Exploring Arizona Abandoned Mines: Big Eye Mine

Exploring Arizona Abandoned Mines: Big Eye Mine

The Big Eye Mine and its cabin remain a very popular hiking and jeeping destination in the far reaches of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and its Castle Dome Mountains in Yuma County, Arizona. This particular video of my documentation and exploration of Arizona’s Big Eye Mine was originally filmed and posted in August of 2012. I am re-posting the same video again after making some minor edits for continuity and running time. This video highlights the well-maintained cabin, the many various artifacts in it, and provides some history behind the mine. I also explore and document the main Big Eye Mine tunnel as well as an upper level higher on the mountain. Enjoy this fascinating glimpse back into our mining history!

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50 Comments

  1. GoldProspecter on April 29, 2020 at 5:03 pm

    Nive video! Here is a video I made outside of Yuma Arizona in an abandoned gold mine:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qfhFs1Wgfg

  2. Chris Thornley on April 29, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    Beautiful desert scenery Frank. I love the stark, desolate beauty of the mountain and desert landscapes.

  3. Jackspedicey 69 on April 29, 2020 at 5:05 pm

    anybody from outlast2

  4. chill3n456 on April 29, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    Wtf. That abandoned cabin is in better condition than my apartment. How much for rent?

  5. J. D. on April 29, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    That last shot of the sun setting and the cactus was awesome. Worthy of a postcard.

  6. Andy & Amys Arizona Adventures on April 29, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    That’s cool,we will be going into the Gladiator Mine by Crown King Arizona coming up this Saturday.

  7. NickyViola on April 29, 2020 at 5:09 pm

    Don’t get down to Yuma County often. When you say it is a "very popular destination" does that mean there will be like a couple dozen hikers there if I go on a weekend, or what?

    Good video.

  8. Harry Hyde on April 29, 2020 at 5:10 pm

    I’m surprised that of all the videos I have watched of people exploring mines, I have yet to see any rattle snakes just inside the entrance to escape the heat. Have the videos been edited to exclude that?

  9. Amos Maclin on April 29, 2020 at 5:11 pm

    Cool

  10. Tthe survivalist on April 29, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    you can find an image of author Rogers and a bit of history

  11. Russ sales on April 29, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    I have to appreciate the respect you and your group take in not disturbing or the collecting of artifacts that so many do when exploring abandoned places. I also invite you to come to British Columbia Canada to explore the rich mining history that excists here.On a side note check out Forgotten British Columbia’s website and FB page (shameless plug)

  12. 🏴‍☠️Sarah Gold on April 29, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    Clean building. Silly, but love the desert 🌵 look. Here’s the silly part… love looking at the river rocks. End up with pockets full and can hardly walk. Low and a bit sketchy looking. Safety First. Ty

  13. JD on April 29, 2020 at 5:16 pm

    Considering the number of relic hunters and just plain vandals, the cabin is well preserved.

  14. Darzeck Rfl on April 29, 2020 at 5:17 pm

    Primer hispanohablante ? Buen vídeo.

  15. Kokopilau77 on April 29, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    You should check out the Lutz tunnel in the Huachucas. Not too big, but was fun to explore in the 90s.

  16. Cm Sisk on April 29, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    my the late owner Pest in peace,

  17. Victor PONCE on April 29, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    Yessir u guys are tops! I like those scenes of the cabin. Those orange chairs 😎 cool. I can imagine how hard those miners lives musta been. Lotta rock came out of those mines, no tractors K. Pick n shovel n sweat, K. Heh, heh alrite fellas y’all take care now. 🤠😀🐁🔦

  18. Spartanskiy's Channel on April 29, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    2 beds? An entire workforce slept in 2 beds?

  19. AAGR on April 29, 2020 at 5:19 pm

    #hantavirus

  20. Pete Robinson on April 29, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    I couldn’t believe how well preserved and clean that Miner’s cabin was. It seemed like they just left. All the artifacts were nicely arranged on shelves and tables. Most of the other cabins you have filmed are deteriorated and/or ravaged by vandals. Great video as always, Frank.

  21. Stephen Rader on April 29, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    I’m surprised that the cabin didn’t look that bad

  22. RJDCR on April 29, 2020 at 5:23 pm

    thanx Frank…..very kool vid…….History

  23. lee sherman on April 29, 2020 at 5:24 pm

    Model A Ford parts in the early section of vid.

  24. Beryl M. Wright on April 29, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    Amazing video

  25. Fox Racing on April 29, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    i live in yuma,az and have been to big eye mine hundreds of times… Good review… There is a mine in Salome, Az you should check out….Would be great to see your review on it

  26. xXMC84Xx on April 29, 2020 at 5:28 pm

    Hi I was wondering where you guys get the coordinates for some of these mines in Arizona or do you just know people who know where they are??

  27. john watkins on April 29, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    Have you ever explored any mines near road forks, nm? there are quite a few there.

  28. ThePsychonaut on April 29, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    Wow! did not expect the inside of tbose cabins to be so well preserved! It looks like it was painted last week, almost like time traveling.

  29. K Williamson on April 29, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    I am really enjoying watching this channel. Keep up the great work.

  30. Jumex 82 on April 29, 2020 at 5:30 pm

    We’re planning on going here in the fall. We have friends in Roll Az which is just south of the mine. I read on line you can pretty much drive up to the cabin if you have 4×4, but you mention that the road has been closed?!? How far of a hike is it from the end of the nearest Rd. to the cabin? Thank you!

  31. Anthony W Stanton on April 29, 2020 at 5:31 pm

    An excellent video sir! I am pleased to see the vandals haven’t destroyed another piece of history!

  32. Johny Paranormal on April 29, 2020 at 5:31 pm

    That was Awesome !

  33. Mike 1958 on April 29, 2020 at 5:32 pm

    What would happen if you were in a gold mine that was supposedly mined out. In the process of exploring you find a fresh vein of gold. Who’s property does it fall to, you, or the former owners or the BLM ? I find it hard to believe that the West has been completely mined out when you have mines like the Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah that have been in existence for over hundred plus year and no signs of ending. I understand there are place in the U.S. where silver and gold are still being mined. Granted some of these mines are digging hundreds of tons of ore just to get one, two or three bars of 24k gold bullion. Just curious?

  34. TekReviews on April 29, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    Good place to bring your metal detector maybe some gold nuggets laying around for the taking. It’s not uncommon in some places in Oregon to find them just on the surface of the ground.

  35. a&a AZ on April 29, 2020 at 5:39 pm

    Cool I take a artifact for a souvenir from there

  36. BoatyMcBoatFace • 45 years ago on April 29, 2020 at 5:42 pm

    I used to live in Yuma, the desert trails were always cool to walk around, the areas rich in mines.

  37. bdbeatle1 on April 29, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    Great, great video!!

  38. Jeffrey Olson on April 29, 2020 at 5:49 pm

    It’s funny I found this channel I used to do this back in the early 80s with a guy named Russ brought back a lot of memories

  39. Artilius Relax on April 29, 2020 at 5:51 pm

    Finaly found your channel again,  for weeks i could only find those UK kids doing some abandoned places stuf…. and that music on the back ground wugh…..

    but finaly i found you 😀

  40. Niklas on April 29, 2020 at 5:51 pm

    Now while in quarantine im binge watching your videos its so good 😀

  41. S.J.'s Adventures on April 29, 2020 at 5:52 pm

    It looks like someone is still taking care of that cabin.

  42. joet1994ify on April 29, 2020 at 5:53 pm

    Are there minerals

  43. Lisaa on April 29, 2020 at 5:54 pm

    Cabin is nice would be a great place and area to live.

  44. grandprismatic on April 29, 2020 at 5:54 pm

    On a re watching binge Frank…. thanks for the videos as per usual. Remember the *Right Hand Rule*
    cmcrescue.com
    ~B

  45. Vegas Cycling Freak on April 29, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    How would they get water in these remote and very arid areas?

  46. Lee Hilton on April 29, 2020 at 5:56 pm

    Do ya think any of these old mines would be worth tryin to reopen?

  47. David Lane on April 29, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    I was wondering do you get a sense about how dangerous a mine may be based on how the entry way looks?

  48. A Ww on April 29, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    Nice video.

  49. AZ IRONLUNGZ on April 29, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    Have you been to the Monte Cristo mine in Arizona ? Says there’s a 1500ft incline shaft and 3 miles of drift tunnels I hope to check it out soon !

  50. FAT LOLO on April 29, 2020 at 6:01 pm

    I was the one that placed the mailbox @ the cabin around 2012 , I walked in the mine with my Coleman lantern 228F

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