By E.L. Foxx

Yavapai County is no stranger to ghost towns. It made a gracious host to prospectors looking to strike it rich during the Arizona territory’s gold rush, resulting in thousands of mines being dug. If a mine was successful, a town would spring up around it. Mining towns lasted 30 years on average, while smaller camps lasted as little as four years.

Bigbug was a small mining town founded in 1862 when gold was discovered along Big Bug Creek by Theodore Boggs. The area got its name when prospectors made note of the especially large beetles along the creek where they were mining. Like many mining camps, Bigbug saw its fair share of name changes. The “Bigbug” post office officially opened in March of 1879. The name only lasted for a few months; in November it was renamed “Red Rock.” This lasted a few years before being renamed “Big Bug” in 1881 and eventually as “Bigbug” again in 1895. Bigbug was known for its smelter services in the Bradshaw Mountains. reaching its peak population in 1890 with 115 residents. As time went on, the ore started to run dry. Miners began moving away to more productive mines in the area, causing the collapse of Bigbug. The post office closed in 1910. 

In 1890 George W. Middleton developed the “De Soto” mine in the Bradshaw Mountains. It produced copper, gold, silver, tungsten, lead and iron, with $3,250,000 in copper alone. The town of Middleton was officially founded in 1903, when a post office was built. It was home to over 100 residents, including both miners and railroad workers constructing the Bradshaw Mountain Railroad, also known as "Murphy's Impossible Railroad.” Middleton became an important station along this railroad, being part of the first “impossible” switchback areas. The De Soto had an aerial tramway that hauled ore from the mine down to the station. In 1908 the company that owned the mine went bankrupt, causing the temporary closure of the mine and the post office, and putting an end to the town of Middleton. However, many residents stayed and worked at nearby mines in Turkey Creek or Alexandra. In 1916 WWI caused a copper boom, letting the De Soto see the light of day again. The post office was reopened under the name “Ocotillo.” Unfortunately, the copper boom was short-lived. The post office for Ocotillo was permanently closed in 1925. The De Soto saw small private production on and off before officially closing in 1972. Today, remnants of the sky tram as well as the cemetery can be found where Middleton and Ocotillo once stood. 

Walker stands as one of Yavapai's most well-known ghost towns. Walker was founded by Joseph Reddeford Walker and the Walker Party when they struck gold along Lynx Creek in 1863. Walker was extremely high end compared to other camps and towns in the area. What started off as a small camp with a few log cabins quickly sprouted into a town with hotels, saloons, schools, businesses and even a hospital. The post office was established in 1879 and lasted until 1940. At its peak, around 2700 residents called Walker home. Many of these residents were miners, with the Walker mining district having 88 mines. Unfortunately, there was a fire in 1909 that burned down a majority of Walker's businesses. They never rebuilt, causing the decline of the town. Today, pieces of Walker's rich history can still be found, with mines, mining equipment and even charcoal kilns left forgotten. 

Though many of Yavapai County's towns have been lost to time, remnants of their thriving past can still be found if you know where to look. 

“Days Past” is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners International (www.prescottcorral.org). This and other Days Past articles are also available at www.archives.sharlothallmuseum.org/articles/days-past-articles/1 The public is encouraged to submit proposed articles and inquiries to dayspast@sharlothallmuseum.org Please contact SHM Research Center reference desk at 928-277-2003, or via email at archivesrequest@sharlothallmuseum.org for information or assistance with photo requests.