Scorpion Gulch, Stone ruins of trading post in South Mountain Park, Arizona
Scorpion Gulch is a stone trading post ruin in South Mountain Park near Phoenix with thick-walled rooms accessed through multiple doorways. The building once contained a store section and living quarters where the owner operated the business.
William Lunsford built this trading post in 1936 by hauling stones by hand, operating it as a business until 1966. The site later served as a bar during the 1970s before receiving historic preservation status in 1990.
The trading post served as a meeting point where local artisans could reach visitors to the park through the sale of handcrafted goods. The structure itself reflects how commerce once connected the surrounding communities with travelers passing through.
The ruins are located within South Mountain Park and are accessible to visitors during regular park hours. The site receives direct sun with minimal shelter, so visiting during cooler parts of the day is more comfortable.
The entire building was constructed by hand with the owner personally hauling every stone, a labor-intensive effort that shaped the business operations at this remote location. This hands-on construction remains visible today as a testament to early park development.
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