Vulture City
Vulture City sprang up around Arizona's richest gold mine, discovered in 1863 by Henry Wickenburg. A
State: Arizona
County: Maricopa County
Founded: 1863
Abandoned: 1942
Peak Population: 5,000
Vulture City sprang up around Arizona's richest gold mine, discovered in 1863 by Henry Wickenburg. At its peak, 5,000 people lived here mining over 340,000 ounces of gold. The 'Hanging Tree' where 18 ore thieves were executed stands as a grim reminder of frontier justice. Now privately restored and open for tours.
Timeline
- 1863 - Gold Discovery German immigrant Henry Wickenburg discovered a rich gold-bearing quartz outcropping in the desert. He named his claim after the vultures he saw circling the area.
- 1863-1870s - Town Grows Vulture City quickly grew around the mine. At its peak, nearly 5,000 residents lived in a bustling town with a schoolhouse, blacksmith, brothel, general store, saloons, and boarding houses.
- 1880 - Post Office A post office was established, giving Vulture City official recognition as a community.
- Peak Years - The Hanging Tree High-grading (stealing ore) was rampant. Eighteen men accused of gold theft were hanged from a large ironwood tree without formal trial. The 'Hanging Tree' became one of Arizona's most notorious frontier justice symbols.
- 1863-1942 - Production Over its 80-year operational life, the Vulture Mine produced over 340,000 ounces of gold and 260,000 ounces of silver—making it Arizona's richest gold mine ever.
- 1942 - WWII Shutdown The U.S. government ordered all non-essential gold mining halted for the war effort. The Vulture Mine briefly appealed and reopened, but never recovered its former productivity.
- 2012-Present - Restoration Private owners began extensive restoration of the 35-acre ghost town. Today, more than a dozen original buildings are preserved and open to visitors.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: October-April
Difficulty: Easy - developed historic site
Time Needed: 2-3 hours
Tips
- Self-guided and guided tours are available
- Over a dozen original buildings remain
- The Hanging Tree still stands
- The actual mine is under separate ownership
- Night tours are offered seasonally
Quick Facts
- 18 men were hanged from the Hanging Tree for stealing gold ore
- The mine produced 340,000 ounces of gold—worth over $800 million today
- Vulture Mine profits helped fund agricultural development that grew Phoenix
- Henry Wickenburg never became rich from his discovery—he sold his share for $85,000
- The town is named after the vultures circling when Wickenburg found gold
Location
Address: 12 miles southwest of Wickenburg, Arizona
Coordinates: 33.82, -112.85