~ Swansea ~

Theme-park ghost town, saved by BLM of necessity

Swansea smelter 1976



One of Arizona's most remote, and therefore complete, ghost towns was destroyed in part by BLM. New Alamo Lake is the result of a reclamation project of the late 1970s which in part was intended to keep California from gaining access to waters flowing their way through Arizona. The consequence finds entombed beneath pleasure-boats on the waters of the lake its namesake, the old mill and town site of Alamo Crossing along the Bill Williams River.

But conversely, and perhaps uniquely, traces of Swansea survive, in large part due to BLM efforts.  At left is an image of the main smelter complex in 1976.  The hole in the east side of this immense brick and steel structure appears to be the result of  its systematic destruction for the purpose of obtaining  brick.  I visited again in 1986 and then 2009.  By '09 the front and rear faces of the smelter were all that were intact.  Similarly, all of the structures on Main Street, and most of the other buildings at this sprawling site have been dismantled and removed by vandals.

There would be nothing left to tour if BLM had not done the unthinkable:



The site is in a remote region of the southwest Arizona, but can be reached by excellent graded dirt roads.  Four wheel drive is not necessary until you reach the site.  If you can endure traveling in the hotter months you'll be alone.  BLM has developed and stabilized the site providing interesting plaques, restored roofs to prevent decay of the very few existing buildings, cable fences to prevent random off-road travel, and even outhouses and barbeques!  

Breathtaking is the location.  Here is a link to a few photos from my visit in 2009 and a few (B&W) from James and Barbara Sherman's pivotal 1968 book.  Below is the BLM's 1977 flier.  It is old but so well done, thorough, and accurate, that little more be said:

map showing destruction between 1930 and 1976

brief history and map

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Other Colorado river basin links on this site:

The old plank-road

old Yuma