With nearly 300 ghost towns and centuries-old cliff dwellings from the state’s original inhabitants, Arizona has no shortage of abandoned places to encounter. Each sits in varying states of decay, ranging from vague hints of the town’s existence to partially restores or even recreated properties. If you want to see the remains of an Arizona ghost town without worrying that you’ll encounter just the bare bones of a once thriving town, then you’ll want to check out this old mining town located in southern Arizona.
Ruby was established as a mining camp in 1877 where gold, silver, copper, and other mineral ore were extracted from the mine. In 1912, the camp’s post office (and later the town) was named after the general store owner’s wife.
The town steadily grew to a population of about 1,200 between the 1920s and 1940s. During this time, it was the largest producer of lead, zinc, and silver in the state, eventually ranking third in silver production.
Other areas are a little less safe. Some of the buildings, such as the assay office, are structurally unsound and areas where mining occurred are considered unsafe to walk on. Keep this in mind when visiting and obey any signs that warn of danger.
The town is for tours Thursdays through Sundays from 9am until dark. You will need to pay an entry fee and there are occasional guided tours offered through Pima Community College.
Ruby is located approximately 75 miles south of Tucson via Interstate 19 and Arivaca Road. You can find details about visiting the town on rubyaz.com which features rates, directions, maps, and waivers.
When I was offered the opportunity to take a scenic train ride in Arizona, I jumped at the chance. After all, it’s quite a rare event to travel by train in certain parts of the U.S. I have lived in New York and have visited Washington D.C. and Boston throughout my life, and rode trains in each of those cities. But I’ve never ridden a train out West.
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My children get a week-long break from their Arizona schools in October each year, so this year, I decided to take them on a Grand Canyon train vacation adventure with the Grand Canyon Railway. Leaving Williams, Arizona, a town known as the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon," we boarded a train that took us to the Grand Canyon's South Rim. And what an adventure we had!
Per journalistic integrity, we disclose that the writer of this piece was invited on this trip to the Grand Canyon by Grand Canyon Railway and Percepture PR, with expenses covered. However, all opinions and thoughts expressed in this piece are their own.
First thing first - the night before our train ride was spent at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, which was built in 1995 to resemble the original property, the Fray Marcos Hotel. After checking in at the front desk, we went across the courtyard to the Williams Depot to pick up our reserved tickets. There were a few old-fashioned-style ticket counters, a large gift shop with all sorts of trinkets and souvenirs, and a coffee shop inside. My son and daughter were delighted to explore as I waited in a short line for our train tickets.
The Grand Canyon Railway has been in operation since 1901. The train station in Williams, Arizona, was built in 1908 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic nature of the railway helped to make our train-themed vacation even more memorable than we anticipated.
After dropping our luggage off at the room, we spent time at the hotel pool before grabbing dinner at Pine Country Restaurant in downtown Williams. The food and service were great, and apparently, this local eatery is known for its pies, but we were all too stuffed after dinner to try a slice. Maybe next time!
Back in our comfortable hotel room, we went to bed early to rest up for the next day's train excursion. In the morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast at the railway station and then headed to the pre-boarding show. As part of the experience, the Grand Canyon Railway has a performance at its makeshift Old West town, complete with actors and a reenactment of a gun fight. After the show, it was time to board.
We had first-class tickets for the Yavapai car, and a woman named Mary Ellen was our train car attendant. After our car was boarded, she gave us some background on both herself and the Grand Canyon Railway, as well as what to expect on the ride. The train ride from Williams to the Grand Canyon takes a little over two hours, and the train travels between 38 and 41 m.p.h.
The scenery is lovely along the way, but there's more to do than just stare out the window the entire time. On the way to the Grand Canyon, a musician came through with a guitar and sang a few cowboy and country songs before moving on to the next car. Both our train car attendant and the train conductor would jump on the intercom to tell us about points of interest we were passing. And, at one point, a photographer came through to take pictures of individual groups onboard - a great way to commemorate the trip!
Each group of seats had a small table and newspapers that offered further information about the train. My kids enjoyed reading the history of the train and how it all started.
The train has several classes of service, including Pullman Class, Coach Class, First Class, the Observation Dome, the Luxury Dome, and the Luxury Parlor. As I said before, we had first class tickets, and in first class, snacks, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water were included. Cocktails were also available for purchase in our car.
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Upon arrival at the national park, we were able to see the historic Grand Canyon Depot. It was constructed between 1909 and 1910 and is a designated National Historic Landmark. It sits within the Grand Canyon National Park Historic District, a preserved village where the famous El Tovar hotel is also located.
Speaking of El Tovar, that's where we headed for lunch. The El Tovar first opened in 1905 and is a beautifully constructed hotel, as well as a National Historic Landmark. As much as we would love to spend the night here one day, we were happy to at least have lunch in its elegant dining room with wood-beamed ceilings, wood-paneled walls, and dimly-lit chandeliers that make the space feel cozy. My son ordered the Traditional Navajo Taco (frybread with ground beef, tomato, lettuce, and other fresh toppings), while my daughter and I split a charcuterie board. Everything was delicious, and I highly recommend dining here when visiting the South Rim.
After lunch, it was time to walk around and marvel at the Grand Canyon! We had visited before but were still awed by this natural wonder of the world. With nearly three hours before we had to be back on the train for the return trip, we took a walk, went inside several of the village's historic buildings, and took hundreds of photos, as one does when visiting this world-renowned national park.
Aside from the train ride and seeing the Grand Canyon again, my favorite part was getting to share this extraordinary experience with my son and daughter. What an incredible way to create family memories that will last a lifetime!
There’s something so alluring about riding a train, especially in this country. It’s no wonder that train travel is so romanticized! While it’s a daily part of life for other parts of the world, like Asia and Europe, it’s become more of a novelty here in the western U.S. And I will take a train ride any chance I get, no matter where I am in the world. My kids and I had such an amazing time taking the train to and from the Grand Canyon, dining at El Tovar, and exploring the park. I am so grateful we had this opportunity.
If you haven't yet experienced a Grand Canyon train vacation, I urge you to put it at the top of your Arizona bucket list. To book your train tickets to the Grand Canyon or a ticket package with a night at the hotel, head to the Grand Canyon Railway website.
Taking a road trip to Williams, Arizona, in order to explore the town and take a ride on the Grand Canyon Railway? Check out our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for everything you need before hitting the road!
Take a Ride on the Eco-Friendly French Fry Express During the 123rd Grand Canyon Railway Anniversary in Arizona
The Grand Canyon Railway will be celebrating its 123rd anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, and it's a great time to embark on your Grand Canyon adventure.
For well over a century the historic Grand Canyon Railway has taken passengers on a scenic journey between Williams and the Grand Canyon, the most revered natural wonder in Arizona. The trip begins at the Williams Depot which was built in 1908 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, and terminates north at the Grand Canyon Depot which was constructed between 1909-1910 inside Grand Canyon National Park. If a scenic train ride to the Grand Canyon is on your bucket list, you must make plans to take one this fall. In fact, the Grand Canyon Railway will be celebrating its 123rd anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, and it's a great time to plan your Grand Canyon adventure via train.
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Credit: Xanterra Travel Collection
Your journey begins once you board the train at the Williams Depot which happens to be on the National Register of Historic Places. The train will then take passengers 65 miles through the Colorado Plateau with views of the San Francisco Peaks, prairie, and Ponderosa pine and Pinion forests along the way.
Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon Depot, a National Historic Landmark, you will have time to get out and explore the park before heading back to Williams.
Credit: Xanterra Travel Collection
One of the trains that will run during the anniversary celebration on Sept. 21 is known as the French Fry Express (Locomotive No. 4960). This eco-friendly train runs on discarded vegetable oil from local restaurants, thus cutting emissions in half. The engine of this train was converted to run on recycled waste vegetable oil, or WVO, in 2009. Furthermore, the Grand Canyon Railway keeps approximately 50,000 cars out of the park annually. What a wonderful way to reduce emissions as well as vehicle traffic in the park.
Credit: Xanterra Travel Collection
For the 123rd Anniversary, you will have your choice of class between Pullman, Coach, First, Observation, Luxury Dome, and Luxury Parlor. Each class has its own price tag. If you plan on making a purchase on the train, make sure you have a credit card on hand as cash will not be accepted.
A scenic train ride to the Grand Canyon is a wonderful bucket list experience that has been on my Arizona bucket list for a number of years. And if you can go for the anniversary celebration on Sept. 21, you should!
If you plan on taking a scenic train ride with Grand Canyon Railways on Sept. 21, 2024, you can upgrade to the 3-night Canyon Rails Getaway Package. This package includes three nights at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, breakfast and dinner at the on-site Fred Harvey® Restaurant, a $20 gift certificate to spend at the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel gift stores, and 25 percent off train tickets in your class choice. However, you don't have to wait until the Grand Canyon Railways anniversary to take advantage of this package — it's available throughout the fall.
Taking a road trip to Williams in order to embark on a rail journey with Grand Canyon Railways? Take a look at our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for everything you'll need on the road!
