Goldfield Ghost Town in Apache Junction

The Goldfield Ghost Town, located in Apache Junction, was once a booming mining town but is now a tourist attraction. The best part of this ghost town is the Old West Gunfight performed by the Goldfield Gunfighters in front of the jail.

Like all tourist attractions the attractions, rides, food, and drink are a bit on the expensive side but the entrance to the town and the Old West Gunfight is free. My favorite paid attraction was the Mystery Shack which features optical illusions. It reminded me of the Calico Ghost Town Mystery Shack in Yermo, CA.

We ate lunch and bought ice cream at Miner’s Grill & Ice Cream Parlor. Their menu is basic but the food is good and within the expected price range.

History of Goldfield Mining Town

Back in 1893, Goldfield boasted 3 saloons, a boarding house, general store, blacksmith shop, brewery, meat market, and a schoolhouse. By 1897 the population reached 4000 people as the rich vein gold began to falter. As the grade of ore dropped, the town died a slow painful death.

After several unsuccessful attempts to reopen the mines, the town did come to life again on and off from 1910 to 1926. However, in 1984 a private investor purchased the location of the Goldfield Mine and rebuild and restored the buildings of the old town transforming it into the Goldfield Ghost Town in Apache Junction.

After more than 115 years, travelers from all over the world still visit this gold mining town located on the historic Apache Trail and enjoy the excitement and grandeur of Arizona’s wild west!

Attractions at Goldfield Ghost Town

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Superstition Zipline

(480) 982-0075 | www.superstitionzipline.com/

The newest attraction at Goldfield Ghost Town is the Superstition Zipline. The ride pulls you back to a tower and releases you to slide back down. The entire ride takes about 1 minute.

Superstition Narrow Gauge Railroad

(480) 983-0333 | Tickets $10 adults, $9 seniors, $7 children ages 5-12, 4 and under FREE!

The Superstition Scenic Narrow Gauge Railroad’s 36″ gauge train consists of a Plymouth diesel pulling a passenger car and a caboose. A mile and a half of track circles the town, and the narrated journey lasts 20 minutes. The engineer tells of the history of Goldfield, the Superstition Mountains, and the desert southwest in general. The train departs every 35 minutes on a 20-minute journey.

Goldfield Mine Tours

(480) 983-0333 | Admission $10 adults, $9 seniors, $7 children ages 5-12, 4 and under FREE! (Open 7 days a week!)

The Goldfield Mine Tour takes approximately 25 minutes. It is an underground guided tour that takes you back in time to 100 years ago. The guides are well versed in the history of the mine, town, gold mining equipment, and procedures. Hang on tight as the mineshaft shakes from exploding dynamite! Tours can leave every 10 minutes for large groups. Big savings on the three-pack, Train, Mine Tour, and Mystery Shack.

Goldfield Ghost Town’s Walking Ghost Tour

(480) 773-8794 | Visit the website for reservations

Goldfield Ghost Town’s Walking Ghost Tour. Take a walk with host Matt Mason, through the historic mining town at night, to learn about the legends, spirits, and curses that share the town with its residents to this very day. This spooky tour will last approximately one hour.

Apache Trail Tours

(480) 982-7661 | Call the office for rates and tour packages

Apache Trail Tours offers a variety of rugged off-road and smooth, scenic guided tours. Learn about the plants animals, legends and lore of this historic territory. Book online at ApacheTrailTours.com or Call (480) 982-7661 today.

Superstition Reptile Exhibit

Admission: $6 for Adults, $4 for kids 17 &under, and children under 6 are free with an adult.

If you are planning a trip to the Sonoran Desert we hope that you will come visit us at the Superstition Live Reptile Exhibit, located at the base of the Superstition Mountains. Come see our many reptiles & invertebrates on display at our exhibit, and enjoy the species and all our animals on live display whether seasonal or year-round. This is something you do not want to miss!

Goldfield Gunfighters

(480) 983-0333 | FREE shows every hour | Sat. & Sun. | High Noon -4:00 pm

These gunfighters are the toughest bunch of scoundrels that ever walked the streets of Goldfield! These gunfighters are the reason why Goldfield is truly a town too tough to die! Witness the gunfights and all the daring antics of the cowboy and cowgirl characters as a bunch of town folks try to steal the Wells Fargo strong box. Get your best friend arrested and thrown in Jail!

Eagle Eye Shooting Gallery

(480) 703-0366 | $2 Games, Specials, and Private Parties welcome!

Fun for all ages! Enjoy shooting interactive targets that come to life and are guaranteed to make you laugh. Beat the current high score and win a free game, or face off against your family and friends! Great fun and novelty for birthday parties and special occasions, call ahead for reservations. Enjoy browsing our unique guns, bullet and bling items for sale. Wheelchair accessible! Located at the top of the hill behind the church or follow the saloon parking signs to the upper parking lot.

The Mystery Shack

(480) 983-0333 | Tickets $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children ages 5-12, 4 and under FREE! (Open 7 days a week!)

Walk at 45-degree angles, water runs from faucets without being connected to pipes, the ghostly pool-table refuses to let you hit the balls straight and always seem to go into the same pocket, objects hang from the ceiling at 45-degree angles and no matter how hard you push them back, they will always swing back to their ghostly, slanted position. Click here for more info.

Goldfield’s Historic Museum

(480) 677-6463 | Admission $6 adults, $4 seniors, $3 children (Open 7 days a week!)

This wonderful museum has interesting exhibits on the history of the area. Of particular note is the exhibit on the Lost Dutchman gold mine, perhaps the most famous mine in the country despite the fact that no one knows where it is. The second floor is a movie museum dedicated to famous westerns filmed in and around the legendary Superstition Mountains along the historic Apache Trail.

Superstition’s O.K. Corral Stables

(480) 982-4040 | Call for reservations

Saddle up for an incredible horseback ride with Superstition’s O.K. Corral Stables! Venture out with our guides and horses into one of the most iconic mountainous regions of the Southwest. The history, diversity and beauty of the Superstition and Goldfield Mountains are second to none! Choose from Hourly rides up to All Day.

Lu Lu’s Bordello at Goldfield

(480) 983-0333 | Admission: $4 Adults, $3 Seniors, $2 Kids

The tour takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Cameras and filming are encouraged. Feel free to capture as many memories as you like. Each of the girls, or “Floozy’s“, give a guided tour into the history of the women of the 1800s (good and bad), their various roles in the western territory, as well as what it was like for them to travel into the west, leaving the lives they lived in the east behind them.

Gold Panning and Gem Sluicing at Prospector’s Palace

(480) 490-6301 | 10 am to 4:30 pm

Stop by Prospector’s Palace to find your treasure using authentic techniques. Buy a bag of paydirt inside and use our troughs and equipment outside to sort out the gold or gemstones. Pan for gold or sluice for gems with expert instruction provided. It is fun and informative using historic techniques that are still used today!