Goldfield Ghost Town: Into Arizona’s Past
I feel embarrassed to say I’ve lived here for 10 years (like literally 15 minutes from Goldfield Ghost Town), and I never knew the real history. I just figured the town was built from scratch to look old as a tourist attraction. NO. It legit was a gold mine, and gold was found, and after the gold was gone, became a ghost town. Then it was bought in the 80s and fixed up to become a tourist attraction. Goldfield Ghost Town gives great insight into that history with lots of fun things to do while you’re there.
Gold was actually found at this site in the 1890s.
History of Goldfield Ghost Town
History isn’t my specialty, but I do like to have a simple understanding of places that I go. So let’s keep it simple. What is the history behind Goldfield Ghost Town?
Goldfield Ghost Town was Established in 1892 after the discovery of gold
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within 5 years the gold was gone and it became a ghost town
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a fire in 1943 burnt most of it down
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Bought in the 1980s and rebuilt to honor the old site.
Visitor Information: Goldfield Ghost Town
Location
Goldfield Ghost Town is located about 30 minutes east of Phoenix. It sits at the base of the beautiful Superstition Mountains. The Superstition of the hidden gold, get it? Even if you didn’t like the ghost town, which you would, driving to see the Superstition Mountains is 100% worth it. It’s easy to plug into your map app and nagivate there.
Fees
There are NO PARKING fees and NO ENTRY fee. You will pay for food or activities or in the store, but nothing to get in, which is nice!
Key Features
We will review this more below, but some of the best things to do at Goldfield Ghost Town include the zipline, the train, the mine tour, and the live reinactment show.
Hours
Merchants are open 10-5 daily, the Saloon is open 11-9 daily, Coffee Shop 9-430pm daily, and attractions 10-5 daily.
Attractions at Goldfield Ghost Town
Shops
There are a ton of fun shops at Goldfield Ghost Town! If you like natural body products, check out the apothecary. There’s also a merchantile with treats and souviners, a hat shop, a coffee shop (seriously one of the best lattes I’ve had in the valley), and more. In one of the shops, you can take an old western photo!
Museum
Goldfield Ghost Town wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t historically significant, so make sure to stop in and learn something. All the staff are super friendly 🙂
Attractions
If you’re looking to further immerse yourself in the history, there are some fun PAID activities you can do. You can pan for gold, go for a mine tour, ride the railroad, or even fly down the zipline. Nearby, you can ride horses in the desert, too!
My Personal Experience
FUN FACT- I actually did some wedding bridal photos at Goldfield Ghost Town. Note- you do need a permit for professional photos. We had so much fun and loved our photos. So obviously that shows you I LOVE THE AREA.
Things To Do Nearby
If you’ve got some extra time, I suggest hiking in the nearby Superstition Mountains! The Supes (what locals call it) are my absolute favorite. They’re so rugged and unique and special, and right across the street from Goldfield Ghost Town.
Interested In More Hikes?
I created a 40+ page guide to the Superstition Mountains! This includes a master list of hikes within the Superstitions for ALL OCCASIONS- caves, waterfalls, easy hikes, hard hikes, etc. I show photo spots, hike details, and so much more!
Final Thoughts About Goldfield Ghost Town
Is it worth it? Even if you don’t do any of the paid attractions, it is worth it to walk around, go into shops, and just take in the good vibes. Definitely one of the best things to do in Phoenix if you like history!
