Arizona has a lot of natural and cultural attractions, some of which aren’t as well known or are easily missed. Ruby is one of these secret gems. It is an old mining town that did very well in Santa Cruz County, close to the border with Mexico. Ruby is one of Arizona’s best-preserved ghost towns. It offers a unique look into the past and a mix of mystery and excitement. Ruby has a story that we need to explore in order to figure out why it became a dead town.
About Ruby’s Past
Ruby was first built in the late 1800s as Montana Camp, named after the nearby Montana Mine. It was a thriving mining town. A lot of people moved to the area because the mine had gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper. They built homes, shops, saloons, and even a school. The town was changed its name to Ruby in 1909 to honor Julius Andrews’ wife, who owned the mine.
Ruby reached its peak in the 1930s, when it had about 1,200 people living there and was the biggest mining town in the county. Even though the town was lively, it had a violent past with many killings, robberies, and raids, including the unsolved Ruby killings that happened between 1920 and 1922.
Ruby’s Fall from Power
Mineral prices dropped and mines were closed down in the 1940s, which was the start of Ruby’s fall. Problems with transportation, not having enough water, and power made the town’s problems worse. Ruby’s fall was also sped up by competition from other mining towns and the effects of the Great Depression and World War II.
In 1940, the last mine shut down, and the post office ended in 1941. By the 1950s, no one lived there anymore. Since 1954, the town has been owned by different people and has been used as a cattle ranch. In 1975, it was sold to a private owner who turned it into a historical site and tourist draw.
Ruby’s Gift to Her
Ruby stands as a reminder of its rich history thanks to the work of the Ruby Mine Preservation Society, a non-profit group whose mission is to protect and restore the town’s buildings and items. People can visit the ghost town and look at the ruins and artifacts while learning about its long past.
There are lots of things to do, like hiking, camping, fishing, shooting, and birdwatching, which draws people who want to have fun and learn about history. People who are interested in ghosts and the supernatural say that Ruby is a haunted house where strange things like voices, footsteps, apparitions, and cold spots can be seen or heard. There are still stories that say the town may be haunted by the ghosts of the Ruby Murder victims or hide a wealth that criminals buried.
What It Means
Ruby is a ghost town, but it’s more than just an empty shell. In it, the ups and downs of a community’s fate are told through the lens of mining. The town has seen both happiness and sadness, and there are secrets and mysteries just ready to be found. Ruby wants people to learn about its history, enjoy its beauty, charm, and wonder right now, and think about what will happen in the future. In the end, Ruby is a place that should be remembered and honored.