Hidden Canyon, Rediscovered: Andrew Colburn Opens the Gates to Chrysotile to Guests

“We absolutely loved our stay here! We were looking for somewhere beautiful and private to celebrate our anniversary and this exceeded our expectations. The tour at start was so informative and we were able to find and explore all the places Andrew talked about. We spent quite a bit of time in the Victory mine, found the underground waterfall, and hiked back to the swimming hole. He described the swimming hole as ‘fairytale’, and it truly was. We camped on the most beautiful site with amazing views of the canyon and towering bluffs. It was a full moon and the site of that moon rising over the bluffs was breathtaking. This is truly one of the most beautiful, untouched places we have ever been and we hope to be back again someday.” Michelle”

Register for give-away this Fall

Reprint from the Annual Guide to Globe-Miami 2025-2026, produced by Globe Miami Times. Available in print and online, it features over 100 full-color pages of what it means to live, work and play in Globe-Miami and the region. 

UPDATE: Since this was published in August, Colburn has finished work on the Superintendent’s House, which is now available on VRBO to host up to 10 guests in comfort.  Explore Ash Creek Canyon or old mine sites with a guide. We met up with him and his dad at the Gila County Fair where he talked about the property and recent improvements. He hopes to see this property become a destination in the region, and by the look of his reviews, he is on his way. 

He told us that during the fair, they handed out over 1000 flyers and ran a giveaway for a three-day, two-night stay at the property, with the use of a six-person side-by-side (a $3000+ value). 

We are thrilled to partner with Colburn to set up a drawing for our readers this fall for a second get-away-package to Ash Creek Canyon and the Chrysotile Mine Property.  It will include a two-night stay in the Superintendent’s Office for up to six people, plus the use of a six-person side-by-side both days. 

To register, send us a photo of you with an issue of Globe Miami Times - either via email or on our Facebook page.  

For decades, the remote canyon of Chrysotile—just north of Globe—was little more than a whisper among locals, its stone ruins and hidden beauty locked behind private gates. Now, thanks to Andy Colburn, owner of Wilds of Arizona, this lost chapter of Gila County’s history is open to the world and poised to become one of the region’s most compelling new destinations.

Colburn’s journey to Chrysotile began with a Craigslist ad for a stone cabin on a 10-acre parcel. Drawn by his love of masonry and Arizona’s rugged landscapes, he soon discovered he’d purchased not just a building, but a piece of the state’s living history: an abandoned mine’s 1907 manager and assistant manager’s house, built when Arizona was still a territory. Over the next few years, Colburn acquired the majority of the canyon—420 of its 640 acres—gaining control of the heart of the old mining city and its most significant structures.

“It’s very exciting because there aren’t many people who get to do something like this,” Colburn says. “It’s not just the fact that it’s a mine—it’s one of the most beautiful areas in the entire state. We’re on par with any natural wonder in Arizona.” 

For Colburn, opening Chrysotile to visitors is like reintroducing a forgotten wonder to the world—a place so little documented that only a handful of Globe families, whose ancestors worked the mines, even remember it. 

“Going to Chrysotile is like traveling back in time to the 1800s. It’s a place frozen in time. You can see what Arizona was like as a territory before it was settled and tamed.”

The exclusivity is real: Wilds of Arizona is the only company with access to the canyon’s historic core, and visitors on the Chrysotile tour are treated to a landscape unlike any other in Arizona. The adventure begins off US 60, where guests descend a dramatic quarter-mile drop into the canyon. 

“It’s a small, private Grand Canyon,” Colburn says, “with something for everyone.” 

History buffs will find stone buildings crafted by Roosevelt Dam masons, including a company store, jail, and the superintendent’s house, soon to be restored and available for overnight stays. Nature lovers can spot golden eagles, encounter wildlife that has never seen humans, and marvel at untouched plant life, including what may be the state’s only redwoods.

The canyon’s geology is equally spectacular: double waterfalls, creeks dropping a hundred feet, and mines that reveal underground lakes, white-and-gold stalactites, and artifacts left behind in the mine’s hurried closure. 

“Everything you find is more amazing than the last,” Colburn says.

Chrysotile’s reopening is more than a personal passion—it’s a boon for Globe and Gila County. 

“Chrysotile was a huge economic factor for Globe back then,” Colburn explains. “Everything produced here was shipped to Globe. Now, people coming to see Chrysotile will pass through Globe, supporting local businesses.” 

He believes the site will join the ranks of Arizona’s iconic destinations, drawing new visitors and boosting the local tourism economy.

For those seeking adventure, history, or a glimpse of Arizona as it once was, Colburn offers a simple invitation: “If you want to find one of the most interesting histories in the state, or see one of its most beautiful sites, come to Chrysotile. You can be one of the first to rediscover this natural wonder.” 

Tours run three to four hours and can be booked through Wilds of Arizona at: https://www.wildsofarizona.com.