SWANSEA GHOST TOWN DAYTRIP~AZ

October 31st: We left the house this morning, determined to find the Swansea Ghost Town.

We had tried to find it last year, but found ourselves engaged in a goose chase; no one we spoke to (locals who live here, year 'round) seemed to know what we were enquiring about; but this year, we were determined to tackle it.

This ghost town is on Holland's Bucket List - and I like ghost towns, too.

First off, we drove into Parker-AZ, to get Betsy's oil filter changed out; then we did a little grocery shopping, before chasing ghosts ;-)

AM temps … Mid-day temps; the Day's temperature was perfect, all day long.

Parker-AZ from Quartzsite-AZ; 34 min (34.5 mi) via AZ-95 N

Morning landscape on the way to Parker-AZ; Ford Shop appt. was for 8 AM; we were on the road at 7:30.

Betsy feeling up for the Daytrip, and groceries securely tucked … we girded our  psyche with hope, and aimed for the illusive Swansea.

This year, we came at it from Parker-AZ … and made plans to loop back home through Bouse-AZ. The road from Parker, was very rough, and we lost our cell signal half way in - and had to rely on the information pic I snapped off, before internet connection fizzled out.

Swansea-AZ from Parker-AZ; 1 hr 22 min (32.3 mi) via Shea Rd and Swansea Mine Rd

We traveled the Parker access route …

The paved, heavily-pitted, Shea Road, is awful.

Swansea location … 'Travel at your own risk' warning.

I was in my element: traveling down an unknown dirt road puts a smile on my heart.

Holland focused on the road and surrounding terrain: I trusted his instincts, completely.

I was enjoying myself to the max - my window was rolled down, the sun was warm on my skin, and my hungry eyes were drinking in all the sights ;-)

I squealed with delight when I noticed that the skeletal limbs of the dormant Ocotillo's were sprouting new blossoms (no green leaves - but definite blossoms).

OH! The Ocotillo Flaming Torch is in blossom!

Ocotillo Flaming Torch: 

(?v=https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/fouquieria_splendens.shtml)

Much of the year, ocotillos resemble dead, spiny, sticks jabbing into the ground; the plants here are blooming out of season, due to the rainfall we've experienced recently. I'm hoping to see the blossoms in their fully glory, on one of our next adventures ;-)

This portion of our adventure takes us through a 'wash'.

A {wash} is an area where water once flowed; typically dry, but subject to rapid flow during flash flooding.

Crossing the canal bridge; life being funneled into the desert.

I love long, winding, dirt roads; off the beaten track ;-)

This cactus looked like a rabbit. LOL

The drive was wonderful ;-)

This looks like a Hedgehog Cactus, next to a young Saguaro.

Hedgehog Cactus:

 (https://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Cactaceae/Echinocereus%20fasciculatus,%20Pinkflower%20Hedgehog%20Cactus.html)

Betsy did us proud ;-)

EUREKA! We found it!

Swansea-AZ: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swansea,_Arizona)

A cantankerous face in a hillside of caves ;-)

There are several natural arches in Swansea.

We pampered Betsy on the way into Swansea; it was a 2-hour drive to reach this pit stop entrance to the ghost town.

Not sure if this was the original road in; but the bridge is collapsed.

Holland pointed out the highlighted mine locations.

Remains of the town hub …

Adobe remains of the 1909 Clara Consolidated Offices.

Despite the pictures shown on the internet … the buildings are located behind areas that are closed off to the public; they are closed off because the area is dangerous - rattlesnakes and unstable situations. Swansea is a posted {Archeological Site}, and it is well preserved; but it is not a steadily monitored site.

Swansea was the headquarters for the Clara Consolidated Gold and Copper Mining Company, a mining operation that established the town of Swansea as its central hub for managing the nearby copper mines and smelting operations; essentially, it was the administrative center for the mining company in the area. A railroad connected Swansea to nearby Bouse in 1908 and the camp's population grew to a total of 750. Swansea had an electric light company, an auto dealer, a lumber company, even a barber and an insurance agent.

Red rock pavement ran between the town's office buildings.

The notable dates of Swansea's lifeline were posted alongside the remaining cement foundations of long-gone-buildings: 1903 General Store, 1908 Assay Office, 1909 Clara Consolidated Offices, 1912 Mess & Recreation Hall, 1919 Concentration & Flotation Mill, & the 1929 ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company) General Offices.

Holland told me this was a covered mine shaft; covered for tourists' safety.

Another covered mine shaft, in the town's hub area - we counted eleven that we could see from this standing point.

Holland takes a peek into the shaft's cavernous, dark depths; very wide - extremely deep.

He pointed out mine entrances, across the way …

A grate covers the center opening.

Mining refuse in the forefront; mine entrance in the background.

Miner's Cottages; there were 12 and we figure each could house 6 men: a pretty good size work crew.

Crossing a short bridge between town and business center …

Don't know what this building is - but it was massive in size and operation.

Given it's size and perimeter fencing, it was of great importance, in it's era.

Waaaaay off, in the terrain beyond, was remains of an adobe building.

The site of the Concentration & Floatation Mill.

Holland says that huge band held a water tank.

Concentrator: A process that transforms mined materials into usable raw materials. This process can involve crushing, milling, flotation, or magnetic separation. 

Flotation Mill: A machine that separates valuable minerals from ores by exploiting differences in surface properties between minerals. Flotation is a crucial step in the recovery of valuable minerals from ores. 

Flotation was a major development in the mining industry in the 20th century: it is a separation process that involves a mixture that creates a froth, which enables the mineral particles stick to air bubbles and rise into the froth; the froth spills over into launders, where the valuable minerals collect - making them easier to extract.

Holland was able to explain a lot of what we were seeing; because his family at one time owned and operated a gold mine, in Nevada, when he was a youngster. It wasn't comparative to the scope of this ghost town's mining operation, but the process … and access into their area was similar.

I love these adventures - and enjoy his shared info stories. Holland has lived a very adventurous life, and I am eternally grateful to Elohim that He saw fit to match me with a man who is willing to help me live my long-dreamed-for adventures. In more ways than one, Holland really is a "perfect fit" for me ;-)

It took us 2 hours to reach the ghost town.

We spent at least 2 hours dinking round, there, before we left.

We tip-toed Betsy (she's low to the ground; and the graveled road was barely above logging-road status) out of the interesting ghost town hollow: both ways (in and out) took longer than mapping showed, because we were careful with Betsy. She is our main mode of transportation - there is no backup vehicle.

When we reached the 4-way desert  junction, we followed that gravel roadway towards Bouse; tying into the junction at the East Cactus Road Sign, where we turned around earlier this year, when some local told us 'this is not a thru road' - the Bouse route is a whole heck of a lot smoother ride than the broke-and buckle backroad out of Parker.

Bouse-AZ from Swansea-AZ;  1 hr 11 min (25.6 mi) via Swansea Rd

We looped back home, left, via the Bouse route.

The gravel travel homeward, was a whole LOT smoother than the  Parker route.

Took a left at the East Cactus Wilderness Sign, straight on, into Bouse-AZ

(1-19-24: GHOST TOWN GASLIGHTING~Bouse-AZ - (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024_01_16_archive.html)

It was a fun day - all the way around :-)

Quartzsite-AZ from Bouse-AZ; 33 min (26.5 mi) via Plomosa Rd