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 is pretty common, even in the most remote areas. Today, we’re going to look at one of the abandoned mansions in Arizona, in particular, that was once rich and lively: the Gold King Mansion.

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.
Zach Petersen/Flickr
...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.
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr
One of the buildings constructed here in 1929 was what is now called the Gold King Mansion in Arizona.
It was originally designed to be one of a series of modern accommodations for miners and investors.
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr
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.
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr
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.

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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.
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr
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!
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr
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 good times didn’t last long.
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr
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.
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr
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 on Google maps.

If you want to see more from the comfort of your home, check out this drone footage of the mansion!

When visiting, don’t forget to follow the “leave no trace” principles: leave whatever you find, and always take your trash with you. Need an awesome pair o’ sneakers to properly explore? Our pals at REI have everything you need.

Want to see some more fascinating abandoned places in Arizona? Check out these fascinating ghost towns in Arizona that are sure to send a chill up your spine.

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More to Explore

Gold King Mansion

Tori Jane | April 04, 2021

Where is the Gold King Mansion in Arizona?

  • 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 out our coverage.

 

What are some interesting abandoned places in Arizona?

There are some amazing abandoned places in Arizona, such as:

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Gold King Mansion, Mohave County, AZ 86413, USA