Gold King Mine and Ghost Town

About a mile outside Jerome lies the Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. It's kind of tricky to get to but if you continue straight where highway 89 makes a sharp turn and follow Perkinsville Road all the way to the end you can't miss it. The atttraction consists of a bunch of rusting equipment scattered around several old mining buildings and an old working sawmill. Some of the buildings have chicken wire across the doorway and are set up as they would have appeared in the prime of this copper mining community. There is a small entry fee but it is worth a stop. Be forwarned that it looks like someone bought a junkyard and plowed a few paths through it - so don't expect a replica of a real mining town. It is a photographer's delight as there are many pieces of old rusted out mining equipment scattered around.

This is a replica or maybe the actual tools from the town's dentist's office.

Besides the rusting vehicles, there are several fully and partially restored antique cars housed in various buildings in the back.

Several of the original mining buildings are still intact but no trails lead up to them from the public area so I assume they are "off limits" for safety purposes. However there seems to be no concern with safety in public areas as they allow anyone to freely climb on the old equipment and explore the grounds on your own, with a few "watch out for rattlesnakes" signs...

Betty seemed to get bored with all the junk and ended up in the gift shop after a while but I found it interesting to explore through the piles of discarded equipment. If I remember correctly the admission was $5 each.