Rocky peaks rise from the valley floor in every feasible direction. As you draw nearer, the distinctive plateaus of tailing piles, nearly as high as the mountains, jut out from the gentle slopes. Many dirt tracks spider out and traverse their way up, disappearing over distant ridges. At the mouth of one such valley sits the remains to restart the Ghost Town of Cerbat.
Some cement brick buildings from the 70s still stand, while the main workshop has fallen into tattered fragments. The wash that meanders beside the site has collections of the past, half-buried in its soft sandy structure.
Further along the rough dirt track, you will find the Golden Gem mine site remains, with its burned-out mill site and deep vertical shafts.
Pressing on further, faint stone foundations emerge from natures tight grip for a small glimpse into the origins of Cerbat.
Hard work and the determination to make a living becomes more evident in the old town. Especially after seeing the steep hand made roads up to the top of the mountain where mines reside.
Not only was mining gruelling work, so was making it possible to gain access to your job site.
History of Cerbat
During the 1860s, the discovery of gold and silver in the Cerbat Mountains brought people to the area. As mining claims were filed, it wasn’t long before a small town of 100 residence grew. Cerbat had a doctor, lawyer, school and even became the County Seat in 1871, losing it to Mineral Park in 1873.
A post office was established during this time, operating for 40 years before being discontinued in 1912, making Cerbat a ghost town.
Resting Peacefully
We can sometimes gloss over the fact that not only did these tough souls live and work here, but some died here as well. I believe it is inherently embedded in us to want to be remembered for something. Unfortunately, these early pioneers who lived on the fringes fall further from our minds.
Families laid to rest together watch over the lands they once relied on for survival, as the desert embraces them one final time.
Only two headstones remain as reminders of human existence; the rest have fallen victim to senseless acts of desecration.
OUR TAKEAWAY
No matter the size or what ends up surviving through the years, it is always fascinating to explore the remnants of the past. They should be used as tools for learning, remembering and honouring those that came before, paving the way to our future.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit an old ghost town or mine, stand and listen to the silence around while imagining how different daily life was for those who made it a reality.
CERBAT GHOST TOWN – IN A NUTSHELL
- 9 miles northwest of Kingman – US93
- Milemarker 62
- Several miles along a washboard road into the canyon
- 2WD ok until last section High clearance required
- 1970s deserted mining buildings
- Remains of the Golden Gem Mine
- Caution is advised as there are deep mine shafts hidden
location map
Your videos are awesome
Thank you so very much, Bill. We have been concentrating on YouTube, that our blogs have been left behind. We do hope you enjoy our content and have subscribed. There are lots more pins to come. We are trying to catch up on those too.
Great read. I hadn’t read your blogs prior to this. So well done. Thank you.
Thank you, Loyle. We started off with blogging and accidentally found our way into YouTube.