In search of Eden!

Our next ghost tramp takes us to the ghost town of Eden, Arizona.  Eden is a small unincorporated community in Graham County, Arizona.  It is a part of the Safford, Arizona area and at present has a population of 150.

Established in 1880 by Mormons who traveled from Utah on the Honeymoon Trail to the Gila Valley. By the end of the 1890's, the Gila Valley, Globe and Northern Railway had been built along the Gila River, providing convenient transportation to the area. But why this area? In the middle of nowhere?
What brought most to this area, other than dreams of striking it rich and abundant land, were the hot springs.  More on that after our Eden visit.

Eden Store of the past

Merryland was an amusement park back in Eden's hay day.

We also spotted the old Eden School and took a quick drive down a dirt road to find this bizarre location, obviously trashed by the locals.

We didn't stay long, as the overall vibe of the area made us uneasy.  Perhaps the locals watching us? We drove around a bit and got a few random shots of small town strange.

And this forgotten beauty!

All in all worth the drive.  We did not go by the famous hot springs in the area, as the road and old property were posted.  However, we did want to give some background history on why this town even existed.  Which was due to the hot springs 2 miles north.  

The hot springs were used for hundreds of years by the Native Americans and was a sacred, healing place.  It is no wonder that the Native Americans fought so hard for their land in this area of the world. Yet, once again...the tribes were forced off of their land and the Europeans quickly took custody of their sacred places calling it ironically..."Indian Hot Springs."

 

The hot springs became known as the "Jewel in the Desert" and by the 1870's and 1880's the sacred waters became a commercial property.  The natural springs were diverted into pools by Ben Gardner. The soldiers of Ft. Thomas often frequented the springs and relaxed in tents surrounding the pools. Mind you these were soldiers who fought against the native people, killing hundreds, now relaxing on their land.

The hot springs changed hands again in 1899.  Brothers Andrew and John Alexander brought big changes to the property, erecting cottage tents and a kitchen/dining hall.  They renamed the property Indian Hot Springs.

This aerial image is from the internet.  dreamtime.com

By 1895 people were transported by stage to the location and soon a hotel was built.  In 1903 construction was completed on a three story hotel and the hot springs soon became a well known destination.  They even hired an aging Texas Ranger to come and live on site and tell his stories of violence in the wild west.

In 1905, the largest swimming pool in Arizona, measuring 225 by 70 feet, was added.

Indian Hot Springs was now a therapeutic and recreational destination, charging a fee to visit.

In 1916 the pool was enlarged and cemented.  

The now "famous" health and pleasure resort advertised its 1.5 million gallons of daily flow into pools, tubs and mud baths as a cure for rheumatis.

Over the years the hot springs was a popular international spot.  Mick Jagger owned the property for a brief period.  Supposedly, the Rolling Stones had a few memorable parties there. 

In 1966 the health department closed the pool because the water had not been chlorinated and was unsafe for swimming.  In the 1970's it was home to a nudist colony.  After that it became a retreat for environmental groups.  

The location remained active and popular through the years.  However, in February of 2008, a fire of unknown origin broke out and burned the hotel.

Not much is left now.  As we mentioned, the property is posted.

Our search for Eden was an interesting one.  The land in the area is charged with visions of the past, Natives, soldiers, cowboys, outlaws, miners, and pioneers.  Take your own trip to find Eden.  You may not find a garden or apples, but you will find history.

We give this entire area a ghost rating!