La Casa del High Jinks

La Casa del High Jinks is a two-story stone house in Oracle, Pinal County, measuring approximately 51 by 31 feet (16 by 9 meters) with massive granite and concrete walls rising 30 feet (9 meters) high. The property sits within Coronado National Forest and serves visitors traveling the Arizona Trail.

Buffalo Bill Cody established the High Jinks Ranch in 1912 as a gold mining operation, but after his death, Lewis Claude Way purchased the property and constructed the house in 1928. The building emerged during an era when this forest area was shaped by mining activities.

The building displays traditional Pueblo design elements including massive stone walls, flat roofs, and projecting wooden vigas that shape its appearance. This construction style reflects local architectural traditions adapted to the forest setting.

The house functions as a rest stop for hikers using the Arizona Trail, but accessibility depends on road conditions that change seasonally. It is helpful to check current conditions and visitation guidelines before planning a visit.

The site served as a filming location for the 1924 motion picture The Mine with the Iron Door, based on Harold Bell Wright's story set in the Santa Catalina Mountains. This film connection links the house to early Hollywood history.