Ruby, Arizona - Once a Dangerous Place

Ruby, Arizona

In the meantime, the town of Ruby, so drenched in blood, petitioned the U.S. War Department for protection, which stamped out the threat of bandit raids. Ruby lived on, albeit quietly for the next couple of years. Unbelievably, the store sold once again and was run by a man named Worthington who operated it for a couple of years.

In 1926, Ruby was to see excitement again when the Eagle-Picher Lead Company bought the mine. Leading to Ruby's most prosperous period, the Eagle-Picher Lead Company brought in much improved technology, hired some 300 men, built several dams for obtaining water, and the town boomed.

Montana Mine, 1935.

When the dams still did not provide enough water, the company built a 15 mile long pipe extending to the Santa Cruz Valley that lifted water 1,500 feet in two storage tanks. Before long, the town had electricity provided by the company’s diesel engines, a doctor, an infirmary, company stores, a school with three teachers instructing eight grades, the ever present saloon, and some 2,000 residents. The mine ran 24 hours per day, only closing on Christmas and July 4th.

From 1934 to 1937, the Montana Mine was the leading producer of lead and zinc in the state, and the third largest in silver production. However, the ore finally played out in 1940 and the town became a ghost. The mill operation was moved to Sahuarita. The post office closed forever on May 31, 1941. Though no records exist on the dollar amount taken from the Montana Mine, one estimate puts the total for the Oro Blanco district at more than $10 million for the period between 1909 and 1949.

The Ruby Mercantile remained intact until 1970, until it finally collapsed. For decades, the area remained private and because no access was allowed to anyone other than owners, Ruby has suffered few of the indignities of vandalism and theft often found in other ghost towns.

Today, Ruby remains private, owned by a couple of different families who are working to preserve the town and make it into a recreational area. The good news is, they now allow visitors. The old settlement continues to boast more than two dozen buildings. Only Vulture City rivals it in the number of remaining structures in a ghost town mining camp.

Some of the more interesting structures remaining today include the school, which continues to display its chalk boards and some furnishings; the jail, mine offices, warehouse, head frame, the infirmary, and several homes.

Two small lake created by the dam built remain shining blue against the mountains and surrounded by sifting sands created from the many tailings of the area. It’s a beach oasis in the middle of the desert. Across the sand dunes is an old cemetery.

The hill behind the warehouse is unsafe for hiking, as it is filled with collapsing mining shafts below its earth. During the mining heyday, the main shaft extended down some 700 feet with lateral bores heading out some 2,000 feet at various depths. Over the years, water erosion has added to the instability and large cave-ins have occurred across the mountainside.

Work continues on the town of Ruby to stabilize its remaining buildings that will continue far into the future. A perimeter fence that has been erected around the site has resulted in a noticeable improvement in the water quality of Ruby's two small lakes, as cattle are prevented from entering the site. Though the lake has never been stocked, it does provide some fishing opportunities for as visitor s have pulled out blue gill, catfish and large mouth bass.

The hill behind these old mining operations should NOT be hiked as deep mine shafts below the surface have created cave-ins in the past. Kathy Weiser, April, 2007.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

A Colony of Mexican free tail bats, numbering an estimated 1.5 million, makes their home in Ruby's abandoned mine shafts from May to September. During the summer, it is a sight to see as the emerge enmasse at sundown from the mine.

Looked after by an on-site caretaker, the site can be accessed, as of this writing, only Thursday through Sunday. After driving through the main gate, stop at the caretaker’s house. There, an admission is charged ($12.00 per person as of this writing,) a short oral history given, and a map of the old settlement provided. Fishing and camping are also allowed, also requiring a fee.

Ruby, Arizona is located about 30 miles west of Nogales and four miles north of the Mexican border. To get there from Nogales, take I-19 north to Ruby Road/AZ-289 West, exit 12. Follow 289 for some 10 miles before arriving at the town site. Much of road is unpaved, winding, and can be treacherous. A high clearance vehicle is recommended.

Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, © April, 2007

Also See:

Is Ruby Haunted? See Next Page

Ruby Mine Warehouse, Kathy Weiser, April, 2007.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

Ruby School, Kathy Weiser, April, 2007.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

A row of outhouse is fronted by what was once a

basketball goal, Dave Alexander, April, 2007.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

Inside Ruby's school, Dave Alexander, April, 2007.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

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