A Living Ghost Town In Arizona, Gammons Gulch Paints A Haunting Picture Of The Past

There are over 200 ghost towns in Arizona, and remnants of the Old West can be found scattered all across the state. Unfortunately, many of these historic settlements have been completely forgotten, with buildings left to decay in the hot, arid desert. One hasn't yet succumbed to the elements, serving as a living museum showcasing how the American Southwest operated during the late 19th century. Come with us on a virtual tour of Gammons Gulch, a ghost town in Arizona:

Serving as both a movie set and museum, Gammons Gulch is a Western ghost town frozen in time. Take a stroll down Main Street, fully expecting to see cowboys dueling at high noon and tumbleweeds crossing your path.

A mercantile, blacksmith, authentic mine, and several other buildings bring the town to life.

Just a touch of imagination is all you need to picture late 19th-century residents going about their everyday lives.

Classic cars are parked around every corner, still in surprisingly good condition despite having been retired for decades. Stagecoaches, in particular, are guaranteed to bring back fond memories for lots of folks.

Drop into the Sheriff's Office to marvel at the array of freshly polished guns and other old-fashioned law enforcement gear. Bonnie and Clyde wouldn't stand a chance against this department's level of preparedness!

Then, take a haunting look at the conditions prisoners were held in. A mattress, a small window, and a bucket for bathroom usage were the only "luxuries" afforded.

Oh, what we wouldn't give for flour to cost just 10 cents again! And knowing the purpose of this coffin wouldn't hurt either... anyone care to take a wild guess?

See how miners lived by stepping into a house filled with hundreds of artifacts, including headlamps and drills. You'll gain a newfound respect for how simply these workers lived in comparison to how hard they worked each day.

Before heading out, stop by the saloon for a sarsaparilla or two. Sip your drink while listening to Mr. Jay Gammons himself recount tales from his 20-year stint as a security guard for film stars back in the day.

No ghost town is complete without gallows, and they don't get more realistic than this one. Terrifying images of how outlaws were punished will flood your mind - a somber picture not easy to forget.

Take a guided Gammons Gulch tour or opt to explore the town at your own leisure. Reservations are required to visit.

You'll find Gammons Gulch at 331 W Rockspring Ln., Benson, AZ 85602. For more details about this unique ghost town as well as contact information for making reservations to visit, visit the Gammons Gulch website.

Have you ever been to Gammons Gulch? What about any of these ghost towns in Arizona? Which one is your favorite?