we arrived in Arizona yesterday and had actually decided that we were going to wait until the end of the trip to go exploring since we had such a long travel day yesterday. Except that once we got up ad saw the amazing sunset over the Catalina Mountains, each of us had a girls day lunch or boys day lunch with dad and mom in law, we got back to the house and got the itch. Little Girl, after 13 hours of travel was more content playing hide and seek and Uno, so the Man and I took the 10 East and ventured to Courtland and Pearce, Arizona. As history tells us, COurtland was a copper mining town when the Dragoon Mountains were rich with copper. The town was first a tent town, then became a real town, with a Post Office in the early 1900's. The boom did not last long and as soon as the Dragoons did not produce copper, there was a mass exodus from the town, leaving the buildings we were about to explore behind for nature to come along and find herself a new place to stay.
Both are little ghost towns, Pearce being reconstructed which we didn't really find all that appealing. However, Courtland,which was about 10 miles past where the structured road ends and the gravel one begins, was a desert heaven for us. The drive was beautiful, mountains all around. We even saw some cows in the road. Open range , the sign said, and they were telling no lies. The first building we came upon was the jail. We knew this by the couple remaining barred windows. It was a two room jail, one with what looked like a shower room or restroom. We checked for snakes and bee hives, nothing, so we ventured in,around and then back to the car.
The second spot was a home dwelling, or so we think. The three walls remained erect, partially at least, and one was caved in. The rocks were a rust color and were quite beautiful. I was able to climb on the structure and truly felt the wall was secure. Saw lots of geckos scurrying around and there was a plethora of different cactus to admire and get stuck on while leaving.
The final stop was located about a half a mile down the road. There were two buildings,one looking residential and one looking more commercial or industrial, The walls partially remained standing, ceilings caved it, no windows, one door. I really wish I knew what each one was. we took out the drone and got it up before the battery died and a strong breeze took it over into the brush. This place was so cool, the colors of the rocks, the beautiful surrounding mountains, the coming sunset and the absolute peaceful quiet. we actually stopped in one of the homes, held our breath and listened. There was no noise. It was truly like we had stumbled upon this lost relic and only we knew about it.
We knew as night was closing in , we better get on our way. We left the way we came, passing cows, who looked like the were planning where to have a beer after work, drive through Benson to get a Diet Coke and some jerky, then up though the Texas Canyon with these amazing rock formations and back to good ole Tucson, AZ. Six hours after we left, we pulled into the garage, dusty, smiling ear to ear and ready to share our adventures with family and you. The wild west is the best!!!
Both are little ghost towns, Pearce being reconstructed which we didn't really find all that appealing. However, Courtland,which was about 10 miles past where the structured road ends and the gravel one begins, was a desert heaven for us. The drive was beautiful, mountains all around. We even saw some cows in the road. Open range , the sign said, and they were telling no lies. The first building we came upon was the jail. We knew this by the couple remaining barred windows. It was a two room jail, one with what looked like a shower room or restroom. We checked for snakes and bee hives, nothing, so we ventured in,around and then back to the car.
The second spot was a home dwelling, or so we think. The three walls remained erect, partially at least, and one was caved in. The rocks were a rust color and were quite beautiful. I was able to climb on the structure and truly felt the wall was secure. Saw lots of geckos scurrying around and there was a plethora of different cactus to admire and get stuck on while leaving.
The final stop was located about a half a mile down the road. There were two buildings,one looking residential and one looking more commercial or industrial, The walls partially remained standing, ceilings caved it, no windows, one door. I really wish I knew what each one was. we took out the drone and got it up before the battery died and a strong breeze took it over into the brush. This place was so cool, the colors of the rocks, the beautiful surrounding mountains, the coming sunset and the absolute peaceful quiet. we actually stopped in one of the homes, held our breath and listened. There was no noise. It was truly like we had stumbled upon this lost relic and only we knew about it.
We knew as night was closing in , we better get on our way. We left the way we came, passing cows, who looked like the were planning where to have a beer after work, drive through Benson to get a Diet Coke and some jerky, then up though the Texas Canyon with these amazing rock formations and back to good ole Tucson, AZ. Six hours after we left, we pulled into the garage, dusty, smiling ear to ear and ready to share our adventures with family and you. The wild west is the best!!!