Vulture Mine

Tucked into Maricopa County, Arizona, Vulture Mine stands as one of the most historically significant gold mining sites in the state. Operations launched here in 1863 and ultimately yielded 340,000 ounces of gold and 260,000 ounces of silver before the mine closed in 1942 — a production record that earned it the title of Arizona's most productive gold mine. The settlement that grew up around the workings was called Vulture City, and at its height the mine drew more than 5,000 people to the surrounding area. The economic gravity of the operation is widely credited with giving rise to nearby Wickenburg.

Visitors today arrive at a genuine ghost town where the bones of Vulture City remain visible across the desert landscape. The site rewards photographers and history-minded travelers with crumbling structures and an authentic sense of Arizona's 19th-century gold rush era. Maricopa County summers are intensely hot, so cooler months from late fall through early spring offer far more comfortable conditions for exploring the grounds.