Combining the Best Ghost Town and Mine Destinations into One Day Trip!

Start at Wickenburg, Prescott, or any Phoenix-area airport and head west, over isolated Alamo Lake and the Bill Williams River to the [1] Swansea Town Site, a remote ghost town at the base of a desert mountain range.

Take a self-guided tour among the ruins and read about how this town grew and then faded away to the ruins left behind. Flying M Air is the only helicopter charter company with a BLM permit to visit historic Swansea with passengers. Flying with us sure beats the three-hour drive from Wickenburg or four-hour drive from Phoenix!

The next stop is the famous Vulture Mine, founded by Henry Wickenburg in the 1860s. Now privately owned, this property features the ruins of the dozens of buildings that once made up Vulture City. Wander around the remains of this amazingly well-preserved ghost town and try to imagine thousands of people working in the hot desert sun to pull gold from the mine’s Glory Hole. Remember that it was this mine that led to the founding of Wickenburg and mining activity in the Wickenburg area that led to the founding of Phoenix all those years ago.

From there, we’ll overfly a number of nearby mining sites before heading back to our starting point. You’ll see more views of the desert that, like your trip, you’ll remember for a long, long time.

Trip Price (per flight for up to 3 people):
From Wickenburg: $895
From Prescott, Glendale, Phoenix (Deer Valley), or Scottsdale: $1,295
From Phoenix (Sky Harbor), Mesa, Chandler, Buckeye, or Avondale: $1,495

Trip Length: 4-6 hours; with 2-3 hours of flight time (depending on starting point). This is a full-day trip that departs between 9 AM and 10 AM and returns in the afternoon.

Price Includes: Flight as described above for up to three people, Swansea Townsite BLM use fee, Vulture Mine entry fee, snacks, and bottled water and Gatorade during the flights and on the ground.

Note: Be sure to wear good walking or hiking shoes. Bring a hat and sunscreen. Not recommended for people who have difficulty getting around; there is a lot of walking. This trip is only available October - May. Summer months are too hot!

[2] Download a PDF Info Sheet about this Day Trip