This Underrated Town in Arizona Beats the Famous Ones

Lovers of the American Southwest should add a new destination to their travel itinerary that they may not have heard of before: Bisbee, a former copper mining town in the Mule Mountains that’s making a name for itself as one of the Grand Canyon State’s new tourist hotspots. Located just 11 miles from the Mexican border in Arizona’s southeastern corner, Bisbee’s genuine authenticity certainly sets it apart. Founded in 1880 and once the largest town between St. Louis and San Francisco, Bisbee’s population had risen to around 25,000 by the early 1900s thanks to the abundance of copper found in the surrounding hills.

After nearly a century of mining, the copper industry left town, leaving behind a reduced population that now hovers around the 5,000 mark. It also left behind a nearly abandoned collection of Victorian-era buildings. Built into steep canyon walls and connected by a network of more than 33,000 concrete stairs that replaced old mule trails, it wasn’t long before creative types began snapping up the now affordable real estate. Another plus in Bisbee’s favor is its cooler temperature compared to other Arizona tourist destinations. Situated at 5,550 feet, the elevation here keeps temperatures moderate, with summer highs rarely exceeding 90°F and winters that occasionally bring snow flurries. This makes Bisbee a year-round destination, while places like Phoenix swelter. The town now has a new identity as a rising Arizona destination.

Going Underground

The Queen Mine Tour is Bisbee's signature attraction, and for good reason. Walkable from downtown Bisbee thanks to an underpass that allows pedestrians to avoid the traffic, this top-notch tourist experience will have you outfitted with hard hats, safety vests, and miners' headlamps before boarding a rail car that travels 1,500 feet into the mountain.

Retired miners serve as guides, demonstrating early 20th-century mining techniques and recounting stories of the men who, for almost 100 years, extracted copper, silver, gold, lead, and even zinc from these same tunnels. These one-hour tours run year-round and are now so popular that reservations are recommended as they often sell out, particularly on weekends.

A mile from the Queen Mine, the Lavender Pit provides a free and equally dramatic perspective of the scale of the town’s mining operations. This 300-acre open-pit copper mine operated from 1950 to 1974, reaching an impressive depth of 900 feet and producing an estimated 86 million tons of ore. A scenic overlook provides a glimpse of the pit’s contrasting layers of red, orange, and brown earth where ore was removed.

Back in Old Town, the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum is a must-visit for its detailed accounts of the mines you’ve just visited. Occupying a building dating from 1897, this Smithsonian Affiliate takes a deep dive into how miners and settlers carved a community from rock. Displays include mining tools, photos and documents, rock specimens, and artifacts chronicling the town's multicultural workforce of Croatian, Italian, and Mexican immigrants.

Downtown Things to Do

No longer the "Queen of the Copper Camps," businesses spring up throughout Bisbee Historic District (aka, Old Town), selling artwork over mining supplies. Stroll along Main Street, OK Street, and Tombstone Canyon today, and you’ll pass boutique shops, galleries, and cafés, giving the town a charm and character that’s more akin to Europe than the USA. Street art lines steep staircases throughout the downtown, adding quirky charm.

Old Town Bisbee was made for wandering. Largely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1908, be sure to pack good walking shows… and your wallet. Shopping opportunities are plentiful here, with Mercantile on Main featuring quirky shops like Mel's Bisbee Bodega, which sells everything from cigars to souvenirs. Also on Main, Classic Rock Couture specializes in vintage fashions, desert-themed jewelry, and cowboy boots. Over on Subway Street, Redbone Bisbee Vintage stocks a mix of new, old, and handcrafted clothing alongside locally produced artwork.

Brewery Gulch is also fun to explore. Named after the German and Swiss immigrants who established breweries and bars here in the 1880s, at one time, more than 47 saloons lined the street alongside gambling halls and brothels. Now revitalized as an arts and entertainment district, highlights include St. Elmo Bar, in operation since 1902, and one of the oldest continuously operating drinking establishments in Arizona. Nearby, the Old Bisbee Brewing Company boasts a great patio with views over Brewery Gulch toward the mountains. In addition to its craft brews, as well as bratwurst simmered in beer, a visit here is a welcome respite after all that walking.

Where to Stay

There’s no shortage of unique places to stay in Bisbee. The Copper Queen Hotel is a safe bet and is Arizona's longest continuously operating hotel. Completed in 1902 to accommodate high-end clientele, including mine investors, executives, and visiting dignitaries, no two rooms are alike. Check of the Harry Houdini Room with its magic-themed décor is available. Failing that, the John Wayne Room features Western memorabilia. The hotel is also rumored to be haunted. If you’re ok with wandering spirits, Rooms 315 or 412 might be the right choice, as guests claim to have seen ghosts in both. Ghost tours are available for guests and non-guests alike.

Other good accommodation options include the Bisbee Grand Hotel on Main Street, popular for its Western ambiance and saloon bar, and the Letson Loft Hotel with its colorful rooms overlooking historic storefronts.

Nearby Towns and Easy Side Trips

Bisbee makes an ideal spot from which to explore other small Arizona towns. Lowell, just a few miles from Old Bisbee, was once nearly derelict but has been transformed into an outdoor museum of 1940s through 1970s Americana. Vintage cars, including classic Chevys, a 1959 Bel Air, and an old Greyhound bus, line the street alongside restored storefronts, old-fashioned gas stations, and neon signs.

Tombstone, 25 miles to the north, trades heavily on its Wild West reputation. Daily gunfight reenactments at the O.K. Corral are staged, while attractions like the Bird Cage Theatre, Big Nose Kate's Saloon, and Boothill Cemetery are all worth visiting.

Chiricahua National Monument, about an hour and a half northeast of Bisbee, makes for a good side trip. Known as the "Land of Standing-Up Rocks" for dramatic rock formations, it’s also a popular hiking destination.

Why Bisbee Deserves the Trip

There’s no denying Bisbee boasts an authenticity that’s hard to replicate. All but abandoned after the copper mines closed, it found new life as creative types moved in and preserved what remained. Built into canyon walls with more stairs than you might ever want to climb, this small town is once again thriving, with its own unique flair, and is worth the trip if you’re looking to sample a slice of genuine old Arizona.