If there’s any place in the country with more old western towns in Arizona, we definitely don’t know what is. Arizona is your quintessential Old West locale, where, depending on who’s telling the narrative, our state’s history was either a mythos of paradise sprung to life, a romanticized image of a cowboy and his horse, or life interrupted by an exceedingly violent time period. All of those stories create the image that Arizona continues to carry today and can be safely revisited without needing to make a time machine. We’re going to take a look at a handful of those Old Western towns in Arizona, and we challenge you to come with us on this wild adventure through the state!

  1. Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum, Bisbee

David Leicken/Flickr Arizona’s frontier history was heavily influenced by the mining industry. This Bisbee museum offers a glimpse into the working life in the mines, which is made even more vibrant with a mine cart tour led by former miners. Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, 5 Copper Queen Plaza, Bisbee, AZ 85603, USA

  1. Castle Dome Mining Museum

Tjfrom AZ/Flickr Located a reasonable distance north of Yuma, Castle Dome Mine Museum is a reconstructed version of the old Castle Dome town that is now submerged in the Colorado River. You’ll find actual artifacts from the town and get an idea of life in a frontier town. Castle Dome Mine Museum, Castle Dome Mine Rd, Yuma, AZ 85365, USA

  1. Fort Bowie National Historic Site

Al_HikesAZ/Flickr One of the many forts constructed by the U.S. Army during a series of intense campaigns against American Indians in the mid-1800s, only remnants of the old adobe walls exist today. There is also an on-site visitor center, the ruins of an old stagecoach stop, and occasional re-enactments. Fort Bowie National Historic Site, 3500 Apache Pass Rd, Bowie, AZ 85605, USA

  1. Gammons Gulch, Benson

Robert Shea/Flickr 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. A movie set “ghost town” that has served as the backdrop for movies, television shows, and other productions, this little spot offers a vision of walking through a bonafide Old West town in Arizona. Gammon’s Gulch Movie Set, 331 W Rockspring Ln, Benson, AZ 85602, USA

  1. Goldfield Ghost Town, Apache Junction

JC Olivera/Flickr Simply driving through the Arizona desert can leave us daydreaming about what life was like in the Old West – gunslingers, duels at high noon…the whole shebang. Luckily, there’s one place that turns our imagination into reality: Goldfield Ghost Town. This reconstructed ghost town attraction sits near the actual Goldfield location and offers a classic look of a Western town complete with tours, gunfights, and a chance to pan for gold, too! Goldfield Ghost Town and Mine Tours Inc., 4650 N Mammoth Mine Rd, Apache Junction, AZ 85119, USA

  1. Heard Museum, Phoenix

Jay Cross/Flickr This iconic and renowned museum focuses on the Indigenous peoples and their cultures both today and historically. Several of the exhibits and occasional lectures also offer compelling narratives about how American encroachment impacted the lives of indigenous people during this time period. Heard Museum, 2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA

  1. Hubbell Trading Post, Ganado

Dirk Hoffman/Flickr One of the best examples of the trading posts commonly found in the Old West, this one located on the Navajo Nation was also a key place for trading and development of Navajo weaving styles. You can walk through the trading post, purchase some goods (it still operates as it did in the old days), and take a tour of the old homestead. Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, 1/2 Mile W, Hwy. 191, Ganado, AZ 86505, USA

  1. Jerome

John Philip Green/Flickr It’s difficult to pick one spot here that represents the Old West so we’re just including the entire town of Jerome. It’s a perfect example of what boomtowns in the late-nineteenth century resembled and the haunted stories will remind you of the rough history of such a place. What do you think: is Jerome, Arizona, the creepiest ghost town in America? Jerome, AZ 86331, USA

  1. Museum of the West, Scottsdale

Western Spirit Scottsdale’s Museum of the West/Facebook For years, Scottsdale has called itself the “West’s Most Western Town” and this is one example of that self-designation. This museum is dedicated to capturing the intricacies of Western life, past and present, through exhibitions, presentations, and storytelling opportunities. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA

  1. Oatman

speedygroundhog/Flickr This little town located just off Route 66 has managed to live several lives, including that as a late boomtown shortly before Arizona became a state in 1912. Today, it is known for its wandering wild burros, Hollywood patrons (do the names Clark Gable and Carole Lombard ring a bell?), and Route 66 souvenirs. Oatman, AZ 86433, USA

  1. Old Tucson Studios

James Stutzman/Flickr Watch a Western film and you’re bound to encounter a moment featuring this iconic movie set, including productions such as “Arizona,” episodes of “Bonanza,” and “McLintock!” A visit here will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the set’s movie history, plenty of shows, and history presentations/demonstrations. Old Tucson, 201 Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85735, USA

  1. Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse, Tucson

Pinnacle Peak Tucson/Facebook Looking for a small Old West experience centered around dining options? Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse in Tucson is a good example with its casual atmosphere, steaks, and Western-style décor. Pinnacle Peak, 6541 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85715, USA

  1. Pioneer Living History Museum, Phoenix

Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum/Facebook Sometimes it can be difficult to imagine what life must have been like for our ancestors. Time makes old lifestyles seem so far removed until you realize that it is just a few short generations separating you from a time when people were more in tune with their surroundings and life for most focused on basic subsistence. The Pioneer Living History Museum is a collection of reconstructed buildings that forms a little Western town, including a couple of little homes. It’s a popular spot for school field trips with an emphasis on life in Arizona’s territorial period. Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum, 3901 W Pioneer Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA

  1. Rawhide Wild West Town, Chandler

Rawhide Western Town & Event Center/Facebook A Western-themed amusement park, Rawhide has attractions such as live gun shows, gold panning, and chances to ride horses or burros. They also have dining options such as a steakhouse, saloon, and a pizza parlor for the kids (even though pizza wasn’t technically part of frontier diets…). You can truly feel like you’ve gone back in time in one of the most immersive old western towns in Arizona. Donley’s Wild West Town, 8512 S Union Rd, Union, IL 60180, USA

  1. San Xavier del Bac, Tucson

JR P/Flickr Arizona’s White Dove of the Desert, this mission is a beautiful example of Spanish colonial architecture and is one of the oldest European structures in the country. There’s plenty of history - both good and bad - contained within these walls and it is a place that certainly earns a spot on this list. San Xavier del Bac Mission, 1950 W San Xavier Rd, Tucson, AZ 85746, USA

  1. Tombstone

Kent Kanouse/Flickr When people think of the Old West, Tombstone is certainly one of the places that immediately comes to mind thanks to the town’s crazy history with outlaws and the gunfight at O.K. Corral. Tombstone, AZ 85638, USA

  1. Tumacacori National Historic Park

Ken Lund/Flickr Another old Spanish mission in southern Arizona, this one isn’t quite in the same condition as San Xavier due to the mission’s abandonment in the mid-1800s. In any case, it still makes an interesting spot to visit to see what Spanish colonial life was like and to learn about the turbulent relationship the Spaniards had with the Indigenous people. Go on a tour of the Tumacacori National Historic Park, and you’ll see what we mean! Tumacacori National Historical Park, 1891 I-19 Frontage Rd, Tumacacori-Carmen, AZ 85640, USA

  1. Whiskey Row, Prescott

Michael Wilson/Flickr After a block of buildings was destroyed in a 1900 fire, this notoriously haunted spot was rebuilt and the large number of saloons led to the street’s nickname, Whiskey Row. This spot became a focal point of the city, which continues to this day - the site is host to a number of Western shows and staged shootouts. Whiskey Row, N Montezuma St, Prescott, AZ 86301, USA

Have you visited any of these historical spots? Let us know which is your favorite when it comes to old western towns in Arizona… and if we missed any!

David Leicken/Flickr

Arizona’s frontier history was heavily influenced by the mining industry. This Bisbee museum offers a glimpse into the working life in the mines, which is made even more vibrant with a mine cart tour led by former miners.

Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, 5 Copper Queen Plaza, Bisbee, AZ 85603, USA

Tjfrom AZ/Flickr

Located a reasonable distance north of Yuma, Castle Dome Mine Museum is a reconstructed version of the old Castle Dome town that is now submerged in the Colorado River. You’ll find actual artifacts from the town and get an idea of life in a frontier town.

Castle Dome Mine Museum, Castle Dome Mine Rd, Yuma, AZ 85365, USA

Al_HikesAZ/Flickr

One of the many forts constructed by the U.S. Army during a series of intense campaigns against American Indians in the mid-1800s, only remnants of the old adobe walls exist today. There is also an on-site visitor center, the ruins of an old stagecoach stop, and occasional re-enactments.

Fort Bowie National Historic Site, 3500 Apache Pass Rd, Bowie, AZ 85605, USA

Robert Shea/Flickr

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. A movie set “ghost town” that has served as the backdrop for movies, television shows, and other productions, this little spot offers a vision of walking through a bonafide Old West town in Arizona.

Gammon’s Gulch Movie Set, 331 W Rockspring Ln, Benson, AZ 85602, USA

JC Olivera/Flickr

Simply driving through the Arizona desert can leave us daydreaming about what life was like in the Old West – gunslingers, duels at high noon…the whole shebang. Luckily, there’s one place that turns our imagination into reality: Goldfield Ghost Town. This reconstructed ghost town attraction sits near the actual Goldfield location and offers a classic look of a Western town complete with tours, gunfights, and a chance to pan for gold, too!

Goldfield Ghost Town and Mine Tours Inc., 4650 N Mammoth Mine Rd, Apache Junction, AZ 85119, USA

Jay Cross/Flickr

This iconic and renowned museum focuses on the Indigenous peoples and their cultures both today and historically. Several of the exhibits and occasional lectures also offer compelling narratives about how American encroachment impacted the lives of indigenous people during this time period.

Heard Museum, 2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA

Dirk Hoffman/Flickr

One of the best examples of the trading posts commonly found in the Old West, this one located on the Navajo Nation was also a key place for trading and development of Navajo weaving styles. You can walk through the trading post, purchase some goods (it still operates as it did in the old days), and take a tour of the old homestead.

Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, 1/2 Mile W, Hwy. 191, Ganado, AZ 86505, USA

John Philip Green/Flickr

It’s difficult to pick one spot here that represents the Old West so we’re just including the entire town of Jerome. It’s a perfect example of what boomtowns in the late-nineteenth century resembled and the haunted stories will remind you of the rough history of such a place. What do you think: is Jerome, Arizona, the creepiest ghost town in America?

Jerome, AZ 86331, USA

Western Spirit Scottsdale’s Museum of the West/Facebook

For years, Scottsdale has called itself the “West’s Most Western Town” and this is one example of that self-designation. This museum is dedicated to capturing the intricacies of Western life, past and present, through exhibitions, presentations, and storytelling opportunities.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA

speedygroundhog/Flickr

This little town located just off Route 66 has managed to live several lives, including that as a late boomtown shortly before Arizona became a state in 1912. Today, it is known for its wandering wild burros, Hollywood patrons (do the names Clark Gable and Carole Lombard ring a bell?), and Route 66 souvenirs.

Oatman, AZ 86433, USA

James Stutzman/Flickr

Watch a Western film and you’re bound to encounter a moment featuring this iconic movie set, including productions such as “Arizona,” episodes of “Bonanza,” and “McLintock!” A visit here will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the set’s movie history, plenty of shows, and history presentations/demonstrations.

Old Tucson, 201 Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85735, USA

Pinnacle Peak Tucson/Facebook

Looking for a small Old West experience centered around dining options? Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse in Tucson is a good example with its casual atmosphere, steaks, and Western-style décor.

Pinnacle Peak, 6541 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85715, USA

Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum/Facebook

Sometimes it can be difficult to imagine what life must have been like for our ancestors. Time makes old lifestyles seem so far removed until you realize that it is just a few short generations separating you from a time when people were more in tune with their surroundings and life for most focused on basic subsistence. The Pioneer Living History Museum is a collection of reconstructed buildings that forms a little Western town, including a couple of little homes. It’s a popular spot for school field trips with an emphasis on life in Arizona’s territorial period.

Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum, 3901 W Pioneer Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA

Rawhide Western Town & Event Center/Facebook

A Western-themed amusement park, Rawhide has attractions such as live gun shows, gold panning, and chances to ride horses or burros. They also have dining options such as a steakhouse, saloon, and a pizza parlor for the kids (even though pizza wasn’t technically part of frontier diets…). You can truly feel like you’ve gone back in time in one of the most immersive old western towns in Arizona.

Donley’s Wild West Town, 8512 S Union Rd, Union, IL 60180, USA

JR P/Flickr

Arizona’s White Dove of the Desert, this mission is a beautiful example of Spanish colonial architecture and is one of the oldest European structures in the country. There’s plenty of history - both good and bad - contained within these walls and it is a place that certainly earns a spot on this list.

San Xavier del Bac Mission, 1950 W San Xavier Rd, Tucson, AZ 85746, USA

Kent Kanouse/Flickr

When people think of the Old West, Tombstone is certainly one of the places that immediately comes to mind thanks to the town’s crazy history with outlaws and the gunfight at O.K. Corral.

Tombstone, AZ 85638, USA

Ken Lund/Flickr

Another old Spanish mission in southern Arizona, this one isn’t quite in the same condition as San Xavier due to the mission’s abandonment in the mid-1800s. In any case, it still makes an interesting spot to visit to see what Spanish colonial life was like and to learn about the turbulent relationship the Spaniards had with the Indigenous people. Go on a tour of the Tumacacori National Historic Park, and you’ll see what we mean!

Tumacacori National Historical Park, 1891 I-19 Frontage Rd, Tumacacori-Carmen, AZ 85640, USA

Michael Wilson/Flickr

After a block of buildings was destroyed in a 1900 fire, this notoriously haunted spot was rebuilt and the large number of saloons led to the street’s nickname, Whiskey Row. This spot became a focal point of the city, which continues to this day - the site is host to a number of Western shows and staged shootouts.

Whiskey Row, N Montezuma St, Prescott, AZ 86301, USA

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Old western towns in Arizona May 20, 2022 Sarah M. What are some other Old West towns in Arizona? Does it get more Old West or Wild West than an old mining town in Arizona… that’s now a ghost town?! If you’ve ever wondered what life was like in the Old West, visit Apache Junction, Arizona. Because it’s here you’ll find Goldfield. A few things to know about Goldfield:

Goldfield is a historic settlement that was very much a thriving town in its day. High-grade gold ore was discovered here in 1892, and the town received an official post office the following year. The community boomed for five years, eventually boasting a population of 1,500. But Goldfield was not built to last, and the town’s population dwindled as this precious commodity inevitably ran out. When the post office was decommissioned in 1898, Goldfield officially became a ghost town. Today, however, it’s a popular tourist attraction where visitors can relive a romantic time in American history.

What a wild Arizona adventure! What are some other Old West attractions to visit in Arizona? When it comes to Old West attractions to visit in Arizona, one of the first things that comes to mind is the old saloons. Some of the highly recommended Old West Saloons in Arizona include:

Crown King Saloon Crystal Palace Saloon The Drift Inn Saloon

  A few more thoughts on these saloons. People are all about Old West saloons here in Arizona. Can you blame them? There’s nothing more iconic than watching an old Western film to see a character storm into a saloon, the sun filtering through dusty windows, and boots stomping on wooden floors. It’s a sight that lives up to the romance of the Old West yet is one that you probably wouldn’t want to find yourself in considering the wild atmosphere these establishments were known for. These days, you can still walk into a saloon right here in Arizona. However, unlike the movies, you probably won’t get to step through a pair of swinging, wooden doors, hand hovering over a pistol, or smelling whatever musty, sweat-driven scents must have lingered in the air all those decades ago. But at least you get to order a drink and wonder what those old miners, lawmen, and other patrons must have discussed at similar tables. Cowboy boots and sheriff stars definitely welcome!

The OIYS Visitor Center

Old western towns in Arizona

May 20, 2022

Sarah M.

What are some other Old West towns in Arizona? Does it get more Old West or Wild West than an old mining town in Arizona… that’s now a ghost town?! If you’ve ever wondered what life was like in the Old West, visit Apache Junction, Arizona. Because it’s here you’ll find Goldfield. A few things to know about Goldfield:

Goldfield is a historic settlement that was very much a thriving town in its day. High-grade gold ore was discovered here in 1892, and the town received an official post office the following year. The community boomed for five years, eventually boasting a population of 1,500. But Goldfield was not built to last, and the town’s population dwindled as this precious commodity inevitably ran out. When the post office was decommissioned in 1898, Goldfield officially became a ghost town. Today, however, it’s a popular tourist attraction where visitors can relive a romantic time in American history.

What a wild Arizona adventure! What are some other Old West attractions to visit in Arizona? When it comes to Old West attractions to visit in Arizona, one of the first things that comes to mind is the old saloons. Some of the highly recommended Old West Saloons in Arizona include:

Crown King Saloon Crystal Palace Saloon The Drift Inn Saloon

  A few more thoughts on these saloons. People are all about Old West saloons here in Arizona. Can you blame them? There’s nothing more iconic than watching an old Western film to see a character storm into a saloon, the sun filtering through dusty windows, and boots stomping on wooden floors. It’s a sight that lives up to the romance of the Old West yet is one that you probably wouldn’t want to find yourself in considering the wild atmosphere these establishments were known for. These days, you can still walk into a saloon right here in Arizona. However, unlike the movies, you probably won’t get to step through a pair of swinging, wooden doors, hand hovering over a pistol, or smelling whatever musty, sweat-driven scents must have lingered in the air all those decades ago. But at least you get to order a drink and wonder what those old miners, lawmen, and other patrons must have discussed at similar tables. Cowboy boots and sheriff stars definitely welcome!

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Does it get more Old West or Wild West than an old mining town in Arizona… that’s now a ghost town?! If you’ve ever wondered what life was like in the Old West, visit Apache Junction, Arizona. Because it’s here you’ll find Goldfield. A few things to know about Goldfield:

  • Goldfield is a historic settlement that was very much a thriving town in its day.
  • High-grade gold ore was discovered here in 1892, and the town received an official post office the following year.
  • The community boomed for five years, eventually boasting a population of 1,500.
  • But Goldfield was not built to last, and the town’s population dwindled as this precious commodity inevitably ran out.
  • When the post office was decommissioned in 1898, Goldfield officially became a ghost town.
  • Today, however, it’s a popular tourist attraction where visitors can relive a romantic time in American history.

What a wild Arizona adventure!

What are some other Old West attractions to visit in Arizona?

When it comes to Old West attractions to visit in Arizona, one of the first things that comes to mind is the old saloons. Some of the highly recommended Old West Saloons in Arizona include:

  • Crown King Saloon
  • Crystal Palace Saloon
  • The Drift Inn Saloon

 

A few more thoughts on these saloons. People are all about Old West saloons here in Arizona. Can you blame them? There’s nothing more iconic than watching an old Western film to see a character storm into a saloon, the sun filtering through dusty windows, and boots stomping on wooden floors. It’s a sight that lives up to the romance of the Old West yet is one that you probably wouldn’t want to find yourself in considering the wild atmosphere these establishments were known for. These days, you can still walk into a saloon right here in Arizona. However, unlike the movies, you probably won’t get to step through a pair of swinging, wooden doors, hand hovering over a pistol, or smelling whatever musty, sweat-driven scents must have lingered in the air all those decades ago. But at least you get to order a drink and wonder what those old miners, lawmen, and other patrons must have discussed at similar tables. Cowboy boots and sheriff stars definitely welcome!