Ruby

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

Ruby is a ghost town in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. It is situated near the base of Montana Peak in the Pajarita Wilderness, roughly 25 miles west of Rio Rico, and 7 miles north of the Mexico–United States border. Originally named Montana Camp, the town was founded in 1877 as a mining camp. Several important historical events took place in and around Ruby, including the Bear Valley raid in April 1886, the Battle of Bear Valley in January 1918, and the Ruby Murders between 1920 and 1922.

Ruby survives as partial ruins — standing walls, collapsed roofs, and the bones of a town that once was. Ruin sites can be hazardous: watch for open shafts, unstable masonry, and wildlife sheltering in debris. Bring sturdy boots and photograph from safe distances.

One caveat before you romanticize the trip: Ruby sits on private property. Set your expectations to a respectful roadside view unless you've secured the owner's permission — and never cross a fence or gate uninvited.

Start from public roads: do not cross fences or gates without the owner's explicit permission. County assessor maps can help you sort out boundaries in advance — many private sites are best appreciated from the roadside. The mapped point for Ruby is roughly 31.4400, -111.2300 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

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.

The ground itself demands respect: open mine shafts, collapsing floors, and old wells hide in tall grass, cell service is often nonexistent, and help can be hours away. Tell someone your plans, pack more water than you think you'll need — and save the early morning or late afternoon light for your camera.

Want the full story? The Wikipedia article on "Ruby, Arizona" covers Ruby in more depth — find the link in Sources below. County archives, historic newspaper collections, and the state historical society are the next stops after that: plat maps, census rolls, and old photographs fill in what a short visit can't. If you make the trip, consider sharing your photos and notes — firsthand reports are how the record of Ruby gets better.