There are almost too many unique town names in Arizona to count, but we’re adding another to the mix. Chloride is a small community named after the abundance of silver chloride mined from the surrounding hills. While the mines are all dried up, the town’s quirky charm certainly isn’t. There’s so much to discover here!
Next time you find yourself on U.S. Route 93 near Grand Canyon West, take a little detour to Chloride.
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Perched over 4,000 feet above sea level in the foothills of the Cerbat Mountains, this charming town was established in the 1860s as a silver mining camp.
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Boasting wide open vistas of the surrounding landscape, Chloride had a population of around 5,000 during the height of the mining industry. Today, only about 200 people call the town home, but they’re quick to insist that it’s far from a ghost town.
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There’s actually quite a bit to see and do in Chloride. First, you’ll want to stroll through the replica Old West village that sits in the heart of town.
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With a name like “Cyanide Springs,” the village will pique your interest before you even start to explore it. Macabre satire aside, the shops and restaurants each carry their own unique charm that makes each one worth visiting.
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From a general store to an old post office to an antique shop, Chloride has just about everything a person could need or want - plus a whole lot of kitsch to go along with it. If you take a drive around town, you’ll see a number of historic homes, many of them sporting some seriously quirky yard sculptures.
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You’ll also find a cemetery just outside of town that’s one of the oldest in Arizona…
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…and even a replica jailhouse that you can actually go inside and snap some pictures of yourself behind bars!
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One of Chloride’s greatest claims to fame is the beautiful murals painted on several rock faces in the hills just behind the town’s main drag. Painted by artist Roy Purcell - who labored here as a miner in the late 1960s - this 2,000-square-foot masterpiece is in surprisingly good condition for being nearly 60 years old.
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Visitors can also watch gunfight reenactments on select Saturdays, visit a museum, and eat at a delicious restaurant. Yesterday’s serves up traditional down-home fare like burgers, chicken-fried steak, and meatloaf in a distinctly Western atmosphere that will take you back to - you guessed it - yesterday.
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Attached to the restaurant is the Shep’s Miners Inn, an 1800s stagecoach stop-turned-hotel. If you’re looking to spend the night in town, this is such a cozy spot!
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Have you ever been to Chloride? If so, do you think it’s one of the most charming small towns in Arizona? Tell us in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our previous article for a nearby cavern that you can spend the night in!
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Address: Chloride, AZ 86431, USA
