About 14 miles south of Wickenburg on Vulture Mine Road, this ghost town preserves the remains of one of Arizona's most productive gold mines. Vulture Mine was discovered by Henry Wickenburg in 1863 and operated on and off until 1942. The site now has around 20 original structures surviving — a bunkhouse, assay office, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, and the mine headframe itself — in various states of preservation.
The site is privately operated and charges admission, but it's one of the more complete gold rush ghost towns accessible in Arizona. Allow two to three hours. Check opening hours before visiting as the site is sometimes closed for private events. The desert drive out is half the experience.