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It has been brutally hot in southwestern Arizona and our tramps have become fewer between.  Yet, we will keep getting out there to explore and share our experiences with you.

Our next ghost tramp brought us to the ghost town of Fairbank, Arizona.  Originally, it was the location of a Native American village known as Santa Cruz in the 18th century. However, when settlers came to the location, which sits next to the San Padro River, this little oasis became the site of a new town.  It was first settled in the late 1870's and was called Junction City when it became a stagecoach stop on the way to legendary Tombstone.  Later it was called Kendall and finally, became an "official" town in May, 1883 and was called Fairbank (after investor, Nathaniel K. Fairbank) who helped finance the railroad. It couldn't quite be a town until the Railroad began 1881 and was completed in 1882.  Soon thereafter, Fairbank became an important stop for those going to Tombstone, ore coming from Tombstone (Tombstone did not have a railroad until 1903) and for the shipment of cattle to and from the area.  On May 16, 1883 a Post Office was opened.

The town grew around the railway station and houses soon went up.  Residents worked on the railroad or in the mines.  Before long the first saloon appeared.  By the 1889 the town had 100 or so residents, a hotel was built (the Montezuma), four stores, three restaurants, five saloons, general store, a jail, school, mill, a cemetery and a Wells Fargo Bank.  In 1890 the San Pedro river flooded the town, but it was soon rebuilt. 

The town also had its share of lawlessness including a train robbery, shoot outs and gun fights. 

Fairbank thrived and survived through the 1940's but was moving toward a decline.  By the 1970's the post office closed and the town was all but deserted.  The buildings were deemed unsafe and the remaining residents left.  The roads into the little town became overgrown and Fairbank became all but forgotten.  Over ten years later the land was acquired by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the town was incorporated into the San Pedro Riparian NCA as the "Fairbank Historic Townsite". 

What remains is now open to the public and some structures are being saved.  You can also take a hike up to the cemetery and see what remains of the old mill.

We found all kinds of rusty metal up near the mill...so cool.

The cemetery is really eerie and worth the walk.  People visit the graves and leave tokens and gifts, especially for the graves of children.  

All in all, Fairbank is an interesting place to stop, especially on your way to Tombstone.  They have a picnic area, lovely hiking trails to the river and history.  Not to mention, the cemetery is super creepy.

We give Fairbank a ghost rating!

Fairbank is located ten miles west of Tombstone on AZ 82, just east of the San Pedro River on the north side of the road.