Exploring Apache Junction, AZ
Time Needed in this town: 1 night or even a day trip
Apache Junction arose at an intersection on an unpaved stagecoach trail to the nearby Superstition Mountains. The location became a historical landmark, part of a scenic byway that was opened to the public in 1922, and is currently part of a 120-mile-long "circle trail" that begins and ends in Apache Junction. The O'odham Jeweḍ, Akimel O'odham (Upper Pima), and Hohokam people all have tribal ties to the area.
FUN FACT: The Superstition Mountain area has long been of interest to filmmakers, with its dramatic views and romantic history. Movie stars such as Glenn Ford, Elvis Presley, John Wayne, and Tom Mix starred in films set in our area.
The below information is a complete guide of the best places to stay, the top rated places to dine and drink, and all there is to see and do. We’ve also included a summary of the history of this cool little town!
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Where to Stay
We’ll be real… this is a place that you spend the day in, but not stay overnight in. Really, it has more to do with the quality of hotels in the area than anything. Although, if you’ve rented/have an RV, there are plenty of parks available.
Where to Dine & Drink
Things to See & Do
Goldfield Mine
The Goldfield Mine Town sprang up in 1892, peaking at 28 buildings, with a community of up to 4,000. Five years later, after prospectors had dug out all of the gold, the population deflated, and Goldfield went dark. It had a sputtering revival between 1910 and 1926 (renamed as Youngsberg), then waned again. In 1943, a fire accidentally caused by an errant military training flare, burned down 60% of Goldfield. Eventually all of the buildings were gone, and parts were salvaged and carted off elsewhere. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that Bob Schoose purchased the land and rebuilt the town to look like it did in its heyday. So while it looks original, it isn’t. Still, you feel transported back in time. Below are some of the attractions my girlfriend and I did, which were so fun:
ARIZONA’S ONLY NARROW GAUGE TRAIN
The very first thing we did when we entered the town was get train tickets (you can purchase an inexpensive, all-in-one pass for all major attractions, which I highly recommend). Our conductor was super fun and even belted out some Britney Spears (haha). But, the views from the train ride were beautiful!
THE GOLDFIELD MINE TOUR
For this being a re-created mine, they’ve done an amazing job, right down to the artifacts and costumes. We learned a lot about how they blast out rock (finding the weakest point in the wall, drilling holes, inserting the dynamite, lighting the fuse, and running as fast as they can), what it was like working in the mines in the 1800s (picture #2 below is of a mobile “toilet” that someone had to cart down the mines everyday, as well as maintain), and what happened to the mining industry there (the gold vein being tapped out). It was a short tour but really cool!
THE MYSTERY SHACK
One of the most interesting (and physically sickening) tours I took there was the Mystery Shack. The story told is that there was an earthquake (which fact-checking, it checks out in 1910) that shifted this house off of it’s foundation, causing it to rest against a boulder. Instead of knocking down the house, the miner re-set up his house to accommodate the new position. Here’s where it gets weird… the earthquake opened up the ground about 1500 ft. down (see third photo below), causing a vortex to be exposed (to read more about what a vortex is, click here). This swirling mass of magnetic energy causes everything to gravitationally pull towards the upper most corner of the house. At first, I thought this was a trick (I’m one of those that can explain away any magic/eye trick). But, the feeling accompanied with leaning against that railing was unreal. My insides literally felt like they were being pulled towards that top corner of the house, making me feel physically ill. I later learned from a doctor friend of mine that if you are rich in iron (which I am), it will absolutely produce that effect. I ended up leaving to get fresh air and it took me nearly 4 hours to recover.
The Daily Shootout Reenactment
A few times a day, actors reenact a shootout in the main square. Note it’s loud and may scare some children.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
There are so many other fun things to see and do at Goldfield Ghost Town - just by walking around! Below are some of the spots to check out:
Eagle Eye Shooting Gallery
Goldfield’s Historic Museum
Walking the entire grounds
Lu Lu’s Bordello
Gold Panning (which we did and there’s a whole art form to it!)
Miner’s Grill and Ice Cream Parlor
Mother Lode Mercantile (get the fudge)
Church on the Mount
Siphon Draw Apothecary (they have some great holistic medicines)
Mammoth Steakhouse and Saloon
Other Things to see & Do in Apache Junction
Commemorative Air Force Museum
The Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum, a.k.a. Airbase Arizona Aircraft Museum, was established in 1978, in Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona. It is the 10th unit of the Commemorative Air Force and the home of one of the largest Commemorative Air Force units in the world. On exhibit are World War II artifacts, helicopters and classic American and foreign combat planes, many of which are the last remaining warbirds of their kinds.
Hike Siphon Draw Trail
Trailhead for a rocky canyon path, with a steep climb to a plateau & waterfalls after rain.
Lost Dutchman State Park
Lost Dutchman State Park is a 320-acre state park located in northwestern Pinal County, Arizona on the Apache Trail (State Route 88) north of Apache Junction, near the Superstition Mountains in central Arizona. It is named after the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, a famously lost gold mine legendary in the tales of the Old West. It is accessible about 40 miles east of Phoenix via U.S. Highway 60, the Superstition Freeway.
The park provides hiking trails and mountain bike access to the area known as the Superstition Wilderness, as well as views of the mountains.
See the Tortilla Flats
(30 minutes from Apache Junction on the other side of the Superstition Mountains)
Tortilla Flat is a small unincorporated community in far eastern Maricopa County. located in the central part of the state, northeast of Apache Junction. It is the last surviving stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail.
According to the Gross Management Department of Arizona's main U.S. Post Office in Phoenix, Tortilla Flat is presumed to be Arizona's smallest official "community" having a U.S. Post Office and voting precinct. The town has a population of 6. Tortilla Flat can be reached by vehicles on the Apache Trail (State Route 88), via Apache Junction.
Originally a camping ground for the prospectors who searched for gold in the Superstition Mountains in the mid-to-late 19th century, Tortilla Flat was later a freight camp for the construction of Theodore Roosevelt Dam. From this time (1904) on, Tortilla Flat has had a small (less than 100 people) but continuous population. A flood in 1942 badly damaged the town, resulting in many residents moving away. Since 2019, Tortilla Flat is owned and operated by RTDK Management. The town is made up primarily of a country store, a saloon (bar/restaurant), a BBQ Patio that has a live band daily, starting late December thru April (or until it gets too hot), a mercantile/gift shop, and a small museum. Most of these were constructed in the late 1980s after a fire consumed the existing store, restaurant, and motel on the same site.
Superstition Farm
Superstition Farm is a 501c(3) non-profit who rescues a bevy of super cute donkeys, goats, sheep, and other animals. Check their site for opening days and times to come see and interact with the animals!
Superstition Mountain Museum
Most of the old movie sets that once made up an extensive open-air museum known as, “Apacheland” burned up in a fire in 2004 however, two of the original buildings from the Apacheland attraction were moved to the Superstitions mountains site.
The Audie Murphy Apacheland Barn houses a number of horse-drawn buggies and carts used in the 17 television series, 29 full-length feature films, and hundreds of commercials filmed on the site. Scattered around the grounds are a few kitschy Old West scenes and full-size dioramas, complete with plenty creepy old mannequins. If you have a little change in your pocket, you can even try to toss a coin or two into the open mouth of the barber/dentist’s patient, posed with his plastic mouth wide open.
Just a stone’s throw away is the Elvis Chapel, a mini-museum and wedding chapel dedicated to “the King” and his unique western movie “Charro!” also filmed on site.
The museum devoted to the area itself is tucked behind the gift shop through an indoor iron gate and for a $5 fee, you can go in and see a taxidermy display of native wildlife in action poses and a number of displays about life in the region.
Of special note are the crudely engraved local sandstone blocks. These are known as the Peralta Stones, widely believed to be key pieces in the search for the Lost Dutchman Mine. This legendary mine’s location has been unknown since the death of its most famous owner, a Dutchman who lived in the 1800’s. He allegedly stumbled on the mine, shot the owners, and died late in life after giving only a list of cryptic clues as to the location of his incredibly lucrative gold mine. Generations of searchers have scoured the Superstitions and several have died in the search, with at least five deaths confirmed over the past 150 years. The museum features several artifacts surrounding the Lost Dutchman legend, and is often visited by those brave and stubborn individuals who still launch searches into these lethal mountains.
Tube the Salt River
Float on the Salt River, a gentle, meandering waterway that winds its way through the scenic Tonto National Forest. Enjoy relief from the Arizona sun with a refreshing float by some of the most gorgeous views in Mesa, Arizona.
A History Summary
1880 - The Apache chief Geronimo surrendered to the U.S. Army and gold was discovered (which is how Goldfield got its name).
1885 - The gold played out and the town was abandoned.
Early 1900s - The Mesa-Roosevelt Road (later named the Apache Trail) was constructed, followed by a large dam on the Salt River. With the Roosevelt dam in place, water and power were accessible and growth began in earnest in the valley below.
1922 - A new highway that ran between Phoenix and Globe was built. That same year, George Cleveland Curtis, a salesman from Utah set up a tent and started selling water and sandwiches to people traveling the dusty roads. Curtis realized his good fortune to be so well positioned. He filed a homestead claim and poured the foundation for a building that would become the Apache Junction Inn.
1930s - Curtis, along with a chimpanzee named Jimmie, started Arizona's first zoo.
1945 - Curtis sold his thriving business to Jack and Beverly Anderson, whom most consider the founders of AJ.
1959 - Construction began on a movie set to promote the area to the film industry. Superstition Mountains, Apacheland Movie Ranch became a popular location for western movies until 2004 when it closed down.
1978 - Apache Junction became an incorporated city.
