Much like Oatman, Arizona, Chloride has revived itself from near death by promoting tourism in this almost ghost town. The oldest continuously inhabited mining town in the state, Chloride is called home today by about 150 full time residents.
Preserving and promoting itself, this quaint mining town invites thousands of visitors every year to experience a bit of the Old West.
During the 1840s prospectors began to canvas the area for any sign of precious minerals and in the early 1860s they stumbled upon several rich silver veins on a site they called Silver Hill. Later they would find other riches including, gold, lead, zinc, copper and turquoise in the area.
The mining camp of Chloride was founded around 1863, but despite the vast riches of the district, it grew slowly due to the hostile Hualapai Indians. However, the Butterfield Stage Line began to service Chloride and the surrounding area in 1868. In the late 1860s the U.S. Army began to subdue the Hualapai and by the early 1870s a treaty was signed with the Indians, clearing the path for extensive mining.
It was during this decade that the population began to escalate and in 1873 a post office was built. At some point the post office was closed, but reopened in 1893, never to close again. Today, it one of the oldest continuously operated post offices in the state of Arizona.
Soon, all manner of new business began to spring up in Chloride. The stage stop and repair station for the Butterfield Stage Line was located in the building that currently houses Yesterday’s Restaurant.
In 1898, the Sante Fe Railroad extended its tracks from Kingman to Chloride, dramatically reducing the costs for ore and supply shipments. Just two years later the town boasted a population of 2,000, supported primarily by two major mines, the Tennessee and the Schuykill. Both these mines would produce gold, silver, lead and zinc on a major scale up into the late 1940s.
Chloride’s peak years were between 1900 and 1920, when some 75 mines were in operation in the area. In 1910, the railway was again extended directly to the Tennessee Mine, the largest in the area.
With the coming of the railroad, Butterfield’s Stage Line finally discontinued service in 1919.
By the 1930s, the richest mine in the area was the Golconda, located between Kingman and Chloride. It has been estimated that the Golconda produced six and a half million dollars in ore. Later on, the Tennessee Silver Mine surpassed the Golconda in total ore produced.
Alas, the Santa Fe Railroad, which had provided both passenger and cargo service since 1898, decided to close its station in Chloride in 1935. This was just the first of many events that led Chloride to a near death.
By 1944, the cost of materials and labor had increased to such a degree, it became too expensive to extract the precious minerals from the nearby hills. The mines closed and though the population declined dramatically, the post office remained open. Within just a short period of time, Chloride was considered a ghost town.
During the counterculture period of the 1960s, a band of hippies led by a man named Roy Purcell made their home in the hills just east of Chloride. During their stay, Roy painted what are now known as the "Chloride Murals." Forty years later, on the anniversary of their painting, the artist returned to repaint the art, so the murals are bright and vibrant today.
There are still a few mines in operation today, but Chloride looks elsewhere for prosperity. Over the last decade Chloride’s residents have banded together to pull the town out of “ghost town” status to evolve into a tourist mecca and a snow-bird haven. The goal of the residents is to preserve the past, while allowing the town to live on in the future.
The year-round population at Chloride is about 150, but peaks during the winter months at closer to 400. This quaint “Old West” town is filled with gift shops offering handmade art, crafts, and jewelry. Attracting some 20,000 tourists from all over the world every year, Chloride provides a great opportunity to experience the history of this old mining camp.
The town prides itself on the preservation of buildings like the Jim Fritz Museum, the old jail, the historic post office, and the old train station. Chloride’s Volunteer Fire Department, the oldest in Arizona, proudly displays its 1939 Ford Fire Engine to visitors. At high-noon on Saturdays, you’ll be entertained by gun-fight troupes re-enacting comical scenes of the Old West.
The remains of the Tennessee and Schuylkill mines are east of town but closed to the public. West of town is an old cemetery that is worth a look.
Outside of town you can see the Chloride Murals, as well as a scattering of ancient petroglyphs.
To get there, take Tennessee Avenue, Chloride’s main road, past the post office then follow the signs. This unpaved road generally requires a high-clearance vehicle. With a four-wheel drive, it is possible to continue up a steep and rocky clearance where more mining remains can be seen.
To get to Chloride, travel northwest on US 93 for approximately 20 miles from Kingman, Arizona. The turnoff to Chloride is well-marked between mile markers 52 and 53, then east three miles on a paved road.
Canyon Diablo / Meaner Than Tombstone - Arizona
Canyon Diablo, Arizona originated as a railroad town in 1880 when construction was halted until a bridge could be built over the canyon. A further delay was caused by financial difficulties and it wasn’t until 1890 that the railroad bridge was completed.
The canyon had earlier been given its name by a soldier named Lieutenant Whipple in 1853 when it presented such an obstacle to his thirty-fifth parallel survey party. Having to go miles out of their way to get across, he appropriately named it Devil’s Canyon. When the town was born, it took the canyon's name, which ended up being extremely appropriate for the reputation that the town would soon earn.
There being no law enforcement in the settlement, it quickly became a wild and lawless place as drifters, gamblers, and outlaws made their way to town. With the closest law enforcement being some 100 miles away, the settlement earned a reputation of being meaner than Tombstone and Dodge City combined, with many of it “citizens” winding up in the local cemetery. The saloons, gambling dens and brothels never closed, running 24 hours a day. The town comprised mostly of shacks with two lines of buildings facing each other across the rocky road on the north side of the railroad right-of-way. The “street,” aptly referred to as Hell Street, included fourteen saloons, ten gambling houses, four brothels and two dance halls. Wedged between these businesses were a couple of eating counters, a grocery and a dry goods store.
With a population of nearly 2,000, a regular stage operated between Flagstaff and Canyon Diablo that ended up being the target of many robberies. When Canyon Diablo finally got a peace officer, the first one pinned on a badge at 3:00 p.m. and was laid out for burial at 8:00 p.m. Five more foolish men also tried their hands at marshalling in this God forsaken town. None of them lasted more than a month in the position before they too were killed.
Boot Hill cemetery filled up fast, where at one time 35 graves could be seen with wooden markers and stone covered mounds. All are gone today, but that of Herman Wolf, a trader who passed away in 1899 and the only one to have died peacefully.
Once the railroad bridge was built over the canyon, the town began to die. Still wild, the remaining residents requested that the army take over law enforcement, but before they arrived the town was pretty much dried up and the lawless drifters had moved on.
Later when Route 66 came through the area, another town called Two Guns sprouted up almost on top of Canyon Diablo. Catering to the travelers of the Mother Road, Two Guns' buildings were built to the east and north of Canyon Diablo. Two Guns is also a ghost town that died with the advent of I-40.
Today, the ruins of the trading post, what is most likely the train depot, the grave of Herman Wolf, and several other stone buildings and foundations can be still be seen at Canyon Diablo.
Canyon Diablo is south of I-40 between Meteor City, and Flagstaff, Arizona. Take the Two Guns Exit (#230). The road to Canyon Diablo is immediately right of the old gas station in Two Guns.
This is a rough road and best traveled with a four wheel drive; however, if conditions are good, and you take your time, it could be taken in a regular car. The road is very rocky, so caution should be taken with any low seated vehicle.
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The canyon had earlier been given its name by a soldier named Lieutenant Whipple in 1853 when it presented such an obstacle to his thirty-fifth parallel survey party. Having to go miles out of their way to get across, he appropriately named it Devil’s Canyon. When the town was born, it took the canyon's name, which ended up being extremely appropriate for the reputation that the town would soon earn.
There being no law enforcement in the settlement, it quickly became a wild and lawless place as drifters, gamblers, and outlaws made their way to town. With the closest law enforcement being some 100 miles away, the settlement earned a reputation of being meaner than Tombstone and Dodge City combined, with many of it “citizens” winding up in the local cemetery. The saloons, gambling dens and brothels never closed, running 24 hours a day. The town comprised mostly of shacks with two lines of buildings facing each other across the rocky road on the north side of the railroad right-of-way. The “street,” aptly referred to as Hell Street, included fourteen saloons, ten gambling houses, four brothels and two dance halls. Wedged between these businesses were a couple of eating counters, a grocery and a dry goods store.
With a population of nearly 2,000, a regular stage operated between Flagstaff and Canyon Diablo that ended up being the target of many robberies. When Canyon Diablo finally got a peace officer, the first one pinned on a badge at 3:00 p.m. and was laid out for burial at 8:00 p.m. Five more foolish men also tried their hands at marshalling in this God forsaken town. None of them lasted more than a month in the position before they too were killed.
Boot Hill cemetery filled up fast, where at one time 35 graves could be seen with wooden markers and stone covered mounds. All are gone today, but that of Herman Wolf, a trader who passed away in 1899 and the only one to have died peacefully.
Once the railroad bridge was built over the canyon, the town began to die. Still wild, the remaining residents requested that the army take over law enforcement, but before they arrived the town was pretty much dried up and the lawless drifters had moved on.
Later when Route 66 came through the area, another town called Two Guns sprouted up almost on top of Canyon Diablo. Catering to the travelers of the Mother Road, Two Guns' buildings were built to the east and north of Canyon Diablo. Two Guns is also a ghost town that died with the advent of I-40.
Today, the ruins of the trading post, what is most likely the train depot, the grave of Herman Wolf, and several other stone buildings and foundations can be still be seen at Canyon Diablo.
Canyon Diablo is south of I-40 between Meteor City, and Flagstaff, Arizona. Take the Two Guns Exit (#230). The road to Canyon Diablo is immediately right of the old gas station in Two Guns.
This is a rough road and best traveled with a four wheel drive; however, if conditions are good, and you take your time, it could be taken in a regular car. The road is very rocky, so caution should be taken with any low seated vehicle.
Bumble Bee Just Never Made It - Arizona
Unlike many of the other ghost towns in the area, Bumble Bee was not a mining town – rather, it was once a flourishing stage stop on the Prescott-Phoenix stage line. Originally, the stop was known as Snyder’s Station named for W.W. Snyder who first settled the area.
Though the region was “infested” with hostile Indians, Snyder saw opportunity in the creek that ran nearby and the lush pastures, where he could graze his horses and cattle. But the Indians were not happy with having white settlers in the area and began to attack a number of area ranches. Soon, The U.S. Cavalry sent in their troops to protect Snyder, as well as the other area ranchers and prospectors.
Though small amounts of gold could be found in Bumble Bee, the vast majority was to be found in the neighboring camps, including Turkey Creek, Golden Turkey, Cleator, Gloriana, Gillette, the mineral rich veins at Tip Top, and dozens of other small settlements. Though the original road through Bumble Bee was crude, it led to the mines, which the many prospectors were determined to reach. When a stage was established with a stop at Snyder’s ranch, Snyder built a small hostelry and stable to accommodate to the travelers. Then, when gold was discovered in the adjacent Bradshaw Mountains, prospectors were crawling in nearby Bumble Bee Creek.
Soon, enough people had arrived in the area that a post office was established in February, 1879, taking its name from nearby Bumble Bee Creek, so named because early travelers said that the Indians were as “thick as bumblebees.”
As the railroad pushed westward, it pushed the stagecoach out and about the same time; the rich ores were diminishing in the area. Bumble Bee was destined to die. Its few remaining residents did everything to keep the town alive, moving the town site three different times as new roads were surveyed. Finally, though, it was by-passed so far by the Black Canyon highway, it became a true ghost town.
In the mid 1930’s an attempt was made to bring Bumble Bee back to life by making it into a tourist attraction. Several new buildings were constructed, but the attraction never drew the tourists they hoped for.
Over the years, the property changed hands a number of times, until the entire town was placed on the market and purchased in 1960 by newspaper king, Charles A. Penn. Though Penn had plans to restore the town and build a museum, it never happened.
Time and weather have taken their toll on what little is left of the old ghost town, though several buildings continue to stand. The site is on private property and some of the old buildings are occupied; however, photographs can be taken from the road. At the time of this writing, the old school building, which houses a private residence and formerly, a gift shop for several years, is for sale.
The rest of the businesses have long closed have been left to the elements.
Bumble Bee is some 55 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona just off I-17 at Exit # 248.
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Though the region was “infested” with hostile Indians, Snyder saw opportunity in the creek that ran nearby and the lush pastures, where he could graze his horses and cattle. But the Indians were not happy with having white settlers in the area and began to attack a number of area ranches. Soon, The U.S. Cavalry sent in their troops to protect Snyder, as well as the other area ranchers and prospectors.
Though small amounts of gold could be found in Bumble Bee, the vast majority was to be found in the neighboring camps, including Turkey Creek, Golden Turkey, Cleator, Gloriana, Gillette, the mineral rich veins at Tip Top, and dozens of other small settlements. Though the original road through Bumble Bee was crude, it led to the mines, which the many prospectors were determined to reach. When a stage was established with a stop at Snyder’s ranch, Snyder built a small hostelry and stable to accommodate to the travelers. Then, when gold was discovered in the adjacent Bradshaw Mountains, prospectors were crawling in nearby Bumble Bee Creek.
Soon, enough people had arrived in the area that a post office was established in February, 1879, taking its name from nearby Bumble Bee Creek, so named because early travelers said that the Indians were as “thick as bumblebees.”
As the railroad pushed westward, it pushed the stagecoach out and about the same time; the rich ores were diminishing in the area. Bumble Bee was destined to die. Its few remaining residents did everything to keep the town alive, moving the town site three different times as new roads were surveyed. Finally, though, it was by-passed so far by the Black Canyon highway, it became a true ghost town.
In the mid 1930’s an attempt was made to bring Bumble Bee back to life by making it into a tourist attraction. Several new buildings were constructed, but the attraction never drew the tourists they hoped for.
Over the years, the property changed hands a number of times, until the entire town was placed on the market and purchased in 1960 by newspaper king, Charles A. Penn. Though Penn had plans to restore the town and build a museum, it never happened.
Time and weather have taken their toll on what little is left of the old ghost town, though several buildings continue to stand. The site is on private property and some of the old buildings are occupied; however, photographs can be taken from the road. At the time of this writing, the old school building, which houses a private residence and formerly, a gift shop for several years, is for sale.
The rest of the businesses have long closed have been left to the elements.
Bumble Bee is some 55 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona just off I-17 at Exit # 248.
Bellemont – A Biker Friendly Ghost Town
Though Bellemont is pretty much a ghost town, it has recently seen a small revival as a “Biker Friendly Town.” Ironically, Bellemont was where part of the movie “Easy Rider” was filmed when outlaw bikers played by Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper stopped in front of the Pine Breeze Motel. Trying to rent a room, a door is cracked, but when the proprietor spies their motorcycles, the glowing “NO VACANCY” sign begins to blink at the motel. The riders end up continuing down Route 66 and sleeping in the woods.
Not so today. Bellemont is home to the Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson dealership and the Route 66 Roadhouse Bar & Grill, where bikers are welcomed with enthusiasm. It is on the 2.5 acres where the Pine Breeze Motel resides, that the Bar & Grill was built.
Though the Pine Breeze Motel sits idle with peeling white paint and grass creeping at its sides, the land surrounding it invites bikers to camp upon the property and enjoy the hospitality of the Roadhouse. Ironically, the original “NO VACANCY” sign of the Pine Breeze Motel is proudly displayed hanging above the pool tables at the Bar & Grill.
Bellemont began its life as a stop along the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad in 1882, where natural springs of the area provided water to the thirsty steam engines. Named for Belle Smith, the daughter of the superintendent of the railroad, Bellemont soon became lumbering center, complete with its own sawmill. In 1887, its first post office was established.
When Route 66 originally came through it was first built north of where I-40 is today. Later it was changed in 1931, taking a more southerly course.
Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the government built the Navajo Army Depot at Bellemont, where ammunition and explosives were stored and shipped when needed. Still a very small community, the town had little more than a store and a couple of gas stations. Later the Whiting Brothers established a gas station and motel in east Bellemont, of which, little is left today but a pile of rubble.
In 1982, Camp Navajo was taken over by the Arizona National Guard and is still utilized as a training facility.
The old Pine Breeze Inn and the remains of the Whiting Brothers Service Station and motel are on the south frontage road one mile east of the Harley Davidson dealership, on a cracked and overgrown piece of pavement.
Beyond Bellemont are two old alignments of Route 66. One is almost completely gone, but the other, can still be traveled during good conditions. Caution is advised as the road is narrow, winding, and mostly dirt and gravel. To access this old road, enter the north frontage road of I-40 which will take you through Brannigan Park, the highest point of Route 66, at almost 7,500 feet above seal level.
The route through Brannigan Park is the oldest alignment of Route 66, which presented many hazards to early travelers as they tried to climb over the pass. When the road was moved south in 1941, all businesses along this stretch closed, but the area today is a beautiful drive with grassy meadows, historic homes, and tall stands of pine and aspen.
Parks - Where Pines General Store Predates the Mother Road
Next along your travels, at exit #178 from I-40, is the old town of Parks, Arizona Originally the town began as nothing more than a depot in an old boxcar in 1898.
The depot also served as the post office which went by the name of Rhodes. However, this was short lived when the word “Rhodes” was crossed out and replaced with the word “Maine.” Primarily catering to the area’s lumber industry, the town soon sported a sawmill. When the first highway came through the area, the town relocated two miles to the east. In 1907 a new store opened in the town, which also served as the post office. The mercantile was owned by a man named Parks so the town’s name changed again, in honor of the storekeeper.
When a new highway was built from Parks to the Grand Canyon in 1921, another store opened with a gas station at the intersection of what would later become Route 66 and Spring Valley Road. This old store, which predates the Mother Road is called the Pines General Store and continues to serve travelers today.
Just east of Parks is a walking trail that was once the 1931 alignment. Along this trail can be seen an old springhouse that provided water to a tourist camp located here several decades ago.
The next piece of original Route 66 is gravel so you might want to get back on I-40 until exit #171 where you can get off to see the Grand Canyon Deer Farm that has been in operation since 1969. Here, you can do more than just look at a fleeting deer running past the road, you can walk among them, touch them and feed them. More than just deer, you can also see peacocks, llamas, wallabies and a buffalo at the Deer Farm.
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Not so today. Bellemont is home to the Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson dealership and the Route 66 Roadhouse Bar & Grill, where bikers are welcomed with enthusiasm. It is on the 2.5 acres where the Pine Breeze Motel resides, that the Bar & Grill was built.
Though the Pine Breeze Motel sits idle with peeling white paint and grass creeping at its sides, the land surrounding it invites bikers to camp upon the property and enjoy the hospitality of the Roadhouse. Ironically, the original “NO VACANCY” sign of the Pine Breeze Motel is proudly displayed hanging above the pool tables at the Bar & Grill.
Bellemont began its life as a stop along the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad in 1882, where natural springs of the area provided water to the thirsty steam engines. Named for Belle Smith, the daughter of the superintendent of the railroad, Bellemont soon became lumbering center, complete with its own sawmill. In 1887, its first post office was established.
When Route 66 originally came through it was first built north of where I-40 is today. Later it was changed in 1931, taking a more southerly course.
Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the government built the Navajo Army Depot at Bellemont, where ammunition and explosives were stored and shipped when needed. Still a very small community, the town had little more than a store and a couple of gas stations. Later the Whiting Brothers established a gas station and motel in east Bellemont, of which, little is left today but a pile of rubble.
In 1982, Camp Navajo was taken over by the Arizona National Guard and is still utilized as a training facility.
The old Pine Breeze Inn and the remains of the Whiting Brothers Service Station and motel are on the south frontage road one mile east of the Harley Davidson dealership, on a cracked and overgrown piece of pavement.
Beyond Bellemont are two old alignments of Route 66. One is almost completely gone, but the other, can still be traveled during good conditions. Caution is advised as the road is narrow, winding, and mostly dirt and gravel. To access this old road, enter the north frontage road of I-40 which will take you through Brannigan Park, the highest point of Route 66, at almost 7,500 feet above seal level.
The route through Brannigan Park is the oldest alignment of Route 66, which presented many hazards to early travelers as they tried to climb over the pass. When the road was moved south in 1941, all businesses along this stretch closed, but the area today is a beautiful drive with grassy meadows, historic homes, and tall stands of pine and aspen.
Parks - Where Pines General Store Predates the Mother Road
Next along your travels, at exit #178 from I-40, is the old town of Parks, Arizona Originally the town began as nothing more than a depot in an old boxcar in 1898.
The depot also served as the post office which went by the name of Rhodes. However, this was short lived when the word “Rhodes” was crossed out and replaced with the word “Maine.” Primarily catering to the area’s lumber industry, the town soon sported a sawmill. When the first highway came through the area, the town relocated two miles to the east. In 1907 a new store opened in the town, which also served as the post office. The mercantile was owned by a man named Parks so the town’s name changed again, in honor of the storekeeper.
When a new highway was built from Parks to the Grand Canyon in 1921, another store opened with a gas station at the intersection of what would later become Route 66 and Spring Valley Road. This old store, which predates the Mother Road is called the Pines General Store and continues to serve travelers today.
Just east of Parks is a walking trail that was once the 1931 alignment. Along this trail can be seen an old springhouse that provided water to a tourist camp located here several decades ago.
The next piece of original Route 66 is gravel so you might want to get back on I-40 until exit #171 where you can get off to see the Grand Canyon Deer Farm that has been in operation since 1969. Here, you can do more than just look at a fleeting deer running past the road, you can walk among them, touch them and feed them. More than just deer, you can also see peacocks, llamas, wallabies and a buffalo at the Deer Farm.
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