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Gold fever in Stanton Arizona

Old Stagecoach Road to Stanton
Sunday Mike and I enjoyed an afternoon road trip on Stagecoach Road east and south of home to Stanton and back with several photo op stops and a little walk up a dry wash.

Boot Hill RV Park
Today, Stanton, once known as Antelope Station, is owned by the Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association and has been transformed into a campground for RVs.

Many recreational prospectors visit especially during the winter to try their luck.

And all hope to find “spud-sized” nuggets of gold like those reported by the first prospectors in 1863 who dug up $100,000 worth of gold in six months from nearby Rich Hill.

Hillside scattered with mines
By 1868 there were 3500 residents.

Then in 1871 Charles Stanton arrived and took over the town becoming the postmaster, deputy and justice of peace.

Although the town grew under Stanton’s management he had a bad reputation for deceitful acts and was shot in 1886 in his own store over insulting a man’s sister. The post office was closed in 1905.

Now, Stanton is considered a modern-day ghost town where the population increases with the arrival of winter snowbirds. Some are out looking for the gold while others played an afternoon game of bingo in the old Opera House.

Hotel Stanton now houses a pool room, game room and library.

View south to Vulture Peak in distance
Mike belongs to one of the many prospectors’ clubs with mining claims on the 1700 acres that make up the Weaver Mining District under the Bureau of Land Management. We could go camping out here and try to stike it rich finding the elusive gold.

Antelope Peak, antennae marks home
But that will be another day and we returned back up the 10 miles of mostly graded gravel Stagecoach Road.To view more of the world, or to share a look into your own, visit My World Tuesday by clicking here.
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Lake Pleasant campout

Sunset Lake Pleasant Peoria Arizona
View from camper
Friday afternoon Berta and I took off with the camper to Lake Pleasant, located 30 miles north of Phoenix. Managed by the Maricopa county Parks and Recreation Department, this area offers diving, fishing, hiking, camping and boating opportunities.
Lake Pleasant Peoria AZ
Lake Pleasant, a small part
The lake was originally created in the 1920s with the building of the Waddel Dam on the Agua Fria River. In 1992 the construction of a larger dam tripled the size of the lake. Lake Pleasant is Arizona’s second largest lake with 50 miles of shoreline.
saguaro cactus Lake Pleasant hillside Peoria+AZ
Hillside above Lake Pleasant studded with Sagauro cactus
The lake is surrounded by Sonoran desert, the most complex of any desert type because of its diversity of species.
Globe Mallow Brittlebush Peoria Arizona
Globe Mallow and Brittlebush
Ocotillo Lake Pleasant Peoria Arizona
Ocotillo
Blooming Cactus lake Pleasant Peoria Arizona
Pincushion Cactus
This diversity is partly attributed to geologic history.
Barell Cactus Lake Pleasant Peoria Arizona
Barrel Cactus
This geologic area of Arizona is known as the Basin and Range. After spending billions of years mostly under ocean waters a massive uplift to the north and east caused the land to stretch and allowed volcanic intrusions to build several mountain ranges. Erosion filled valleys and today we only see the tips of the mountains.
Chalcedony Desert Roses rock Lake Pleasant Arizona
Chalcedony Desert Rose
Quartz is found in veins and pockets. Chalcedony is quartz that formed at or near the earth’s surface or in a pocket with no pressure creating the Desert Rose.
Berta gathering rocks saguaro cactus Lake Pleasant Peoria Arizona
P and Berta looking at rocks

Three wild Burros Lake Pleasant Peoria Arizona
Three wild burros
A heard of 280 burros roam the adjacent public lands. Left behind by prospectors in the 1860s, they don’t pay any attention to human made land boundaries. We had seen burro dung around camp and heard their echoing cry.

Had to leave Saturday afternoon to pick up a friend from the airport shuttle. But can’t wait for the next Lake Pleasant campout.

 

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