What can I say, I love ghost towns!
Only In Your State highlighted a few of the many ghost towns in Arizona, and honestly, I need to visit all of these STAT.
1. Goldroad
Appropriately named, this town was a miner’s dream from 1902 to 1949. There was plenty of gold in the hills surrounding the town, but as the years went on, the amount slowly began to decrease. It seemed as though the town’s popularity declined almost immediately, as miners moved out to pursue other mining opportunities. Now, visitors can see the ruins of old buildings and homes, and get an idea of what it was like to live in such a popular area.
How much I want to visit: 7.9/10
Honestly, this one makes me a bit sad. People had to abandon their homes once they realized they could no longer make a living, thus leaving behind countless memories. On the bright side, they were off to bigger and better things! I’d love to take a look at the old houses, I’m curious what they look like compared to today’s houses!
2. Valentine
Established in 1898, this once popular town is located near the Grand Canyon. Also built in 1898 was the Hualapai Indian School, a boarding and day school, which helped increase the town’s acclaim. But as I-40 was built, Valentine became less and less accessible, until only 36 residents lived in the town in 2000. Luckily, the Keepers of the Wild nature park, an exotic animal sanctuary, has managed to keep the town afloat.
How much I want to visit: 8.2/10
It’s kind of weird to think about how if the Keepers of the Wild nature park weren’t there, this town might not be as relevant as it is today. I’d really love to see what the Hualapai Indian School looks like, since it once played such an important role in the town!
3. Oatman
Is this actually a ghost town? Some people debate this since the town is pretty popular to this day. Although the town has more than 100 residents, the chamber of commerce has still given it ghost town status. Back in its heyday, Oatman was made popular by the gold mines located in the Black Mountains. However, a majority of the mines closed in 1924 (two years before Route 66 became official!), and the rest followed in 1941.
How much I want to visit: 8.6/10
Despite what a lot of people say, I think Oatman could be seen as a ghost town. It seemed like it was on the cupst of becoming completely abandoned, but it seems like there’s still some people calling it home. Also, I’ve seen reports of donkeys walking around? That’s iconic, and I would love to take a selfie with one!
4. Canyon Diablo
Sharing the same name as the nearby canyon, this town’s golden years were from 1882 to 1903. This crime-ridden town hosted its fair share of cowboy shootouts and Western-style fights, making it one of the most infamous ghost towns on Route 66.
How much I want to visit: 9.2/10
I think it’s really cool how it’s so close to a canyon, and how they share the same name! I’m an avid hiker, so I would love the chance to be able to explore Canyon Diablo. Also, can you imagine how much history is hidden within this town? So many cowboys passed through here in its heyday, and I wonder what it would have been like to witness a good-old western battle? It seems like visiting this town would give me a great idea of what that was like!
5. Adamana
A town that used to be located next to the Petrified Forest National Park, Adamana was created solely for the purpose to serve the park’s visitors. At one point, there was a store, post office, hotel, station house, and multiple buildings. The buildings started closing down in 1969, and the only thing left standing of Adamana are the remains of the once-popular buildings.
How much I want to visit: 100/10
SO MUCH YES. It’s so close to the beautiful Petrified Forest National Park, and stopping by this town would be the perfect addition to a day of hiking. It’s weird to think how this town might not have existed if the park wasn’t there. I wonder if maybe Petrified Forest National Park could help revive this town? Time will tell!
