Bisbee

Fifteen miles north of the Mexican border, creeping up the base of the red-clay-coloured Mule Mountains, sits the former mining town of Bisbee. At the turn of the 20th century, the local Copper Queen Mine was one of the world’s most productive, churning out gold, copper, zinc, and lead. The population of well-paid miners and their somewhat lascivious hobbies helped earn Bisbee the informal title of ‘liveliest spot between El Paso and San Francisco’. But as mines boom they must also bust and by the end of the 1970s things had quieted down.
But that was far from the end of the story for Bisbee. Since the miners moved out, artists have moved in, and today this small town—a good hour-and-a-half drive from the nearest city—is a creative enclave with an eccentric old-hippie spice. There’s a serious appreciation for the kitsch, and at times the town can feel like a John Waters fantasy of the Old West. Still, Main Street’s brick structures look as enduring as the pyramids and as tough as the miners who once frequented them.

Bisbee’s best attractions are the tours of the mine and town. The Old Bisbee Ghost Tour will take you on a ghost hunt at the famous Copper Queen Hotel, or guide you on a haunted pub crawl. If you’re after a funky place to stay with some history—albeit a little less history than the hotels in town—look no further than the Shady Dell. The Dell is a stylised trailer park of 10 vintage campers dating back to the late 1940s. Each has a unique theme and can be rented for between $90 and $150 per night.