Busy Time in Bisbee!

January 5^th and 6^th, 2015


After our mad dash across the country and our brush with bad weather, we were ready to just sit and chill for a few days. But, no! We decided to divert to Bisbee, Arizona in the mountainous southeastern part of the state. Our first winter out we flew through here trying to out run a snow storm, (we weren't successful), and I made Greg promise, as we drove past a funky, interesting looking town, that we would come back. This time we had good weather and after an interesting night in Douglas, Arizona at the local golf course/rv park/sportsbar/home to many geriatric men who were disappointed that I only stayed one night, we left for Bisbee.


We drove into town past the gaping pit of the Queen Mine, and landed in the Queen Mine RV Park, right on the rim of the mine. Granted, there was a tall chain link fence between us and the pit, but even so, it was impressive. It was a small park with nice facilities. We enjoyed the showers after our many nights at Flying J's! Arriving early enough to go out for lunch, we made the short walk over to Old Bisbee. Stopping at Santiago's we ordered the local brews from the Old Bisbee Brewing Company and Sonoran Mexican food. Excellent choices! Then we spent some time exploring the town.

The Queen Mine Pit with the RV park right on the edge

Our campsite backed up to the mine pit rim.

Our view

Looking across Bisbee at the pit

Local brew and tacos

Street Art on old building foundation

Bisbee is an old copper mining town that has found a new life as a funky, artsy, touristy town. The town is built on two sides of a canyon. Houses climb the steep hillsides from the narrow downtown. Most of the homes are from the heyday of the mining era and some have been redone, others look like they could take a tumble down the hill. There are a few steep streets ascending the hills, but most of the homes are linked by staircases. In October the Bisbee 1000 is held and people race up and down various sets of steps to make up 1000 steps.

One of the hillside cottages

Old Bisbee Brewing Company

We walked a bunch of the steps. They are labeled, and lead into all kinds of interesting places and past houses that are impossible to reach from the roads. A lot of the homes are painted in crazy colors, even the Victorian styled United Methodist Church was painted lemon yellow with lime green trim. The other colors that catch your eye are from the street art, a legitimate form of public expression in Bisbee. Downtown has art galleries, eateries, and old hotels. The streets and hills have street art and funky shacks, and beautifully restored houses. A really cool mix that makes for lots of surprises and interest.

Looking into the yard of a local house for sale. We were ready to buy! It even had a woodstove for Greg!

Garden Gate sculpture

Walking up a back alley

Another garden gate

Looking down into someone's courtyard garden

Street art in an old home foundation

Bisbee entertainment venue

After a reasonably quiet night on the rim, interrupted only by some traffic noise (the main highway runs through the canyon, too) and repercussions from the too spicy salsa at Santiago's, Greg decided to take the tour into the Queen Mine. I passed on it. Three problems; claustrophobia, worn out from previously mentioned repercussions, and a face plant the afternoon before on a Bisbee sidewalk. I stayed in the rig and nursed my wounds, while Greg took the small open train into the narrow, deep mine...He enjoyed his tour.

The miners wagon still used for underground mine tours

The entrance to some of the 2,400 miles of tunnels under Bisbee

Ore loading chute

The relief cart being offered for tourist's use

Learning about Mine operations

Simulated Fuses on a rock face ready to blast

Lunch time arrived and we carefully walked the sidewalks of Bisbee to the Cafe Cornucopia. We had an excellent vegetarian lunch, Greg had the green chili quiche, and since the waitress decided that my piece of spinach quiche was smaller than they usually serve, she offered us a free desert. Now, we don't usually get dessert, but free? We enjoyed their homemade chocolate truffle pie even more for being free!

Quiche and lentil soup

Downtown Bisbee

We spent the rest of the afternoon just wandering. Most of the shops are closed Tuesday and Wednesday this time of year, so we concentrated on climbing up and down stairs to explore. We found the “newer” part of town, which looks as old as Old Bisbee, but without the tourists, and finally late afternoon wound up on the patio of the Old Bisbee Brewing Company to try their beer and cool off. I tried the Salut de la Vie, which originated in France in 1880 when the grape harvest crashed and they experimented and began brewing a “beer” that tasted like sparkling wine. When the grape harvest came back, it was still so popular that the French government banned it and the recipe was destroyed. The brewery in Bisbee somehow figured out how to replicate it, and brew small batches. It was really tasty and refreshing. Would love to try it again someday.

Miners Memorial- called The Iron Man

Rolling Street Art

The brewery patio

Salut and stout

The brewery annex across the street

Seated next to us were Vick and Amanda and their dogs. Long time friends from grad school days, they were camped in the same RV park. Vick is fulltiming. Amanda was along for a trip. We had a great free ranging conversation and shared lots of RVing and boondocking tips. Vick travels in a Sprinter based rig similar to ours. The morning before we left found us touring each others rigs and Greg helping the otherwise very self-sufficient Vick figure out how to make her TV work. Then we drove west toward Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and they drove east. Here's hoping our paths cross again!