SUPERIOR, AZ Nestled between Apache Leap Mountain and Picket Post Mountain, surrounded by the fascinating and beautiful Tonto National Forest, uncommon views are commonplace in Superior. Situated along the lines of three geophysical features, every direction is a rare treat. To the south are the valleys and plateaus of Central Arizona. To the west is the heart of the Sonoran desert. To the east is the gateway to the majestic mountain ranges. Superior truly has it all.
Superior was built upon a rich legend of silver mining. In 1875 the Silver King mine led to the development of the town of Pinal, a destination for hundreds of miners. Famous notorious visitors included Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. Both the Silver King and Pinal were abandoned in 1888 when the ore was depleted. In 1902 George Lobb, Sr., sold the Golden Eagle Group silver mine to Lake Superior and Arizona Mining Co. (LS&A). Lobb, a British native, remained in the area and laid out Superior’s town site, naming it after the LS&A. The Superior Post Office was established in December, 1902. Around the same time Harry Hiener started the weekly newspaper, The Superior Sun, which remains the area’s newspaper to this day.
In 1910, Montana-born William Boyce Thompson purchased the LS&A along with the Silver Queen mine, and created the Magma Copper Company. Later he also established the world-renowned Boyce Thompson Arboretum, a not-to-be-missed plant and bird sanctuary three miles west of town.
Superior out the back door. Responding to frustrations in getting the ore refined, Thompson built the Magma Arizona Railroad from Superior to Webster. Originally a narrow gauge and later a standard gauge railroad, it became the longest 100% steam common carrier in the United States.
Currently approximately 3200 souls call Superior home, and enjoy the fascinating legacy, diverse heritage, friendly people, moderate climate, breathtaking views, and rich cultural arts that define us as proud Superiorites.
Filmmakers love Superior, a cinematic treasure trove. Films made in Superior include How The West Was Won, The Prophecy, U-Turn, Eight Legged Freaks, Skinwalkers, The Gauntlet, Young Billy Young, The Fugitive, and Lost Bird.
There is a famous legend told about how Apache Leap mountain got its name. The versions vary, but the basics are that a band of Apaches, trapped by American soldiers at the top of the escarpment, jumped to their deaths to avoid capture. The widows of these warriors cried so much that the gods honored their sadness by creating Apache Tears, unique round black rocks that are only found in Superior. Folklore has it that carrying an Apache Tear will comfort sorrow, bring protection, and balance the emotions.
Rock climbers find rapelling paradise just east of the tunnel that marks the eastern boundary of town. Travelers stop at the turnout and stare in wonder at the “rock people” hoodoos of Devil’s Canyon. When the rains are good, the visual treats there include natural waterfalls. No matter what your pace, Superior rises to meet you. It is truly unforgettable.
