These 6 Ghost Towns In Arizona Are No Longer Fading In Time…And You’ll Want To Visit

Dusty, abandoned, and just a little bit creepy. That’s what most people tend to imagine when thinking of ghost towns and, in reality, that’s usually what you’ll find here in Arizona. However, some Arizona ghost towns are finding a new life with restoration efforts and are even becoming tourist destinations. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

Tim/Flickr

Located on the Colorado River north of Yuma, Castle Dome Landing (also called Castle Dome City) was a mining town and transportation hub starting in the 1860s. However, as mining in the area declined, the town’s population dwindled as well until it was completely abandoned by 1978.

The original town site is now submerged under Martinez Lake but you can find some of the original buildings at the Castle Dome Mining Museum, located about 25 miles away from their original home. The museum showcases what life might have been like during Castle Dome’s heyday with 7 original buildings and a few dozen others, helping to ensure the town’s legacy lives on.

Location: Google Maps

mlhradio/Flickr

A quick drive from Tombstone, Fairbank was settled in 1881 and experienced a short life. Relying on transporting mining ore for its economy, the town’s population declined by 1901 after the Tombstone mines flooded. A significant portion of the town has succumbed to time and weathering but you’ll still find some buildings standing, as well as the cemetery. However, restoration efforts have been made to ensure the town continues to stand decades from now.

You can read more about Fairbank by clicking this link to one of our previous articles.

Location: Google Maps

Don Barrett/Flickr

Jerome is no longer a ghost town but at one point it faced the same challenges many of these other dying towns did after mines closed. However, in the 1960s, major efforts were made to save and restore the buildings in town and increase tourism. These days, you’ll find Jerome to be a pretty popular place throughout the year, with tourists wandering the streets, art galleries, and plenty of restaurants offering mouthwatering dishes.

Location: Google Maps

Love_Haight/Flickr

Another town that faced a ghost town fate, Oatman was founded as a gold mining town. It saw major challenges in the 1920s when the mine shut down and again in the 1940s when more local mines closed during World War II. Oatman, however, has found a new life as a tourist destination. Located along an isolated portion of the old Route 66, Oatman relies on its Old West history to draw in tourists from all over the globe.

Location: Google Maps

Johnida Dockens/Flickr

Ruby was founded as a mining camp in 1877 and officially received its post office in 1912. In 1940, the mines shut down and the town was quickly abandoned, deteriorating under a harsh Arizona sun. Efforts have been made to begin restoring what’s left of the town by stabilizing buildings.

You can read more about Ruby by clicking this link to one of our previous articles.

Location: Google Maps

Rightbrainphotography/Flickr

Located about 15 miles south of Wickenburg, Vulture City was established in 1863 as a mining community. This place was a booming town during its heyday, with a population of 5,000 and plenty of places for locals to enjoy vices. However, when the mines closed in 1942, the town was eventually abandoned.

These days, the town is located on private property where you’ll find restored buildings, antique equipment and utensils still standing in buildings, and the old hangin’ tree.

You can read more about Vulture City by clicking this link to one of our previous articles.

Location: Google Maps

That was interesting, wasn’t it? Hopefully, we get to see more of Arizona’s 300-plus ghost towns see some form of restoration in the future. Which ghost towns in our state do you hope finds a new life like these?

Want to explore more fantastic ghost towns? Consider going out on a road trip! Read more in This Haunting Road Trip Through Arizona Ghost Towns Is One You Won’t Forget.