Lavender Pit

AZ 01-2024 Bisbee Arizona Copper Mines these are called the Lavendar Pits. Located in Bisbee, when I first saw thought it was another grand canyon but this was man created and very sad to see.Some people see beauty but I see destruction. To me it was all very sad!

The Lavender Pit is a former open pit copper mine that ran from 1950 to 1974. During that time, 86 million tons of ore was excavated (600,000 tons of it was copper). Turquoise was also found in this pit and is sold in Bisbee. The pit is 900 feet deep and has a toxic reddish blue water pool at the bottom. The Lavender Pit was named in honor of the general manager of Phelps Dodge Corporation Harrison M. Lavender (1890-1952). Phelps Dodge Corporation are the ones that opened the Lavender Pit in the 50's. You can view the Lavender Pit at a scenic stop on highway 80. It is a quick stop and there is plenty of places to park. There is information about the pit and a WW2 memorial at the scenic stop. For photos, there are a few large holes in the chain link fence that you can take pictures with your camera. It's worth a short visit to see the depths of the Lavender Pit and the colors that make up its steep walls.

This pit is right on highway 80 and hard to miss. It's definitely worth a quick stop. The depth of the pit and the variety of colors are amazing. There are some plaques which explain more about the history of mining and the use of open pit mines. There are small windows in the fence to get a clear view/photo of the pit. Interesting little stop with a good view and some history to be learned. Plenty of parking available as well.

If you are in Bisbee you should make a stop at this site to read about the lavender pit and take some pics.

We found this historic pit purely by accident. We were heading to find our lodging for the evening and as we were driving by, we decided to pull over to see what we could learn. While enjoying this birthday trip, I learned a lot about the great state of Arizona. One thing is that Arizona is known for mining copper. This pit is a former open pit copper mine right near the famous Copper Queen mine. It was opened in 1950 and they mined here till 1974. Turquoise was also found in this pit and is known as Bisbee Blue turquoise. This turquoise is famous and it is some of the finest known through out the world. The pit is 900 feet deep and apparently there is still some copper left that may be mined in the future. There was plenty of signage to review and learn from and I am glad we made the stop. Very interesting!

We were out and about with my parents, on our way to Old Town Bisbee. My dad - ever the tour guide - suggested stopping here, and because he was driving and we were captive, stop here we did.You get a sense of the size of the pit from the car, but getting out, the immensity of what was dug out and all that entailed is a bit staggering.They do a good job of sharing information on the history of the pit, the people involved, and the "why" behind it all. There are informational panels scattered around the ridge; we were able to view a handful of them before hopping back in to leave.It is worth a stop for the history and perspective if nothing else. The views are impressive and - if you take the time to ponder it all - the impact can either depress or impress your soul.

What a cool piece of history here along the main road in Bisbee. The last time I was in the area I didn't realize there was a turnout viewing area, but this time I had my lunch with me and needed a place to stop to eat it anyway. I had no idea what was down there so I'm glad I stopped to learn all about it. I had wondered why the town on the other side of the highway down the road looked like an old mining town - I can be a little dense sometimes! This place is worth a stop if you are in the area. So much of this area's history was built upon the copper mine's success in the early days when our country needed an abundance of copper. There is a fence between the visitor area and the big drop off beyond but there are several cutouts all along the path for you to take pictures from. Note that there are no restrooms here at the viewing area.

Traveling through, I didn't expect to see much after the random 'Copper Prince' mine shaft entry right off the side of Highway 80 a few miles prior. This is hard to miss! Basically a HUGE former mining pit, and World War II memorial. I'm not a fan of heights, so I didn't stay too long (or get too close to the fencing, even though it acts as a barricade, lol). But, this was very cool, and worth the stop to look & learn a little! The entirety is fenced w/ a paved walkway. Every few feet they've created cutouts in the fencing just large enough to adequately capture photos of the abandoned mining pit. (The Cooper Prince entrance off the side of the road a couple miles prior is totally closed off for good reason!) But the first thing you'll notice here, besides the gorgeous rock formations/color & strong sulphur smell is the DEEP sea blue color of the large pool of water at the base. It's absolutely stunning & no photos do it justice! Off to the right, there's also a couple of smaller pools- one bright Orange & another slightly opal in color. It's very apparently mineral rich. The roadside attraction/educational signs are quite faded & hard to read. But the World War II memorial is quite stunning in person. A beautiful tribute in a very beautiful area of scenic Arizona. It is definitely worth the stop to check out.

We heard about the pit so when we visited Bisbee we just had to stop. They have a very nice parking area where you can pull in and park safely and get out to view this monstrous hole in the ground. It is unbelievable how big this hole is. There are information boards under a small shelter where you can read all about what happened here and the impact the mining company had on the area. There are places in the fence where they cut out the fence fro you to take a clear picture. Just look, you can't miss them. There is a lot of history here so make sure you stop for a few minutes to see this.

Do not let the rant below prevent you from stopping here, it is a must-do when visiting Bisbee.That being said:Dear #CityofBisbee: for god's sake please lay down some new asphalt on the parking lot of this pit overlook. This is one of the most sought-after photo ops and views in this city, there is a constant turnover of vehicles in and out of this spot. The condition of the entry and exit from AZ-80 is unacceptable, as is the minefield of potholes and broken chunks of pavement. Resurface this goddamn thing already, save yourself a future lawsuit from an asshole like me who WILL slap you with one should I ever lose a tire in this bitch. You beautifully resurfaced #Warren I'm sure you have a few piles left to smooth out this turnout. Trust me it will NOT deter from your precious old-world charm. Thank you!Signed,A temporary resident who pays zero taxes here but spends a fortune at your businesses and appreciates your hospitality just the same.