The Oro Grande Mine is located in the Black Rock District of Yavapai County and features a couple of adits and a few shafts. It’s central shaft, which reached only 340 feet, connected with thousands of feet of development work. Development work on the mine began during the 1870s, but total production didn’t start until 1904. This production, which consisted of gold, silver, and copper, lasted till 1934.
Although not confirmed, sources point to George Upton as the site’s discoverer. Upton is locally known for his Neo-Colonial style house in Wickenburg, listed on the National Registrar of Historic Sites. Upton also owned the Gold King Mine and Upton Oil Co.
Located on the Oro Grande Mine’s patented property is a ruined and discarded home. Built in 1979 by the eccentric inventor LaMont, the home included an oversized two-car garage, multiple bedrooms, a sunken tub, and a custom-designed rock feature in the living room. From my observation, the property seems wholly abandoned.
You can find this crumbling shed near the abandoned home of the Oro Grande Mine Property. The construction material used for the shed suggests that it may have once served as the explosive storage magazine for the mine.
The Oro Grande Mine Property consists of 9 patented claims: Copper Head, May, Dutchman, Frenchman, Negro Ben, Colossal, Alma, Montana, and Oro Grande. You can access the property from Blue Tank Rd in Wickenburg, AZ. For more information about LaMont and the home check out this New Times article https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/the-wizard-of-wickenburg-6412656