You’ll find Gillett just north of Phoenix, where crumbling foundations and the weathered Burfind Hotel tell stories of a booming 1870s silver mill town. Once home to 500 residents, nine saloons, and the notorious Ghost Bandit, this authentic Arizona ghost town thrived briefly before declining after 1886. The site sits on private property requiring permission to visit, with unmarked graves and scattered artifacts silently preserving frontier tales waiting to be discovered.
Key Takeaways
- Gillette emerged as a bustling mill town in 1876, processing silver ore from the Tip Top Mine with about 500 residents.
- The town featured a diverse frontier economy including a bank, hotel, nine saloons, and streets named after San Francisco.
- After the mining company relocated operations in 1886, Gillette declined and was eventually abandoned.
- The Burfind Hotel ruins and a pioneer cemetery with approximately 52 unmarked graves remain visible today.
- Visitors must secure permission to explore as Gillette sits on private property accessible via unpaved roads requiring vehicles with decent clearance.
The Birth of a Silver Boomtown
While Spanish explorers had glimpsed silver’s promise in Arizona’s rugged terrain as early as 1583, it wasn’t until 1875 that the region’s mineral wealth truly revealed itself. That year, prospectors Jack Moore and Bill Corning struck rich silver ore along Cottonwood Creek, establishing what would become the legendary Tip Top Mine.
Their discovery sparked an immediate rush. By 1878, the settlement of Gillette emerged as a dedicated millsite, named after the mine’s superintendent. You can imagine the excitement as the town was meticulously platted with proper streets—California, Mill, Main—where pioneer life quickly took root. The population rapidly grew to approximately 500 residents, creating a vibrant community centered around mining operations. The area became part of the prominent Bradshaw Mountains district, which had seen its first significant silver strikes at Tiger, Arizona in 1871.
The ten-stamp mill, unprecedented in size for the county, cemented Gillette’s importance in Arizona’s silver mining landscape. Lots sold for up to $250, a small fortune in those days of unfettered opportunity.
Wild West Lawlessness Along the Agua Fria
The bustling silver town of Gillette soon revealed its darker side, for beyond the orderly streets and promising commerce lurked a lawlessness that defined life along the Agua Fria.
Beneath Gillette’s silver shine, lawlessness cast long shadows across the unforgiving Agua Fria frontier.
Nestled in rugged terrain, the canyon settlement existed beyond the reach of formal law enforcement, creating a haven where disputes settled quickly with six-shooters rather than courtrooms.
You’d witness three hallmarks of Agua Fria’s untamed spirit:
- Vigilante justice committees forming when cattle rustling or claim jumping threatened livelihood
- Saloon brawls erupting into deadly shootouts as miners defended honor over whiskey
- Water rights battles intensifying during drought, pitting neighbor against neighbor
The town’s isolation encouraged self-reliance—when river waters rose, you’d be cut off completely, leaving your fate in your own hands or those of the makeshift posses patrolling these wild lands. The land along the riverbed, now lined with mesquite and chaparral, bears little resemblance to the flowing waters that once sustained the lawless settlement. Like many settlements in the region, residents struggled with arid conditions, often receiving less than eight inches of precipitation annually.
The Infamous Ghost Bandit’s Territory
Situated within rifle range of Gillett’s ramshackle wooden buildings, the Ghost Bandit’s territory stretched across the rugged terrain where Agua Fria’s waters cut through the desert floor.
You can still trace Henry Seymour’s outlaw domain along the Black Canyon Stage Road, where he ambushed unsuspecting Wells Fargo coaches while maintaining his blacksmith cover in town.
Imagine standing at the Agua Fria crossing where Deputy Garfias finally captured him—the same spot where $68,000 in stolen loot vanished into the landscape.
The treasure legends persist because Seymour never revealed his hiding spots before disappearing after his prison term.
These sun-scorched hills and rocky arroyos north of town hold secrets that continue to whisper through the desert wind, calling to modern-day treasure hunters who search these ghostly grounds. The area earned its reputation as the stage robbers capital of Arizona during its lawless heyday.
Visitors today can explore the remnants of the once-thriving Burfind Hotel, which stood as the largest structure in this Wild West town before it declined after 1886.
Rise and Fall of the Mill Town Economy
Founded in the shadow of Arizona’s rugged Bradshaw Mountains around 1876, Gillett emerged almost overnight as a bustling mill town processing precious ore from the Tip Top Mine.
You’d have found streets named after San Francisco thoroughfares and a vibrant economy that briefly rivaled neighboring Prescott, showcasing remarkable economic resilience amid frontier challenges. While several locations share the Gillett name, this Arizona ghost town represents one of many places requiring disambiguation pages for clarity.
The town’s industrial legacy included:
- A sophisticated milling operation that initially employed 30 men and constructed multiple stone facilities within just 29 days
- A diverse commercial district featuring a bank, hotel, and nine saloons catering to miners and laborers
- Stagecoach connections that facilitated commerce despite dangerous terrain
When the mining company relocated operations to Tip Top in 1886, Gillett’s fate was sealed. Unlike the Arkansas town of the same name which experienced economic growth until the Great Depression, Arizona’s Gillett never recovered from its industrial decline.
Dangerous Travels: The Stagecoach Station
While stagecoaches rumbled into Gillett’s dusty main street, you’d witness a scene that perfectly embodied the dangerous frontier: weary travelers descending from wooden coaches, alert eyes scanning for trouble, and armed guards clutching shotguns with white-knuckled intensity.
You’d face genuine stagecoach challenges crossing the treacherous Agua Fria River before finding brief respite in Gillett’s saloons.
Your journey would’ve been punishing—bouncing in lightweight Celerity coaches through scorching days and moonlit nights, with minimal protection from elements or bandits. The town served as an important transfer point to Cripple Creek, with regular stagecoach service connecting these frontier settlements. Roads followed natural contours with hardly any improvements, requiring passengers to occasionally assist in pushing the coach over difficult terrain.
Bandit encounters weren’t just possible; they were practically guaranteed. The “stage robber’s capital of Arizona” saw at least nine documented robberies, including blacksmith Henry Seymour’s three heists totaling $69,000.
Until railways arrived around 1912, you’d gamble with your safety each time you traveled through this lawless waypoint.
What Remains Today: Exploring the Ruins
When you visit Gillett today, you’ll find the weathered ruins of the Burfind Hotel standing as a silent sentinel to frontier ambitions.
You might wander among scattered building foundations and fragments that whisper stories of the town’s brief but vibrant existence as a mining hub.
Just beyond the main settlement, a forgotten pioneer cemetery holds the remains of early settlers, its neglected graves slowly returning to the desert landscape amid growing concerns about preservation and unauthorized digging at the site.
Crumbling Hotel Foundations
Ghostly remnants of the once-grand Burfind Hotel stand as the most prominent feature of Gillett’s haunting landscape today.
As you explore the upper level grounds, you’ll discover these hotel remnants—stone foundations and basement walls that once supported the largest structure in town. Though vandals have damaged portions, the architectural significance remains evident in the clearly identifiable outline.
When visiting these crumbling foundations, note:
- The hotel later served as a dude ranch before final abandonment
- Stone walls reveal the building’s impressive original footprint
- The foundation sits exposed to the elements, slowly returning to the desert
You’ll need a 4WD vehicle to cross the Agua Fria River, and remember—these fragile ruins rest on private property requiring owner permission for access.
Forgotten Pioneer Cemetery
Not far from the hotel foundations lies Gillett’s forgotten pioneer cemetery, a solemn patch of earth encircled by a crude driveway established in 2006.
You’ll notice time has stolen all proper headstones, leaving only scattered rock enclosures as silent testimony to the estimated 52 souls buried here.
The cemetery preservation challenges are evident as you walk among the disturbed grounds—cattle have bedded here for decades, erasing much of what remained.
Within these boundaries rest the town’s original settlers: miners, mill workers, and families including at least one child.
Despite its ruined state, the historical significance remains powerful.
Each unmarked grave tells a story of frontier hardship in a town once known for its lawlessness, where blacksmith-turned-robber Henry Seymour represents the wild spirit of those who found their final rest here.
Archaeological Site Issues
Today’s visitors to Gillett will find themselves confronted with a fragile archaeological landscape where time and neglect have conspired against preservation.
The crumbling walls of the Burfind Hotel stand as the last sentinel of this once-bustling mining town, while cattle and erosion slowly erase what remains.
Archaeological preservation challenges are evident at every turn:
- Scattered artifacts from the 1870s lie unprotected amid fragile building foundations.
- Unmarked burial sites, now identified through ground-penetrating radar, remain vulnerable to grazing cattle.
- Mining-related debris tells stories of the town’s purpose, though these fragments disappear annually.
You’ll walk among artifact degradation issues that worsen with each passing season, experiencing the raw freedom of a truly unmanaged historical site—both its appeal and its tragedy.
How to Visit: Directions and Permissions
Reaching the weathered remnants of Gillett requires a journey through Arizona’s rugged terrain that begins on Interstate 17 heading north from Phoenix.
Take Exit 236 at Table Mesa Road, then head west about four miles to find this forgotten frontier outpost. You’ll follow the frontage road north, passing two spurs before arriving at the coordinates N 34° 01′ 07.5″ W 112° 09′ 49.3″.
Be prepared for unpaved access routes that demand vehicles with decent clearance, especially after rain transforms the desert floor.
Dusty paths become treacherous quagmires when desert storms strike—bring a sturdy vehicle or risk becoming part of Gillett’s abandoned history.
Most importantly, remember Gillett sits on private property—you must secure permission before exploring. There’s an unspoken freedom in these ghost town pilgrimages, but respecting boundaries preserves what remains.
No facilities await you, so bring water, maps, and emergency supplies. The silent cemetery and crumbling foundations tell their stories only to those who approach with reverence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were Any Films or Television Shows Shot in Gillett?
No, you won’t find any film history or television productions in Gillett’s dusty remains. The crumbling foundations and windswept desert have escaped Hollywood’s gaze, leaving its stories untold on screen.
What Happened to the Remains of Tip Top Mine?
You’ll find the Tip Top Mine’s remains mostly disappeared after operations ceased. The shaft reached 830 feet deep, but today only ruins exist, marking this once-thriving mining operation in Arizona’s ghost town history.
Are There Documented Ghost Sightings or Paranormal Activity?
As you wander those quiet ruins, you’ll find no documented ghost encounters in Gillett. Unlike Goldfield, paranormal investigations haven’t recorded spectral voices or apparitions among the crumbling stones where outlaws once roamed.
Did Any Notable Historical Artifacts Survive From Gillett?
You’ll find stone foundations, remnants of the Burfind Hotel’s basement, and the Tip Top Mill’s gravity feed structure surviving Gillett’s decay. Some relics of historical significance await your discovery despite minimal preservation efforts.
What Plants and Wildlife Inhabit the Ghost Town Area Today?
You’ll find native vegetation like creosote bush, brittlebush, and saguaro cacti thriving among the ruins, while local fauna including coyotes, roadrunners, and rattlesnakes reclaim what man once built.
References
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Gillett
- https://www.abandonedspaces.com/towns/gillett-arizona-mining-town.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillett
- https://janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2023/01/10/gillett-colorado-a-gambling-mans-town/
- http://www.mrquigleyphotography.com/articles/gillette.htm
- https://www.apcrp.org/Gillett/Gillett_Master_Text_070607.htm
- https://azgw.org/yavapai/ghosttowns.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_mining_in_Arizona
- http://prescottazhistory.blogspot.com/2019/08/gillette-az-boom-to-bust-in-35-years.html
- https://azoffroad.net/tip-top-mine
