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ARIZONA — Arizona is home to some of the Old West’s most iconic towns, including Tombstone and Jerome. Some of these towns have been restored and offer tourists a safe and entertaining glimpse into the past. Some still have some year-round residents. Others have vanished from maps and are only visited by intrepid ghost town hunters.
Similar to Utah ghost towns like Frisco, many of Arizona’s abandoned towns are former mining boomtowns. When a mine would close, the town usually followed soon after. And it didn’t stop there — the interconnected nature of Old West towns meant that when a boomtown died, it’s neighbors often followed. Towns that had served as supply points for successful mines or hosted the mills used for processing the mine’s bounty lost their lifeblood when a boomtown died.
This gallery features photos from Arizona’s ghost towns. Some are restored to their original beauty, while others are untouched relics. All of them offer a tangible witness of the past.
Grant Olsen joined the ksl.com team in 2012. He covers travel, outdoor adventures, and other interesting things. Contact him at grant@thegatsbys.com.
