Arizona ghost town: Gleeson

I took a trip out to the ghost town of Gleeson one day last month and met up with the jail’s owner, Tina Miller.

Gleeson Jail; Photo by Luanne Mattson

She and her partner bought the jail, and have turned it into a mini-museum. Inside the jail, you can see Native American artifacts, Western gear including old saddles, tack, an old bunk, mining and prospecting tools, ranching tools and other antiques.

The jail was built of reinforced concrete in 1910. Before that, the town jail was a nearby tree.

Gleeson's Jail Tree

The marshals would handcuff the prisoners to the tree, and they’d be forced to endure the elements. Next to the Jail Tree is a natural wash. Sometimes after a rainstorm, the water would rise dangerously close to the prisoners.

Since I was headed down, I called ahead, and Tina met me to open the jail. She then treated me to a tour of the area.

Between 1900 and 1920, Gleeson’s population swelled to about 1,000 people. On the website, it says, “In the downtown section of Gleeson, the population is exactly zero.” A few people live nearby, but they generally like the wide open spaces of this little ghost town. Mining

Here are pictures of other structures nearby:

Joe Bono saloon (Photo by Luanne Mattson)

This saloon, once owned by Joe Bono, is practically falling down. If you go, please do not attempt to enter it!

Gleeson's Shannon Hospital (Photo by Luanne Mattson)

Gleeson school

The foundation is all that remains from Gleeson’s third school (they kept outgrowing them).

There are plenty of other stories waiting for you to discover! The Gleeson jail is open to visitors the first Saturday of each month. Historian Glenn Snow is usually there to tell visitors about Gleeson’s heydays and the area’s history. Gleeson is about 15 miles from Tombstone via a dirt road. It’s also accessible by a paved road off of Highway 191 from the east.

For directions, check the Gleeson Web site. Please check their  calendar and hours of operation before you go. The jail is privately owned, as is most of the surrounding land.

If you want to explore the history a bit before you go, check out the historical sketches, which are written by Glenn Snow and are about bootleggers, scam artists and unsavory characters of the Old West.

Fall fun in Cochise County

The communities in Cochise County are gearing up for visitors. Every fall they host fun, unique events: wine tastings, home tours, cycling events, garden tours, art festivals and more!

Here’s the September lineup:

Sept. 5, 45th Annual Brewery Gulch Daze, Bisbee

Events such as the “Miz Old Biz” contest and the new Belt Sander Races make up this unique event celebrating Bisbee’s past. Once home to more than 20 bars and brothels, Brewery Gulch was one of Bisbee’s liveliest avenues. Brewery Gulch Daze features a pancake breakfast, pet parade, chili cook off, recycled art show and kiddie carnival games. Look for the waiter/ waitress relay races, always good for a giggle. All proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Bisbee.

Details: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 5 in Old Bisbee. For more info, call 520-432-3554 or 1-866-2BISBEE.

Sept. 4-6: Rendezvous of Gunfighters, Tombstone

Gunfighter groups from throughout the U.S. compete in this weekend event. In addition, there will be a costume parade on Sunday on historic Allen Street.

Free admission. Call  520-457-9317, 1-888-457-3929 or www.tombstonechamber.comfor more info.

Sept. 10 & 11, Bisbee Plein Air Competition Weekend & Bisbee Bloomers Garden Tour

Artists are invited to Bisbee to paint the picturesque hillsides of Tombstone Canyon and the Mule Mountains of Southeastern Arizona. Meet Arizona’s many Plein Air painters and take advantage of a well-organized and beautiful venue to share and sell your work. On Sept. 11, tour Bisbee’s delightful gardens as residents open their yards to the public. A shuttle bus will be available.

Garden Tour tickets are $10 and are available at the Bisbee Visitor Center. Call 520-432-3554 or 1-866-2BISBEE for information on each event.

September 23-26, Cochise County Fair, Douglas

Enjoy carnival rides, 4-H demonstrations, livestock auctions, collegiate rodeo, bull riding, food concessions, retail booths, animal exhibits, arts and crafts, and live entertainment.

Details: 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday through Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday at the Cochise County Fairgrounds, Leslie Canyon Road in Douglas, AZ. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for seniors (age 60+) & children (age 6-17); children up to age 5 get in free.

Info: Cochise County Fair Association, 520-364-3819 or www.cochisefair.org

Sept. 24, 22nd Annual Elks Oktoberfest

Authentic German food and music, games for kids, dancing. Wine and beer available. 4-10 pm. Free.

Details: 4-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Elks Lodge, #1 Elks Lane in Sierra Vista. Admission is free, beer is extra! Info: 520-458-2065

Sept. 25, Bisbee Blues Festival

The Fourth Annual Bisbee Blues Festival will feature live blues. This year’s artists are Tab Benoit, Shemekia Copeland, the Rhythm Room All Stars, Train Wreck and The Hounds. Food and beverages will be available.

Details: 11a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25 at Warren Ballpark in Bisbee. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For more info contact the Bisbee Visitor Center at 520-432-5421 or 1 (866) 2BISBEE or visit http://thebisbeebluesfestival.com/

Sep. 30-Oct. 3 Rex Allen Days, Cowboy Hall of Fame Ceremony & Banquet

The Cowboy Hall of Fame is the kick-off for the Rex Allen Days celebration. Western fun, Willcox style, this event honors their hometown hero. Rex Allen gained fame as a singer, cowboy movie star and narrator for Walt Disney Productions. This year will celebrate 59 years of Rex Allen Days, and the 2nd Annual Western Legends Award will be presented. Activities for Rex Allen Days include a parade, rodeo, General Orlando B. Willcox International turtle race, cowboy dances and country music concerts featuring Rex Allen Jr., Johnny Western and Jimmy Fortune. 

Details: Held at the Willcox Community Center. Admission varies per event. For more info, contact the Rex Allen Museum at 520-384-4583 or the Willcox Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture at 520-384-2272.

July 4th getaway

Looking to get away for July Fourth? Start celebrating early with Benson’s fireworks and Sierra Vista’s talent show on Saturday July 3. Then round out your weekend on July Fourth with coaster races, mucking and drilling contests, softball tournaments, the People & Pets Parade and fireworks in Bisbee, Sierra Vista and Tombstone.

Benson July Fourth Celebration, to be held July 3, 2010

Get a preview of fireworks in Benson! The community will commemorate its 130-year anniversary with a then-and-now slide show, the annual parade, and the popular “Water Fight” at Lions Park. Volunteer fire departments compete in the water fight. They use fire hoses to move a barrel on a pulley system, sliding the barrel toward the opposing team. Spectators often get a refreshing soak, and the kids get to play in the mud.  Entertainment and music throughout the day, with fireworks at dusk and a family dance held at Lion’s Park at night.

When:  July 3, 2010 Parade 9 a.m., Water Fight 10:30 a.m., Fireworks 8:30 p.m.

Where:  Benson

Admission:  Free

Info:  520-586-4293, Benson Visitor Center or info@bensonvisitorcenter.com

4^th of July in Bisbee, Bisbee

The famous Bisbee Coaster Races, the oldest and longest gravity-powered race in the U.S., start down Tombstone Canyon at 8:30 a.m. Between heats, the Bisbee Iron Man Mile will be held. A parade will be in Bisbee’s Warren section. Re-created Bisbee’s early miners’, mucking and drilling contests are held in the afternoon with shovels and four-pound hammers flying. The Bisbee Copper Kings will host its third annual baseball tournament Warren Ballpark, with fireworks at dark.

When:  beginning at 9 a.m., July 4

Where:  Bisbee locations

Admission:  Free

Info:  520-432-6016 or Bisbee Visitor Center events

43rd Annual 4^th of July Festivities, Sierra Vista

The party begins July 3 with a youth talent show at Veterans’ Memorial Park, followed by a street dance with the popular band “Train Wreck.” Celebrations include the Pets & People parade, with entertainment, food and displays. City officials and dignitaries will address the crowd at a noon ceremony. A spectacular fireworks show starts at dusk at the Paiz/Stone Complex, on Tacoma Street.

When:  6 p.m., July 3; all day, July 4

Where: Veterans’ Memorial Park, 3105 E. Fry Blvd.

Admission: Free

Info:  520-266-2304 or Sierra Vista Visitor July events calendar or www.visitsierravista.com

July 4, Family Style 4^th of July at Medigovich Field, Tombstone

America’s independence is celebrated in Tombstone with the annual softball tournament. Street entertainment and a rousing fireworks display at dusk round out the too-tough-to-die town’s events.
When:  8:30 a.m.

Where:  Medigovich Field, Allen Street

Admission:  Free

Info:  520-457-3994 or Tombstone Chamber

July 3 & 4, Douglas’ “sporty” July 4th

If you and your kids can’t get enough of sports, check out the July 4th celebration in Douglas. They’ll have a variety of sports tournaments: youth soccer, golf, adult flag football and softball. You must pre-register. In addition, there will be food and craft vendors plus a Patriotic Parade downtown on Avenue G at 10 a.m. Fireworks will shoot off at on July 4th at 8:45 p.m.

For more info contact the City of Douglas Recreation Center at 520-417-7340.

Southwest Wings festival-goers: make reservations early!

If you’re planning to attend the Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival, make sure you’re an early bird!

A major conference will be held in Sierra Vista at the same time as the festival, so rooms will be in short supply. Visit SW Wings’ lodging page for info on sponsoring hotels, bed and breakfast inns or motels.

Be sure to make any lodging reservations well in advance!

If you can’t find lodging in Sierra Vista, You might also visit lodging facilities in the neighboring communities in Cochise County. Click on each city to find lodging within these communities (numbers in parentheses indicate mileage to Sierra Vista). Benson (35), Bisbee (24), Douglas (50), Tombstone (32) and Willcox (70).

Happy bird watching!

Roadrunner near the San Pedro River ©Cochise County Tourism Council

Southern Arizona summers: find the cool spots, Part 2

Below are more ideas on how to stay cool in Cochise County and southeastern Arizona. See my earlier post for “part 1” of how to find cool spots during Arizona’s summers.

Dig for cold in Cochise County’s mines. A spot in Bisbee’s Queen Mine Tour is a brisk 47 degrees year-round. So when it’s 110 degrees in the desert… well, you do the math! You can get an education on mining life while you’re chilling out inside the mines. Try one of Cochise County’s two mine tours—the Queen Mine Tour or Tombstone’s Good Enough Underground Mine Tour. Visit the Queen Mine Tour or the Good Enough Mine Tour.

Which way to the beach? Cool off at The Cove, Sierra Vista’s Aquatic Center. You can dip your toes into the pool’s beach-like entry or go head first into the diving well. There’s also water tube slides and major wave action. Call the facility at 520-417-4800 or visit The Cove’s website.

Hang out with some cool customers. Tombstone has its share of cool characters hanging around. Visit Tombstone Chamber of Commerce to plan your own cool experience in the “town too tough to die.”

Gaze into cool night skies. With cooler evening temperatures, stargazers of all levels can revel in the county’s dark skies. Contact the Huachuca Astronomy Club to attend monthly star parties or join an event at one of 15 private observatories.

Do you have more ideas on staying cool? Share it by leaving a comment!

Wine, gem, fiber art, classic car and Old West events in Cochise County

May 15 & 16, Wine & Music Festival, Willcox

Carlson Creek will be one of the wineries featured

Join Willcox Wine Country members as they host a weekend of wine, live music and food to cap off the Sulphur Springs Valley Historical Society’s Historic Preservation week. Local favorite Nowhere Man and Whiskey Girl will provide music, as will The Trail Mix Trio.

Details: Wine garden open Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Six tastes and a commemorative glass for $10. For more info, visit http://www.AzWineFestival.com.

May 15, Fiber Arts Festival, Bisbee

Celebrating its 18th year, the Fiber Arts Festival will be held in Vista Park in conjunction with the Bisbee Farmer’s Market. The Fiber Arts Show will present sheep-shearing, fiber demonstrations and vendors that sell finished products along with natural fibers and equipment.

Details:   8 a.m. – 1 p.m.at Vista Park in the Warren section of Bisbee. Admission is free. For more info, call 520-642-3603 or go to www.bisbeefiberarts.com.

May 15, Guided Tour of Buffalo Soldier Historic Sites

Learn about the accomplishments and history of Fort Huachuca’s Buffalo Soldiers during a tour around Fort Huachuca. The tour is given by a member of the Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers. Call 520-417-6960 or 1-800-288-3861 for more details.

Note:  Fort Huachuca is an active military installation.  U.S. citizens may take the tour and must provide valid photo identification for all over the age of 13.

May 29 & 30, Bisbee Gem and Mineral Show, Bisbee

Gems and minerals from many regions will be on display in historic Bisbee at the Queen Mine Tour. Call 520-432-2071.

Details: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Queen Mine Tour building in Old Bisbee. Admission is free. Call 520-432-2071 or visit www.DiscoverBisbee.com for more information.

May 29-31, Wyatt Earp Days, Tombstone

Gunfight reenactments fill the streets, along with a chili cook-off, hangings, street entertainment, look-alike contests and an 1880’s fashion show.

Details: The fun begins at 10 a.m. each day during Memorial Day weekend in historic downtown Tombstone. Admission is free. Call 520-457-3511 for more info.

May 29 & 30, Willcox Rod & Classic Car Show, Willcox

The 3rd annual car show will be held in the Willcox Historic District on Railroad Ave. For information contact the Willcox Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture at 520-384-2272 or the Rex Allen Museum at 520-384-4583 or info@rexallenmuseum.org

June 19 & 20, Tombstone Gem Show, Tombstone

An exhibition featuring gems, jewelry, mineral specimens and fossils. Great for jewelers, hobbyists and collectors.

Details: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express. Admission is free. For more information call 1-888-457-3929 or visit www.tombstonechamber.com

June 26 & 27, Sabaar Shriner’s Tombstone Sweet Onion Festival, Tombstone

Enjoy a weekend with parades, costume contest, music, Taste of Tombstone and the crowning of the Onion Queen!

Details: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Allen Street in Tombstone. Admission is free. Call 520-457-9327 for more info.

May 15, Guided Tour of Buffalo Soldier Historic Sites

Learn about the accomplishments and history of Fort Huachuca’s Buffalo Soldiers during a tour around Fort

Tombstone’s rose tree in full bloom

Tombstone's famous rose tree

The trunk of the rose tree

This rose tree covers over 8,000 square feet!

Cochise County events: tribute, auction, quilt show and reenactment

If you head down to Cochise County this month you’ll have one more chance to see sandhill cranes. They are still around, but they usually head for home in March. Check out the Willcox and Douglas areas for prime viewing locations. You can have some spectacular birdwatching sessions on the Willcox play, the Whitewater Draw area and  many other places in Cochise County.

Other events include the annual tribute to Arizona native, Marty Robbins, the annual art auction in Bisbee and the Singing Wind Bookshop’s annual quilt and trunk show. Enjoy!

March 5 & 6, 19th Annual Tribute to Marty Robbins, Willcox

Special guest, Rex Allen Jr., joins in this 19th annual celebration of the country-music legend with afternoon and evening concerts, carriage rides, a viewing of Robbins’ race car. Entertainment will be held on historic Railroad Avenue, and the concert will be held at the Willcox High School.

Details: 6 p.m. concert, March 6 at the Willcox High School Auditorium, Bisbee Ave., Willcox, Ariz.  Admission is $10-$15. Get more info at 520-766-1404; www.friendsofmartyrobbins.org.

March 6, Annual Art Auction, Bisbee

Historic Bisbee’s 18th annual art auction features nationally recognized artists from southern Arizona. The event includes an artists’ reception, live and silent auctions. Overnight packages at Bisbee inns are available during the art auction weekend. Packages include a night’s stay, dinner and admission to the art auction for two.

Details: 6-9 p.m., March 6 at the Copper Queen Plaza Convention Center, Main Street, in Old Bisbee. Admission is $10. Get more info at 520-432-3554 or 1-866-2-Bisbee; www.discoverbisbee.com

March 14, Quilt & Trunk Show: a brown bag lunch lecture, Benson

The Singing Wind Book Shop presents its Quilt & Trunk Show, a brown bag lunch lecture featuring Lynn Haak, the Sharlot Hall award winner for history. Haak is a designer who has been quilting all her life. She serves in several quilting organizations including the Arizona Quilters Guild, the Arizona Historical Society and others. She is a board member of the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame. Haak and her husband bill will bring 20-25 quilts to the Singing Wind along with their book, Images of America: Globe.

Details: 1 p.m. at the Singing Wind Bookshop in Benson. Admission is free. More info at 520-586-2425.

March 20, Fairbank Days

Fairbank Days is a monthly event planned with different themes and re-enactors. Visitors can enjoy tours, exhibits and talks. This month there will be live music, art exhibits, re-enactments of “the Great Fairbank Train Robbery” and tours of the Townsite and cemetery. In addition, Tucson’s 2nd Catalonian Infantry Spanish Soldiers will travel to Fairbank to perform. Visitors can participate in a hike to the Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate.

Details: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, March 20 at Fairbank (on Highway 82 east of the San Pedro River between Tombstone and Whetstone). Admission is free but donations are accepted. You can get more info at 520-457-3062.

Why not plan a weekend of it?

For nearby accommodations, restaurants or attractions, check with the local visitors center in Benson (520-586-4293), Bisbee (1-866-2-BISBEE, 1-866-224-7233), Tombstone (1-888-457-9317), Sierra Vista (1-800-288-3861) or Willcox (1-800-200-2272).

Fun February events in Cochise County

Just added: lectures on Zapotec weaving tradition at Cochise College, Feb. 9 & 10!

Jan. 27-Feb. 24, Tombstone Association of the Arts 27th Annual Quilt Show, Tombstone

Every corner of Cochise County is represented in this voluminous display of original modern and traditional quilts of all sizes and patterns. Some are for sale, and others are family heirlooms displayed for viewing only. Visitors will be encouraged to vote for three People’s Choice Awards.

Details: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily, Jan. 27-Feb. 24 at the Tombstone Association of the Arts Gallery, 317 Allen St. in Tombstone. Admission is free. Call 520-459-7960 for more info.

Jan. 31, Cowboy Cowgirl Roundup, Benson

The Singing Wind Book Shop presents its “Cowboy/Cowgirl Round-up,” a day full of readings and music. Poets and writers will satisfy cravings for Western history and culture.

Details: 1 p.m. at the Singing Wind Bookshop. Admission is free. Call 520-586-2425 for more info.

Feb. 9 & 10, Lunch Lecture: The Zapotec Weaving Tradition, Sierra Vista & Douglas

Alex Martinez, a Zapotec weaver from Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca, shares his family tradition of master weaving that employs the same ancient methods of carding and spinning wool to create rugs and tapestries that their ancestors used more than 100 years ago.

Feb. 9: 12:10 – 1 p.m., at the Sierra Vista Campus, 901 North Colombo Ave., Room 313. Sponsored by the Center for Lifelong Learning. Call 520-515-5492 for more information.

Feb. 10, 12:10 – 1 p.m., in the student union on the Douglas Campus, 4190 W. Highway 80. Sponsored by the Center for Lifelong Learning. Call 520-417-4772 for more information.

Feb. 12-14, 18th Annual Cochise Cowboy Poetry Music & Poetry Gathering, Sierra Vista

Once a year, for three days, Sierra Vista becomes the center of Western poetry, music, storytelling and song. More than 60 artists from the U.S. and Canada will converge for three stage performances and free mini-concerts on Saturday, Feb. 7. Learn the history of the Arizona Territory through song and poetry.

Details: Various free events are held throughout the weekend. Headline shows are 7 p.m. on Feb. 12 & 13 and 1 p.m. on Feb. 14 at the Buena Performing Arts Center (at the high school); 5225 Buena School Dr., Sierra Vista. Admission is $6 for high school students, $16 for seniors and military and $18 for adults. See www.cowboypoets.com for more info or call 520-417-6960. 

Feb. 13, Chocolate Tasting, Bisbee

Serious chocoholics will melt for this fundraiser to benefit the city of Bisbee’s public library. A ticket buys you entrée to a spread of decadent chocolate desserts at Arizona’s oldest library, the Copper Queen. This is Valentines Day, after all, so pick up a to-go box of exquisite chocolates created in Bisbee kitchens to share later with your darling.

Details: 6 – 8 p.m., Feb. 13 at the Copper Queen Library, 6 Main St., Bisbee. Admission is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Call 520-432-4232 for more info or view the events calendar at http://www.discoverbisbee.com.

Feb. 13, Fairbank Days

Fairbank Days is a monthly event planned with different themes and re-enactors. Visitors can enjoy tours, exhibits and talks. This month there will be live music, art exhibits, re-enactments of “the Great Fairbank Train Robbery” and tours of the Townsite and cemetery.

Details: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13 at Fairbank (on Highway 82 east of the San Pedro River between Tombstone and Whetstone). Admission is free (donations accepted). For more info, call 520-457-3062.

Feb. 27 & 28, Celebrating Quilts, Sierra Vista

The Hummingbird Stitchers Quilt Guild will hold its annual show.

Details: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 28 at Buena High School, Sierra Vista.  Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12. Visit http://www.hummingbirdquiltguild.com/HSQG_QuiltShow.html for more info.

February, Miniature Art Show, Willcox

Stop by the Willcox Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture to admire a nationally judged show of artwork no bigger than 35 square inches. The mini show and sale, sponsored by the Art League of Willcox, features artists from all over the country.

Details: The show will be held 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon. – Fri.; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sat.; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sun. the entire month of Februrary at the Willcox Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture’s Visitor Center, 1500 N. Circle Road in Willcox. Admission is free. Call 520-384-2272 or 520-384-5317 for more info.

Feb. 28, Current Events Symposium, Benson

The Singing Wind Bookshop will hold its annual current events symposium on wilderness preservation. Art in the Wilderness, a book published by the Sky Island Alliance Project will be featured. It is dedicated in memory of photographer Bob Van Deven, whose photographs are included. Other photographers, artists, musicians and poets are featured such as Chip Hedgecock, Diana Madaras, Richard Shelton and Charles Bowden. Some of the books artists may attend. Singing Wind will welcome Doug Scott, author of Our Wilderness: America’s Common Grounds, who is an acclaimed authority on wildlands preservation.

Details: 1 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 28 at the Singing Wind Bookshop. Free to the public. Valet parking is available. Singing Wind is located 2-1/4 miles north of I-10 exit 304 and 1/2 mile east on Singing Wind Road. For more info, call the Singing Wind at 520-586-2425.

For ideas on places to stay or other things to do, visit the Cochise County website or the websites for the communities of Benson, Bisbee, Sierra Vista, Tombstone or Willcox.

AZ State Parks: Kartchner Caverns, Tombstone Courthouse face budget cuts

Last year I wrote a post about Kartchner Caverns that has been popular of late.

One of the reasons?

There is such a hullabaloo in Arizona right now on the state budget, and the state legislators are considering taking funds from the State Parks budget to fill the gap.

This has prompted lots of talk about closing parks that are in rural communities. It’s a shame, really, because these parks offer recreation, history, camping and so much more. Kartchner Caverns itself is such a treasure, but it could face closing on certain days of the week.

Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park has gone  from being open daily to opening only 5 days a week. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The economy and the state budget mess has not been kind to Arizona. Subsequently, our State Parks are nearly under siege. Funds seem to be fair game for whittling away the deficit our state lawmakers are facing (and have faced for months).

At any rate, the parks are among the highlights of Cochise County. Tombstone Courthouse has a courtroom that looks much the same as it did back in the late 1800s, and there are loads of exhibits that give you a sense of what life was like in Tombstone. I recommend a visit to the Tombstone Courthouse. It’s only a $4 entrance fee for now. Thier fees might go up to $5 soon, but it’d still be worth it!

If you haven’t been on one of Kartchner’s tours, I highly recommend you go. It is such a cool place! I went last year with my fiance and his daughter, and we had a great time! We also went to Tombstone, Fairbank ghost town (which is on BLM land next to the San Pedro River) and Sierra Vista that weekend.

You can book a tour at Kartchner by calling 520-586-2283. Find out more about the Tombstone Courthouse by visiting the Tombstone Courthouse website.

Other communities in Cochise County include Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, Sierra Vista, Tombstone and Willcox. Visit Cochise County’s Tourism website or click on any of the communities above for more information on things to do and where to stay.