Take a Trip to
CROWN KING, ARIZONA
Take a ride to historic Crown King, Arizona! The Creekside Lodge Preserve sits at a gateway to Crown King. Our lodge is quite popular with folks who want to hit the road and see a bit of Arizona History.
Heading to Crown King:
The first 10 miles: You will leave the Creekside Lodge and go to the town of Mayer. From Mayer you leave the pavement and head up a dirt road to Pine Flat and the ghost town of Goodwin.
The first 7 or 8 miles are high desert. You cross a few creeks and some old mines. A few good vista areas and you can see for miles. This is unspoiled old time cowboy and gold miners’ country!
You will see what the first pioneers saw. This is a rugged adventure through rough back country mountains that many never get a chance to see. Renew your spirit as you get away from it all into the land of the early pioneers.
At Goodwin you intersect the Senator Highway. The word “highway” is a misnomer. During normal weather, the road can be traversed by cars. However, it is very windy and full of washboards.
From the intersection you turn left and head west on the “Senator” towards Crown King.
After about 2 ½ to 3 hours we you will reach the town of Crown King. The distance is not long (roughly 30 miles of driving, but it's a very slow-going road. WARNING: During winter weather, the road can get tricky. Make sure you have a 4x4 vehicle and chains during snowy weather.
This mining town sprung up after the first prospectors found goad in the area around 1870. There were several big mines in the area and some processing plants and mills.
There are some really neat old buildings and you get the feel of being back in history about 100 years or so. Crown King was named for the Crowned King Mine. There are several big mines in the are where gold was discovered in the 1970s. During it’s heyday Crown King had about 500 buildings including: two Chinese restaurants. In 1897 it got electricity, and one telephone. In 1904 the got a railroad there.
When leaving Crown King, if you head east toward Mayer and I-17, you will pass through Cleator, which was at one time and ore train terminal. This is an original-looking old mining town with many original building standing. A real ghost town with one operating bar. The road you will be driving on was once a rail road track.
ALL DONE? Come back to your cabin at the Creekside Lodge and have a great dinner, maybe relax in the hot tub and enjoy the serenity!
Horse Thief Reservoir
1936—The new Crown King Ranger Station dwelling built by the CCC. The station, and many other points in the vicinity , takes the Crown King name from the first mine on the District. Photo by R. H. Lewis.
Inside the Saloon
