Remnants of the Frisco Ghost Town

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Located at the base of the San Francisco Mountains are the remnants of the Frisco mining town. The town was built in 1875 after the discovery of pure silver. The town sprang up in a matter of weeks and became the toughest mining camp in the west. Murder was a daily occurrence, and history claims that an average of 12 men were killed per night. This could only explain why the Frisco Cemetery was the biggest in the state at the time.

Frisco grew to an estimated population of over 6,000 people. There were 21 saloons, hotels, gambling halls and a red-light district that would have rivaled many towns in the west. Today the charcoal kilns and many of the old buildings still stand. Some of the old mining equipment can still be seen rusting away on the desert floor. The area is littered with open mines, so on your visit pay close attention to where you are walking and keep an eye on your kids. One of the highlights of visiting Frisco is the old cemetery. The old headstones still exist with engravings dating back to the late 1800’s.

While visiting the cemetery, we were amazed at how old and ornate some of the headstones are. Also, we noticed there are a lot of kids and even infants buried in the Frisco Cemetery. We are not sure why so many children were laid to rest here. If you are reading this article and know or have some information, please share it in the comments below.

If you visit the cemetery, please be respectful of the people laid to rest in this rugged landscape. Also, as you hike around the kilns, please don't climb, lean on, or remove items from the kilns. The have stood solid for 100 years, let's protect them for many more generations to come!

If you spend some time exploring this area, you are sure to have a memorable adventure that you will share with your friends and family. Take your metal detectors and explore the old washes for relics, you never know what you may come across. I hope you will go and enjoy the Frisco Ghost Town as much as we did!

If you find open mines, or mine shafts while exploring Frisco, we highly recommend not entering any these mines. Not only is this activity illegal but also very, very dangerous. If you choose to visit Frisco you do so at your own risk. Inspired by the Outdoors cannot be held liable for any injuries or accidents that may occur while exploring this area.