Gold Diggers Driving Tour

AKA Apache Trail/Ghost Town Drive Arizona’s Apache Trail is a veritable gold mine of a drive! We’ll start our drive from NW Tucson at the In-n-Out Parking Lot and skirt the east edge of Phoenix as we make our way to Apache Junction, where we will meet up with any Phoenix area folks who are joining us, at the Goldfield Ghost Town. The Goldfield Ghost town is the actual location of an 1890’s settlement that boasted some 4000 residents back in the heyday. We will take time for lunch at the Mammoth Steakhouse and walking around a bit before we head out to our adventure on the Apache Trail, AKA AZ State Hwy 88. Please meet at the In-n-Out not later than 8:30AM , and we’ll plan to leave by 9AM. (For Phoenix participants, find us at the Goldfield Ghost Town 11-ish.) I’m making a group reservation at the Mammoth Steakhouse for an 11:30AM lunch. THIS ROAD HAS HISTORY: The historic trail gets its name from the Apache Indians who originally used the trail to navigate through the Superstition Mountains. This amazing road runs from Apache Junction (Greater Phoenix area) to Theodore Roosevelt Lake.. Around 900 AD, Salado Indians occupied the area surrounding the Superstition Mountains and created many trails which were later used by the Apache to raid villages along the Salt River. It wasn’t until 1903 that the Apache Trail was developed and used to haul supplies from Mesa to Roosevelt Lake for the construction of the Roosevelt Dam, which would bring water and electricity to the Salt River Valley. It was constructed in 1904 to provide construction access for the Roosevelt Dam, which was completed in 1911. After the completion of the Apache Trail in 1905, the character of this road began to change. While this road continued to serve as a supply route for the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, the Apache Trail soon opened up for public use. Several entrepreneurs began to provide transportation services along this road, which included both stagecoach and automobile excursions. Test drivers from General Motors Proving Grounds used the Apache Trail to test tires and vehicle maneuverability. The road is now a designated National Scenic Byway. Route details on our website.