Exploring the Ghost Town of Castle Dome City

Located in the foothills of Arizona's Castle Dome Mountains, about 30 miles from Yuma, Castle Dome City was a mining town that sprung up in 1864 and mining would continue in the area until the 1970s. In the 1800s, the town grew to include a school, two mercantiles, a sheriff’s office, a jail, a church, and probably most importantly for a lot of the miners, five bars.
These days, getting to the town involves driving on Highway 95 and then taking a dirt road through the Army's Yuma Proving Grounds, but in the 1800s you could arrive via regular stage service from Yuma. Life in the town was hard though, and often the nearest water source was the Colorado River, 20 miles away.
Today, the ghost town is operated as a museum. A number of the buildings are original, with others having been moved from the Kofa Wildlife Refuge and others having been recreated using salvaged materials. Almost every building in the town is filled with items found in the town or local mines, and you can easily spend hours here looking around.
The Castle Dome City and Mine Museum is located at 33.046064, -114.178253
○ Gear we use: www.amazon.com...
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: / @sidetrackadventures
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: / sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a 60 day free trial: share.epidemic...

[@Coolmaster909]

Who else can’t get enough of this guys videos!!!!!

[@glennwojcik2342]

Agree!

[@Nbolanos0624]

🙋‍♂

[@williamsherman1089]

He's got just about the best channel for southwestern historical sites

[@markpitts5194]

Im sad here with covid, binge watching. The blue skys, soothing voice, history - its all good for me.

[@Whateverbaylie]

Me!!!

[@tomallen8459]

My grandparents lived in a tent house in the 1920's, 2 bedroom in Ajo. . Happiest 10 years of her life, she told me.

[@bret9741]

My grandparents were born Ira 1889 and Nora 1892. They had a ranch in the Sacramento Mountains of southern NM. They lived EXACTLY like this town. My dad was their only child born in 1939. He also live just like this until the 1960’s. I grew up using these buildings as storage for everything we needed. We had men and their wives come to work for us and they lived in these old homes also. In the winter you’d put a bed pan under the bed. Put your clothes under the bed with you. The outhouse was 75-100’ away and you’d throw lime on the crap to help it break down and not stink so much. Life was hard but the people helped each other and self discipline and hard work were valued greatly.

[@damonteufel]

You just keep adding to my "Want To Go" Saved places on Google Maps. Great post.

[@joseleswopes1400]

I grew up watching Westerns, which I love to this day. My dad was a Cowboy back in the 40's and 50's. I love Old West History more than any other.💕😎

[@bobnoon253]

Great tour of Castle Dome City. My son & I went there about 14 years ago. He dropped his wrist watch, and it fell through the cracks in floor of the Gas station building. We told the caretaker if he heard ticking it wasn't a bomb , lol. He got a wire hanger & fished it out for him. P. S. We also stopped off at the Stone Cabin on hiway 95 and had ice-cream cone back in the day. Great memories, thanks enjoy your adventures.

[@KISSUSMC1986]

Thanks for doing this one. I was there in 2001 and signed the wall for myself and a friend who is a Korean War veteran.

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

Thanks for a great tour. That is an incredibly well-preserved ghost town.

[@29madmangaud29]

Wow, I've been living in Yuma, for some 39 years now, and haven't ever heard of this Ghost Town. I have indeed heard of Castle Dome, and hiked some around there.

[@ranger-1214]

Hey Steve - I worked at the Proving Ground for a year and have been to CD City. The entire area, especially the PG, has wild horses and burros. A lot are around the Kofa Facility of the Proving Grounds, on the east side of Highway 95 just south down the road from where you turn off to CD City, since there is water there they can access. I recall that the gravel road into CD City was pure washboards and about 5-10MPH is all I wanted to drive as my pickup attempted to swap ends several times at higher speeds. Thanks for the tour!

[@violetdreams1799]

very nice video! relaxing with the music, great choice! thanks for the tour, they've done a fabulous job restoring the town 👍

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you very much!

[@MrFmiller]

My goodness, how captivating! If I’m ever within a hundred miles I will definitely stop. Another outstanding video. Thanks for the post, Steve.

[@peterhodgkins6985]

As many times as I worked at the "Castle Dome Compressor Station" a bit north of where you are in this video, I never ever knew the story of Castle Dome City! Thanks for a great tour!

[@ransal7329]

My wife and I toured the Castle Dome Mining Museum about 8 years ago. Thanks for sharing this video, it was a good reminder of what we had forgotten on our tour.

[@edwardbenedict4961]

If you saw the picture of the "Last Miner" in the first building after you entered, that was my father-in-law. Another building in the museum has a story about the "Linda Mine" which is located east of the museum. Linda is my wife. A lot of the artifacts are from that mine and others in the area.

[@BrianandMoe]

You do a great job narrating!

[@rh5563]

Glad I watched this one. Very neat place! 👍👍👍

[@sharylcherwa7369]

There are some Beautiful old buildings & Antiques here. Loved this

[@robertfritz9916]

We are now snowbirds after living in Poway for 40 years. We pass by the Castle Dome intersection twice a year as we commute to our desert winter home. We never knew this treasure was just off 95. Thanks for the video.

[@myronbenware4452]

I enjoy the music that you have with your videos.

[@aqueousmoments]

I probably won’t make it back to the USA, but I would go here if I ever do (very unlikely). I was born in Tucson a long time ago, grew up in Palm Springs and La Jolla. In Sept 1972 I drove this route in the very early morning. I remember the sun rising over the volcanic formations to the east but of course, didn’t stop. So glad you went to this important and historic location. Your videos are enjoyable, educational, honest, and relaxing to watch. Really great work which I definitely appreciate.

[@rayworx]

Wow! I grew up in S. Cal (San Diego mostly) and rode motorcycles through Arizona a lot and never knew Castle Dome City existed! Now I want to visit it! Thanks for the heads up!

[@conniewojahn6445]

It's raining and cold and we're having a freeze, expecting snow and ice, so this dry, hot country looks pretty good to me in Oregon. People in the midwest and back east experiencing serious cold weather might also be viewing this and thinking warm thoughts. Thanks.

[@williamsherman1089]

I was born and raised around the The Roseburg area but I've lived in Arizona for about thirty years now and have to admit I could never live in Oregon again because of the weather

[@johnlewan1114]

7:52 I haven't seen an engine tester like that in probably 30 years. What an amazing variety of items from the past. Thanks for bringing us along to see it. Can't wait to go with you on the next adventure!

[@faryldaryl3975]

Gotta check that point dwell! Late '90s I was working on a company truck with the site's supervisor, didn't really know/trust him very well, but when I saw he had an old Sun timing light in his tool box, I thought well he must be alright. Kinda like Billy the Kid's "Any man who likes chili can't be all bad."

[@MarkSpencerAZ]

Wow! Lived in Arizona for almost 50 years now, never heard of this place. It's on my list now. Thank you!

[@skyking4501]

Wow!!! When i saw those large cans from “Union Carbide” it brought back memories of my dad who worked for Union Carbide back in the 40’s and 50’s. Thank you for this video!!

[@1wholovestrees]

Another delightful video! I didn’t know this existed, and wish I would’ve seen it when I went to the Kofa‘s. It reminds me a lot of Bodie, California, up 395.

[@CactusAtlas]

Aaaaand another one you beat us to. LOL. This one has eluded us for years because of when it is open and scheduling but I still have all my research for 2+ years back. 😂 One of these days...! It's been super high on our list for ages to photograph with Glenn.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I think its open daily in the winter but probably no one wants to be out there in the summer. If you can get out there it's definitely worth it. Apparently if you take the mine tour you see some more of the area including the cemetery.

[@CactusAtlas]

@@SidetrackAdventures Yup. It's closed in the summer unfortunately because of the weather. Historically winter has just always proven difficult to get too many trips in. Oh that mine tour. Sounds like a lot of fun and I imagine the fluorescent minerals section is amazing but the price is just... a LOT. Especially for two people. 😕

[@SaugotChowdhury]

As an Indian, seeing "union carbide" drums at 9:53 brings bhopal disaster in my mind. Appreciate your videos though, they are full of history. Been watching for a while and loved them.

[@myklvee]

I live on the east coast , don’t know most of the locations you visit and will probably never go to them myself , but you have a very soothing voice and you’re research is top notch … keep up the good work !!!

[@aaronethanevans7872]

I use to live in Yuma for about 15 years when I was in my teens. I never knew this was out there. I now live in Phoenix and drive thru Yuma on my way to visit my home town if San Diego. I will most definitely be looking for this place. Thank you for sharing.

[@pakerman3d]

What an amazing place! All that details make it feel so authentic! Definitely on my list if I ever visit the US... Also very well documented/filmed 🌞

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Thank you. If you visit it's definitely worth checking out.

[@conniewojahn6445]

His videos are really good. You should check others on his channel. Very interesting.

[@PaulHobus]

Great video! Would love to see the mine tour!

[@granthryze2694]

It might be one of the most preserved towns I've ever seen. I've been throughout Cali ,Utah, Nevada, and here in Colorado at a slew of ghost towns. Looks like it might be time for Arizona ! Thanks !

[@josephbingham1255]

Been to Bodie?

[@granthryze2694]

@@josephbingham1255 Yes,it's an awesome town too

[@granthryze2694]

@@josephbingham1255 also Animas Forks here in Colo

[@granthryze2694]

@@josephbingham1255 Also again, Berlin Utah

[@granthryze2694]

@@josephbingham1255 Sorry , Berlin Nevada

[@michaelhaney3388]

That was a great tour Steve.

[@garyp.7501]

Thanks! Now for sure I'm going to visit Yuma AZ and this ghost town.

[@jatzbethstappen9814]

Thankyou so much for this video. I love how you can walk around and touch so much history. I always feel like I am actually there with you.

[@conniewojahn6445]

Ah, the magic of a well done video!

[@mtnair3]

Great Tour of a little known part of southwest history. Thanks

[@thecarolvanpod]

I love visiting ghost towns. Now I have another on my list to see. Thanks, Steve!

[@kingforaday8725]

One thing Ive always wondered about jail cells like this with a window. How hard would it be for a friend to pass you a weapon?

[@joestock1140]

Just started watching this video. Looked at the chalkboard and saw "Green Castle, Pennsylvania" and "Jacob Snively." Well, as a native of Greencastle (yes, it's one word), PA, I was rather surprised to see the name of the town where I attended all thirteen years of school on a chalkboard in a ghost town in AZ. And Jacob's last name is pronounced Snive-lee. Greencastle has seven notable people listed on Wikipedia, and Jacob is one of them. Thanks for the video, and the surprise!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

That's pretty cool. Thanks for the additional info.

[@1956model1]

Another excellent video, Steve! I visited Castle Dome City last February and I thought I had covered it pretty well. But evidently, I missed the gas station, barber shop, and stage coach station. Guess I'll have to get back out there sometime. LOL

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I know how you feel. When I was looking at our footage I saw several buildings I don't think we even went in as well.

[@AndyMetz-x6q]

We live in Yuma, and toured Castle Dome City not long ago. You did a great walk around tour and description of the place

[@summerz8867]

This place is Awesome, thanks😽💫✨🌟

[@titchyjp]

Wow,what an awesome place.I could watch this all day.

[@SteveLaVoy]

Sure did enjoy this and all your videos. I am a history buff so you really hit the mark there. I plan to visit Castle Dome someday.

[@conniewojahn6445]

Go Steve Go!

[@caryolkob8199]

Thank you for the fun tour. This would definitely be on my list to come visit. Nicely done video👏🏻🌵

[@jeffpalmer5502]

Next time I’m down that way I’m definitely gonna go find this place and I finally was able to come out before the video ended and switch me to a different one😄 Your videos are great I’m really enjoying them you do a nice job !

[@kyleohara8700]

another great video! thanks Steve!

[@LynneHenson-s7e]

This is awesome..I would love to visit this little town. My dad and brother lived in Arizona and wonder is they ever visited..thank you for your informative videos

[@adaynasmile]

This is an amazing town! I grew up in Tucson and have never heard of it. Thanks for the awesome video!

[@Kindle1234]

WOW! great video. Very educational of old mining town. love your videos.

[@glennjudd2467]

This is really amazing ! Never knew this ghost town exists in Arizona !

[@leonajameson8902]

Wow that was incredible. Well preserved

[@senthilnathanviswanathan4924]

This is an outstanding video....and on outstanding ghost town too...can't imagine a ghost town so well preserved, quite often dust- and rust-free....i just got transported and transfixed....buildings such as church, mill, bar, restaurant, barbershop, saw store, trailer museum with its contents, artefacts and collections are so impacting...that huge engine testing machine I heard & saw for the first time in my life....sitting in far corner in India, i fervently watch all of your videos....in fact, i even have taken snapshots to watch over and over....in a way, you are reviving history....great, Steve...

[@scotthatlestad2548]

Cool tour, Steve! Fun to see other's perspectives on places we have visited. Keep it up!

[@kennethwomack8678]

Very cool!! Thanks for showing us!!

[@VuNguyen-mh4oo]

So interesting to watch videos like this. My special thank to you for giving us a great tour.

[@taterwulf]

We checked this place out earlier in the year as it’s only about 30 mins north of us in Fortuna (Yuma) Foothills. It’s a really cool journey into the past and there is definitely a LOT to explore and can easily take a full day. Great video as always!! 🙌

[@janblake9468]

Some time in the late 1950's we stopped at Stone Cabin. We were on our way to explore KOFA. Stone Cabin was still open and operating then. I have a photo of our '56 Chevy Suburban and tear drop trailer there.

[@joewenzel5142]

Great tour.

[@momiller7]

wow wow wow wow,,,good on ya and well done documentarian! So this site is protected as a historical monument? what a labor of love from the guy who put this together...well, at least it is now protected on youtube...Thank you! mo from ca

[@sondrajoyce8810]

We loved Arizona every year. There was a place somewhere in the desert where they said Gen. Patton's military training was done. We could see the tank tracks hardened in the sands.

[@CactusAtlas]

That would be Bouse. They still have a couple tanks on display there. 🙂

[@michaelsonleitner5724]

Thanks Steve, enjoyed the tour! Also enjoyed your reaction to the guy on the toilet 😂

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I wasn't expecting that guy haha

[@MrBornfisher]

Where did you find that old map? Great video, thanks.

[@perryjoejimbob]

Darn. Interesting, but seems like an actual ghost town contaminated with unconnected buildings and such. Like a movie set. Have you been to Bodie?

[@uwantsun]

wonderfully preserved. Thank you.

[@Junk65]

I was born in an adobe house with a dirt floor in a one horse town. My dad was the sheriff/mayor/judge. My grandfather had his own militia. They lived in Oklahoma and Arizona.

[@spacetravler8461]

Your videos are fantastic and captivating, thank you!

[@ssranch6017]

Thank you sir for the video. Thank you for all you did and your travels. And thank you for the history. God bless and stay safe your friend for Stuttgart Arkansas

[@thomasalexander5936]

I wonder in your travels throughout our beautiful state of California if you’ve ever taken a “Pan” with you to see if you find an area with AU in it and prospected and sampled an area?? There’s still many places in California to find GOLD if you know where to look or venture upon. I really enjoy your videos on this beautiful state. She’ll keep you fairly busy with all she has to offer. ((Lastly, I have hiked and found AU in the Chocolate Mountains in Inyo County))

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I haven't done any gold panning aside from maybe a tour I did as a kid in Skagway, AK. I'm not sure I have the patience for it.

[@RetroRobbin59]

Thanks Steve! That looks really interesting!

[@deborahlh7747]

Wow, great tour. I have to see it now. Thank you Steve.

[@galardmills5306]

Thanks for showing us, and adding all of the information! I’ve driven past there on US-95 many times, but I had no idea that Castle Dome City was just to the east. Next time I’ll stop in!

[@charleshaggard4341]

Love your videos. Thanks for giving the history of the places you go.

[@IBRAKEFORBEDROCK]

Fantastic ! I was there way back when he was first working on the site. Was not nearly as much to see as now. I should pay another visit

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I was surprised at how much is out here. I was expecting just a few buildings that were sparsely filled.

[@pajohnson1716]

Love your travels. Thanks. Crazy places I never heard of . Lived in Cali. 77 years. Thanks😊

[@basilbcf]

Wow, I spent many a week at YPG back in the day doing testing on "stuff" and never knew about this place!

[@joewenzel5142]

My Grandmother played the organ in theaters back in the day to accompany silent films.

[@conniewojahn6445]

Wow! That's really something. Never knew anyone who did that. You must be proud of her, and with good reason.

[@joewenzel5142]

@@conniewojahn6445 She died at 92 years old back in 1988. Born in 1896. She was at a bar once and shook Babe Ruth's hand.

[@YahshuaLovesMe]

absolutely fabulous! inspired work of art!

[@nancyhale5054]

Wouldn't rock be a more available building material? I wonder where all the wood came from. Great content! Thanks 💙

[@sharonferrell8930]

Nancy, I was wondering the very same thing. Where DID all that wood come from.

[@healingtogether1834]

Love this video. I was amazed to see 2 stained glass windows but non in the church 😮

[@jimmychanbers2424]

Another great video. Awesome history and is still being preserved.

[@michaelcerkez3895]

Very cool. I had a friend who was in Yuma back in the 80's, makes me wonder if he visited there.

[@oldscuba]

Nice video. Traveler beware, I grew up here in Yuma and did a lot of deer hunting in the Castle Dome area thru the sixties and seventies and this "Town" , didn't exist as it is shown. But as tourism increased (Snow Birds) this came to be.

[@Анастасия-я1п3с]

I am practising English with you, your speech, intonation are perfect, great! Nice American English!

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Glad I can be of help!

[@dianeday1297]

My husband and I visited Castle Dome in February. It's awesome!

[@ridealongwithrandy]

Nice video! My story is when I went there from Alpine, CA on that long dirt bumpy road, it was closed!!!! So then i contacted the folks there and verified that they were open and made the trip again! What a place, I did not go into the caverns as I'm claustrophobic, did you make it? Cheers!

[@dwightdonnelly8662]

I thoroughly enjoy your videos; they allow me to dissappear into another world for a short time.

[@discostew115]

Wow what an awesome place, I would love a part 2!

[@mariamjehn7071]

Great ghost town .. so intact!!

[@tyhogue8316]

I love history and all the old stuff but that pachinko machine seems out of place!🤔 once again another great video! Thank you.

[@frankmarullo228]

Woke up today and put on more of your videos thank you Frank from Montana.,....

[@ReneeKwiatkowski]

That was very interesting, and I enjoyed watching all that I do like that type of stuff, that whole time towns, in ruins and stuff like that I lived in Arizona all my life, and I never knew the castle dome city was even there, so thank you for showing and sharing with us

[@MySteamChannel]

Thanks for the great museum tour. I love your video's from the South West, I can't go there but thanks to you I get to tour this amazing area. Greets from Australia.

[@conniewojahn6445]

Send us some scenery from where you are!

[@myhobbies411]

I'm enjoying your videos.We are headed to Vegas and then driving to the Grand Canyon next week. Are there any ghost towns or mining areas you can recommend to visit between along that ride? Or in surrounding areas?

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I have a video on things to see between Vegas and the Grand Canyon, but if you have enough time, a good side trip from Kingman, AZ is the town of Oatman. Its pretty active with shootouts in the street and burros coming into town, but well worth a visit. If your time is more limited, there are some newer ghost towns on Route 66 between Kingman and Seligman worth a quick look. I don't know of any mining spots in that area though.

[@cowprez]

Outstanding look into the past. Thanks so much for sharing with us.

[@janedoe3827]

Thank you that was super cool!

[@nancyd2240]

This is wonderful. Thank you. A place to check out if you go north is Burlin Ichthyosaur, Nevada.

[@Metal-Detecting-NC]

Very cool tour. Thanks for bringing us along.

[@SidetrackAdventures]

Glad you enjoyed it!