Canyon Diablo, ghost town in Coconino County, Arizona
Canyon Diablo is a ghost town in Coconino County, Arizona, that started as a railroad settlement while construction of a bridge across the deep canyon took years to complete. The site today consists of scattered stone foundations, remnants of structures, and original limestone supports from the old railroad trestle, later replaced by a steel arch.
Canyon Diablo began in 1880 as a labor camp for railroad construction while a bridge over the canyon took about ten years to build. After completion around 1890, most residents left, though a new train station built in 1886 brought temporary revival before the town eventually faded away.
The name Canyon Diablo comes from Lieutenant Amiel Whipple, who named the valley Devil's Canyon in 1853 during a survey because the narrow passage made crossing difficult. The settlement later adopted this name, and the place became known for its rough character and lawless reputation.
Access to Canyon Diablo is via a rough road north from the Two Guns Exit (Exit 230) on Interstate 40, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the highway. Vehicles with high ground clearance work best, but regular cars can navigate the route carefully.
Boot Hill cemetery holds the grave of Herman Wolf, a German trader who died peacefully in 1899, his marker standing as one of the few remaining traces of the town. His undisturbed rest contrasts sharply with the violent deaths that marked the place during its wild years.
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