When the mines closed, the towns were abandoned and remained uninhabited, thus becoming permanent ghost towns. Here are 10 of our favorite ghost towns that have been well preserved. He was the only fatality in cottonwood, arizonas most devastating fire, destroying the whole west side of town business houses on main street, 10 homes and numberous warehouses on the back street. An example of this is sasco, named for the southern arizona smelting company. Arizona ghost towns and mining campsa travel guide to history. A ghost is defined as the spirit of a dead person, especially one believed to appear in bodily likeness to living persons or to haunt former habitats. There are a number of interesting ghost towns in southern arizona, especially in the area around tombstone, and in or near coronado national forest. From mining camps to military posts, arizonas frontier past is on display at hundreds of ghost towns around the state. Take a drive and a hike and explore arizona ghosts towns. Below youll find a map in the desert southwest of states that have ghost towns, some well known, others not so well known. A student in arizona state universitys barrett, the honors college produced a work of creative nonfiction about arizonas old mining towns as her thesis project. According to the exhibitions press release, most ghost towns in arizona are. Arizona has over 275 ghost towns and many more camps and other smaller historical locations. Arizona ghost towns and mining campsa travel guide to history phillip varney on.
If you need to book an airline ticket, we recommend that you do so after you receive a confirmation of your tour reservation from us. Travel through giant saguaro cacti, deep canyons carved by flash floods, and cross the agua fria river to experience the wild and vast desert terrain. About halfway there, the road goes from pavement to dirt. Regional maps, detailed travel information, and a fullcolor photographic portfolio describe each site and make this fascinating history of arizona a reliable travel guide as well. This word search puzzle may spark an interest in the colorful history of the american southwest. Inevitable byproducts of the development of gold, silver, copper, and other mineral deposits in arizona, some of these communities mushroomed overnight into a hodgepodge of tents and makeshift homes, while others developed over a period of years into tidy. Inevitable byproducts of the development of gold, silver, copper, and other mineral deposits in arizona, some of these communities mushroomed overnight into a hodgepodge of tents and makeshift homes. Real arizona ghost stories cottonwood az near jerome. Inevitable byproducts of the development of gold, silver, copper, and other mineral deposits in arizona, some of these communities mushroomed overnight into a hodgepodge of tents and makeshift homes, while others developed over a period of years into tidy, wellplanned townsites. For an excellent guide to arizonas ghost towns, see the book arizona ghost towns and mining camps by philip varney the following website has a comprehensive listing of ghost towns with descriptions and brief histories. Step back in time to the era of gunslingers and saloon rumbles on a fullday ghost town and wild west tour from las vegas. Clifton, arizona mining copper through thick and thin. Arizona ghost towns index of picture galleries 270. The most famous of the arizona ghost towns are the semighost tourist locations like jerome and tombstone.
If you like to visit ghost towns you get accurate directions and an idea of what remains to be seen. Ghost towns ghost towns of arizona and surrounding states. The most famous of the arizona ghost towns are the semighost tourist locations like. Arizona ghost towns index 270 pictures from 32 arizona ghost towns, mining camps and historic sites. Good and accurate information on arizona and new mexico ghost and almost ghost towns. Arizonas ghost towns are concentrated in the northwest central and southeast portions of the state. Just outside tombstone, a lonely dirt road weaves through desert scrub, in the shadow of the rugged dragoon mountains, and links three former mining communities. Ghost town tour 4 hour guided atv utv tours arizona. A ghost town occurs because the economic activity that supported the town or city has failed due to natural or humancaused disasters such as a flood, government action, uncontrolled lawlessness, or war. Arizona ghost towns and mining camps by philip varney is considered to be one of the finest books to get to know and visit arizonas ghost towns and mining.
An eticket will be sent to you via email as soon as details of your reservation are confirmed or your supporting information is received by us. Just a reminder august is extremely hot, over 100 daily. The best arizona ghost towns with photos tripadvisor. Ghost towns in southern arizona the superstition wilderness, fort bowie, pearce, courtland, gleeson, tombstone, fairbank, harshaw, duquesne, lochiel, yuma territorial prison, kofa. Arizona is home to many ghost towns, which at one point in time were flourishing mining towns. Jerome is higher and cooler so thats ok but some of the other places recommended are very, very hot in august. Gleeson, courtland and pearce are strung along the length of the aptly named ghost town trail, a. This will be a great way to find and explore a ghost town near you.
This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. Ghost towns of arizona provides pictures, maps and. A ghost town is defined as a once thriving town, especially a boomtown of the american west, that has been completely abandoned. Have published articles on arizonas mining history and have visited most of the major ghost towns in the state. Basically, these towns are deserted arizona towns, many of which flourished in earlier times. Some have been converted into historical sites that draw in visitors from across the country, while others remain abandoned but have. And just to add there is a book available on that lists all the ghost towns in arizona. Pick a ghost town on the map thats near you or near where youll be traveling. Ghost towns and their locations in the desert southwest. Clifton, a oncebooming frontier mining town in southeast arizona, has suffered through labor strikes and the ups and downs of mining and floods, yet still survives and is the location of one of the worlds largest deposits of copper. If you read it just for the history or use it as a guide book for to explore these towns of the past it is a worthwhile and informative book.
Ghost towns of arizona provides pictures, maps and information on. Goldfield ghost town in phoenix attraction frommers. There was a little less than i expected but stiil some cool things to see and a nice dirt ride into the cerbat mountains. Highest rated places of interest or tour operators on tripadvisor, promoting. Maricopa county is home to about 20 ghost towns and they are all places you want to use the buddy system. Exploring ghost towns and deserted buildings throughout arizona and the surrounding states. Although its a bit of a tourist trap with gift shops, an icecream parlor, and the like its also home to goldfields historic museum tel. He provides information on when the towns flourished usually relating this to the existence of a post office, which can be. Ghost towns these are some of the ghost towns i have stumbled upon and explored in recent years. Pages in category ghost towns in arizona the following 121 pages are in this category, out of 121 total.
The story line, for many, is the same gold or silver or copper is found and a roughandtumble mining camp suddenly becomes a boomtown, replete with stores and laundries, saloons and houses of ill repute. Visit these 12 creepy ghost towns in arizona at your own risk the mining boom of the late 19th century saw the rise of dozens of small towns and settlements across the arizona territory. Unfortunately, majority of these have been reduced to nothing more than the rubble of building foundations or no longer have any trace of civilization and have simply reverted back to empty land. Cerbat was a ghost town and mining area from the late 1800s to the 1910s. Arizona ghost towns and mining camps by philip varney. He was a pyschic and spiritual lecturer that frequented cottonwood and the red rocks of sedona, always staying at the cottonwood hotel. Other students studied arizonas immunization rate, sextrafficking awareness and wearable technology that can predict fatigue in military personnel. Clifton, arizona mining copper through thick and thin view of clifton, arizona by kathy weiseralexander. Over on the east side of the valley, just 4 miles northeast of apache junction, youll find a reconstructed 1890s goldmining town. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Arizona ghost towns and mining camps legends of america. Ghost towns of arizona is a personal website about exploring ghost towns, abandoned buildings, decrepit towns and locations most people dont know or.
Once upon a time, gold was struck in the back country of arizona. Be prepared, carry lots of water and a cooler with ice. By emily heffter this skinny, 266acre property in arizona is not much. Ruby is the best of the hundreds of arizona ghost towns or at least the bestpreserved of the many in southern arizona. Arizona ghost town books ghost towns and history of the. Ghost towns and historical haunts in arizona historical. With its rich history in mining, arizona is home to over 200 ghost towns. Photos of each gravesite, contributions and history by volunteers. Arizona ghost towns and wildwest tour we really enjoyed the ghost town tour day with evan. She will be one of 170 barrett students to showcase their work this week.
Goldfield, arizona as its name suggests, this classic old west ghost town was a product of the gold rush. Gleeson is located about 15 miles from tombstone, arizona in the heart of apache country. Wild west ghost town explorer day tours from las vegas. Arizonas best ghost towns, northland press, philip varney, click here. Arizona ghost towns and mining campsa travel guide to. Bisbee once a copper camp queen, bisbees daytoday life was fraught with pollution, deforestation and the possibility of indian raids. Ghost town authority philip varney brings the old west to life with intriguing anecdotes and a gallery of rare oldtime photographs.
In some cases it was silver or some other precious ore that lured miners and their families to settle in an outoftheway spot. Accompany your guide along route 66, past the hoover dam and through arizonas historic ghost towns to visit places seeped in lore like the oatman hotel, home to a local poltergeist. The churning wheels and whistle of railroad trains are distant echoes along the banks of the san pedro river, but a few buildings stand testament to. This is a partial list of ghost towns in arizona in the united states of america. These later led to small communities and business ventures becoming established as arizona moved into statehood and modernity, especially when route 66 was opened. Arizonas ghost towns exemplify mans courage, tenacity, and perhap. Enjoy an exhilarating day in the famous sonoran desert, offroading on some of the best trails in the stunning bradshaw mountains, located on the northern edge of phoenix. The indians first worked turquoise mines in the gleeson area many years ago. Many of the arizona ghost towns were once company towns, named for and virtually owned by different mining companies. Please do not book the airline tickets until you received the confirmation. Students will find the names of arizona ghost towns and with prompting, may be enticed to read about the reasons for the rise and fall of some towns mentioned here.
Arizonas ghost towns exemplify mans courage, tenacity, and perhaps even foolishness in his search for wealth. Arizona is one of the few states known for its abundance of ghost towns with over 350 documented settlements. But its wellmaintained and a standard sedan can easily travel on it unless of course, the area gets a hard rain. Ghost towns of arizona arizona ghost towns with history.
Welcome to ghost towns of arizona and surrounding states a ghost town is a completely abandoned or semiabandoned town or city. The town has since reinvented itself as an artists haven. For more ghost towns in the area see our page ghost towns and tours of southern arizona listing stories and sites around southern arizona. Goldfield, arizona ghost towns of america pictures. Today, it is a silent reminder of its former glory days, with collapsed walls and crumbling foundations. In its 1890s heyday, goldfield popped with three saloons and a school. Zillowsome dreamers to take another run at mines like octave a sort of second gold rush for this part of rural arizona.
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