SASCO is one of Arizona's most unique ghost towns — and one that most people drive right past on I-10. Unlike most other ghost towns around the state, Sasco wasn't a mining town. Rather, it was a smelting and milling town that processed ores from nearby mines, including the Silverbell Mine to the southwest and mines near Picacho Peak to the north.

SASCO is an acronym for the Southern Arizona Smelter Company, a company town built around a large smelter that served several mines. The site was chosen for its geographical advantages — positioned roughly halfway between the two major groups of mines, and not far from the Santa Cruz River to the east.

The Southern Arizona Smelting Company was formed on August 10, 1906 by Frank Morrell Murphy, head of the Development Company of America. Due to initial financial problems, work on the smelter didn't begin until the summer of 1907 and wasn't completed until February 1908. At its peak, the Sasco smelter employed 175 men and by 1910 had already processed 245,000 tons of copper ore. The town at its height was home to around 600 residents, with stores, saloons, a jail, a hotel, and even a powerhouse supplying electricity to the surrounding area.

The town's collapse came fast and hard. Financial trouble for Murphy and the DCA in 1911 led to bankruptcy and the smelter shutting down. ASARCO bought the operation in 1915 and briefly reopened Sasco, but the winter of 1918–1919 brought the Spanish Flu to the community, devastating it. Most of the graves in the Sasco Cemetery with plain concrete headstones represent victims of the pandemic. The post office closed September 15, 1919, and by the 1930s, most of the remaining buildings and the railroad were demolished.

The remains of several structures can still be visited today, including the Hotel Rockland, the Sasco Jail, and the smelter complex. The Hotel Rockland stands close to the main road — built of distinct volcanic stones, it's hard to miss. Stamp mill foundations and elevated railroad platforms are also visible. The Sasco Cemetery is located nearby but is on private property and closed to the public.

A note on access: Sasco Road from I-10 Exit 226 is paved for the first 3–4 miles, then turns to dirt along the old abandoned railroad grade. At mile 5.3 you'll reach the Santa Cruz River crossing — there is no bridge. Check conditions before you go, especially after monsoon rains. An alternate western approach via Avra Valley Road avoids the river crossing but requires more high-clearance driving.

Notes

• Area has been used for paintball; expect litter and graffiti in some areas

• Sasco Cemetery nearby — private property, closed to the public

• Do not remove any artifacts; site has historical significance

• Area is partially private property — stay on road and visible ruins

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