FORTUNA

NAME: Fortuna COUNTY: Yuma ROADS: 4WD LEGAL INFO: T10S, R20W CLIMATE: Warm winter, hot summer BEST TIME TO VISIT: Winter, fall

COMMENTS: In the Gila mountains. REMAINS: Nothing.

Fortuna's post office was established September 30, 1896 and discontinued November 20, 1904. Located close to the Camino del Diablo or the road of death, Fortuna was a lighthouse in the dark for thirsty miners in the yuma area. The road was named as such due to the number of travelers that died trying to cross the desert. Water was very scarce, but when the Fortuna mine was found, a pump was set up at the Colorado river and water was pumped the 20 miles to the townsite. First located in 1894, the claim was worked until 1904, and then intermittently after that for the next 20 years. In its heyday the town has saloons, a hotel, and a stage and freight line. You can almost feel the thirst of the stage coach drivers as they finally rolled into Fortuna after traversing the Camino del Diablo.

Fortuna Wagon Trains Courtesy Arizona Historical Society Fortuna Courtesy Kurt Wenner Fortune Courtesy Kurt Wenner

BACK