This Is The Most Hippie Town In Arizona And You Need To Visit
By Monica Spencer|Published December 30, 2017
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
Say what you will about hippies. The free spirits that emerged in the 1960s from the Beat movement made a lasting impact on American culture and you’ll still find traces of their lifestyle 50 years later all around the country. In fact, Arizona has several cities and towns known for their hippie communities, there is one town that certainly stands out.
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that Bisbee is often considered the hippie-est town in Arizona. While there are certainly plenty of other contenders—looking at you, Flagstaff—Bisbee’s rich history, small town atmosphere, art community, and food selections make this the perfect selection.
Bisbee’s history stems from mining in the late-19th century and, at one point, the town was at high risk of becoming a fading ghost town. However, it was actually artists and hippies in the 1960s who helped save the town and many of its historic buildings.
One example is the Copper Queen Hotel, one of the town’s premier inns. In the 1970s, the hotel had definitely seen better days and artist Stephen Hutchinson bought it for a steal: one whole dollar paid to the Phelps Dodge Corporation. From there, the hotel was renovated back to its Victorian charm and traded hands several times.
Take, for example, all those decorated cars you’ll find around town. Some are simply painted with some pretty wacky designs or cartoons while others somehow manage to drive down the street with an owl collection on top.
Need a quick break from all that hippie-ness? Try visiting the Queen Mine, where you can tour the town’s old mine on an actual mine cart with a retired miner!
Grab a bite to eat at one of Bisbee’s unique restaurants, like Thuy’s Noodle Shop. Not only will you find tasty food but also a menu that feels exotic and even has a few vegan options.
Then, to round out your trip, book a stay at one of Bisbee’s hotels! You can stay at the aforementioned Copper Queen Hotel or the Bisbee Grand Hotel. Both feature beautiful architecture and cozy accommodations.
