Fortuna

Arizona's ghost towns are sun-bleached and honest — copper, silver, and gold camps that lived fast and died the moment the ore did.

Fortuna Foothills is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The population was 26,265 at the 2010 census. It is part of city of Yuma, Arizona and the Yuma County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Development of the area began in the 1960s, when local developer Hank Schechert purchased 3,000 acres east of Yuma. Fortuna Foothills serves as a bedroom community for Yuma, Yuma Proving Ground, and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. Fortuna Foothills is also an area with a large amount of seasonal residents.

Fortuna started with soldiers before it had settlers — the frontier's usual order of operations.

The on-the-ground condition of Fortuna is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Fortuna is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.