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    Lavender Pit

    4.1 (15 reviews)

    Lavender Pit Photos

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    The Lavender Pit
    Renee N.

    We found this historic pit purely by accident. We were heading to find our lodging for the evening and as we were driving by, we decided to pull over to see what we could learn. While enjoying this birthday trip, I learned a lot about the great state of Arizona. One thing is that Arizona is known for mining copper. This pit is a former open pit copper mine right near the famous Copper Queen mine. It was opened in 1950 and they mined here till 1974. Turquoise was also found in this pit and is known as Bisbee Blue turquoise. This turquoise is famous and it is some of the finest known through out the world. The pit is 900 feet deep and apparently there is still some copper left that may be mined in the future. There was plenty of signage to review and learn from and I am glad we made the stop. Very interesting!

    Mandy T.

    If you are in Bisbee you should make a stop at this site to read about the lavender pit and take some pics.

    Plaque
    Jessica S.

    We were out and about with my parents, on our way to Old Town Bisbee. My dad - ever the tour guide - suggested stopping here, and because he was driving and we were captive, stop here we did. You get a sense of the size of the pit from the car, but getting out, the immensity of what was dug out and all that entailed is a bit staggering. They do a good job of sharing information on the history of the pit, the people involved, and the "why" behind it all. There are informational panels scattered around the ridge; we were able to view a handful of them before hopping back in to leave. It is worth a stop for the history and perspective if nothing else. The views are impressive and - if you take the time to ponder it all - the impact can either depress or impress your soul.

    Tammy E.

    What a cool piece of history here along the main road in Bisbee. The last time I was in the area I didn't realize there was a turnout viewing area, but this time I had my lunch with me and needed a place to stop to eat it anyway. I had no idea what was down there so I'm glad I stopped to learn all about it. I had wondered why the town on the other side of the highway down the road looked like an old mining town - I can be a little dense sometimes! This place is worth a stop if you are in the area. So much of this area's history was built upon the copper mine's success in the early days when our country needed an abundance of copper. There is a fence between the visitor area and the big drop off beyond but there are several cutouts all along the path for you to take pictures from. Note that there are no restrooms here at the viewing area.

    Angelina R.

    Traveling through, I didn't expect to see much after the random 'Copper Prince' mine shaft entry right off the side of Highway 80 a few miles prior. This is hard to miss! Basically a HUGE former mining pit, and World War II memorial. I'm not a fan of heights, so I didn't stay too long (or get too close to the fencing, even though it acts as a barricade, lol). But, this was very cool, and worth the stop to look & learn a little! The entirety is fenced w/ a paved walkway. Every few feet they've created cutouts in the fencing just large enough to adequately capture photos of the abandoned mining pit. (The Cooper Prince entrance off the side of the road a couple miles prior is totally closed off for good reason!) But the first thing you'll notice here, besides the gorgeous rock formations/color & strong sulphur smell is the DEEP sea blue color of the large pool of water at the base. It's absolutely stunning & no photos do it justice! Off to the right, there's also a couple of smaller pools- one bright Orange & another slightly opal in color. It's very apparently mineral rich. The roadside attraction/educational signs are quite faded & hard to read. But the World War II memorial is quite stunning in person. A beautiful tribute in a very beautiful area of scenic Arizona. It is definitely worth the stop to check out.

    Information Plaques
    Richard F.

    We heard about the pit so when we visited Bisbee we just had to stop. They have a very nice parking area where you can pull in and park safely and get out to view this monstrous hole in the ground. It is unbelievable how big this hole is. There are information boards under a small shelter where you can read all about what happened here and the impact the mining company had on the area. There are places in the fence where they cut out the fence fro you to take a clear picture. Just look, you can't miss them. There is a lot of history here so make sure you stop for a few minutes to see this.

    A rare cloudy rainy day over the pit!

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    Ask the Community - Lavender Pit

    Review Highlights - Lavender Pit

    There are some plaques which explain more about the history of mining and the use of open pit mines.

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    Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum

    Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum

    4.6(27 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    This review is for the gift shop! We came to the shop on the way out of town as we'd found they…read moresold a local book one of our group wanted. The gentleman up front was very nice as was the woman in the shop. We snagged the last copy -- which was also signed! - then proceeded to pick up some souvenirs. They have a really nice selection of local books, art, crystals, and items like miners tags. I got a really cute little tree made of copper wire and green stones, and a mixed silver and copper ring. Recommend stopping by even if you don't have time for the museum. Its a nice little shop and as a Smithsonian affiliate, there's no tax!

    Steve was our tour guide and he was awesome! He spent his whole career working in the mines, so the…read morestories and details he shared really brought everything to life. Honestly, this was the best mine tour we've done in Arizona. You check in about 30 minutes before the tour. There's a little shop to browse, a spot to sit, and a short movie in the back that gives you a great background on the mine and how copper is made. The tour itself is about an hour, all underground. You ride in on a little train that you sit on kind of like a bike, and the temperature stays a cool mid-60s the whole time. They give you a hard hat, light, safety vest, and even a number tag - just like real miners use - so they know nobody gets left behind. Along the way, the train stops a few times so you can get off, check out artifacts, and walk into different areas while Steve tells more stories. When you come back up to the surface, have your sunglasses ready - the sunlight feels unbelievably bright after being underground. It was the highlight of our full day in Bisbee and something you do NOT want to miss.

    Photos
    Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum - On the trolley to get into the mine

    On the trolley to get into the mine

    Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum
    Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum

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    O.K. Corral - Stage coaches roam the street in front of it

    O.K. Corral

    4.1(193 reviews)
    20.1 mi

    Write a review? Give me a break! This is the OK corral. This is one of the most iconic pieces of…read moreAmerican history and you can walk right in where the gun fight happen! All of tombstone is worth a visit. It's a very small town. Their tourist area is fun. I'm here in the winter time when there aren't that many people, but I still had a great time!

    Visiting the legendary O.K. Corral was easily one of the most memorable parts of our trip to…read moreTombstone. From the moment we arrived, it truly felt like we had stepped directly into the Old West. The entire historic complex is incredibly immersive and beautifully preserved, allowing you to experience a fascinating piece of Arizona history in such an engaging and entertaining way. One of the highlights for us was watching the famous gunfight reenactment featuring Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Cowboys. The actors did an incredible job bringing the story to life, and the energy of the performance made it feel as though we had traveled back to the 1880s. It was exciting, educational, and surprisingly immersive all at once. After seeing so many movies and hearing stories about Tombstone over the years, standing at the actual site where the legendary gunfight took place was such a surreal experience. We also loved exploring all of the exhibits throughout the property. There is so much history packed into one place from the historic stables and blacksmith shop to Doc Holliday's room and the fascinating photography exhibits showcasing life in Tombstone during the 1880s. Every section felt thoughtfully curated and gave such an interesting glimpse into what life was really like during the Wild West era. The atmosphere throughout Tombstone is already incredibly nostalgic, but the O.K. Corral truly captures the spirit of the town. The preserved buildings, old western scenery, and historical storytelling make the entire experience feel authentic and memorable. We also appreciated how family friendly everything was, and there were plenty of opportunities to walk around, explore, take photos, and fully enjoy the experience at our own pace. If you are visiting Tombstone, O.K. Corral is absolutely a must-see attraction. It is the perfect blend of history, entertainment, and immersive storytelling, and it genuinely makes you appreciate the fascinating legacy of the Old West. We had such a wonderful time and would absolutely visit again.

    Photos
    O.K. Corral - Stage coaches give tours of the city

    Stage coaches give tours of the city

    O.K. Corral - Earp brothers + Doc Holliday

    Earp brothers + Doc Holliday

    O.K. Corral - Tombstone

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    Tombstone

    Bowlin's The Thing Travel Center - Antique truck

    Bowlin's The Thing Travel Center

    3.8(176 reviews)
    44.3 mi
    $

    Okay, first and foremost, I am a sucker for tourist traps. I love the little roadside attractions…read morewhile you're driving. Do I want to see the two-headed calf? Absolutely I do! Do I want to see the three-headed rattlesnake, of course! Why did it take me so long to stop and see the thing? I don't know. But today memorial Day I decided it was time. Got to say right off the bat. This place does an amazing job of marketing, I was seeing signs for this ever since I left El Paso. Now this is not the first time I've seen it. I have driven past this place on multiple occasions and even stopped for gas here, but I did not venture in to see the thing. Why? Maybe it wasn't my time? Maybe the aliens did not guide me to this until that. Whatever the case, I'm glad I did because I can now check this off my bucket list. For starters, this is one of the cheapest side shows I think I've ever seen. With my senior discount. It came out to under $5 for entrance. I'm not going to do too many spoilers because you really have to walk through it yourself. The bottom line is that this guy grabs a hold of all the conspiracy theories possible and melds them into one place. The big questions are what if dinosaurs were actually ruled by aliens? What if aliens have been here all along? Guiding history? What if an alien drove Winston Churchill in a Rolls-Royce? These are valid questions that one should consider while walking through the tour of the thing exhibit. Now, with any good Taurus trap you have to have a solid gift shop, and the thing delivers. There are shot glasses, hats, t-shirts, stickers, refrigerator, magnets, and anything else you could think of to emblazon with the thing logo. Did I buy a t-shirt? Yes, I did. Did I buy a couple of refrigerator magnets? Yes I did. The bottom line if you are traveling and you need to take a break and stop to check things out. This is the place for you, whether you believe in aliens or not, or believe that Winston Churchill was driven around by an alien, you need to stop by and check this place out. I would give it 10 stars but Yelp only allows for five.

    What a super fun stop. We did not want to see "the Thing" but enjoyed the little shop…read more Also, the bathrooms were very clean and the gasoline was cheap. Viva.

    Photos
    Bowlin's The Thing Travel Center - Bowlin's The Thing Travel Center

    Bowlin's The Thing Travel Center

    Bowlin's The Thing Travel Center - Cool car

    Cool car

    Bowlin's The Thing Travel Center - Display

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    Display

    Lavender Pit - museums - Updated May 2026

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