Arizona ghost towns: Vulture Mine, Ruby, Fairbank, Gleeson and more

Mar 17, 2021 | Ghost Towns, News, Photos

26 PHOTOS

6:00 a.m. MST Mar. 17, 2021

(Photo Credits are below photos.)
  
The restored 1910 jail in Gleeson, Arizona, is open on the first Saturday of each month.

The restored 1910 jail in Gleeson, Arizona, is open on the first Saturday of each month.
ROGER NAYLOR/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC
Joe Bono, who purchased the ghost town of Gleeson, Arizona, in 2014, is the son of the man who first opened the general store.

Joe Bono, who purchased the ghost town of Gleeson, Arizona, in 2014, is the son of the man
who first opened the general store.
ROGER NAYLOR/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC
The ghost town of Ruby, Arizona, is open for tours, fishing and camping.

The ghost town of Ruby, Arizona, is open for tours, fishing and camping.
RUBY AZ
Restoration work is done to stabilize some of the structures at the Ruby, Arizona, ghost town.

Restoration work is done to stabilize some of the structures at the Ruby, Arizona, ghost town.
RUBY AZ
Two small lakes can be found at Ruby, Arizona, although water levels are low during the drought.

Two small lakes can be found at Ruby, Arizona, although water levels are low during the drought.
RUBY AZ
More than a dozen buildings are still standing in the ghost town of Ruby, Arizona.

More than a dozen buildings are still standing in the ghost town of Ruby, Arizona.
RUBY AZ
The Fairbank schoolhouse in southern Arizona serves as visitor center and museum in normal times. It has been closed during the pandemic.

The Fairbank schoolhouse in southern Arizona serves as visitor center and museum
in normal times. It has been closed during the pandemic.
ROGER NAYLOR/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC
The ghost town of Fairbank includes a half dozen structures including a large mercantile building, a schoolhouse and a few homes, huddled in riverside mesquite groves.

The ghost town of Fairbank includes a half dozen structures including a large
mercantile building, a schoolhouse and a few homes, huddled in riverside mesquite groves.
CITY OF SIERRA VISTA
A dilapidated cemetery overlooks the San Pedro River on the edge of Fairbank ghost town in southern Arizona.

A dilapidated cemetery overlooks the San Pedro River on the edge of Fairbank
ghost town in southern Arizona.
ROGER NAYLOR/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC
The mercantile and post office are among the structures still standing in Fairbank, Arizona.

The mercantile and post office are among the structures still standing in Fairbank, Arizona.
ROGER NAYLOR/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC
Walking paths from Fairbank in southern Arizona lead to the San Pedro River and additional ruins.

Walking paths from Fairbank in southern Arizona lead to the San Pedro River and additional ruins.
ROGER NAYLOR/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC
The town of Fairbank, Arizona, grew up along the San Pedro River, serving as the closest railroad stop to Tombstone.

The town of Fairbank, Arizona, grew up along the San Pedro River, serving as
the closest railroad stop to Tombstone.
ROGER NAYLOR/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC
Trails at Fairbank circle the townsite and lead to the hilltop cemetery and along the San Pedro River.

Trails at Fairbank circle the townsite and lead to the hilltop cemetery and along the San Pedro River.
ROGER NAYLOR/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC
The ghost town of Fairbank, in Cochise County, has a walking trail that winds through mesquite groves, past the old cemetery and ruins of a mill. It ends with views of the San Pedro River.

The ghost town of Fairbank, in Cochise County, has a walking trail that winds through
mesquite groves, past the old cemetery and ruins of a mill. It ends with views of the San Pedro River.
ROGER NAYLOR/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC
Precious ore pulled from the Vulture Mine fueled a boomtown in the 1800s.
Now it’s a ghost town, perhaps in more ways than one.
THE REPUBLIC
Visitors to Vulture City outside Wickenburg can explore weathered buildings and historic equipment.

Visitors to Vulture City outside Wickenburg can explore weathered buildings and historic equipment.
VULTURE MINE TOURS
The assay building near the Vulture Mine in Wickenburg may be home to spirits still waiting for gold.

The assay building near the Vulture Mine in Wickenburg may be home to spirits still waiting for gold.
WICKENBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Legend has it that 18 miners met their maker after stealing gold, and some of their spirits may still linger. Historians say the only thing hanged there was the truth out to dry.

Legend has it that 18 miners met their maker after stealing gold, and some of their
spirits may still linger. Historians say the only thing hanged there was the truth out to dry.
VULTURE MINE TOURS
The “Glory Hole” is where seven men sneaked into the mine, dug into stone support
pillars to get gold and were buried alive when the entire chamber collapsed — sending
them to their “glory” in the next world.
KATHLEEN INGLEY/THE REPUBLIC
The Vulture Mine was the largest gold-producing mine in Arizona. Now, the gold is in its history.

The Vulture Mine was the largest gold-producing mine in Arizona. Now, the gold is in its history.
DESERT CABALLEROS WESTERN MUSEUM
The boarding house as it was in the 1800s.

The boarding house as it was in the 1800s.
DESERT CABALLEROS WESTERN MUSEUM
The mine operated until 1942, when the U.S. government closed all mining unrelated to the war effort. The privately owned property is for sale. Arizonans need to buy it.

The mine operated until 1942, when the U.S. government closed all mining unrelated
to the war effort. The privately owned property is for sale. Arizonans need to buy it.
DESERT CABALLEROS WESTERN MUSEUM
Vulture Mine assay office (1884)

Vulture Mine assay office (1884)
TONY SANTIAGO/THE REPUBLIC
Vulture Mine hanging tree

Vulture Mine hanging tree
TONY SANTIAGO/THE REPUBLIC
Adobe walls and rusty relics can be found through the ghost town of Kentucky Camp in southern Arizona.

Adobe walls and rusty relics can be found through the ghost town of Kentucky Camp in southern Arizona.
SIRENA RANA, TRAILSINSPIRE.COM
The 800-mile-long Arizona National Scenic Trail is routed through Kentucky Camp ghost town in southern Arizona.

The 800-mile-long Arizona National Scenic Trail is routed through Kentucky Camp
ghost town in southern Arizona.
SIRENA RANA, TRAILSINSPIRE.COM