fairbank

In the late 1880s, Fairbank was quite a going concern as an important transportation and supply hub. It survived until the 1970s when the last store shut down and the last inhabitants moved away. Today, there is the restored school house, the last of the old store, and a couple of old houses to remind people that Fairbanks actually existed, but not much more. Only the ghosts, a few animals and one caretaker inhabit the property today. In a box near the entrance, one can find information about the old ghost town. If passing by, you might want to stop to give reverence to the memory of Fairbanks, but don't expect to see much else.

This little ghost town has it all. Fairbank was the closest rail stop to Tombstone (about 9 miles away). This proximity was the reason for both it's rise and eventual decline. Several historic buildings are still on site, hiking trails, and in season, it is a birder's paradise combine to make it worth a visit. Fairbank is part of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. Access to the townsite is available year-round. Parking is available from dawn to dusk. Seasonally, and subject to change, the Schoolhouse Museum is open Friday through Sunday from 9:30 to 4:30. Admission is free. We were in Fairbank mid-week so we are unable to comment on the museum. It doesn't take long to visit the six remaining buildings. We set out on an easy hike along the Fairbank loop trail which will take you to the river and up the hill to the Fairbank cemetery. Early February was not the best time for bird watching. Birds that go south were apparently still basking in the sun elsewhere. But it was a great day for a walk and a couple hours raced by. There are restrooms available on site. As a matter of fact, someone had decorated the pit toilet with hearts and flowers for Valentine's Day. Between the BLM and the Friends of the San Pedro River, Inc., the townsite is well maintained and definitely worth a visit. We plan to return when the museum is open.

I really like this little "ghost town." Because there's a shop and a docent, it's not as "ghost town like" as several others in the area, but if you're going do the 3.7 mile loop trail, it's nice to have a cold soda at the schoolhouse when you get back. The hiking trails are flat and it makes a nice, short morning hike. I went solo in early November and when hiking up to get to the top of the Stamp Hill found a Western Diamondback. Really, my dog found it. I pulled the dog back (pets must and should be leashed out here) and all was okay but my heart was going crazy! Be aware this is desert country; full of desert critters. I like it out here as it's never too busy and makes a good short trail run or hike with the pups. Just be careful.

Friday, Saturdays and Sundays finds the restored schoolhouse open with its museum and excellent bookstore. There is a walk to the cemetary which is worth doing. Excellent view with unrestored grave sites which add poignancy.

There was no ranger available to answer questions, the only building you could go in was an outhouse. The buildings are not marked as to what they are. The graveyard is a mile walk and there are only three marked graves. Very disappointed

There's not much left of this town, but it's an interesting stop if you're in the area. The old schoolhouse now serves as a visitor's center with pictures and information about the way the town used to be. A short walk on one of the trails will take you to one of the old railway stops, another will take you to the cemetery. Longer hikes will take you up and down the San Pedro Riparian area - lots of nature, birds and deer.

We stopped here on our way from Bisbee to Kartchner Caverns. There is a nice trail here that goes in several directions. We sort of wandered around, then ended up at the Fairbank townsite. There are quite a few buildings remaining. They were all closed when we visited, but still interesting. We also walked down to the river. If we had had more time, and were more prepared, we would have done a lot more exploring. We had been to the San Pedro Riparian Area - San Pedro house location earlier, and this was an opportunity to see more of the riparian area - something pretty rare in this part of Arizona. Definitely worth another visit.

I love the opportunity to walk through old townsites, abandoned homes etc. Having a few of these in one area is great. Knowing that there is an attempt to preserve this area is great. Was this place once a campground? Why are there water hookups throughout the town? The walk to the cemetery was beautiful, but the condition of the cemetery was disappointing, are there any historical documents showing who is buried where? The walk to the river was nice as you could see the remains of the railroad bed and what appears to be a loading deck. I would have loved to do the entire look and visit the remains of the mill nearby, but due to heat and time constraints we were unable to do this on this trip. Donate, Donate, Donate, they do not charge to visit, but if you are visiting be sure you pay them what you would if they did charge.

Nice visit. Deer cruising by. Lots of birds. Old Ghost Town still in good repair. Interesting stop. We are glad we stopped.

Fairbank is a ghost town. It was cool to see how things used to be. But, for me, the real attraction is the birding opportunities as it is next to the San Pedro Riparian area. Gray Hawks are common here.

Walk through the Ghost town and be brought back through time. Fairbank was a railroad supply point and stage terminal. The town had about 100 people and a Wells Fargo office, store, restaurant, meat market, saloon, and a mill. Fairbank is actually about 10 miles from Tombstone and was a satellite community to Tombstone who came about due to the construction of New Mexico & Arizona Railroad. This short line were connection between Southern Pacific track in Benson and border town Nogales. There is a maintained old schoolhouse that you can walk through and the kids can get the feel of what it was like to go to a school in the old west. Several well maintained trail to hike and explore by foot or horseback. One trail will take you to the towns old cemetery that is in surprisingly fair condition for not being maintained. So much history came through this small town with many shootouts and At the time of the gunfight near the OK Corral, Fairbank was the railroad rail-head nearest to Tombstone. Following Virgil's ambushing and Morgan Earp's murder in early 1882, it was at Fairbank's train depot that the Earp clan boarded the train with Morgan's body for the trip to California via Tucson. If visiting Tombstone make Fairbank a definite stop on your trip !!!!

Occupied continuously from 1881 to 1973 Fairbank now truly qualifies as a ghost town. Some of the original buildings exist plus an adobe school that replaced an earlier one that burned down.Not much Is left from the days when it was a busy center of ranching, railroads and commerce. The highest population was during the 1910s when the number was 200.A quaont gift shop and visitor center located in the old school Is the liveliest płace in town.

Love this history. Worth the walk to the cemetery and old mine sites. Great selection in the gift store. Easy access - right off the main road.

Out of Tucson took 10 East, then 90 south, then 82 east on the way to Tombstone. If you do this like we did you will pass Fairbank on your left. Don't speed or you could pass it. Once there we found the schoolhouse was nice and there was a helpful (and interesting/a little different) employee working there. Beyond the schoolhouse almost the entire town is gone. Unless you ask it is not obvious where the rail lines were or what the layout of the town really was. It is nice that Fairbank is not a mini-Tombstone as nothing similar is needed. We would have walked around more if it is was not 48 outside with wind and rain showers. Some of the other buildings were also closed off, which was disappointing.

This is outside of Tombstone.The name is the Fairbank Schoolhouse, but the reality of the situation is that this is a true Ghost Town from 1881 era when places like Tombstone were brimming with miners and 'gold diggers' of all types.Fairbank was named after Nathanial Kellogg Fairbank a 'money man' who helped found the Grand Central Mining Company and also helped fund the railroads at Fairbank.Fairbank, along the bank of the San Pedro River was the crossing point for regional railroads (New Mexico and Arizona Railroad, and the Arizona and Southwestern Railroads.When driving south of I-10 you can drive all the way to the Mexican border without fear of being stopped by U.S.A. Border Patrol checkpoints, but when returning, i.e., driving north you will be stopped at checkpoints. The route above has a checkpoint at the intersection of AZ-80 and AZ-82, and another a mile or two above the intersection of AZ-82 and AZ-90 on AZ-90. Thus, if you are 'smoking' funny things then air out the vehicle; or your appearance is not that of a U.S.A. citizen, then have the proper credentials.