Arizona’s mining boom created hundreds of towns that thrived on copper, silver, and gold extraction before going silent when the ore ran out. Some have been reclaimed by the desert entirely. Others survive as tourist-friendly relics or functioning communities built on top of their own ruins. Visiting these sites offers a glimpse into territorial-era Arizona that no museum exhibit can match, and most are within comfortable day trip range from Scottsdale.

Jerome: The Ghost Town That Refused to Die

Perched on Cleopatra Hill above the Verde Valley, Jerome was once Arizona’s fourth-largest city with a population exceeding 15,000 during the copper boom of the early 1900s. When Phelps Dodge closed the mine in 1953, the population dropped below 100. Today Jerome operates as an artist colony and tourist destination with about 450 residents, historic mine tours, a state historic park in the old Douglas Mansion, and a reputation for being one of the most haunted towns in America.

Vulture City: The Real Deal

If Jerome is the polished ghost town, Vulture City near Wickenburg is the raw one. The site of Henry Wickenburg’s 1863 gold strike, Vulture City once processed over $200 million in gold before closing in 1942. Guided tours run on weekends and walk visitors through the assay office, the mess hall, the hanging tree (exactly what it sounds like), and the mine headframe. The site is privately owned and maintained in a state of arrested decay—buildings are stabilized but not restored, giving it an authenticity most tourist ghost towns lack.

Goldfield Ghost Town: The Accessible Option

Located on the Apache Trail just east of Mesa, Goldfield sits at the foot of the Superstition Mountains and offers the most family-accessible ghost town experience in the state. A narrow-gauge railroad, gold panning stations, a reptile exhibit, and staged gunfight shows fill a half-day visit. The Mammoth Mine tour descends into an actual mining tunnel. From a family-friendly Scottsdale rental, Goldfield is about a 40-minute drive.

Safety at Abandoned Mine Sites

• Never enter an un-gated mine shaft or tunnel—Arizona has thousands of abandoned mines, and many are structurally unsound with vertical drops, bad air, or unstable ceilings
• Stay on marked trails and designated viewing areas at all sites
• Watch for rattlesnakes around old foundations and rubble piles, especially in warm months
• Carry more water than you think you need—ghost town sites typically have no facilities
• Respect private property boundaries; many sites are on patented mining claims with active owners

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Combine a ghost town visit with other Arizona adventures: ATV riding near Crown King connects to historic mining roads, and stargazing near Jerome benefits from the town’s altitude and low light pollution. Plan your timing with our seasonal packing guide.