Inside Chloride, the historic Arizona ghost town that isn’t quite frozen in time…

Derelict rail tracks, weathered wooden shacks, dusty roads and rusting pieces of machinery. 

Chloride in Arizona has the makings of a ghost town, but it in fact stands as one of the oldest continually inhabited mining towns in the state.

Established in 1864, the silver-rich town was once home to around 50 mines and 2,000 residents but now the population stands at around 400 and the miners have long since left. 

Despite its small size, the town boasts a few attractions which reel in visitors including a 16-room hotel, a steakhouse serving up punchy libations, an antique store, a defunct two-cell jail and Arizona’s oldest continuously operating post office, which has been handling mail since 1862.

Chloride in Arizona has the makings of a ghost town, but it in fact stands as one of the oldest continually inhabited mining towns in the state

Established in 1864, the silver rich town was once home to around 50 mines and 2,000 residents but now the population stands at around 400 and the miners have long since left

Despite its small size, the town boasts a few attractions which reel in visitors including a 16-room hotel, a steakhouse serving up punchy libations, an antique store and a defunct two-cell jail 

Chloride – which got its name from the silver chloride found in abundance throughout the local mountains – has more than 170 reviews on Tripadvisor, with the majority giving it an ‘excellent’ rating

One visitor warned that the town is located in Arizona, ‘so in the summer, you may want to think about a visit before 10am or after 7pm. Or sit and have some great food at the restaurant!’

One of the homes in Chloride, crafted out of mud and sand from the surrounding area

Another draw for movie buffs is that Chloride once served as a set in the 1970 biker film The Rebel Rousers, which starred Jack Nicholson. 

In the little-known movie, the motorbiking squad roll into Chloride where they hit local bar and have a wild party until the local sheriff drives them away.

For the locals, the some of the town’s more functional facilities include a public library with book and movie rentals, an undertaker, a cemetery, a general store and a small fire station manned by volunteers.

While Chloride had six churches at one time, today there is just one still open for prayer.

The place of worship, located on Payroll Avenue, was started in 1891 as a Methodist-Episcopal church but it is now associated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

One of the most lively parts of town is Yesterday’s, the steakhouse. 

The eatery – which is attached to the Shep’s Miners Inn – has a typical western restaurant feel, with historical artefacts on the walls, checkered tablecloths, worn wooden floorboards and regular live music sessions. 

Menu items include a ‘natural lamb chop’ on at $23, a ‘huge dinner salad’ on at $11 and a ‘bacon wrapped beef tenderloin filet’ listed for $24.

Chloride got its name from the silver chloride found in abundance throughout the local mountains

One visitor said after their trip to Chloride: ‘They have the old “ghost” town where on weekends, the locals do old time shoot outs and other old western things’

There is lots of old machinery scattered throughout the town, while one of the most lively parts of town is Yesterday’s the steakhouse

In terms of construction materials, the buildings in Chloride have been fashioned out of a range of different things including bricks, wood, corrugated metal

Chloride – which got its name from the silver chloride found in abundance throughout the local mountains – has more than 170 reviews on Tripadvisor, with the majority giving it an ‘excellent’ rating

Summing up Chloride, one visitor said: ‘A classic, eclectic tiny town with much to look at, from the stake-a-claim mining office to the undertaker shop… Interesting houses, trailers, signs and yard deco’

Another draw for movie buffs is that Chloride once served as a set in the 1970 biker film The Rebel Rousers, which starred Jack Nicholson

A photo showing some of the mines which used to operate around Chloride 

Much of the town remain unchanged from its mining heyday, although the buildings are a little more weathered

On the drinks side of things, the diner has a spread of cocktails including the Chloride Pickler containing vodka, pickle juice and Sprite and the Shady Lady combining tequila, melon liqueur and grapefruit juice.

In terms of construction materials, the buildings in Chloride have been fashioned out of a range of different things including bricks, wood, and corrugated metal. 

Some of the more rustic looking buildings were made using sand and mud from the local dry stream beds.

Chloride –  which got its name from the silver chloride found in abundance throughout the local mountains – has more than 170 reviews on Tripadvisor, with the majority giving it an ‘excellent’ rating. 

One visitor wrote: ‘It’s easy to get to off of Highway 93 not to far from Kingman. 

‘It’s an actual town that has what looks to be a pretty neat little hotel and a super nice restaurant. They have the old “ghost” town where on weekends, the locals do old time shoot outs and other old western things. 

‘It’s on old mining town and there are several places to hike. Now, just remember it is in Arizona, so in the summer, you may want to think about a visit before 10am or after 7pm. Or sit and have some great food at the restaurant!’ 

Another traveler commented: ‘A classic, eclectic tiny town with much to look at, from the stake-a-claim mining office to the undertaker shop. We passed through the morning after a heavy night rain so the main street was covered in silt debris. Interesting houses, trailers, signs and yard deco.’

On the outskirts of the town, another highlight for many visitors are the Chloride Murals which were painted by the artist Roy Purcell in the late 1960s. 

Purcell, who took a break from studying fine arts to labor as a miner, painted the 2000-square-foot set of murals with the support of local residents.