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10 Ghost Towns in Arizona That You Shouldn't Miss
The state of Arizona is one that features a fantastic diversity of landscapes and areas of geological interest. North Arizona is famous for the Grand Canyon, a colorful chasm with steep rocky walls more than a mile deep and stretching some 277 miles alongside the Colorado River. Other notable destinations in North Arizona include Flagstaff set alongside the San Francisco Peaks which has the largest ponderosa pine forest, Museum of Northern Arizona, and is close to a number of national parks and monuments. On the south side of Arizona lies the city of Phoenix, the largest in Arizona. Notable day trips in Phoenix include the Heard Museum which is one of America's largest collections of Native American art, Phoenix Museum of History, as well as the Desert Botanical garden which has a great collection of desert plants.
Restaurants in Arizona
1. Gleeson Jail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
2. Gleeson Ghost Town
3. Oatman Ghost Town
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 598 reviews
Reviewed By staggscrossing - Corona, United States
We confess, we came for the burros. But this revived ghost town is one of our favorite day trips from Laughlin! Along with feeding the wild burros, you can peek in an old mine, shop for antiques, watch a gun show, check out Clark Gable and Carol Lombard’s honeymoon sweet and pin a dollar with your name on the wall of the 1902 Oatman Hotel. So much history and character here! Plus, those furry burros... ❤️ @staggscrossing on instagram
4. Gold King Mine Museum and Ghost Town
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 545 reviews
$ 7.00 PER PERSON. This was the little town of Haynes Az . A suburb of (Jerome Billion Dollar Copper Camp). They mined gold here from 1890 to 1914. The mine shaft goes down 1270 ft. You can view it but you can not go down in it. We do offer gold or gem panning .The tour is self guided with the employees performing exhibits such as 1914 gas Whitte saw mill, black Smith making knives etc. , various antique engines and mining equipment demonstrations. You can walk through some of the old buildings such as dentist, school, assay, etc. They are filled with old antiques. There is a unique collection of antique trucks, cars , motorcycles ( varies types of vintage transportation). The kids love our petting zoo ( Pedro the donkey is world famous .) There are mini goats, Bella the mini pig, chickens and Miss Bessie the orphan calf.) Great country gift shop with unique gifts. Also have a wood working shop and a old time garage were restorations of these antique vehicles go on.
Reviewed By bluegrassgirl59 - Louisville, United States
We arrived in Jerome in the late afternoon and had time for one activity. This was my 19 year old son's suggestion and we all ended up having a great time. When you pull in the crazy begins, and it doesn't stop until you pull out. We walked through the gift shop, paid our fee, then walked out and began to explore. Imagine the machinery, vehicles, gadgets of over a hundred years all jumbled up in one spot and you'll have the idea. The owner was wonderful and wandered around with us explaining various buildings, cars, machines etc Then he introduced us to his pig, and his goats, and his chickens. We stayed for over an hour and would have stayed longer but it was very cold. If you like unique adventures, then this is the spot!
5. Fairbank Historic Townsite
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 81 reviews
Reviewed By Z5970XRvictoriaf
My biggest tip is to bring lots of water. I did this hike with my family and was able to see the old cemetery and overall it was just a fun hiking experience. If you are into learning about the history of Cochise County, this is one for the list! This review is my experience from Summer of 2014, but it does not give me an option as it was long ago. But I would do it again, when it is much cooler.
6. Goldfield Ghost Town
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,751 reviews
This abandoned old mining town, which has been refurbished as a tourist attraction, includes a mine tour, rides and shops.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Goldfield, Arizona, is an old mining town that was established in 1893 when gold was discovered in the surrounding Superstition Mountains. The gold ran out a long time ago but Goldfield Ghost Town survives as an popular tourist attraction. Located at 4650 North Mammonth Mine Road, 35 miles southeast of Phoenix, outside Apache Junction, on the east flank of the Valley of the Sun, it looks like a backdrop from an old John Ford Western movie. There are so many things for visitors to do, even 79-year-old retirees who enjoy walking in the footsteps of history. Walk down Main Street, explore the shops and historic buildings, tour the historic Mammoth Gold Mine, ride the only narrow gauge railroad train in Arizona, visit the museum with an exhibit of the Lost Dutchman Mine, witness an Old West gunfight with re-enactors, pan for gold, make a scenic guided tour of the historic Apache Trail, see the Superstition reptile exhibit, saddle up for as horseback ride at the Superstition OK Corral Stables and get an awesome aerial view of the town and the picturesque Superstition Mountains from the town's newest attraction, the Superstition Zipline. Is that enough? Open from 10 to 5 daily, Goldfield can be reached from Phoenix by driving US 60 East or Superstition Freeway to exit 196, then left to Idaho Road or Arizona 88 East, then right at North Apache Trail and left at Goldfield Ghost Town.
7. Vulture City Ghost Town
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 122 reviews
Reviewed By WA_chilly80 - Orting, United States
Driving from Phoenix to Las Vegas, we took a stop on Vulture City Ghost Town. Can’t recommend it enough, the family/staff there was beyond knowledgeable and friendly! It was great stepping back in time and seeing a moment in time. The view down into the mineshaft and the overwhelming feeling of seeing the “hanging tree”. Highly recommend!!!
8. Chloride, Arizona
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 166 reviews
Chloride is Arizona's oldest continually inhabited mining town. About 350 people live here today. While it is not a ghost town, it can feel like it because it is so super quiet. This is definitely NOT Oatman, and we like it that way! Drive around town and look at the old houses, some of them with elaborate rusty metal yard art. The Jim Fritz Museum (owned and managed by the Chloride Historical Society), just east of the park) is open every Saturday from about 11 am to 12 pm or 1 pm. Gunfight reenactments by the High Desert Drifters on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at High Noon. Great photo opportunities. There is a store (Mineshaft Market), a US Post Office, some tiny shops, and two restaurants as well as a park with covered area and playground. Karaoke on Saturday afternoons at Yesterdays Restaurant. The cemetery outside of town is one of the state's oldest. Enjoy the quiet atmosphere, the wildlife wandering through town, and the clean air. Interested?
Reviewed By AngelaC396
Enjoy the old town and the great home town vibe with the locals! Stayed at Sheps Miners Inn - highly recommend it! And Yesterdays cafe was fantastic food and service at good prices. (note everything in this town closes at 5pm 7days a week)
9. Swansea Ghost Town
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By B6984VAmikew - Prescott, United States
The drive into Swansea was interesting to say the least. The first 1/3 is paved after a fashion. The next 1/3 is a dry wash bed. The last 1/3 is not a challenge for the faint hearted! Once arriving at Swansea, walking around what was a going, jumping mining community 80 years ago, you develop an understanding of the harsh life of the miner in that era. Being near Yuma and Parker, the heat in the summer must have been horrific. There are many deep shafts or holes that have been covered with heavy fencing to prevent an accidental falling. Several buildings remain along with numerous footings of the buildings and equipment sites making up the original townsite. The day of our visit, a man had set up 'camp' to spend the night in the isolation of the Swansea with total quiet and dark skies for amazing star gazing. In today's easy life, it is difficult to imagine the extreme living conditions of the miner and there desire to chase the elusive dollar. The mine never made a profit but is an interesting trip into yesterday...
10. Ruby
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By allenmic
We visited Ruby on Oct 20th, 2019. It is a great little place to visit and was totally worth the bumpy road. The new caretaker James, is the best grounds/tour person I've met anywhere. Although he noted that he was relatively new to the area and position, he helped us as much as he possibly could telling us where everything was and letting us know where we shouldn't or couldn't go (in a very relaxed and friendly, helpful manner). We will be back again and also tell all of our friends in Phoenix that this is the place to go for a southern Az getaway. There is an amazing looking lake there surrounded by big shady trees and high canyons with a sandy-type beach. There are picnic tables too. The historic structures are really something to look at when you imagine that this place was bustling at one point. On a personal note aside from James' professionalism, he comes across as a genuine stand-up guy with real values. He expressed that he would like to help get Ruby in a better state. He seems to have a real interest in making it the best ghost town in America. His dog is really nice and he made sure that we were okay with dogs before introducing "Jack"? to us (although it wasn't necessary as we love dogs). James found a lost & scared baby rabbit and helped it back to its hole nearby. It seems that there is a lot of lifestyle change required to do this position so I hope he has as many resources & standard luxuries as are available to help make his stay as comfortable as possible. We'll be back because of him and the beautiful scenery of Ruby. It was amazing for photography. I'm not going to spoil it for you and upload pics of everything (but there are a few below), because it's really better in person. - Michael Allen
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