When George Fiscus and his wife, Tamara, purchased their Mesa home in 2011, their nearly barren backyard had only one feature. And it was a very basic version at that.

“It had a pool that was built with the home and literally dirt all around the pool,” George said of the brand-new, 3,830-square-foot house in the Estates at Annecy development. “Dirt and a pool. That was it.”

OK, so there were two basic features.

But the barrenness served as a perfect canvas for George to achieve his dream of having a backyard Sports Bar. The Fiscuses divvied up the remodeling preferences accordingly.

“Tamara said, ‘Do what you want in the backyard and I’ll do what I want inside,” George recalled their deal.

Finding someone who gets it

A huge sports fan who’d spent a lot of time in sports bars with friends and family, George had a pretty good idea of what he wanted. However, translating that into images landscape companies could understand was a challenge.

Somehow, most had trouble grasping the concept that seemed self-explanatory.  

“I wanted a sports bar where we could watch games. The first four or five companies came back with a (proposal for a) pergola and roof over a picnic area…. (I asked), ‘Have you ever been to a sports bar?’ No, that’s not it,” George said.

But the professionals at Unique Landscapes By Griffin in Mesa clearly have been and they got it, especially the artist assigned to draw out the designs who added a number of unique design features – like the metal roof over the bar with a cutout pattern that creates a cool design on nearby surfaces when the sun shines through it at various angles – that George said he wouldn’t have thought of.

The five-month project was completed in 2012.

The sports bar itself features six bar stools at the counter that faces a huge flat-screen TV. There’s a full bar with all the essentials and luxuries, like a full lineup of premium spirits and a beer tap.

Electrical outlets provide power for appliances like a blender to make frosty concoctions. Many steaks and burgers have been churned out on the bar’s grill.

Stone pieces over the rear wall and pillars accentuate the outdoorsy and rustic feel. Sports memorabilia, most boasting Arizona teams, reveal who the household roots for.

Instead of a traditional overhead misting system, which would create rust on the metal roof, portable misting fans are brought out during warm days.

Weekends are spent watching the Arizona Diamondbacks and jumping in the pool to cool off when needed. During football season, Saturdays and Sundays are spent here from sunrise to past sunset, when the final game is over.

“Our favorite thing is watching sports and barbecuing. We can be out from 8 in the morning to 9 at night.”

A backyard entertainment haven

The home features four bedrooms and three bathrooms plus a 600-square-foot guesthouse where their grandson and his parents reside. The main house is occupied by George, the owner of a Mesa-based sales consulting firm, and Tamara, who does the financials for the company.

The property sits on a sprawling half-acre. While the bar is usually the hub of the action, it’s just one feature of an entertainment haven.

A putting green decked out in Arizona State University décor allows enthusiasts to work on their strokes.

The 20,000-gallon Pebble Tec pool spans 40 feet from end to end.

The house’s back sliding door is the same width as the pool, so when guests enter the home, all they see is the pool, a detail the Fiscuses saw in home magazines and wanted to create. Travertine that extends from the doors to the pool edge creates a seamless transition.

Tamara spruced up a basic block bench along the backyard wall by turning it into a banquette with comfortable seating for a crowd. It sits near the fire pit, which they call “a happy accident.”

The bench was built too far from the pit for loungers to be able to rest their feet on the edge. So, the fire pit was made twice as large as it was supposed to be in order to accommodate guests who want to put their feet up.

“We joke that it’s a fire-walking pit. You can see it from space,” George said, laughing.

Metal cactus petal-inspired fixtures coordinate with other metal details along the banquette, pool and sports bar. They also match metal floral sculptures at the front of the house, pulling all outdoor spaces together.

What started as George’s dream of an at-home sports bar has grown into an at-home multi-activity venue and gathering spot for countless good times and the foundation for warm memories with those they care about.

The Fiscuses have hosted as many as 125 people in this backyard. It’s also expanded their circle of friends, several who share their 60-house gated community.

“The number one thing is the friendships we’ve made. We take more time to get everyone together,” George said. “This is the first time we lived in a place where we knew all of our neighbors and we hang out.”

Know of a unique home in metro Phoenix that is not on the market that should be featured? Email [email protected].

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