About Vulture City Ghost Town
As we remain open to visitors, we have initiated a stringent sanitization protocol. In that spirit, we request that all visitors please either pre-purchase General Admission online or have exact cash upon arrival.
Visit us at Vulture City to remember and celebrate the history of the American West. We are located 12 miles outside of Wickenburg, Arizona. Visitors are thrown back in time by the many faithfully restored buildings and remaining artifacts as they enjoy a 1/2 mile gravel path walk through the town.
Restoration of the remaining buildings are nearing completion and curating/landscaping have become the new focus. With over 12 faithfully restored buildings and countless artifacts, the tour provides a glimpse of the mining culture and lifestyle in the American Southwest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors are invited to explore the heart of the once-booming mining town. Please visit the information page for more details about the tour.
This abandoned settlement nestled into the breathtaking landscape of the Sonoran Desert, was established in 1863 and developed to meet the needs of Arizona's most successful gold mine. Vulture Citys population quickly rose to 5,000 residents. From 1863 to 1942, the mine produced 340,000 ounces of gold and 260,000 ounces of silver and has been credited with founding the town of Wickenburg.
This rise to fame came as swiftly as its fall and in 1942 the War Production Board ordered the closing of all non-essential mines to ensure that resources were focused on the war effort. The closing of the mine determined the fate of Vulture City and the town was abandoned shortly thereafter.