This Abandoned Ghost Town In Arizona Was Once A Quintessential Wild West Town
By Katie Lawrence|Published September 05, 2022
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Abandoned places in Arizona are both haunting and beautiful. On one hand, seeing the crumbling ruins of what once was is undeniably eerie, and you can’t help but look over your shoulder in search of who – or what – could be lurking behind the dilapidated buildings. On the other hand, however, these forgotten destinations are fascinating; they leave us to wonder what their better days looked like and speculate about the kinds of memories that may linger in the air.
Two Guns, a former rough-and-tumble Route 66 town, is one such place. While the town – widely considered to be one of the eeriest abandoned places in Arizona – was left to decay in the harsh desert elements in the 1970s, its story is one of tragedy, conflict, hope, and the mindset of endless possibility that swept through America during the early 1900s. Take a look at these incredible photographs by Johnny Joo to see the striking reality of what Two Guns has become.
Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations.
Tucked away along a desolate stretch of Historic Route 66 about 30 miles east of Flagstaff, Two Guns is the epitome of a stereotypical ghost town.
Crumbled buildings tell stories of a once-thriving community, while surrounding mountains create something of a fortress around the town, threatening to shield it from view and erase its rich - and at times, troubled - history.
Functioning as a rest stop of sorts in the early 20th century with food, gas, and other essentials for travelers, Two Guns saw steady growth due to its proximity to nearby Canyon Diablo.
Canyon Diablo isn't just a natural landmark. It was also the name of a small town located just north of Two Guns, which quickly became a hub for train robbers, gamblers, and other ne'er do wells. Make no mistake about it - this was the Wild West.
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Before we can delve any further into the rise and fall of Two Guns as a tourist attraction, however, we must pull back the curtains and peek into the darkest corners of its history.
Quickly locating their enemies, the Navajo set the entrance to the cave on fire and shot anyone who attempted to escape. In the end, 42 Apache tribespeople lost their lives, either as a result of gunshot wounds or suffocation due to smoke from the fire. After committing an already unfathomable atrocity, the Navajo went on to loot valuables from the Apaches' bodies before disappearing into the desert. Today, the tomb is known as the "Apache Death Cave."
Fast forward to 1922, when the first settler, Ed Randolph, arrived in Two Guns.
He built a store on the property before selling some land to Earle and Louise Cundiff, who built another store, a restaurant, and a gas station.
It wasn't until three years later, however, that Two Guns would become well known among Route 66 travelers. This sudden fame can be attributed to one person, and one alone: Harry E. Miller. He actually named the town as a tribute to silent move actor, William S. “Two Guns” Hart, whom he enjoyed watching.
A somewhat quirky man, Miller leased a plot of land from the Cundiffs, and promptly began construction on several tourist attractions - the remains of which are, for the most part, still intact.
He also added a restaurant and Native American gift shop. Supposedly, he even sold the bones of the Apache people after removing them from the death cave.
Tragedy struck in 1926, when Miller shot and killed Earle Cundiff during a heated argument.
In a somewhat karmic turn of events, Miller's gift shop burned down three years later. He left the state shortly after, at which point Earle's wife, Louise, kept business booming with the addition of several new attractions, including two gas stations, a motel, and campground. In fact, under Louise's ownership, Two Guns was more profitable than ever before! This is largely due to timing - Route 66 was officially commissioned in 1926, so all it took was a little TLC to bring in weary travelers looking for something to break up the monotony of the long car ride.
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After one of the service stations caught fire in the 1970s, Two Guns quickly became a ghost town.
Today, the once-bustling tourist attraction is a shell of its former self, and easily among the spookiest abandoned places in Arizona.
Eerily desolate and devoid of all life - save for the occasional bird poking around the ruins - the property sends chills down the spine of all who dare to visit.
Whether you merely drive past or opt to get out and take a look, you'll likely be the only one there. The loneliness definitely adds to the creepy feeling - combine that with a rumor the Apache Death Cave is haunted, and this place frequently sends folks running for the hills.
If you are brave enough to stick it out, however, there is an undeniable beauty about Two Guns - and abandoned places in general, as a matter of fact.
When the sun goes down and the sky gets blanketed in a sea of stars, you feel like you're the only person on earth, surrounded all at once by broken dreams, cherished memories, and wonders of what could've been.
OnlyInYourState’s Vacant highlights fascinating abandoned places across America — from a vast ghost town with a tragic history and a renaissance festival left forgotten to the largest abandoned industrial facility in the entire world. Explore all 11 destinations here. Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. For more images, you can check out his website, Architectural Afterlife.
Have you ever visited Two Guns? If so, do you think it’s one of the eeriest abandoned places in Arizona? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Don’t forget to check out our previous article for the best-preserved meteorite impact site on earth, located just 9 miles away!
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