Saturday, December 2, 2017 (Queen Mine RV Park, Bisbee, AZ)

We were excited to get out and start our tour of Bisbee, so at about 9:30 we were ready to get started. We thought we'd start by driving a short distance south to Lowell...a spot we had never heard of. Friends, Jim and Barb, mentioned it to us. They had really liked it...so we thought we'd go check it out. After that, we'll take a drive through Old Bisbee before heading out on foot.

Well...we had just made our down the hill and turned onto the the on-ramp for hwy 80 when all of a sudden Buster stalled. To top it off, it was stuck in first gear and Steve couldn't get it into neutral...so it wouldn't start. So here we are blocking all traffic on the ramp...sheesh! Steve put the 4-way flashers on and got out to talk to the drivers behind us. Luckily when Steve got back into the truck, I guess the transmission had reset, because it started...whew! What the heck was that all about? Steve had slowed down as he tried to get his camera lens brush out of his pocket...perhaps his knee had knocked the key and accidentally turned off the truck? Anyway it's been running fine ever since.


Just a short distance along the highway, there was a large viewing area overlooking Lavender Pit, so we pulled in there for a look...

The Lavender Pit is a former open pit copper mine near Bisbee in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. It is located near the famous Copper Queen Mine. The Lavender Pit was named in honor of Harrison M. Lavender (1890–1952), who as Vice-President and General Manager of Phelps Dodge Corporation, conceived and carried out this plan for making the previously unprofitable low-grade copper bearing rock of the area into commercial copper ore.

This memorial of a local war hero was also on site...

We had a bit of a difficult time finding "Lowell"...our GPS wanted us to turn onto a road that wasn't there. After turning around and approaching from the opposite direction, we realized that this road must be what we're after...Erie Street...

We drove to the end of Erie Street where there was a big parking lot...where we could park the truck and get out for a wander along this unique street. The parking lot backed onto the Lavender Pit...

Erie Street is most of what is left of Lowell, Arizona, a mining town incorporated into Bisbee in the early 1900s. Much of the town’s residential area was demolished to widen an open pit copper mine. Losing most of its residents caused the commercial district to struggle, and many businesses failed as a result. Today, the street’s special curiosities include a Harley Davidson repair shop with a now-defunct gas pump and Sprouse Reitz Co., a department store that is nearly empty except for a few appliances and a whole pile of mannikin parts. 

Despite appearing untouched since its decline, further investigation reveals that Erie Street is continually restored by a vibrant and passionate community of residents and volunteers who want to remember a different America. So although you can no longer see a show at Lowell’s movie theater or pay $0.22 for gasoline, the Lowell Americana Project has made it possible to experience the street as a living snapshot of another time. And not everything on Erie Street is purely decorative—visit the Bisbee Breakfast Club for an excellent Huevos Rancheros.  

Motorcycles on display next to the Bisbee Breakfast Club...

The writing on the door says Deputy: Barney Fife...

All of these old vehicles are permanently parked including this semi...

Indian Motorcycle shop display...

Not sure what this was all about...

Back at the parking lot...and the truck. What a great spot...thanks for the recommendation Jim and Barb!

Time to go back up hwy 80 into Old Bisbee. This is a mine shaft along the side of the highway...

 The Queen Mine RV Park up there on the hill...

 We drove along the narrow streets of the historic district...sticking to the main road..

The B for Bisbee up on the hill...

There is a tour company running golf carts around town and even up to the campground to view the mine pit...

Okay...we've had a cursory look to get the "lay of the land", now it's time to go back to the RV Park, leave the truck...and head out on foot. To get to the campground you go under that overpass, through the Mine Tours/Visitor Center parking lot..

...make a hairpin turn, over the deep hole in the road, up the hill avoiding the overgrown bushes on the left...

Piece of cake...if we can do it anyone can!

We went in to check out the Mine Tours/Visitor Center...

Lights, safety vests and hard hats for the mine tour...

Old rail mining carts and machinery...

Mine entrance. We'll be taking the tour tomorrow...

 Down a bunch of stairs, under the bridge...and we were on the streets of Old Bisbee. We'll be going to the Bisbee Mine Museum tomorrow...

Copper Queen Hotel is behind the museum...

The hotel was built by the mining company in 1902...

It's been a busy morning so it's time to explore Brewery Gulch for a brew. Stock Exchange Saloon is on the right...

We tried to go into Old Bisbee Brewery but it didn't open until noon...we were 20 minutes early.

 So we went into the Stock Exchange Saloon for lunch (and a beer)...

We were the only ones there to start then a couple of locals came in and got Steve's left over pizza...

After lunch we continued exploring the area...

Eldorado Suites Hotel...

 Our next stop was at the Copper City Saloon...

There were others here...

Looks like some serious barbecuing goes on here but they weren't open...

OK Street Jail House...

 It was going on 2:30 when we decided to walk back up the hill to the RV park...time to chill for a bit.

Our intention was to go home for a few hours and then go back out for dinner...but around the time we were thinking about heading out again, we heard the pitter-patter of rain drops on the roof. It didn't last long but it was enough for us to decide to just stay home...besides we will be going out for dinner tomorrow.