Join award-winning host and author Todd Newton as he navigates rugged mountain switchbacks to reach Arizona’s oldest continuously operating saloon. Deep in the Bradshaw Mountains at 6,000 feet elevation, the Crown King Saloon has been serving miners, locals, and adventurous travelers since the 1890s – making it a 110-year survivor of boom-and-bust mining cycles.

In this episode, Todd speaks with owner Lorrie Wyatt to uncover the incredible story of how entrepreneur Tom Anderson literally moved this two-story wooden establishment piece by piece from the ghost town of Oro Belle to Crown King in 1916. Discover how this former brothel and mining camp watering hole became the beating heart of a community that once boasted multiple saloons, Chinese restaurants, and a post office serving the lucrative Crowned King Mine.

From the legendary “Burro” John Revello who ran the original establishment in the 1890s to the mysterious ghost named Leatherbelly who allegedly haunts room number 7, this episode explores how authentic Western hospitality survived Arizona’s dangerous Apache territory days and Prohibition era. Learn why this mountain retreat attracts Phoenix locals fleeing 115-degree desert heat for craft beer, hearty burgers, and genuine frontier atmosphere you simply can’t manufacture.

What You’ll Discover:

• The wild story of “Murphy’s Impossible Railroad” that served the area from 1904-1926
• Why this 133-person mountain community represents the last of America’s authentic mining town culture
• Insider tips for navigating the challenging dirt road access (high-clearance vehicles recommended!)
• The role saloons played in Arizona’s 1800s frontier mining boom

Crown King Saloon, 7219 Main St, Crown King, AZ 86343

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