Cordes

Arizona's ghost towns are sun-bleached and honest — copper, silver, and gold camps that lived fast and died the moment the ore did.

Cordes Lakes is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. The population was 2,058 at the 2000 census. The Agua Fria National Monument lies to the east and south of the community and Arcosanti is to the north. Cordes Junction, at the intersection of Arizona State Route 69 and I-17, is located within the CDP of Cordes Lakes.

The on-the-ground condition of Cordes is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Cordes is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Cordes is roughly 34.3128, -112.1200 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.