The Ultimate Guide to Arizona Ghost Towns
If you’re anything like me, there’s something downright fascinating about stepping into a place where time feels like time took a break and never came back.
Arizona’s ghost towns are storytellers. They whisper tales of gold rushes, rowdy saloons, and frontier grit. Once-thriving mining hubs now sit quietly under that big blue desert sky, waiting for curious travelers to walk their wooden boardwalks and peek through their creaky doors.
Whether you’re planning your next weekend getaway, or road-tripping through the state stop in at one of Arizona’s ghost towns. Arizona ghost towns invite you to take a trip into the desert’s past.
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I love visiting historical sights and buildings because I get to imagine what it must have been like to live there years ago. The old west was dusty, wild and they didn’t have air conditioning. If you want to learn how the natives cooled off with no AC check out Wupatki National Monument.
Arizona is part of the Old West, also called the Wild West and The American Frontier. You can find old western towns across the state of Arizona.
Are there any Arizona Ghost Towns to Visit?
Arizona’s old west towns are still populated, some are just not as populated as they once were at their peak. Many are still considered “ghostly” due to their history.
Yes, there are still several Arizona ghost towns you can visit today.
13 Arizona Ghost Towns
Let’s take a road trip to some of the coolest old western towns in Arizona.
- Rawhide Western Town
- Goldfield Ghost Town
- Tortilla Flat
- Wickenburg (Vulture City)
- Old Tucson Studios
- Tombstone
- Bisbee
- Jerome
- Prescott
- Chloride
- Clifton
- Oatman
- Hackberry
Arizona’s Ghost Towns Near Phoenix
The following old western towns are near the city of Phoenix.
Rawhide- Recreated Old West Town
Rawhide is a convenient spot in the city to experience a recreated old west town. Bring the whole family for a day of fun at Rawhide. Experience what life was like in Arizona in the 1880’s with mock shoot-outs, pan for gold, go on a stagecoach ride, a burro ride, a train ride or pet the animals at the petting zoo.
It is free to enter the old west town, and you need to purchase ticket for the attractions, so you can purchase a wrist band or pick attractions a la carte’. Great family fun activity in Phoenix.
Arizona Goldfield Ghost Town
A visit to Goldfield Ghost Town is a great way to start your old west trip. Located on the Apache Trail. Visit a 1890’s ghost town located in the same spot as an authentic town once stood.
Tortilla Flat
Tortilla Flat is located along the historic Apache Trail. It is a reconstructed stagecoach stop with a general store, a saloon, a tiny museum, restaurant all along a wooden boardwalk. One of the few places that sells prickly pear ice cream.
Let’s Explore Ghost Towns on the Apache Trail
Wickenburg Arizona Old West Town
True West Magazine ranked Wickenburg in the Top Ten True Western Towns. Wickenburg prides itself in staying true to their old western roots.
They have several annual “western” events including The Gold Rush Days & Rodeo, Bluegrass Festival & Fiddle Championship, and the Cowboy Poetry Gathering. If you’re here drive out to see Vulture City. Explore the Old West in Wickenburg...
Old Tucson Studios
Ok, Old Tucson Studios isn’t really an old west town, but it is a cool replica of Tucson in the 1860’s. The studio was originally created in the late 1930’s for movie sets. In the 1960’s it was restored and reopened as both a film studio and a tourist attraction.
Today you can see old movie memorabilia, buildings from movie sets, watch stuntman shows.
The Tough Too Tough To Die: Tombstone
Tombstone is most famous for the gunfight at OK Corral between the Earp brothers and the McLaury brothers. Tombstone is an old west town that was once booming because of all of the silver in the mines. One of the most haunted places is said to be at the Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone. Let’s Explore Tombstone…
The Boom & Bust Town of Clifton
The mining town of Clifton is a cool piece of Arizona boom and bust history. It was once a lively copper mining town, but visiting Clifton now is like taking a step back in time. Let’s Explore Clifton…
The following old West Ghost Towns in North Central Arizona.
The “Ghostly” Town of Jerome
Jerome was once known as a bustling rowdy copper mining town. Today it is a tiny vertical town with wonderful views of the Verde Valley. There are museums and many historical buildings to explore.
Jerome’s population dwindled down to as few as 50 people after the mines closed in the early 1950’s. Today it is a popular tourist destination where you can experience the old west mining town and take in the gorgeous views. Find out More Adventures in Jerome...
Prescott Arizona an Old West Town
The oldest rodeo is held annually in Prescott. In addition, if you’re looking to see cowboys and bull riding visit Prescott the week of July 4th to be part of a tradition since 1888. Let’s Explore Prescott…
You can find a few old western Arizona ghost towns in the northern part of the state, including:
An Old Mining Camp-Chloride Ghost Town
Just a short drive off historic Route 66 near Kingman, you’ll stumble into a little town that feels like it got left behind in time.. Welcome to Chloride, Arizona’s oldest continuously inhabited mining town.
Back in the late 1800s, Chloride was booming. With over 50 mines churning out gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc, more than 5,000 people once lived here. Can you imagine? Bustling streets, mining carts rattling down the roads, and saloons full of dusty boots and frontier stories.
Today, only about 250 folks call Chloride home, but the spirit of the Old West still lingers. It’s what’s called a “living ghost town”. You’ll see original buildings still standing, including the old Santa Fe stagecoach stop and a post office that’s been in operation since 1873.
Wander the quiet streets, pop into one of the local shops, or grab a bite at one of the town’s small restaurants. There’s even an inn if you feel like soaking up the vibe overnight. On Saturdays, don’t be surprised if you catch a good ol’-fashioned re-enacted gunfight.
If you’re headed through northwestern Arizona and love quirky stops packed with stories, add Chloride to your list. It may be quiet now, but the echoes of pickaxes and pioneer dreams still hang in the desert air.
Arizona Ghost Towns Route 66
Tucked away on a winding stretch of classic Route 66, Oatman feels like you’ve stepped right into an Old West movie. Wild burros that casually stroll through town.
If you’re craving a true Old West experience, complete with saloons, gunfight reenactments, and a main street that looks like time paused somewhere around 1915, Oatman is the kind of place that makes you want to grab a sarsaparilla and soak it all in. If you want a true old west feeling, a trip to Oatman should be on your list. Let’s Explore Oatman…
Hackberry, Arizona
If you’re cruising down Arizona’s stretch of Route 66 and craving a little roadside nostalgia with a side of Old West vibes, Hackberry is the kind of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it stop that’s totally worth slowing down for. Once a silver mining town back in the late 1800s, Hackberry now wears its history proudly with weathered buildings, vintage signs, and quirky Americana.
Take a road trip detour and wander through this forgotten gem. It’s a small slice of Arizona’s rugged past, and a great reminder that sometimes the best travel memories are found on the backroads. See more about Route 66.
Where are the Cowboys in Arizona?
Are there any Cowboys left?
Visitors often ask, where are the cowboys in Arizona? The best places to see cowboys or cowgirls in Arizona are at bull riding events and horse shows. Wild horses still live here and if you’re lucky you can often see them in the Tonto National Forest or near the Salt River.
Cave Creek and Wickenburg are towns near Phoenix that have definitely retained their old west flair. If you’re wanting to see cowboys or girls in Arizona, we know a few places you may want to check out.
Bull Riding
- Buffalo Chip Saloon in Cave Creek has live bull riding every Wednesday and Friday night.
- Hogs and Horses in Cave Creek often has Wild West Shows and live bull riding as well.
- The Roadrunner Restaurant and Saloon in New River has live bull riding every Saturday night.
If you want an authentic old western experience, stop by the Hitching Post in Apache Junction. Every Thursday and Saturday night they have live bull riding.
Horse Shows
Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is an internationally renowned annual event in Scottsdale. This event has over 25 demonstrations and shows and thousands of Arabian horse lovers converge upon Westworld in February.
