Arizona’s “Town Too Tough to Die” Is Still Crawling with Gunslingers, Ghosts, and Wild West Fun

Tombstone, Arizona

This place is a living testament to America’s Wild West era. Founded in 1879 during a silver mining boom, this historic town quickly became famous for its lawlessness, gunfights, and colorful characters like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Here are 11 great reasons why you should add Tombstone to your travel list.

Go Back in Time at the O.K. Corral

The O.K. Corral, located in Tombstone, is renowned for the historic gunfight that took place on October 26, 1881. The Earp brothers—Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan—and their friend Doc Holliday fought against the Clanton-McLaury gang.

Interestingly, the real gunfight didn’t happen in the O.K. Corral itself, but in a small lot near C.S. Fly’s photo studio, six doors down from the corral’s back entrance.

There’s a whole multimedia history show of the 30-second shootout narrated by Vincent Price alongside 100 fascinating photographs of the event. The place now has a museum with displays about the famous event and the people involved, including life-sized figures of the gunfighters in their exact spots during the shootout.

The place now has a museum with displays about the famous event and the people involved, including life-sized figures of the gunfighters in their exact spots during the shootout.

Check Out the Spooky Bird Cage Theatre

Step into the creepy world of the Bird Cage Theatre, which served as a bar, theater, and brothel from 1881 to 1889. Opened on December 24, 1881, this building is well-preserved and houses historic artifacts, including the poker table that had the longest-running game in Arizona Territory.

The theater still has over 140 bullet holes in its walls and ceilings, showing how wild it used to be. Many think this old building is one of the most haunted places in America, with at least 26 known ghosts. Visitors say they hear music, laughter, and the sound of dice being thrown when no one’s around.

Don’t miss the Black Moriah, an old hearse decorated with gold and silver, worth over two million dollars. Admission is $14, with discounts for military personnel and seniors. They even host ghost tours every evening.

Walk Through Boothill Graveyard

The famous Boothill Graveyard, where many of Tombstone’s early residents are buried, includes the three men killed in the O.K. Corral shootout: Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury, and Frank McLaury.

The graveyard is known for its funny headstones, like the famous (but maybe not true) “Here lies Lester Moore, Four slugs from a .44, No Les No more.”

Another important grave belongs to China Mary (Mrs. Ah Lum), an important person in Tombstone’s history who helped the community with her business smarts. Established in 1878, it is still open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Learn About History at the Tombstone Courthouse

Visit the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, a beautiful old two-story building from 1882. This former government building now serves as a museum, featuring displays about the town’s mining past, law enforcement, and daily life in the 1880s.

The museum has unique items, including a tax paper for running a brothel and invitations to a hanging. The courthouse’s restored gallows in the yard remind visitors of old-time justice. More on frontier history? Check out the displays on Geronimo and the O.K. Corral gunfight.

Join the Fun at Helldorado Days

Get into Tombstone’s frontier spirit during Helldorado Days, Arizona’s oldest Western celebration, held every third Friday, Saturday, and Sunday since 1929. This historic festival first started to mark Tombstone’s 50th birthday.

William M. “Billy” Breakenridge’s 1928 book, Helldorado, The True Story of Tombstone, gave the event its name. Watch real gunfight shows by local groups like the Tombstone Vigilantes, including the famous O.K. Corral shootout.

And while you’re at it, don’t miss the Sunday parade on Allen Street. The 2025 event is scheduled for October 17-19, featuring gunfight reenactments, street entertainment, and a colorful show of the town’s history with people dressed in old-time clothes.

Go on a Spooky Ghost Tour

Once larger than Los Angeles, Tombstone had saloons, gambling centers, and brothels. Conflicts between various factions of settlers often resulted in tragic outcomes. Ghost City Tours offers both family-friendly tours and an Adults Only Ghost Tour, visiting haunted places like the Bird Cage Theatre and the OK Corral.

You can also experience various ghost-hunting tools to look for paranormal activity. History experts who get their info from city records lead these tours.

Step inside Big Nose Kate’s Saloon, once frequented by famous figures like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Locals claim it’s now haunted by a miner named Swampy. Guides provide a mix of historical facts and spooky stories.

Buy Unique Western Souvenirs

Looking for Wild West souvenirs? Go shopping at Tombstone’s unique stores. The Silver Hills Trading Company on Allen Street has real cow skulls with big horns.

Stop by Arlene’s Gallery for authentic Indian jewelry and coin collectibles. Local favorites include Tombstone Art Gallery and Spirit of the West Ranch Olde Western Art & Gallery.

Here you can browse vintage collectible Pyrex, cast iron skillets, and whimsical yard art, each foretelling Tombstone’s past. And if you want to play dress-up, Ladies N’ Lace Apparels have Victorian-style clothing, with skirts, corsets, jewelry, and accessories that capture the elegance of the past.

Even the Branding Iron offers everything from leather goods to 1880s-style hats. Don’t miss the Boot Hill Gift Shop near the historic Boothill Graveyard. Visitors can pick up keepsakes, such as unique books, t-shirts, and postcards, all themed around the infamous graveyard.

Enjoy Old West Food

Treat yourself to Old West food at Tombstone’s historic bars and restaurants. Eat hearty steaks at the Crystal Palace Saloon, the oldest bar in Arizona, which has been a popular spot since the 1800s.

Fallen Angel Sweet Sin Parlor serves local fudge, cinnamon-glazed nuts, and saltwater taffy, perfect for your sweet tooth. For a taste of history, visit the Longhorn Restaurant, known as the oldest restaurant in Tombstone.

It used to be the Bucket of Blood Saloon and is famous for its big Western meals, including steaks, ribs, and burgers. For newer-style barbecue, try the tasty brisket sandwiches at Puny John’s BBQ, known for its homemade sauces.

But if you just wanna stock up on fresh produce, drop by Apache Market for frozen meats and snacks at this convenient stop.

See the Natural Beauty of Nearby Parks

Go beyond Tombstone’s historic streets to see the beautiful nature around it. Just 29 miles southeast, sits Kartchner Caverns State Park.

The park’s Big Room is a massive, 8-acre chamber filled with stunning stalactites, stalagmites, and rare formations. You may even spot the Cave Myotis Bat which roosts in these limestone caves.

San Pedro River Riparian National Conservation Area is a 37-mile-long conservation area that’s famous for birdwatching and is a migrant stopover for over 300 bird species, including the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Common Black Hawk.

History fans will like Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains, named after the famous Apache chief Cochise, about 30 miles northeast of Tombstone. This 2.5-mile hike weaves through impressive rock formations that once were a place of refuge during the Apache Wars in the 1860s.

See the World’s Biggest Rose Tree

Rose Tree Museum is home to the world’s biggest rose tree. The species (Lady Banksia Rose), planted in 1885 by the property’s original owner, J. S. “Buck” Coon, covers an impressive 8,000 square feet and holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest in the world.

It has been growing and spreading across the property for over 130 years. Every April, the tree blooms with lots of white flowers, making it a beautiful sight.

The museum also has old things and memories, such as antique furniture, old photographs, and relics from Tombstone’s Wild West days, including memorabilia from famous figures like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.

Take a Stagecoach Ride into the Sunset

This fun experience gives you a great way to finish your trip through Tombstone’s Wild West past, leaving you with memories that will last a long time.

Provided by Tombstone Stage Line, these fixed-up old coaches from the 1800s offer a special way to tour the town, with fun stories from knowledgeable drivers dressed in old-time clothes.

Feel the creak of the wooden wheels as you travel down Tombstone’s dirt streets, imagining the bumpy ride travelers would have endured in the 1880s passing famous spots like the O.K. Corral and the Bird Cage Theatre.

These coaches are carefully restored with wooden wheels, leather seats, and all the charm of the Old West. And the sounds of the horses’ hooves clopping on the dusty road add to the authenticity.