Keys Desert Queen Ranch
The home base for William F. Keys and his family, the Keys Desert Queen Ranch is today listed as a National Historic Register Site.
Plan Around Keys Desert Queen Ranch
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Keys Desert Queen Ranch Details
The home base for William F. Keys and his family, the Keys Desert Queen Ranch is today listed as a National Historic Register Site. After working as a ranch hand and a deputy sheriff in Mohave County, Arizona, Keys arrived in the area in 1910. He got to know local cattle rustler Jim McHaney, eventually taking over his properties after McHaney's death, expanding what became Desert Queen Ranch, named for the nearby Desert Queen Mine. A Ranger-guided tour of the ranch tells the story of the 60 years Bill and Frances Keys spent working the ranch and raising their children in this remote location. The ranch house, school house, store, and workshop remain; the orchard has been replanted; and the grounds hold cars, trucks, mining equipment and spare parts, which are all part of the Desert Queen Ranch story. Admission to the area is restricted to Ranger-guided tours, which are a half-mile in length and last 90 minutes. Group size is limited to 25 people. Tours cost $10 for visitors age 12 and up; $5 for children 6 to 11. Reservations to visit the ranch are required; visitors can call 760-367-5522 to book. Tickets may also be purchased prior to the day of the tour at the Joshua Tree and Oasis Visitor Centers.
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Nearby Parks Around Keys Desert Queen Ranch
Compare nearby parks around Keys Desert Queen Ranch when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Keys Desert Queen Ranch
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Keys Desert Queen Ranch while the map context is still fresh.
0.6 mi away
Cow Camp
Cattle rustlers used Cow Camp as a hiding place in the 1880s.
1.0 mi away
Willow Hole Trail
The Willow Hole Trail leads hikers into the Wonderland of Rocks, a labyrinth of washes and monzogranite rock formations.
1.6 mi away
Lost Horse Area
There are multiple climbing spots in the Lost Horse area of Joshua Tree National Park.
1.6 mi away
Quail Springs Picnic Area
In addition to picnic tables and restrooms, this picnic area is a popular climbing spot.
1.7 mi away
Barker Dam
Constructed by early cattlemen in 1900, Barker Dam was raised in 1949 by rancher William F. Keys.
