Gillett - Arizona Ghost Town

GILLETT

NAME: Gillett
COUNTY: Yavapai
ROADS: 4WD
LEGAL INFO: T8N, R2E
CLIMATE: Mild winter, hot summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Fall, Winter

COMMENTS: Just before the town you have to cross the Agua Fria River. Dont mistake Moore's Gulch for the river. You must have a 4WD to cross the river.
REMAINS: The old Burfind Hotel and a lot of pot holes are all that is left.

Gillett's post office was established October 15, 1876 and discontinued August 11, 1887. Gillett was the milling town for nearby Tip Top. Located on the Agua Fria River, Gillett had its share of lawbreaking. The town's blacksmith had a side job of robbing the Wells Fargo stage coach outside of town. He was caught when he used his proceeds in a poker game. One day a man got into a fight in a saloon and broke a bottle over another man's head. He was subsequently arrested. Later, he was released to a friendly resident who was going to sober him up. A few hours later the body of that resident was found and the town set out after that the bar fighter. The sheriff found him and put him in the custody of a local military man. The town people demanded the bar fighter be hanged and killed the military man, took the bar fighter and hung him from a tree. Gillett, being located on the Prescott to Phoenix Black Canyon Stage route continued to survive after milling for Tip Top ended. Gillett was also home to legendary Jack Swilliing who's house is not the boundary marker between Maricopa and Yavapai counties. Today only ruins of the Burfind Hotel are left.	Burfind Hotel Gillette Courtesy Chuck Lawsen

Gillett's post office was established October 15, 1876 and discontinued August 11, 1887. Gillett was the milling town for nearby Tip Top. Located on the Agua Fria River, Gillett had its share of lawbreaking. The town's blacksmith had a side job of robbing the Wells Fargo stage coach outside of town. He was caught when he used his proceeds in a poker game. One day a man got into a fight in a saloon and broke a bottle over another man's head. He was subsequently arrested. Later, he was released to a friendly resident who was going to sober him up. A few hours later the body of that resident was found and the town set out after that the bar fighter. The sheriff found him and put him in the custody of a local military man. The town people demanded the bar fighter be hanged and killed the military man, took the bar fighter and hung him from a tree. Gillett, being located on the Prescott to Phoenix Black Canyon Stage route continued to survive after milling for Tip Top ended. Gillett was also home to legendary Jack Swilliing who's house is not the boundary marker between Maricopa and Yavapai counties. Today only ruins of the Burfind Hotel are left.

Burfind Hotel

Gillette
Courtesy Chuck Lawsen

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