Keys Desert Queen Ranch

Keys Desert Queen Ranch is a historic property with multiple frame buildings, an adobe barn, a schoolhouse, a machine shed, and ore processing equipment. The various structures reflect how the owner separated residential areas, working spaces, and processing facilities across the landscape.

William F. Keys established this homestead in 1894 by taking over an abandoned mining site and turning it into a working farm. Over many years, the family relied on both mining and farming to keep the operation going.

The ranch structures show how early settlers blended farming and mining work to build a life in the desert landscape. You can see in the arrangement of buildings how residents organized their daily tasks around both activities.

Visiting the property requires joining a ranger-led tour, offered from October through May with advance reservations needed. Small group sizes mean spots fill up, so plan ahead if you want to see it.

The property contains a stamp mill and an arrastra, two machines used to crush and process ore in surprisingly effective ways. A small cemetery holds three of the Keys children, marking the hardships families faced living in this isolated desert location.

Location: San Bernardino County

Inception: 1894

Architects: William F. Keys

GPS coordinates: 34.04600,-116.16900

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:00