Exploring the Ruins of Courtland, Arizona
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2024
- Located near Tombstone, Courtland is the only ghost town on Arizona's Ghost Town Trail that has no people living it. The town does have plenty of ruins though (and at least on our visit, some cows).
The town began in 1908 and quickly reached a population of about 2,000 people. The town would have two newspapers, an ice cream parlor, a movie theater, a Wells Fargo office, and even an auto dealership before the boomtown went bust.
The local mines started drying up in 1917, and the the population quickly fell. By the 1920s the town was pretty much done for, though the post office held on until 1942.
Now, all that is left of the town are ruins and while the once bustling sidewalks are empty, surprisingly the sidewalk is still there.
In this video we visit Courtland, Arizona, talk about its history dating back 1,000 years, and why the town is at risk of disappearing for good.
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Sidetrack Adventures is the best “Let’s go look at stuff” channel. Steve points the camera at himself for just a minute then narrates as we look at the site. All the others think we want to look at them walking around. Not.
We are from Temecula, Ca., and moved to New Mexico (Las Cruces) three years ago. We are fascinated by the ghost/mining towns here. I also read five books about Billy the Kid, and we have visited most of the places he was known to be. I just love all the history!
Thank you so much for what you provide for us! The time, the gas, lodging, food, etc. It's expensive, and we appreciate it so much! You are an amazing host, and full of interesting information! Thank you Steve, and family!
Fascinating seeing the old photos of the town in it's heyday, and now gone - imagine the people and familues living there. Thanks for another great video!
Yeah, its always mind boggling that a town with thousands of people is reduced to a half dozen ruins so quickly.
Heyday I guess but yeah. It’s a trip just separated by time and ghosts ha. 🌵🏜️
One of those trips where I sit back and listen to what you describe Steve and in my own way I "imagine" what Courtland looked like back in it's short glory! I would have loved it simply because there was a Baseball field so they must have had games, a movie theater and most importantly, An Ice Cream Parlor! 🤣 That Pack-Rat Table was a hoot too! Would be swell to see just what people leave and to be able to leave a few knuckleheaded objects myself for others to have a laugh over! You really captured the essence of this trip in commenting on how amazing a once booming and thriving Town is reduced to practically nothing. Great Drone shots and as always I appreciate my seat! MOO From COW-lumbus, Ohio Sidetrack Adventures Community 💥
I was hoping I'd be able to figure out where the ice cream parlor was, but the only map that listed what anything is was from the late 1920s, and by then everything was vacant. I wish I had something funny on me to leave at the table too.
I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for doing what you do.
@@kristophermorgan2302 100 percent agree Kristopher! Salute 👋
😢
Thank you for this adventure and the photo of old time Corutland. A fellow who owned a rock shop in Tombstone used to climb down in the mines to hunt for wulfenite crystals.
I have a share certificates for the Courtland Copper Co. Consolidated.
Thank you for making these trips to the middle of nowhere so I don’t have to, and allowing me to enjoy the journey without having to do so that driving. As I get older, I find it more difficult to walk those non-flat surfaces.
I agree with you 💯
It is amazing how fast that town deteriorated to what it is, especially considering the Post Office hung around until the 1940s. Good video Steve.
All the wood in the buildings was still valuable and a lot of towns got dismantled and carted away to build something else.
@@Jeff-jg7jh I forgot about that aspect of it. Thanks for the insight.
@@Jeff-jg7jh That's what happened to Fort Bowie. All the ranchers poached the wood. I much prefer ruins like this than what Bowie does covering them with plaster.
You have to remember, there was hundreds of towns like this in the desert. They would appear almost overnight, and when the mines close they return to dust. I've been to dozens of them, some I never found any information about, just an X on an old map. Thanks for the tour Steve!
Another very interesting and well documented video. Thanks
In the Summer of 1965 I got a job working at a used lumber yard on the outskirts of Tucson. They got the job to tear down the old ice structure along the railroad tracks in downtown Tucson that had tons of lumber. My job was mostly delivering lumber and timbers to remote locations. I was sent by the owner to deliver a load of timbers to Courtland to a small underground mine. The highway number was 666 back then instead of 191.
On a remote dirt road in the area I took a wrong turn. After a while I saw a house and stopped the truck to inquire where the mine was. A short guy with a dunce type hat was sitting on the front porch facing the road. I stood on the running board and started to ask him for directions. He pulled out an old rifle that had a barrel about 5 feet long that looked like it was very old. He pointed it at me and said if I didn't get back in the truck he would shoot me. I jumped back into the truck and took off further down the road. However it soon dead ended and I had to turn around. With no options I gunned the truck past the guy with the gun and soon saw the sign to the destination mine. Somehow the name of Courtland stuck in my memory bank!!!!!!
Another fascinating history lesson of America thank you Steve. I'm seeing America from the comfort of home here in New Zealand. The native American Indians certainly knew what they were doing hundreds of years ago when they 'mined' for minerals.
Greetings from SoCal to you 🇳🇿
@@Porsche996driver where on earth are you from please. My geography isn't that good
Once again thanks Steve for your information and research efforts, also for taking us on vacation every week. Much appreciated from Fort Collins Colorado.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Sidetrack Adventures, thanks for sharing another great video with us. I've been interested in old Ghost Towns for as long as I can remember and, I'll be 79 on the 14th of March.
My wife and I are living in the Phoenix area during the Winter months. Cortland is already on my Bucket List of things to do while we're there.
Thank you again for your time and efforts in providing us with some knowledge of our "Yesteryears".
Stan
If you get a chance its worth checking out. Pearce looked like its worth a visit too. Gleeson seemed to be all on private property, but you can see a lot from the road, so you could check out three ghost towns on a 20 mile drive.
@@SidetrackAdventures Thank you for sharing your suggestions. I'm definitely going to check these places out.
Happy birthday Stan! 🎁
@@Porsche996driver Why thank you very much.
I feel like I'm 20 years older. Too many miles on this old body.
These videos make me wish time travel was possible
Even if we could only send a camera back.
Enjoy your shows Steve.
Am in Australia and hope to get over your way shortly.
Thanks Noel
If you look closely at the concrete you can see the impression of the form boards that were used on everything that was poured. The horizontal lines is where the mud seeped out before curing. That means they had to build a box to the top in order to pour a wall, for example. In addition they erected a steel rebar structure in the box before enclosing the sides. Now comes the more difficult part, how to mix, transport and elevate the load above the form (box). They would need a crane, a steam powered crane, and mixer trucks w/hard rubber tires and chain drive. It all had to come out there, and you can see what has endured. Another great video, Thanks Steve. Happy Humpday.
It's amazing what the effort they put in to build up a town that really lasted about 8 years before falling apart.
Sounds like a lot of work, time, and energy went into constructing those walls. Amazing!
Those violent range cattle can be pretty scary. I'll tell you my secret way of defending against them, Steve. When I'm out exploring, I always carry a bottle of A1 steak sauce with me. When them cows start menacing me, I just pull out the A1 bottle and wave it around. When they see the steak sauce and realize you're not playing around, they all drift off into the desert.
Yet another nice video! Thanks Steve. Looking forward to your next road trip adventure! 😉
Thanks. Should be doing a longer trip coming up soon.
The jail at Courtland is identical to the jail in nearby Gleeson, which has been restored and now a museum for the area. Open hours vary. Gleeson also has the ruins of a large school near the museum, and a hospital and stores north of the highway.
I saw the jail in Gleeson when we drove by, but it looked like everything was closed off so I didn't stop. I need to look into the opening hours for it, because I'd love to check it out.
Been to Courtland many times. Im glad to see they did fence some of the mines off.
I was one of many people who made complaints with the state to get the mines tagged and fenced.
Too many people who come out here dont know what old mines actuality look like and its really easy to fall in old shafts.
Also my favorite drive with 4 wheel or high clearance vehicle is to drive Middlemarch road outside Tombstone over Middlemarch Pass and then to Pearce.
From Pearce I follow the road through Courtland to Gleeson and Tombstone.
About 70 miles but a fun way to while away some time.
While in that general area the Stronghold is a beautiful place to visit.
West side of the Stronghold has a ton of places to explore including Council Rocks.
And while up at Middlemarch Pass there is also an old abandoned mining camp and old mines worth exploring.
I did see some other mine areas fenced off as we were driving towards Gleeson too. I always try and keep an eye out, but I can just imagine someone coming across one of those unexpectedly.
Again, Great narration, Great information, Great visuals, Great sound-track and the best part is you'll say "I'm not sure" if you don't know a fact --- some presenters won't admit if they don't know something, they just "Blah blah blah" as fact. The B&W photos at 11:55 & 16:13 really helped push the story along. Great job "top-notch."
mike
Thanks!
Let me know if you ever need a helper to come along..... lol@@SidetrackAdventures
Your research and expertise in finding the information and back story of these places is amazing , so many compliments and thanks for sharing everything you find in these places ! Enjoy them all ( as I love old history of Arizona and everywhere ) ⭐️
Thanks Steve for another great history lesson and tour from days gone by! The old west has so much history that you may just pass right on by and not ever realize what once had existed. I love that you can find the strangest things out in the wild, creepy heads with sunglasses included! Keep up the great work and see you next Wednesday!
I love these exploration videos.
Thanks!
I admire your adventurous drive,thanks for inviting us along for the journey🤗😎🤗😎
Dear Steve, I can't thank you enough for such great channel. The contents, music, historical facts, desert scenes & your awesome narrative are as good as it gets! So relaxing & informative! Much obliged, Sir 😊
Wow, thank you!
Very interesting story - as always.
Thanks for another great episode Steve.
Glad you enjoyed it
Love watching your exploration adventures! Keep up the fantastic work!!
Thanks. Will do.
Wow! This video is a wonderful learning experience. This site is all new to me. Thank you, Mr. Adventures.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
Very cool! These little towns sprang up and died just as fast... Many of the post office/general stores just hung on for so long because of the wildcat secondary mines in the areas All over S.E. Arizona because it was a cluster of miners homes around those wildcats sifting out the gold, silver, turquoise and etc from the tailings piles, and often reopening the shafts/tunnels. In many cases, the "un-named" settlements would be the support to these stores/Post office/schools.
The settlements had names, but once played out completely, only the State of Arizona had the name and the "local" post office had the ZIP code as it were.
Thanks for making that drive Steve!
P.S... My brother and I drove ALL over S.E. Arizona Christmas of '97 as a three week vacation. We used to live in Douglas.... We had a blast!! Still beautiful area... This haven't changed much.... well, more fences around the open mine shafts 😆😆😆!
I've been to Courtland several years ago taking the Ghost Town Trail while vacationing in Arizona. I loved it!
My grandfather and dad were copper miners in Campo Seco, California. It was the Penn Mine. That town is a ghost town practically. I was raised there in a house called Chilly Camp, it had a Chinese Bank (all dirt except the steel doors to enter) across the street. But it's all gone now except the house. Crazy to think I was raised in a town that is all but gone now. Dude I really like all your videos. Great content.
Mining towns came and went with the mines. Today, maybe not, but only if the mining techniques kept bringing money to the investors.
Great job 🎉
Thank you! 😁
Cold and snow here in Idaho. So refreshing to visit places in your videos that I will most likely never see. If you ever make it to Idaho, I could recommend so many sidetrack adventures....
He's made videos of Oregon while he was visiting relatives, maybe he'd make videos of Idaho if he had someone to visit.
Hopefully soon. Went through a few years ago before I was doing any videos and had a great time.
Steve, you would go wild with all the ghost/old towns in New Mexico..........Chloride and Lincoln are my favorites.
I plan on getting back there pretty soon.
I liked the drone footage...good job, i mean it was my favorite the whole vid was awesome
I miss living in Arizona.....I lived in Gilbert, west of Phoenix....I went on road trips frequently, all over Arizona......heading up to the Rim during the hot summer months...
Amazing, so much there a relatively short time ago and now, almost completely gone
Great job!
Great video. Loved the old photos. Before and after shots really make it good. Thanks for sharing…!
Thanks. I wish I could have found some historic photos of some of the other buildings as well.
You have a gift for telling these stories.
3:13 always great to see support for the British Broadcasting Channel 😊
Big Block Chevy? British-born Chinese? No, I believe it is a more, uh, colloquial meaning :)
haha I should have filmed the conversation with my wife when I explained that it might have had another meaning than the channel Dr. Who is on.
Copper, citrus, and cattle, that's what Arizona was built on. Thanks for the video. I look forward to seeing them every week.
Thanks for posting. Our checkpoint was a few miles tonthe east of Courtland. God only knows how many load vehicles we got going up ghost town trail. Anyway, I remember my first visit to Courtland was around 1230am. I was on mids. Pretty spooky at night walking around there especially by the jail. The jail looks the same but has more graffiti than when I last saw it in 2004. Lol. Pierce is right up GTT and the general store was open last time I was there. Lastly. I actually met someone who was born in Courtland. I think she was one of the last residents. She worked in Douglas as a receptionist in a storage place.
I lived in Sierra Vista for a few years and never heard of Courtland. Thank you!
Great video. Many of the old buildingings in Arazona were mainly torn down to avoid taxes which were charged on improved property .
I need calm when I watch stuff at lunch, your videos hit that, and I get to see areas I rarely will get the see.
Wow so cool, it’s amazing how the land just consumes everything back to its original state. I’m always bummed when your videos come to an end :)
Surely the wood nailed on to the floor is simply part of the internal wall framing??
Steve, ever since I've found your great channel, you always get a thumbs up. Everytime. I'd give 5 if I could.
Thank you sir.
It really is amazing how little is left of a town that size. I wonder if some of the cement and bricks were carted off for some reason. So many mining towns in the southwest. In Cornwall, in the southwest of England, formal tin and copper mining date back to the 1600s, and many of the old chimney stacks from the mine engines still stand along the coast; the lower levels were often flooded with sea water, which had to be pumped with coal fired engines. It's fascinating to see diagrams of the tunnels that went out under the sea floor.
I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the bricks were reused. The people reusing these towns do a pretty good clean up job as there didn't seem to be wood from any of the buildings anywhere.
I just discovered sidetrack today and have been binge watching. Love it! Thanks.
With all the fancy technology available these days (cell phones, drones...) people forget the old-school methods: like dropping a rock down the mine shaft to estimate how deep it is. Haha.
Enjoy traveling thru you Steve, I don't get around quite like I used to. So, I travel more in my mind these days Take care and stay safe.
Thanks for sharing your adventure.
I am so grateful for your desert videos. Very well done 👏👏👏
Great video! I agree that the maps and old photos add so much to the story. Excellent researching, sir.
Love your videos. You find the most interesting places and have a great way of presenting the information about them. Keep up the good work!
What an interesting area to explore! I was in Tombstone a few years ago and that whole area is fascinating. Great job!
Thanks. Its pretty wild how many ghost towns are in maybe a 30 mile radius of Tombstone.
Awesome history Steve. I was born and raised in AZ and didn't know about Courtland. Been to Tombstone a dozen times and never saw the signs. Thanks for the information!! Keep up the good work!! Watch for snakes!!!
The signs are off US 191.
Amazing metropolis to a pile of stones. Good reporting! Thanks
Thanks for the cool tour!👍
You have a unique ability to impart a lot of very interesting information in a nice, relaxed manner. Thank you for producing these excellent videos.
Steve , you put the spirit of adventuring out to see some of these lonely but once thriving old settlements.
Your presentations are top-notch and paint a good picture of past heritages of these early human habitations.
Another awesome video my friend ! THANK YOU FRANK FROM MONTANA.....
Thank you, I appreciate it.
@@SidetrackAdventures good morning my friend I want to tell you something , after I commented on your video it was about an hour or so give or take , I got a comment from your channel telling me to contact them they have very important knowledge to give me.. now I am 69 years old and born and raised in the Bronx NY , so I have common sense and know the message was BULL SHIT !!! just wanted to let you know maybe tell all your subs to be careful. THANK you for your response.. Frank
@@frankmarullo228 If its from me it will always have a check mark next to the name. The fake should be removed now, but unfortunately its a common UA-cam scam.
In 1971 I was stationed at Fort Huachuca, and I visited all of the ghost towns in this video.
Steve you do an amazing job, thank you!
Thank you Sir . That was Great!! I love it. Thank you for doing the hard work.
Great video... I love old ghost towns!!!! good one bro. thanks
Another excellent adventure. I do enjoy your narration and videography. Looking forward to next time! Be well.
I’ve been eying this one and some others in the area, and this is way better than I thought! Love that area of AZ!
I always enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.
I agree. That’s what’s most amazing to me too. Here today, gone tomorrow.
Always enjoy your videos, Steve. Great work! From Ocala, FL.
Thank you.
Another interesting one Steve! Thanks so much for showing me another place I will probably never get to see!
Great video, and thanks for the mention in your interview with the wise guy 😊
No problem. I love what you are doing.
Great work as always brother! Hooah!
Thanks!
I really enjoy your sidetrack Adventures. Some really cool places.
Thanks from Whetstone, Arizona where i reside ❤❤😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉
Thanks! Steve
I enjoyed that! I'm in the UK. Have never visited the USA but Arizona and Nevada are two of the places I'da loved to have seen. Thanks for the walkaround Steve.
High Steve! Thanks again as always! 🙏
Always surprised by how fast things disappear. Amazing we find ancient ruins at all. Compared to this Bodie CA is in excellent shape. When I was a dumb kid we used to go down the mines in Calico CA.
It's amazing how much of Bodie is still there.
Isn't Courtland where the ruins of the old high school is? It has (had) a huge archway where the entrance was. Or maybe I'm thinking of Gleeson. Been 20 years since I did that ghost town tour.
Anyways, your tours are really growing on me. I like the pace and the calm way you narrate. And I can tell you do your homework before heading out on your adventure.
Great trek ! Always informative and the before pictures add so much.
Thanks for taking us along.
Cheers from Detroit 🇺🇲
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Thank you for another interesting story. Your posts always make my week.
Thanks!
Thanks Steve, I always enjoy your videos.
Thank you.
Can’t wait for the next one good job.
Interesting! Thanks for exploring it.
Excellent video! Thanks for taking the time to produce it.
Look out! Those hills have eyes.
Thanks, Steve! Interesting story!
Great day, thanks again
Man, you have to venture out into New Mexico and West Texas. Lots of history!
I plan on getting to Texas this year.
Awesome content Steve. I truly enjoyed the video.
Thanks for another great video!
Another great video. Thanks!
The map you referenced looks to be a Sanborn Fire map. You listed it as Sunborn. From what I've read Sanborn maps were used by insurance companies and other entities to determine risk factors. They not only show street details they would also show what the building were made of and what they were used for and if they were multi storied. I like to look at old Sanborn maps of my city, San Diego from the 20's through the 60's to see what old exiting buildings were used for in the past.
Its a Sanborn. The "sunborn" is just a typo. When I found out you could access the San Diego Sanborn maps through the library's website with a library card I was hooked to my computer for days.
@@SidetrackAdventures I'm glad to hear that I'm the only one that likes to look at the Sanborn maps. I've mentioned it to people I know and they look at me weird🤔
Another great video. Thx Steve. 🤠
I love what you do. Thank you!
I really enjoy your videos. It just blows my mind what was and now isn’t