Smugglers’ Roost is located at the site of one of the infamous Clanton Gang “hideouts” situated along “Smuggler’s Trail”. Smugglers once crossed the area with mule trains of contraband brought up from Mexico to be traded for merchandise in Arizona.

During the late 1870s and early 1880s, smuggling and cattle rustling were big business along the US-Mexican border. Smuggler’s Trail provided smugglers, outlaws and bandits of the era with opportunity and safe haven for storing their contraband.

The Clantons, including Newman Haynes “Old Man” Clanton, his four sons, John Wesley, Phineas “Phin”, Joseph “Ike” Isaac, and William “Billy” Harrison, along with William “Curly Bill” Brocius and his gang, ruled the region and were said to be responsible for some of the most nefarious incidents that took place in the Wild West.

However, as any student of history knows, there’s typically more to the story and the “truth” often depends on who’s telling it and why? Most of the time the good guys weren’t all good and the bad guys weren’t all bad…

What we do know is that before Curly and the gang, the West was just a compass direction, not a destination! Thanks to their actions and the publicists who wrote the stories, true or false, the “Wild West” was born.

Now is the time to welcome all those with good intentions to come and help us to forge a new community upon this historic site, which will be built upon the cornerstones of exploration, creativity and trade.

Welcome to the Roost!