Ghosts of the Cerbat Mountain Range
The stark and rugged landscape of the Cerbat Mountain Range, located north of Kingman, Arizona, whispers tales of ambition, hardship, and ultimately, decline. In the 1860s, the promise of gold and silver drew waves of prospectors and miners to this isolated corner of the Arizona Territory. Fueled by dreams of striking it rich, these individuals established small, boom-and-bust towns that would eventually fade into the annals of history, leaving behind only ghostly remnants of their once-vibrant existence. This is the story of those settlements, places like Cerbat and Mineral Park, and the echoes that linger in the windswept canyons and sun-baked hills.
The allure of the Cerbat Mountain Range was powerful, but the path to its riches was fraught with peril. Accessing the area was a challenging undertaking. Prospective miners first had to endure a grueling 300-mile journey by riverboat, navigating upstream from Yuma to Hardyville, a settlement that now lies submerged beneath the waters of a man-made lake near Bullhead City. From Hardyville, they faced a further 38-mile trek across the unforgiving Mojave Desert. The harsh environment was not the only obstacle. Travelers often encountered hostile Native American tribes, adding an element of constant danger to their already arduous journey.
One grim tale from 1863 illustrates the risks faced by these early miners. According to the account, a group of Hualapai Indians ambushed three miners working in their shaft. The Indians seized the miners’ weapons and then turned them against their owners, fatally shooting one of the men. The remaining two miners met an even more brutal end, as the Indians showered them with heavy rocks, crushing them within the confines of their own mine. Despite these chilling stories and the ever-present threat of violence, the lure of fortune proved too strong for many, and the influx of determined fortune seekers continued unabated.
Cerbat
The settlement of Cerbat emerged in the 1870s, spurred by the discovery of sufficiently rich veins of ore to support larger-scale mining operations. The town’s name, derived from the Cerbat Mountain Range, is an Indian word meaning bighorn sheep, a species that once thrived in the region.
Three mines quickly became the cornerstones of Cerbat’s economy: the Esmeralda, the Golden Gem, and the Vanderbilt. Remarkably, even before establishing a post office, Cerbat was designated the county seat of Mohave County in 1871, a testament to its early promise. The town finally gained the ability to send and receive mail with the opening of its post office on December 23, 1872. However, its reign as county seat was short-lived. In 1873, the title was transferred to the nearby settlement of Mineral Park.
Despite its isolated location, Cerbat never boasted a population exceeding one hundred residents. Yet, it managed to support essential services, including a doctor and a lawyer, indicating a certain level of stability and sophistication. Mining operations continued into the late 19th century, but as the mines began to yield less and less ore, the town slowly began to decline. By 1912, Cerbat’s post office had closed, signaling the beginning of the end.
Today, little remains of this once-vibrant mining town. The Golden Gem Mill and its headframe still stand as silent sentinels amidst a landscape of scattered debris. These skeletal remains offer a glimpse into Cerbat’s past, a stark reminder of the boom-and-bust cycle that defined so many mining towns in the American West.
Cerbat is located approximately nine miles northwest of Kingman, along U.S. 93. A historical marker near Milepost 62 marks the turnoff onto a dirt road that leads to the ghost town. The final stretch of this road is rough and requires a high-clearance vehicle or a willingness to walk the remaining distance. It is important to note that as of 2023, the Cerbat Mountain Range ghost town and the Golden Gem Mine are located on private property, and the owner discourages visitors.
Mineral Park
Mineral Park, named for the abundance of minerals found in the juniper-filled basin at the foot of Ithaca Peak, was founded in 1871. The town experienced rapid growth, quickly becoming the most significant settlement in Mohave County, with a population of nearly 700 residents. A post office was established on December 31, 1872, further solidifying its status. In 1873, Mineral Park wrested the title of county seat from Cerbat, marking the pinnacle of its early success.
In addition to the economic activity generated by the local mines, Mineral Park served as a crucial supply point for more distant mining operations and a growing number of cattle ranches. The town soon boasted an array of businesses and services, including an assay office, five smelters, a hotel, a restaurant, and several saloons. Two stagecoach stations further enhanced its importance as a transportation hub. In 1882, a weekly newspaper, the Mohave County Miner, began publication, providing a voice for the community and documenting its progress. The completion of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad just 20 miles to the south in 1883 brought further prosperity to Mineral Park, dramatically reducing the costs of transporting ore and supplies.
However, Mineral Park’s dominance was threatened by the rise of Kingman, a small settlement established to serve the railroad. Despite the Mohave County Miner‘s initial skepticism about Kingman’s potential, the town continued to grow, attracting businesses and becoming a vital supply center for the surrounding mines and a commercial hub for travelers.
Mineral Park suffered a significant blow in 1887 when a county-wide vote designated Kingman as the new county seat. Kingman received 271 votes, while Mineral Park garnered only 93. Even Hackberry, located some 30 miles northeast of Kingman, received more votes than Mineral Park, with 132. Some speculated that Mineral Park’s merchants, who already had established economic ties with Kingman, favored the move to reduce costs by being closer to the railroad.
Despite the clear outcome of the election, Mineral Park officials initially refused to relinquish the county records. In response, outraged citizens from Kingman raided the town hall and seized the documents, effectively "taking" the county seat by force.
The Mohave County Miner, once a staunch opponent of moving the county seat to Kingman, eventually succumbed to economic realities and relocated its operations to the new county seat.
The loss of the county seat marked the beginning of the end for Mineral Park. After 1887, some of the mines began to close. Although some were briefly reopened in the early 1900s, the town never fully recovered, and its post office closed permanently on June 15, 1912. The Cerbat Mountain Range had witnessed another town’s rise and fall.
Today, Mineral Park has largely vanished, and its location is now part of private mining property where turquoise and copper are still extracted. An open-pit mine, previously operated by the Cypress-Bagdad company, has completely consumed the once-prominent Ithaca Peak, forever altering the landscape. The area is littered with the remnants of earlier days, including headframes, mill foundations, and dilapidated cabins, all surrounded by mine tailings.
Despite the extensive mining activity, Mineral Park’s small cemetery remains one of the best-preserved in Arizona. Although it is located within the mine property, it can still be viewed by contacting the current mining operation.
To reach Mineral Park, travel approximately 14 miles northwest of Kingman on U.S. 93 to a turnoff located between Mileposts 58 and 59. A historical marker indicates the turn, where you will head east for 4.3 miles on a paved road, then turn left for 0.3 miles onto a well-used gravel road. The turn is just before the fenced-in modern mine.
The Cerbat Mountain Range stands as a silent witness to the ambitions and struggles of those who sought their fortunes in its rugged terrain. The ghost towns of Cerbat and Mineral Park serve as poignant reminders of the fleeting nature of boomtowns and the enduring power of the desert landscape. While the sounds of mining operations and bustling settlements have long since faded, the echoes of their stories continue to resonate in the canyons and valleys, creating a palpable sense of history and a glimpse into a bygone era. These remnants of the past offer a unique opportunity to connect with the spirit of the Old West and to reflect on the dreams, hardships, and ultimately, the enduring legacy of those who once called the Cerbat Mountain Range home. The Cerbat Mountain Range now mostly whispers secrets to the wind. The stories of the Cerbat Mountain Range still echo.