Arizona’s history is rich with some of the greatest gold & silver strikes the world has ever known. One of the most noteworthy gold strikes occurred at what became known as the Vulture mine near present day Wickenburg, 54 miles north of Phoenix. The area also became notorious for the bloody “Indian Wars” of the 1860s and 1870s as the native Yavapai peoples constantly tried to defend their lands from incursions by white settlers.
However, nowadays Wickenburg (named for German immigrant Henry Wickenburg who first prospected the area in 1863) is better known as an ideal day trip only an hour from the Phoenix area. The town still retains much of the Old West feel, with a number of its structures part of the National Register Of Historic Places, such as the Vulture Mine which had sustained the economy of the area and the ghost town remnants of Vulture City.
For many years the mine had been the focal point of the town’s existence producing an impressive amount of gold and silver from 1863 until the final closure in 1942. It is believed the Vulture operation yielded some $200 million worth of metal in current dollars and 340,00 ounces worth in total. The mine also produced a whopping 260,000 ounces of silver during that period.
In the present time, tours of the Vulture City ghost town are available along with a tour of Wickenburg to check out the various historic sights around town that include stories of its tempestuous past, legends, and ghosts! There are also dude ranches for horseback riding and plenty of places for golfing and hiking. For the eco-minded, the Hassayampa River Reserve is nearby, comprising 770 acres, operated by the Nature Conservancy and Maricopa County. It is and was a lush oasis in the middle of the desert 🏜 providing the only source of water for 19th century farmers and ranchers. Self guided trails take the visitor through bountiful forested areas unexpected in the vast Sonoran Desert 🏜 offering some shady relief from the constant sun.
For more information about the various activities available for visitors to the Wickenburg area, go to: wickenburg.az.us
