Did you know Arizona is home to an extraordinary number of ghost towns? That’s right, there are more than 400 scattered around the state, most of which were boomtowns or mining camps that emerged once Arizona Territory became a part of the United States. Some towns managed to scrape by and survive into the present day thanks to tourism (like Tombstone and Oatman) but most faded under the harsh desert sun.
Today, we’re going to take a look at one ghost town that has been mostly forgotten by Arizonans, but its location on the Ghost Town Trail has managed to bring people to see the derelict ruins.
The ghost town of Gleeson is hidden in a rural section of southern Arizona near the Dragoon Mountains.
Google Maps It is a 25-minute drive from Tombstone, but the drive on the quiet two-lane road will make it feel much farther away.
Ashley Van Haeften/Flickr
You’ll still encounter remnants of the town’s mining past, with rusting equipment scattered in the hills surrounding the town.
dedhed1950/Flickr
Most of the buildings are also slowly fading under the Arizona sun.
dedhed1950/Flickr This building shows the surviving brick structure, but much of the rest of the structure has disappeared with time.
One of the buildings in better shape is the old saloon, with the windows and doors still intact. We don’t recommend trying to venture inside!
Barb Mayer/Flickr
And this would be why. Most of the abandoned buildings are no longer structurally sound and are dangerous to enter.
Ben Lepley/Flickr
One spot that has shown some signs of life, however, is the old town jail.
AmericanExpeditioner/TripAdvisor
Once covered in graffiti and falling apart, the Gleeson Jail was restored just a few years ago and has since been filled with artifacts from the town.
Cathy R/TripAdvisor
Gleeson is located 1.5 hours (87 miles) southeast of Tucson via Interstate 10 and State Route 80. You can find directions to the town here. The roads to Gleeson are paved (with the exception of approximately 200 feet at the very end). We do recommend you bring a couple gallons of water when traveling through the desert and rural areas, especially as the temperatures continue to rise.
Google Maps
It is a 25-minute drive from Tombstone, but the drive on the quiet two-lane road will make it feel much farther away.
Ashley Van Haeften/Flickr
dedhed1950/Flickr
This building shows the surviving brick structure, but much of the rest of the structure has disappeared with time.
Barb Mayer/Flickr
Ben Lepley/Flickr
AmericanExpeditioner/TripAdvisor
Cathy R/TripAdvisor
Additional information can be found on the Gleeson, Arizona website.
If you want to check out another fascinating ghost town while you’re in the area, then pay a visit to Fairbank! It is only a 35-minute drive and you’ll pass through Tombstone on the way. Read more in our previous article: A Visit To This Arizona Ghost Town Will Make You Feel Like You’ve Traveled Back In Time.
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