Arizona’s Most Unique Gold Mine Experience!
We have toured a LOT of gold mines; from Montana, South Dakota, California, to Wyoming and beyond, who doesn’t love a good mining adventure? Most mines we have encountered are your typical experience which entails learning about mining and history of the region, followed perhaps with a walk underground to see the long ago abandoned mine shafts, and ending with a bit of good ol fashioned panning for gold. On a warm, picturesque Arizona day, and on a whim, we decided to visit the Bloo Nelley Mine situated just north of our RV resort in Wickenburg, Arizona. Hands down, this one tops our list of most unique gold mine experience!
The adventure getting to the mine/ghost town is part of its unique draw!
Let’s talk about the ride to the mine - you couldn’t ask for a more beautiful mountain drive. Not only do you move from pavement to dirt, but at several points you have the fun of traversing a few speed bump sized rocks all the while surrounded by stunning Arizona desert cacti, wildlife, and gorgeous views. The road in is at times a one-laner which, if you know our love of adventure, perfectly set the tone of a special excursion. Our Colorado easily handled the path without four-wheel drive, and honestly with a slow speed, I don’t imagine any vehicle, other than the low-riding type, couldn’t make the trip. Just go slow, watch for horseback riders, side by sides, motorcyclists and the other outdoor enthusiasts enjoying the scenery. As you meander down the last slope you come to a valley overlook and your first glimpse of the mine experience below. Keep going….there’s plenty of parking.
After parking we headed into the gift shop to get the lay of the land, info on the mine tour, and to use the facilities after our jarring trip. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, quickly explaining the history of the mine and where to meet for the tour. They explained we could pan for gold, and snack on offerings at the little eatery just outside as well as imbibe in an adult beverage if so desired. We wandered the grounds awaiting our tour guide and enjoyed the expansive views of the valley. Staff explained that they often have music on Saturday’s but, as it was mid-week, much of the mine experience was on the quieter side. What a beautiful place!
We enjoyed talking to the staff who were clearly passionate about mining, and the history of the area. Lane explained prospecting techniques, showed us how he extracts the gold from the mine tailings, and Al gave us the rundown on mine happenings along with future endeavors in the works to develop the beautiful valley for music experiences and more.
Soon we met with Kathy who led us into the mine for a magical tour to see florescent minerals, a real gold nugget hanging from the ceiling and much, much more! She was a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the history of the 187 acre operation, the minerals and metals present in each mine shaft and her accounts left us feeling like Indiana Jones on an excursion. Who knew using a black light would reveal such intense colors? Kathy kept us enthralled with her descriptions of the other mine shafts they had explored and mentioned her husband Rollie was not only passionate about sharing this experience with others but also loved to sing. We learned he is a retired firefighter from Phoenix as well which explained the fire rig we saw parked in the lot.
After our tour we enjoyed hot dogs and hamburgers along with a beverage and I won’t lie, I did a little sleuthing to find out who the backstory on the operation as well as Rollie. I was sure in for a big surprise! Turns out Rollie is an award-winning country music singer/songwriter. Check out his bio. After the visitors thinned they gave us a private tour of a few of the historic artifacts found on site as well as their beautiful future Airbnb site. Wow - it’s in a gorgeous location overlooking the valley and adorned with 100-year old windows!
The Airbnb isn’t finished just yet, but as a photographer I was already envisioning the gorgeous night sky photography you could achieve from the balcony with the crumbled historic building sites below!
After touring the Unida Mine (which I nicknamed the pink mine for its vibrant colors) we enjoyed walking amongst the ruins before making the drive back to Wickenburg. What an adventure!
