Crown King

Founded: 1888 (post office established)
County: Yavapai
Population: 194
Elevation: 5,771 feet
High School Mascot: Badgers (Prescott High School)

It isn’t easy to get to Crown King. It’s tucked away along the Senator Highway, just under 30 miles west of Interstate 17, and accessed via a winding, rocky road that’s best traversed in a well-equipped high-clearance vehicle. Today, the former gold-mining hub is home to fewer than 200 people.

Rod McKinnon filed the first recorded gold claim in Crown King in 1875, and in the years that followed, an estimated $2 million worth of ore was pulled from the land. During its heyday, Crown King boasted 500 buildings, including a post office, a Chinese restaurant, company stores and boardinghouses. The town was also the terminus of the Bradshaw Mountain Railroad, built along a series of switchbacks between Mayer and Crown King.

Although the area’s mines closed in the 1950s, Crown King remains a popular tourist destination, especially for off-roaders and fly fishermen. Horsethief Basin Lake is a 6.6-mile drive down the Senator Highway.

Tony Nelson, who’s served as the pastor of Crown King Community Church for the past 18 years, has roots that run deep in the community: His great-grandfather arrived to stake a mining claim in 1878.

“My great-aunt wrote a little history about Crown King — a very brief one — but here is the bottom line of it,” Nelson says. “She said, ‘We see all of these movies and stories of the bad men and the gunfights and all of that, settling the West. But it was really the people who pulled together and cooperated with each other, and who helped each other. If somebody was in trouble, they would help each other, and that’s the way they survived. They made do and had a good life.’ ”

Although there are a lot of casual recreation-seekers who pass through Crown King on a regular basis, Nelson says his great-aunt’s sentiments still prevail. “I think it’s still that way in this town,” he says. “There’s a lot of new people — a lot of people now I don’t even know — but that feeling, that aura of togetherness, to help each other, is still here.”
 

WHERE TO STAY

Crown King Cabins, Suites and Bunkhouse
This Crown King staple features five suites, four cabins and a large bunkhouse. The cabins include full kitchens and are tucked amid a stand of pines. Guests can enjoy the property’s lush gardens, as well as barbecues for public use.
7267 Main Street, Crown King, 928-632-4477, crownking.com

Cedar Roost Inn
Four rooms with private decks are available at this cozy inn, which offers extensive views of the Bradshaw Mountains, as well as plenty of privacy. Each room is equipped with a refrigerator and a coffee maker.
23321 S. Gladiator Mine Road, Crown King, 928-632-5564, crownkinglodging.com
 

WHERE TO EAT

Crown King Saloon and Café
Originally built in nearby Oro Belle and relocated to Crown King in 1916, Crown King Saloon and Café, constructed in 1890, is one of the oldest continuously running bars and saloons in Arizona. Its menu features hearty burgers and sandwiches, as well as chili, salads and plenty of fried bar fare.
7219 Main Street, Crown King, 928-632-7053, crownkingsaloon.com

The Mill
Comfort food, including prime rib, Sante Fe turkey and tequila lime chicken, are among the menu items at this casual restaurant. The rustic dining room is decorated with mining artifacts, and a patio affords diners sweeping mountain views, as well as an opportunity to mingle with the hummingbirds that frequent it in warmer months.
23670 S. Mill Avenue, Crown King, 928-632-7133, crownkingfun.com
 

ATTRACTIONS

Crown King General Store
Since it opened in 1904, the Crown King General Store has served as a hub for the community — it features the town’s only gas pump, as well as its post office. Visitors can shop for souvenirs and the store’s “world famous” homemade fudge, which comes in a variety of flavors.
1 Main Street, Crown King, 928-632-7911

Horsethief Basin Recreation Area
This area, just a short drive from Crown King, is operated by the U.S. Forest Service and offers visitors a slew of recreational opportunities, including camping, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, mountain biking and off-highway-vehicle riding. The Forest Service recommends a high-clearance vehicle for access.
Prescott National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Chino Valley, 928-777-2200, fs.usda.gov/prescott