Wickenburg fills an illustrious chapter in the history of Arizona and the West. Though only 54 miles away from the hustle and bustle of modern Phoenix, Arizona’s most western community harkens back to a different time and place.
Resting on the northern edge of the Sonoran Desert, just below Arizona’s mountainous country, the Wickenburg area abounds in natural beauty. While the area’s geological treasures attracted miners from around the world, the Hassayampa River flood plain first provided fertile soil for farming and ranching. For centuries, the western Yavapai made the banks of this oasis their home, irrigating their crops of corn, beans, squash, and tobacco with river water.
In the late 1800s, the town was settled by the German adventurer Henry Wickenburg who struck it big in the infamous 19th century gold rush that helped settle much of the western United States. The infant town went through many trials and tribulations in those first decades, surviving Native American wars, mine closures, desperados, drought, and a disastrous flood. Through it all, the town continued to grow, and its prosperity was ensured with the coming of the railroad in 1895. The historic depot still stands today as the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center.
In the mid-1900s Wickenburg became known as the “Dude Ranch Capital of the World.” Today, some of these ranches still offer their unique brand of Western hospitality. In fact, you’ll find them on the lodging list below.
From its historic downtown to its ranches, rodeos, and gold rush nostalgia, Wickenburg maintains an authentic atmosphere unlike anywhere else. There is no better backdrop for Art of the Cowgirl than this iconic Western town. We hope you enjoy your stay and all that Wickenburg, Arizona, has to offer.