?
Barnone is a maker space in a renovated Quonset hut at 3000 E. Ray Rd., where local makers build and sell goods.
What is Epicenter at Agritopia?
Epicenter is a mixed-use development of nearly 20 acres at 3150 E. Ray Rd., with shops, fitness studios, restaurants and apartments.
Is there a dog park near Agritopia?
Yes. Cosmo Dog Park, a 17-acre Town of Gilbert park, is at 2502 E. Ray Rd., west of Agritopia.
Looking at Agritopia?
Lot size, build year and HOA details for any Agritopia home sit in the county and association records. Send me the addresses and I will pull them. Text 480-485-4261.
Own a home in Agritopia? See what the county has on file and get a real value. Looking? Search homes for sale.
Sources: Agritopia home page and history, Agritopia directory, Agritopia map, Agritopia Farm, Joe's Farm Grill, Discover Gilbert, Town of Gilbert Office of Economic Development, Town of Gilbert, Cosmo Dog Park. All checked 28 October 2026.