Bates Well Ranch, Historic cattle ranch in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona.
Bates Well Ranch is a historic cattle operation within Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona. The property contains a main house, corrals, storage buildings, and windmill structures built from locally sourced desert materials.
The first well was dug in 1870 by W.B. Bates, but the property was developed as a major cattle operation starting in the 1930s. The operation continued for several decades before being preserved as a historic site.
The name comes from the wells that made this place valuable to those who lived here. Water and natural resources shaped how people used and thought about this location.
This site lies within a protected monument and visitors must obtain proper permits before exploring the grounds. Check current access rules with the monument office before planning your visit.
The main house was moved here in 1942 from an abandoned mining site nearby. It was built entirely from salvaged and found materials, showing how settlers made use of whatever was available.
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