Town of Red Rover

[datrupr]

Does anyone know anything about the mining town of Red Rover? Like how to get there? I hear it is on private property, and want to know about getting permission to get in to the town. From the pictures I have seen it looks really cool.

 

[Scott Brady]

Sounds very interesting Tell us more...

 

[datrupr]

Scott, let me find the site where I found it again. I will post it here. I wish I could tell you more, but I do not know very much more, that is why I want to go, but apperently there is a gate on the trail facing a building with a machine gun mounted on top. I think it better to find out how to get permission to come onto the property than take any chances. I would be willing to pay the ownres for their trouble and kindness and promise not to mess anything up or take anything from the property. But I am that way with all ruins, I would rather leave it there for other people to experience and enjoy. I do not collect artifacts.

 

[datrupr]

Here is the link I found telling about Red Rover, http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/redrover.html but it does not say anything on how to get there or how to get in. It is the far northwest corner of Maricopa County. I am going to continue on my search and keep all posted.

 

[Brian McVickers]

Any luck contacting that ghosttowns website or possibly Chuck Lawson the photographer?

 

[datrupr]

I did not see any contact info on the web site for the web site. I dunno, I am going to do some research and see if I can't gather more and try to make contact with the owners of the town. If and when that happens I will post info here and possible arrange a trip. If anyone has any info please share.

 

[articulate]

So I did a little research and found some promising information. I happened to be browsing through Thelma Heatwole's book Ghost Towns and Historical Haunts in Arizona. It appears that the last edition was in 1981, so the information is rather dated. Even the cover photograph is of a nearly intact building at Tip Top with the roof and all. We know none of the buildings are in such shape today.

But the mine/town is north of Seven Springs, approximately N34°00’00” W111°50’00”. On my topo map, Red Rover resides at the end of FR 254, which branches from FR 24 - the main road that takes you into Seven Springs. The townsite is nearly dead-on the Yavapai/Maricopa county line.

While the book does say the site is on private property, it does not indicate anything about how to obtain permission to enter. But Heatwole quotes the owner (at the time she wrote it) as a lady who lived (or lives) in Goodyear, and who also once lived at Red Rover. This owner's father began operating the mine in 1927, but hardened circumstances in 1929 forced them to shut down. They returned to operation in 1934, and the mine arguably yielded both copper and silver.

So, wonder if we can contact the county for an address of the current owner and draw up an amiable letter of request for entry. I think I'll give that a try. I'll be back....

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Scott Brady]

Very nice Mark. I think we have an adventure brewing...

 

[datrupr]

I did make contact with someone that has been there, he told me he did not know who owns it, but if we check with the forest service in Cave Creek they could probably give me contact info for the owners. On the down side now, he also told me that there is strong reason to believe that the town was destroyed in the Cave Creek Complex Fire. But, isn't it worth an adventure to check it out? I will get back to this post when and if I get the contact information and if I did manage to make contact.

 

[flyingwil]

I did make contact with someone that has been there, he told me he did not know who owns it, but if we check with the forest service in Cave Creek they could probably give me contact info for the owners. On the down side now, he also told me that there is strong reason to believe that the town was destroyed in the Cave Creek Complex Fire. But, isn't it worth an adventure to check it out? I will get back to this post when and if I get the contact information and if I did manage to make contact.

Looks like they have a forum on ghosttowns.com and they seem to know the contact info... the post said to e-mail. However, from researching it on google (yeah, yeah...) Looks like they are not to welcome to visitors, and may have been deystroyed in the fire.

 

[datrupr]

Yeah, I checked out the ghosttowns forum but did not have much luck. I do not remember the link where I found some contact information. He was the one who told me to talk to the FS and that rumor has it that the town burned in the fire. That would be a bummer, but it could still make a good trip to find out. I have been too busy at work recentlyto research further, but I will soon one of these days. I also want to see what Mark has come up with, could be interesting. :archaeolo