fairbank historic townsite

Fairbank was not a mining town, for a change: it was an important transportation center with a RR depot, a Mercantile, a School, cabins and several saloons and Entertainment houses. Mr. Fairbank was a grain broker from Chicago who helped organize the small RR lines in the area (late 1890's early 1900s), thus the name of the town. It was the closest Depot to Tombstone and thus, grew very fast. There were people living in Faribank until the mid-70s. It is now located on BLM land (since 1986), supposedly part of the San Pedro National Riparian area (separate review). Don't be misled, like I was: Fairbanks is only 16 mls away from San Pedro House, but there is no bird's flight road, you have to go all around to reach it. Type Fairbanks ghost town in Google Maps and it will take you there. There is a school house with a small museum, open only on Sat-Sun. There are several buildings standing, including a Post office (part of the Mercantile), the schoolhouse and several cabins (not safe to enter). It's quiet, no tourists, and if you get there with the right light, you can actually have some nice shots. The last visitor who had signed the Guestbook ahead of myself was five days earlier. I understand that there is a trail along the San Pedro River (about 3.5 mls round trip) but I did not go because it was sprinkling and I was afraid of some serious rain coming up.