Kentucky Camp

This townsite east of the Santa Ritas boomed to over 500 during the late 1870s

It wasn’t until 1902 that a glimmer of hope appeared. This year marked the incorporation of the Santa Rita Water & Mining Company (SRW&MC). The goal of this new found company was to introduce a new type of mining, hydraulic mining, to the district. Hydraulic mining consists of using high water pressure to operate pieces of mining equipment and clearing away large amounts of rocks. Mining engineer James Stetson had introduced the idea and was financially backed by George McAneny.

Two years later, in 1904, the current buildings at Kentucky Camp were built to serve as the headquarters for the Santa Rita Water & Mining Company. Initial tests claimed that they were “tearing up the ground with splendid result.” The system actually delivering the water consisted of a water system 8 ½ miles long. This brought water to the 3 “monitors”, or giant nozzles (one of which was newly added as a display at Kentucky Camp) which then shot the water 100 feet.

Tragedy struck in May of 1905 when James Stetson, the company engineer, fell from a third-story window at a hotel in Tucson. He died as a result signaling doom for the company. With Stetson dead, McAneny, the president of the company was no longer able to keep the business afloat financially. He later died in 1909.

With the water project and company now gone, Kentucky Camp and the aspirations of mining were abandoned. In 1910, the camp was sold for back taxes and became part of a 3,000 acre ranch owned by Tucson Attorney, Louis Hummel. Hummel used the buildings at Kentucky Camp as the headquarters for his ranching operation. It remained this until the 1960s. At this point, the Hummel’s left and Kentucky Camp was now abandoned.

In 1989, as part of a land swap, Kentucky Camp and the 3,000 surrounding acres were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. Preservation efforts began almost immediately and in 1991 and then improved in 1995 when the “Friends of Kentucky Camp” was established. “The Friends” have worked and continue working today preserving this National Historic place. They’ve been responsible for stabilizing and working on the five adobe buildings that remain today.

Kentucky Camp can be reached by taking State Route 83 south from I-10. Turn left onto Garner Canyon Road and follow the signs 5 miles off-road to the camp. You’ll have to park at the top of the hill and walk down to Kentucky Camp (an easy walk). If you’re interested, Kentucky Camp can be “rented” as part of the “Rooms with a View” program and you can stay the night there. There are several buildings to explore, a guest book, and several exhibits on mining and a history of the area. A caretaker did appear to live at least part time at the camp. Kentucky Camp truly is a fun and historic place that every ghost town enthusiast should visit!