Castle Dome

Saturday, March 5, 2016

In Yuma, AZ, we searched TripAdvisor for things to see or do.  We chose to drive to the ghost town of Castle Dome.  We saw the territorial prison last year while we were visiting here, and we wanted to get in some steps.  It was an overcast today so blue skies were at a minimum, however, that meant it would not be too hot.
(standby, ...... 150+ photos reduced to 38)

 We never cease to be amazed that the desert can turn so green when water is added.  We are on our way to the Castle Dome mine and ghost town.  Evidently, in it's day, it was the same size as Yuma.  We have not figured out how big Yuma was at that time, so maybe no big deal.  Yuma is definitely larger today.

 

Yes, that is $10/per person, and the only reference you receive as you meander the paths.  The portion to the left is all located behind the "museum" and then you drive back to the eight miles of gravel road you drove in on, park, cross the road to walk the remainder of the grounds.  Yes, we came here to get some steps.

This is the backside of the museum entrance.  The car is shot!  I mean it has bullet holes in it.

Looking down into a mine shaft, this one is located behind the museum building shown before.

 
School house.  Documents said the teacher started her career with only her first year of teachers degree completed.  She eventually did complete her own schooling and received her teaching degree.  There was more school on the back side of the chalk board.

 

One of several specially constructed wagons for hauling ore to the river to be loaded onto a steamer destined for San Francisco.

 Side view of rock crusher.

End View of rock crusher

 Entry to the General Store

Back view of stoves after entering the General Store.

One wall within the General Store.

The church, .....

See the pipes?  Really wonder if the organ worked or if this is just for show.

This is the hotel, inside the stairway to the 2nd level was barricaded and indicated that it was a private residence.

This is the bar area within the lobby of the hotel.

This would be opposite the hotel bar, the lobby area.

The photo below is the dress store.  Seems out of place in a mining town, but the naughty ladies had to shop somewhere.

A sign inside the store invited us to try on a hat.  We didn't think that would be a good idea

 

The Blacksmith

 

Blacksmith bellows

The local Cantina, poor service around here!

Surely the bartender can see I'm waiting for him to take my order, a sarsaparilla, if you please. 

This is a phony mine.  Apparently to show off the fluorescent luminosity of the rock found in this area.  You enter, walk thru a darkened tunnel and exit a very short distance away.  This made us feel more like we were in an amusement park, than a true ghost town.  Sorry, but we were a bit disappointed from our expectation.

We are suspicious of the concrete, does not seem like a ghost town.

Refuge from the dog catcher,  Shave and a haircut, two bits!

Is that blood on the floor?

The next few photos are of a bunkhouse, this is the cookhouse portion.

Sleeping area

Bathtub and spittoon for the bunkhouse.

See the sink?  SOLID WOOD!

Local doctors office and quarters.

View towards the South.

The reason for the name of this place, Castle Dome.

A very unique window made from bottles, private, but allows the light to enter.

We wondered how many drinks it took to complete a window like this?

DO BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU STEP!  Actually, most exposure areas were fenced off with warning signs.

Headed back to town where again we see the results of having water to irrigate.