Helldorado

Ghost town attractions are a popular tourist destination in the Southwest and Helldorado held in Tombstone is no exception. Walking along Allen Street in Tombstone is like taking a step back in time. There are wooden sidewalks, shop windows that feature goods from the 1880's, and every now and then a gun fight breaks out in the middle of the street! This living history attraction is one of the best in the Southwest. The story of Helldorado began in 1881 when a disgruntled mine worker wrote to the local newspaper complaining of what their life was like. Instead of feeling as if they had found their Eldorado of gold, they instead ended up in menial jobs as if they were in Helldorardo. The term was later applied to the annual festival held in Tombstone which began in 1929. While there, stroll the streets of the Old West and visit the Cochise County Courthouse museum. There you will learn about the various people who lived in the Wild West and see a real gallows. The old Bird Cage Theatre is also now a museum featuring a horse drawn hearse once partially owned by Wyatt Earp. Arizona's ghost towns are one of the best ways to truly experience the Old West. If you are headed to Tombstone, stick around for the annual Helldorado festival.