Gold Road, Arizona – Gone …. For Now
The spectral remnants of Gold Road, Arizona, a once-thriving mining town, cling to the arid landscape in a canyon just beyond the winding ascent of Sitgreaves Pass. This ghost town, a whisper of the past, sits along the historic westbound stretch of Route 66. From this vantage point, the eye sweeps across the vast expanse, taking in the shimmering mirage of California to the southwest and the dazzling lights of Laughlin, Nevada, the gambling mecca, to the west. The silence speaks volumes, hinting at the boom-and-bust cycles that defined the fate of countless settlements across the American West.
Before the echoes of dynamite and the clang of pickaxes resonated through the canyon, this land lay largely undisturbed. During the early 1860s, a prospector named John Moss first identified traces of gold in the area. However, his interest waned when the allure of silver beckoned him northward to the Cerbat Mountains, where richer deposits promised greater fortunes. The Chloride area became his new focus, leaving the nascent potential of what would become Gold Road, Arizona, unexplored.
Despite Moss’s departure, the lure of precious metals continued to draw hopeful individuals to the rugged terrain. Prospectors, driven by dreams of striking it rich, tirelessly combed the mountains. It wasn’t until 1900 that fortune truly smiled upon one of them. A miner named Jose Jerez, down on his luck, found himself in a desperate situation. He was grubstaked with a mere $16.00 by Henry Lovin, a store owner from nearby Kingman. Jerez wasn’t searching for gold; he was desperately trying to locate his lost burro. But, in his search, he stumbled upon a rich vein of gold-bearing quartz.
Recognizing the significance of his discovery, Jerez carefully collected samples of the glittering quartz and hastened to an assay office. The results confirmed his wildest hopes: the ore assayed at an astounding 40 ounces of gold per ton. Overjoyed, he immediately contacted Lovin, his benefactor, and the two men wasted no time returning to the site to begin their mining operations. Within a few short months, they had excavated a 15-foot shaft, their frantic activity fueled by the promise of untold riches. Their efforts did not go unnoticed, and a group of investors from California soon became aware of their success. In 1901, the California group purchased Jerez and Lovin’s claim for $50,000, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Gold Road, Arizona.
The California group, recognizing the immense potential of the mine, quickly sold their rights to another group of investors for a substantial sum of $275,000. This new ownership brought in the necessary capital and expertise to develop the mine on a large scale. They constructed a mill to process the ore, and soon, 180 miners were extracting vast quantities of gold from the earth. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in ore were brought to the surface.
As the mine flourished, a bustling settlement began to take shape around it. Businesses sprang up to cater to the needs of the growing population. The United States Postal Service recognized the town’s importance by establishing a post office on April 15, 1902. Henry Lovin, the store owner who had initially grubstaked Jose Jerez, used his newfound wealth to expand his business interests. He opened a new store in Gold Road, Arizona, established a successful freighting company, and founded the Gold Road Club, a popular gathering place for miners and other residents.
However, the tale of riches also had a tragic side. One of Lovin’s regular customers at the Gold Road Club was none other than his former partner, Jose Jerez. Unable to cope with his newfound wealth, Jerez squandered most of his share of the money on alcohol and gambling. Overwhelmed by despair, he tragically ended his life by consuming Rat-Be-Gone poison, a stark reminder of the human cost often associated with the pursuit of fortune.
The Gold Road, Arizona Mine reached its peak in 1905 and 1906, yielding enormous quantities of gold. But the rich veins began to dwindle in the following year, and the mine’s operations were forced to close. Despite its short lifespan, it is estimated that over $2,000,000 in ore was extracted from the mine. Nevertheless, the surrounding area continued to attract other miners until 1931. During this period, the district yielded over seven million dollars worth of gold, solidifying its place in the annals of mining history.
Even after the closure of the main mine, the town of Gold Road, Arizona, persevered, clinging to life. The post office remained in operation until October 15, 1942, providing a vital link to the outside world. However, just a few years later, in 1949, a decision was made to raze the entire town to reduce tax burdens. This drastic measure effectively erased the once-vibrant businesses and homes that had thrived during the gold-mining boom, preventing future visitors from experiencing a tangible connection to the town’s past.
For decades, Gold Road, Arizona, remained seemingly lifeless, a forgotten chapter in the history of the American West. But in 1992, a new chapter began when Addwest Minerals acquired the Gold Road Mine. After three years of development work, the mine resumed gold production, breathing new life into the area. Hard-rock miners worked around the clock, operating in three shifts, until 1998, when a sharp decline in gold prices forced the mine to shut down once again.
The mine sat dormant, awaiting the day when market conditions would once again make its operation profitable. During this period of inactivity, the mine offered guided tours to visitors, providing a glimpse into the world of hard-rock mining. In 2007, as gold prices soared, that profitable point returned. Mining operations recommenced, and the tours were discontinued to allow for full-scale production.
Though the town of Gold Road, Arizona, was razed long ago and access to the immediate mine area is restricted, remnants of its past can still be observed. Careful observation reveals old water tanks, cement stairs, rock retaining walls, and the roofless shells of former buildings, all blending with the surrounding terrain. A search of the nearby hills uncovers several abandoned mining shafts, silent witnesses to the dreams and struggles of those who sought their fortunes in this unforgiving landscape.
Just two miles further along Route 66, travelers encounter Oatman, Arizona, a town that has successfully reinvented itself from a near ghost town into a popular tourist destination. More than 500,000 people visit Oatman each year, drawn by its quirky charm and the wild burros that roam its streets, a stark contrast to the silent ruins of Gold Road, Arizona.
The story of Gold Road is a microcosm of the American West, a tale of boom and bust, hope and despair, and the enduring allure of gold. While the town itself may be gone, its legacy lives on in the remnants that dot the landscape and in the stories that are passed down through generations. It serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of fortune and the enduring power of the human spirit.