8 Staggering Photos Of An Abandoned Mansion Hiding In Arizona
Abandoned places aren’t out of the ordinary here in Arizona. In fact, coming across a ghost town, an abandoned mine, or other hints of has-been human life are pretty common, even in the most remote areas. Today, we’re going to look at one abandoned place in western Arizona in particular that was once rich and lively: the Gold King Mansion.
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Tucked away in the Hualapai Mountains is an old, crumbling building, a relic of the wealth that seemed to endlessly flow from the mountain’s mines.
...or, at least, the wealth that should have flowed. Mohave County was formed in 1864, right around the same time gold was discovered in Arizona’s mountainous landscape. Located southeast of Kingman, the Gold King Mine opened in 1929.
A rough, drive-up dirt road or a long hike will take you to the site of the now-abandoned luxury palace.
The parent company announced plans to create a series of two-story concrete bunkhouses for its employees and contractors. These buildings were expected to feature some incredible modern technological advances that were definite improvements over the tents and shacks miners lived in traditionally. The company promised a fireproof building with electricity and good insulation. It was an excellent draw....
However, this was the only modern bunkhouse that would be built.
Not a lot of documentation exists about what exactly happened, but one rancher reported in 1933 that the building was not being used for its original purpose. Instead, it had quickly transformed into a spot to wine and dine potential stockholders -- and they left the miners out of the equation.
What a sight it must have been! The source also mentioned copper screens covering the windows, and a fish pond sitting in the yard outside.
A visit here will show you what remains -- which is meager, but telling.
Though you won’t see many details left, an in-person visit here will allow you to more fully explore what remains -- much better than any written-word article ever can!
For example, the intricate ceiling molding is unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else! The gently arched entryways, giant windows, and high ceilings make this feel more like a villa than what was planned to be miners’ housing.
The mine opened in 1929, the same year as the stock market crash that led to the Great Depression. This led to a halt in mining, and the few attempts to get it started back up failed - causing the mine to simply sit for long periods of time. By 1957, the Arizona Department of Mineral Resources proclaimed the mine "idle" -- and it was officially abandoned.
This is all that now remains of the once-garish mansion: a hollow building stripped bare and hidden away from view by the general public.
By the 1970s, most of the decorative interior was completely gone or had been vandalized. To preserve what was left of the building, the Bureau of Land Management and Arizona Site Stewards now oversee the care and protection of this building for future generations to enjoy.
Gold King Mansion is in the Hualapai Mountains southeast of Kingman. Directions coming from the city can be found at this link. You can also find additional information about visiting the mansion by contacting the Bureau of Land Management’s Kingman office.
When visiting, don’t forget to follow the “leave no trace” principles: leave whatever you find, and always take your trash with you.
The Gold King Mansion is a huge, once-was luxury home currently decaying away in Mohave County, Arizona. The nearest town to the mansion is Kingman, Arizona, which is only a brief drive away from the Nevada border. The Gold King Corporation built it in 1929 to house and entertain wealthy investors and supervisors working in the mines. The mansion was deserted following the stock market crash in October of that same year, and to this day, its derelict halls are truly intriguing to explore.
How many ghost towns are in Arizona?
The Copper State is the proud home of over 300 ghost towns, as once upon a time, Arizona was the place to be if you wanted a career in mining. Some notably famous ones include the now-artist-town of Jerome, in north-central Arizona, Oatman, in north-western Arizona (where wild burros roam the streets and give no cares at all about tourists), and Tombstone, in southern Arizona, which was – and technically still is – the home of the original O.K. Corral, aka the stuff of old western legends. Some of Arizona’s ghost towns technically no longer exist at all, as there are no buildings or markers to discern what used to be from what now is. For more of our picks of Arizona ghost towns you need to visit ASAP, check this list out.
What are some interesting abandoned places in Arizona?
Oh, goodness, where to begin! Arizona is a hotspot for urban explorers and simple admirers of derelict and crumbling buildings. For example, the Gold King Mansion, in Mohave County, is the remains of a mining-town mansion that operated briefly in the late 1920s. There are hundreds of homesteads and private properties that have been left to the elements, including some more modern homes in many places. Some ghost towns are literally nothing but old and abandoned, decaying buildings that serve as relics to a time long past. The Domes in Casa Grande (central Arizona) are also a legendary spot for urban explorers, as the ever-changing graffiti and the crumbling structures combine to create an interesting, almost post-apocalyptic feel.
Address: Mohave County, AZ 86413, USA
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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.
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