Superior

Founded: 1902 (post office established)
County: Pinal
Population: 2,407
Elevation: 2,890 feet
High School Mascot: Panthers

Located approximately an hour east of Phoenix, this small town was built around the veins of silver and copper that were discovered in the surrounding hills.

Charles Mason staked the Silver King claim in March 1875, and the Silver Queen followed shortly thereafter. The resulting mining companies operated until 1896. Fourteen years later, William Boyce Thompson and George Gunn bought the Silver Queen and organized the Magma Copper Co.; before it closed in 1996, the mine had produced 27 million short tons of ore.

Although Superior experienced a period of distress after the mines closed, revitalization efforts have drawn tourists who come in part to explore the area’s history, but also use the town as a hub for activities in the nearby Pinal Mountains.

Arlynn Godinez grew up in Superior and now serves as the director of the Superior Enterprise Center, a nonprofit whose mission is to serve as a catalyst to diversify Superior’s economic base through business services and workforce training.

“When I was growing up, the town was still in its boom,” Godinez says. “When I was a sophomore in high school, the copper mine closed, so I’ve had kind of a unique experience in that I was here when it was highly populated and [had] a lot going on, and when I returned in 2000, it was in the depths of some of the lowest points the town faced.”

The center, she adds, was developed as part of a grander scheme that included revitalizing historic Superior High School to turn it into a multigenerational center. Economic diversification of the town is a priority.

“I didn’t experience it until I left, but there’s a feeling you get as you climb Gonzales Pass, and for me, that’s the only thing that’s ever felt like home,” Godinez says. “It didn’t matter where I was — as soon as I came to that point on my way back, I had, and still have, this overwhelming sense of peace, like this is where I’m supposed to be. So, I think that is why I’ve stayed. I’ve had many opportunities to leave after I returned, but this is home, in so many ways. The people who are here truly care about one another.”
 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel Magma
Located in the heart of Superior, this historic hotel, originally a boardinghouse that dates to 1919, was meticulously renovated over five years to bring out its original details. Its arched portico entryway opens onto a large lobby with leather chairs. There, a wide wooden staircase leads to 21 historically appointed hotel rooms.
100 Main Street, Superior, 520-689-2300, hotelmagmasuperior.com
 

WHERE TO EAT

Silver King Smokehouse & Saloon
The motto of this Superior favorite is “Smoked meats that are superior than the rest,” and chef Dell Morris is on a mission to prove it. The menu here includes brisket, turkey, pork butt and spare ribs, as well as a sampler platter that features them all. Each plate is served with pickles, shaved red onions and a slice of local sourdough.
404 Main Street, Superior, 520-689-7100, silverkingbbq.com

Porter’s Saloon & Grill
The open patio at this casual eatery sits alongside a lovely wash with a nearby walking bridge. On a nice day, it’s not unusual for locals to ride their horses up to the restaurant and tie them up outside while they go in to enjoy a bite. Menu items include burgers, tacos, chili and salads.
695 Main Street, Superior, 520-689-5003
 

ATTRACTIONS

Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Established in 1924 by mining magnate William Boyce Thompson — who believed that plants are the ultimate source of human survival and well-being — this arboretum is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden. The collection of more than 20,000 desert plants from around the globe spans 5 miles of trails in 135 acres of gardens.
37615 E. Arboretum Way, near Superior, 520-689-2723, btarboretum.org

LOST (Legends of Superior Trail)
This easy, 11.65-mile trail (with multiple entry points) spans the area between the Picketpost Trailhead and historic Claypool Tunnel. The path, which winds through stunning Arnett and Queen Creek canyons, is the result of the efforts of the town of Superior, the Tonto National Forest and the Arizona Trail Association, which joined forces to create a community gateway trail to the 800-mile Arizona Trail. 
superioraztrails.com