Crown King
An
off-road trip back in time.
The trek starts on Highway 74 a couple of
miles just before you hit highway 60 you'll find Castle Hot Springs Road.
Turning north on to Castle Hot Springs road and continuing to the Crown King
turn off and ending up on the Senator Highway road to Prescott.
Just before Castle Creek the Castle Hot
Springs Road turns left and the Crown King Road continues north past Champie
Ranch. This road is not maintained and really begins get rough. 4-wheel drive
and emergency tools such as shovels and towing straps are a necessity and a
wench or chainfall wouldn't hurt either. There is a continuous grade from about
2000 feet to over 6000 feet at Crown King. The worst part of this run starts at
the Oro belle mine where the road goes up over a 1000 feet in less than a mile
to a ghost town called Bradshaw City.
Map to Crown King 
About the only thing left is of Bradshaw City is the old cemetery. You'll find it on a trail just off to the left at the top of the grade. The Bradshaw City's post office was established July 1, 1874 and discontinued December 15, 1884. Bradshaw City eventually became the current town of Crown King, At one time there was said to be over 5000 people living in Bradshaw City. The Tiger silver mine was the mainstay of Bradshaw City, and was one of the most productive mines in the area. Bradshaw city had stores, saloons, restaurants, and even two hotels. But about all you find today is this sign.
After hitting the Senator Highway, follow the
road to the right to Crown King. You'll cross Poland Creek, entering the little
town and discover that they got everything you'll need.
The General Store
The General store has been
continuously open since 1904 and provides everything from food to gas to video
rentals and also houses the post office. When in the neighborhood, stop in and
say hi to Jack and Jeanie.
The Switchback Grill and
Saloon
The switchback is a full service bar
and cafe with live music on the weekends. It is located just across from the
general store.
The Crown King Depot
Apartments
Cabins for rent: daily ($63), weekly
($220), and monthly ($275 plus electric). To reserve the apartments as well as
the rooms above the Saloon ($36.75 per day), call (928) 632-7053.
The Bradshaw Mountain
Guest Ranch
Located right next to the general
store, Bradshaw Mountain Guest Ranch has suites available for $75 a night, and
cabins for $50 to $135 a night. Fireplaces, private decks, kitchens and
barbecues are available with most units. (More than two guests add $15 each.)
For more information and reservations call
928-632-4477.
Halle's Cedar Roost
Located just north of Downtown Crown
King, Halle's Cedar Roost has rooms starting at $70, single occupancy.
Double-occupancy rooms are $85, and larger rooms with a fireplace are $105 for
two. Add $10 for each additional person. For reservations call (928) 632-5564 or
(928) 878-9086.
The Crown King Saloon
This two-story saloon filled with
pictures of the past was originally built in the nearby ghost town of Oro Belle
and was moved piece by piece to Crown King in 1916. The second story use to be
used as the "brothel".
The Mill Restaurant
The Mill is the newest food
establishment in Crown King serving excellent food Friday through Sunday. The
Mill is named after the Gladiator Mill which it is built around. While eating at
the mill you can view the antique mining machinery from the area.
Crown King's
post office was established June 29, 1888. The Crowned King gold mine was
the mainstay of the town of Crown King. Enough ore was produced from this and
surrounding mines to warrant building a railroad to Prescott to haul ore and
supplies. The owners of the mine did not tolerate drunkenness in their employees
so the town attracted a higher class of miner. George P. Harrington bankrolled
the Crowned King mine and was liked by all. Over $2,000,000 in gold was taken
from the Crowned King mine alone.
Well let's mosey on down
the Senator Highway to Prescott:
This historic route between Prescott and
Crown King follows the spine of the Bradshaw Mountains. It carries the traveler
past old ghost town sites, former mining camps, and centuries of Central Arizona
history. Such names as Groom Creek, Goodwin (named after Arizona's first
Territorial governor), Crown King, Crook City, Maxton, Palace Station, and other
colorful place names once thrived along this pathway for miners and pioneers.
The Senator Highway is the crown jewel of Bradshaw Mountain backroads. It is the
main artery of all scenic back roads in the Bradshaw's -- which host the highest
concentration of scenic beauty in "Off the Beaten Path" Arizona.
This 41 mile long road bisects such diverse
foliage from spruce, fir and pine to desert scrub. At one time the first six
miles out of Prescott was a toll road. They charged $1.50 per wagon and two bits
for a horse and rider--a real sum in 1870's.
First built between 1866 and 1867, the
highway started as part of the Prescott and Lynx Creek Toll Road. However, in
1875, Samuel 0. Fredricks, Senator Mine owner, cut a road from Groom Creek to
his Senator Mine. By 1878, the road extended to Alexandra. The highway covered
32 miles from Prescott. The next ten years road builders added more highway
until it reached Crown King.
Palace Station was a stage station originally built in 1874 and rebuilt in 1878. It was the midway point from the top of the Bradshaw Mountains to Prescott. Forest service personnel now occupy the site. More on Palace Station
Well that's about it for this trip. AZOD
hopes you enjoy the trip. Be sure to send us some pictures and we'll be happy to
post em for a couple of days. We would also like an account of your adventure
and be sure to get into the chat room,
Team AZOD Off-Road