Posted in Arizona February 09, 2017 by

The One Arizona Town That’s So Perfectly Western

Scottsdale may have the official motto but if there’s any town that deserves the designation as the most Western town, then Wickenburg may be just the candidate to get it. Here are just a few reasons why.

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Welcome to Wickenburg! This little town sits about 65 miles northwest of Phoenix and has a population of about 6,600.
Town of Wickenburg, AZ/Facebook
One of your first stops should be the Wickenburg visitor center, which sits in an old train depot and has all the information you need about upcoming events and suggestions for where to go in town.
TJfrom AZ/Flickr
While walking through downtown, you’ll find an array of western-themed shops and restaurants.
Martin Ely/Flickr
Stop by a saloon or two!
Ike’s Restaurant & Saloon/Yelp
While walking the downtown area, you can get a brief history of the town by checking out the train depot and the old jail tree.
Curtis Brown/Flickr
You can also book a guided historic tour for more in-depth knowledge about the town!
There's also plenty of events that go on around here, such as rodeos...
Dagny Gromer/Flickr
...and the annual Gold Rush Days that's happening this weekend! They welcome the three-day celebration with a parade, rodeo, car show, art show, and more.
marksontok/Flickr
You can find more information
Don't forget to visit the Desert Caballeros Western Museum! You'll get a chance to learn more about the town's western heritage.
Diann Bayes/Flickr
Exhibits include western art, quilts, artifacts, and some very cool replicas of western settings, like the general store depicted below.
TJfrom AZ/Flickr
Vulture City and its gold mine are just a short drive away. A quick stop here on Saturdays will give you more insight into the area's mining origins.
RightBrainPhotography/Flickr
Wickenburg is known as the "Dude Ranch Capital of the World," so make sure you book an overnight stay at one to complete your visit to the town.
Flying E Ranch/Yelp
This is truly a spectacular town!
Gabriel Radley/Flickr