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Go Backroading to Cleator and Crown King, Arizona

April 6, 2026 / Comments Off

Driving to Cleator, Arizona in an old truck is not for the faint of heart! I honestly wondered if we would get stuck a few times.

Also note, you’re going to be bouncing even going slow which I soon found out I wasn’t quite healed by the end of the day. Worth it!

Story, video, modeling by Cassie Hepler, Photos by Catfan

There’s a pirate ship in the middle of the desert! In this tiny town with eight residents of Cleator, Arizona formerly Turkey Creek or Turkey, it’s like a ghost town in Yavapai County, Arizona. It’s located in the Southwestern United States bordering Prescott as you continue to go north. The only way to get there is with a truck, motorcycles or ATV and it’s about an hour north of Phoenix to even begin your bumpy off-roading adventure. Explore the weird and wacky Cleator Bar & Yacht Club, your new favorite spot in the Bradshaw Mountains. Grab a Coke or a cold beer and become a yacht club member for some unforgettable fun. Join this crew for community-led off-road rides, live music, and enjoy the amazing experience of yachting in the desert! Just when I thought I’ve seen it all… Arizona continues to surprise me.

Welcome to the Cleator Bar and Yacht Club! This pun-ny place is located in the Bradshaw Mountains and only accessible by truck, motorcycles or ATV about an hour and a half north of Phoenix. It’s the most podunk, fun shack cobbled together into a bar with all the fixings outside to enjoy some beer or a Coke on a hot desert afternoon. We headed up for a day of exploring and this was just the first stop along the way as you can continue up into the mountains next to the Prescott border that leads to King Creek, Arizona. It’s an all day adventure to explore so keep that in mind! There is lodging at the top of the mountain but you have to be cool with the higher altitude. Photos by Catfan with model Cassie Hepler wearing a fitting Stetson hat, Dreamgirl dress and Ariat equestrian cowgirl boots. Yee-haw ya’ll, welcome to the Wild West!

Because the bar opens whenever, we went to the pirate ship first in Cleator, Arizona.

Complete with anchor, you cannot climb this ship as it’s all a desert facade at Cleator, Arizona.

Soon they opened which worked well for us with no one else around in Cleator, Arizona.

At this point in my journey of life, it’s yee-haw and fuck it all in Cleator, Arizona. At least I’m still smiling!

But first we played around on the porch at Cleator Bar & Yacht Club.

On the other side of the porch with the mountains behind us at Cleator Bar & Yacht Club.

An old fuel pump at Cleator Bar & Yacht Club right next to the entrance.

This sign is on the door however all we saw was a Mexican biker gang later that day so don’t worry at Cleator Bar & Yacht Club. This is still Arizona after all!

Inside the bar area, some ham and cheese for you at Cleator Bar & Yacht Club.

Don’t I know you sir? At the Cleator Bar & Yacht Club.

Further inside Cleator Bar & Yacht Club, some of the Wild West favorites and bathrooms are available for guests or for a tip in the ol’ jar.

Inside the back room at the Cleator Bar & Yacht Club all signs say go slow so we did. No beer, just Coke!

Stepping outside into the back yard at Cleator Bar & Yacht Club is a trip.

Not only is there a pirate ship but boats, jet skis, seating and more weirdness at Cleator Bar & Yacht Club.

Don’t forget Cleator General Store next door! Literally the only store you’ll find for miles has most of your basic necessities and ice cream when it’s blazing hot in the summer. Directly connected to Cleator Bar and Yacht Club next door, the lady that runs it is really friendly and so is her sweet doggo too. What was once James P. Cleator General Store, it’s a sign kind of hidden in the top back as you can see here. Hours vary because there’s only eight people in this town and they can do whatever they want in Cleator, Arizona. It’s a ghost town but add a little spice!

I was gifted this dress and never knew where to wear it, well this was it at Cleator General Store.

The old style white steps make the dress pop at Cleator General Store.

It’s fun to get cheeky sometimes at Cleator General Store.

A hat always comes in handy for rear end coverage at Cleator General Store.

And a classic pose before we head on out at Cleator General Store. Lucky for us it wasn’t open yet!

Up the mountains and into Prescott National Forest! Make sure to pack a poncho like this wool one from REI, it’s windy and cold up there. There’s also not guardrails at points so if you’re hauling ass, you might drive off a cliff like Thelma and Louise so take it easy on those windy forest lined roads. It’s really rad because in one direction it’s all desert and the other is all pine trees. The elevation gets you at points so plan accordingly and remember there’s lots of oxygen in water being H20 and all. Next stop, Crown King!

Along the drive you will encounter random bushes and trees with Christmas decor.

Playing with some balls on the Xmas tree!

Striking some dramatic desert poses in Prescott, Arizona.

I love this photo in Prescott, Arizona… wild and free!

Name this place between Cleator and Crown King, Arizona!

Sometimes horizontal just hits better especially for blogging.

The sun crept in just right in Prescott, Arizona for this photo.

Make sure you wear boots or sneakers for this hidden spot.

Before you get too close to the end, there’s a lot of rocks to maneuver around slowly and safely ya’ll! Back on the road we went high up into the elevation.

Blink and you’ll miss Crown King, Arizona! It’s literally a right off of rocky back roads into the tiny town. A sharp left up a hill, we stopped in for lunch at The Mill at Crown King and enjoyed a delicious brisket sandwich and burger with fresh cut fries and all the fixins’ like a pile of pickles at the buffet bar. The daily menu features fresh, scratch-made recipes combined with stunning outdoor seating surrounded by mountains and pine trees. Usually open on weekends or select days, don’t miss all the mining displays and artifacts throughout the property. Continuing on into the tiny mountain town is a saloon, general store, restaurant, boutique and some rustic cabin lodging for those that love higher altitudes. Learn more at visitcrownking.com. This is the place to go to disappear into the woods if you need some tree time!