It is easy to get to. Driving east from Tucson, stay on the I-10 for a few minutes past the New Mexico border and take the Steins off ramp. What remains of the town is on the north side of the freeway.
Unlike most ghost towns in the Southwest, Steins was not just a mining boom town gone bust. The area began to be settled by miners when gold, silver and copper were discovered in the Peloncillo Mountains around Doubtful Canyon a few miles north of town of Steins. Doubtful Canyon got its name from Anglo-Americans traveling west who entered the canyon because it was a shortcut, but knowing full well that it was doubtful they would come out the other end alive. (Those pesky Apaches again.) Read More
Steins Peak, Steins Pass, Steins Mountain, Steins Stage Station and the town of Steins were named for Major Enoch Steen (February 22, 1800 – January 22, 1880). Steen and his soldiers camped nearby in 1856 while exploring the territory recently acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.
Major Steen was an influential presence in Southern Arizona fighting Apaches, building forts, and when he could, negotiating peace agreements with the Aborigines.
The Ghost Town of Steins is in Steins Pass, an 11.5 mile drive to Doubtful Canyon but only about 8 miles as the crow flies. To the immediate northwest of Steins is Steins Mountain, not to be confused with Steins Peak several miles to the north.
Steins Pass Station near Steins Peak existed for stagecoaches traveling east-west. In 1857, the Birch Stage Line (aka Jackass Mail) traveled through Doubtful Canyon in the Peloncillo Mountains. Between 1858 and 1861, the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoaches took a similar route through Doubtful Pass near Steins Peak several miles north of what became the town of Steins.
In 1878, the Southern Pacific Railroad took a slightly more southerly route close to present-day Interstate 10 through Steins Pass. It was here in Steins Pass that the railroad build a station and in 1905, a post office was established. Now Steins had a population of about 100 hardy souls served by a mercantile, restaurant and a saloon.
At its zenith in 1919, the town of Steins and the surrounding area might have had 1,000 residents, a boarding house, two bordellos, a dance hall, several stores, three saloons, and a hotel.
The rock quarry closed in 1925, putting dozens of men out of work. The end of Steins was in sight. But it could hobble on so long as the railroad continued to deliver drinking water, even if water then sold for as much as $1.00 per barrel … far too precious for bathing.
This Steins Peak Station in Doubtful Canyon was overrun by Apaches in 1861. On May 4, 1864, soldiers of the California Column fought a skirmish with Apaches in Doubtful Canyon.
1861: Americans Learn The Price of Their Treachery
The Apache Wars involving the great Cochise started in 1861 with what became known as the Bascom Affair; a woeful tale of American treachery that so enraged Cochise that over the next 10 years of warfare, he and his followers probably killed 5,000 Americans and Mexicans between Pinos Altos, New Mexico and the presidios of Tucson and Tubac in Southern Arizona. Tubac was abandoned and Tucson was all but lost. Because of Apache depredations, the population of Tucson declined from 915 in 1860 to less than 200 hardy souls by the end of 1861. No Mexicans or White Eyes were safe from Cochise’s revenge.
Doubtful Canyon and Steins Peak were ground zero for Cochise’s rage. When 7 tough, well-armed pioneers passed through Doubtful Canyon, they were set upon by the combined forces of Cochise and his father-in-law Chief Mangas Coloradas. It took the Indians 3 days of hard fighting to kill all the Americans. Cochise later said, “They were the bravest men I ever knew or even heard of. If all of my band were equal in bravery I would undertake to whip the whole United States.” We are certain the deceased appreciated his sincere compliment.
In March, 1861, one of the last of the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoaches was attacked by Cochise and his warriors near Steins Peak. The driver and conductor were killed in the first volley. The Apaches followed the unguided mules for a mile and a half before the coach overturned. The Apaches quickly captured the three passengers and enjoyed several hours spent torturing them to death. In all likelihood, Geronimo participated; although usually the torture of Apache captives was left to the womenfolk. It was their specialty; something akin to housework.
The Town of Steins
The actual town of Steins was founded in 1880 as a fueling stop for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Steins had no natural source of water, so all water had to be brought in by train. In 1905 a rock-crushing plant was built to produce track ballast for the railroad.
The town of Steins was abandoned shortly after World War II. The Southern Pacific would no longer subsidize the delivery of drinking water, but the railroad did offer free transportation elsewhere to the inhabitants. Most of the residents took the offer, even though they were allowed only those possessions they could carry on board. In doing so, they left behind their houses and most of their possessions. The Post Office soon closed and Steins became a ghost town. In 1964, a fire consumed most of what was left of the town, but a few buildings survived.
In 1988, Larry and Linda Link purchased the property and began offering ghost town tours. Larry Link, then 69 years of age, was murdered there in 2011 by a person or persons unknown. The family was devastated. After the murder, tours ceased and Steins now has a fence around it so you cannot wander through the old buildings, get hurt, and sue for damages.
Note: since visiting Steins in May 2016, we made contact with the granddaughter of Larry & Linda Link and have made arrangements for a tour in June 2016. Stay tuned. You can find more information on Steins’ Tours and availability on Steins Facebook page here. The tours can only accept 8 people at a time, so check now if you are interested.
We did notice a couple of men at Steins doing some sort of work, but we did not speak with them. All of these photographs Ms. Karen took from outside the fence line.
Steins (pronounced Steens) is a New Mexico ghost town. It is located very near the Arizona – New Mexico border and its history is very much related to Southern Arizona’s past.
