Top Ghost Towns to Visit in Arizona

Bisbee

Bisbee was founded in 1880 and is now a thriving community with a multitude of activities for visitors. Guests can raise the dead themselves at the Bisbee Seance Room, ride around the desert in a Jeep tour, or venture around any of the numerous hiking trails located in the area. Additionally, Bisbee is also home to a number of saloons ready to help you beat the heat!

Oatman

Found along the famous and historic Route 66, Oatman is a previous mining town turned bustling tourist attraction. Activities in Oatman include Wild West shootouts, gold mine tours, and large variety of restaurants and shops to supplement your stay. In very specific cases, couples can even tie the knot in a “shotgun wedding.”

One of the most unique parts of Oatman is the numerous wild burros that roam the streets, greeting tourists and begging for food. The docile burros live in the hills near town and are the descendants of burros once owned by prospectors who came during the Gold Rush.

Goldfield

Founded in 1893, Goldfield is a small town located between the Superstition Mountains and the Goldfield Mountains. Here, residents and visitors can choose from a number of fun activities. Gold panning gives guests the opportunity to mine like those in the Gold Rush.

If you are feeling more adventurous there is also a zip line available to the public. There is also the option to go horseback riding if you want to delve into equestrian activities. And of course no visit would be complete without a trip to Goldfield’s Mammoth Steakhouse and Saloon or Lulu’s Bordello.

Tombstone

Discovered in 1877, Tombstone is known as the site of the infamous shootout at the O.K. Corral. Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton brothers dueled it out in the streets of Tombstone, and now tourists can visit the location where history was made.

There are a numerous amounts of attractions to choose from in Tombstone, including the Birdcage Theatre, the Gunfighter Hall of Fame, and Boothill Graveyard, amongst others. Visitors can also see historic gunfight reenactments, ride in a stagecoach, or relax in one of the town’s many saloons.

Ruby

As one of the more remote Ghost Towns in the state, Ruby is located so far out in the desert that heavy rain makes the site inaccessible. Widely regarded as the most well-preserved ghost town in Arizona, Ruby is home to a number of historic structures including a schoolhouse and jail. Visitors can also enjoy a plethora of outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, and camping.