Experience The Wild West At This Arizona Ghost Town With Unique Family-Friendly Activities

The Old West was giving way to the modern world just as a new medium arrived to capture its lore on celluloid: Motion pictures. Thanks to Hollywood movies, westerns are arguably the film genre with the clearest iconography, extending to the towns that provide a backdrop for these tales of the intrepid and dangerous American Frontier. We all know the images: Dusty main streets, saloons with batwing doors, isolated railway stations in the desert. Some of them are still alive and well (Dodge City, Amarillo, Deadwood, Tombstone) although some survive mainly on tourism these days. Then there are ghost towns like Goldfield in Arizona, which are a great places for families to get a real feel for the Wild West.

Ghost towns aren't just a Frontier thing, but they are most commonly associated with the western states where thousands are scattered across the hills, prairies, and deserts, built and abandoned as railroads expanded and gold rushes came and went. Many of them were left to ruin while the Old West was still booming in the mid-1800s and others have fallen by the wayside over the decades since. The more forgotten outposts have been left to the elements and are dangerous to explore but some of the best ghost towns are maintained in a state of atmospheric decrepitude. Goldfield hits the mark because it has a good blend of rugged authenticity and western-themed attractions to make it welcoming and fun for visitors of all ages.

Goldfield is located just a 45-minute drive from Phoenix. As the name suggests, Goldfield was first established in 1893 when prospectors discovered gold in the nearby Superstition Mountains. At its peak, the had a population of around 4,000 people who set up amenities including a school, brewery, general store, and no less than three saloons. The boom didn't last long, however, as the seam of gold faulted just five years later, leaving the town in rapid decline. Many of the original buildings have survived, leaving the popular tourist attraction looking like a small town stuck in time.

The main street is the focal point and there is a lot going on in Goldfield these days for a ghost town. To get a feel for what it was like for the prospectors back in the 19th Century, you can take a guided tour of Goldfield Mine and even pan for some of your own shiny stuff nearby. A Wild West town wouldn't be the same without a good old-fashioned shootout, and the Goldfield Gunfighters are a group of enthusiasts who put on a show every weekend from November to April. It's all good family fun, with other highlights including the Goldfield Museum, reptile exhibit, gold panning experience, narrow gauge train ride, and a more risqué history lesson at Lu Lu's Bordello. Just be aware that most of the attractions have a separate entry fee.

Once you've done checking out all the static attractions in Goldfield, there are also more active pursuits available. A great way to see the spectacular desert landscape around the town and Superstition Mountains is a horseback ride at O.K. Corral Stables. Call ahead for reservations and choose from a quick hour in the saddle to a whole day adventure. You can explore the hills by foot, but be aware that it can be a dangerous hiking spot. If you want to see the scenery in more comfort ,the knowledgeable guides at Apache Trail Tours will take you on a scenic drive in a jeep. For a blast of adrenaline, check out the Superstition Zipline which whizzes you down into town from a mast 110 feet in the air. Once the sun goes down, book up for a ghost tour in and around the town for spooky tales by lantern light.

All the activities in Goldfield will help you work up an appetite and naturally the place to go for a bite and a drink is the saloon. The Mammoth Steakhouse looks suitably rugged and serves up exactly the kind of grub you'd expect in a Wild West town: burgers, steaks, and a decent selection for the kids. They'll even arrange a cookout for you — speak to Cowboy Dan! For snacks and ice creams with a spectacular view of the mountains, grab a table outside Miners Grill & Ice Cream Parlour.