🚐 Road Tripping Parker, Arizona: Donkeys, Dams & Desert Discoveries

March 30, 2025

Welcome back, everyone! In our last adventure, we explored Lake Havasu—kayaking beneath the London Bridge and soaking in a Desert gem. This week, we’ve crossed state lines (and time zones!) to camp next to an Arizona must-see. We dusted off the RV tires, and landed in Parker, Arizona—where stunning river views, historic relics, and wild donkeys await.

🌅 From Lake Havasu to the Scenic Drives of Parker

As we peeled away from those iconic Arizona blue waters, we found ourselves drawn to the meandering Colorado River—lined with palm trees, red sandstone cliffs, and desert mountains. The contrast of lush riverbanks against the arid horizon felt like art in motion.

Located smack dab on the Arizona–California border, Parker is a boondocker’s dream for scenic camping and outdoor fun—especially for adventurous snowbirds seeking peaceful desert escapes.

🏕️ Boondocking Bliss: Finding Our Perfect Spot

Our current home is a sweet slice of BLM land in California, just five miles west of Parker. But don’t let state lines fool you—the real trick is time zones. We’ve spent the whole trip resetting our clocks and even our watches don’t know what’s up!

On the first evening, we found a spacious, picturesque spot—perfect for unwinding under open skies.

🚧 Time Jumps & Abandoned Mercantile Tales

We trekked eastward toward Parker Dam, and just outside town we stumbled across a haunting relic—the old Crossroads Mercantile Co..

Once a dusty Depression-era boomtown born from dam-building excitement, Crossroads peaked at 3,000 residents and ended quietly after the project wrapped up. Today, only one ramshackle building remains. Walk inside, close your eyes, and you could almost feel the lost stories—and possibly a lingering ghost or two.

🌊 Parker Dam: America’s Deepest Marvel

Next on our list: Parker Dam, a structural marvel hiding in plain sight along the Colorado River.

Although just 85 feet show above ground, an impressive 73% of its height (320 ft total) lies hidden beneath the riverbed—making it the deepest dam in the world, or so they claim! Built during the Great Depression, it used an astonishing 380,000 cubic yards of concrete.

Backbreaking labor from the ’30s now powers the pump system that fuels water to Southern California and generates hydroelectric energy. We toured the dam area, snapped our photos, and paid tribute to this monumental public works achievement.

💧RV Essentials: Water, Propane & Convenience

One of our favorite things about this area? Convenient utilities. We found a nearby facility offering water, propane fill-ups, and dump station access—great for boondockers like us wanting off-grid freedom with essential services.

When you’re parked far off the highway, these amenities feel like heaven.

🕵️‍♂️ Lost in Time: Wyatt Earp’s Desert Cottage

While waiting for our friends Steve and Diana to arrive, we followed a tip—Wyatt Earp’s old cottage—sneaking off on uncharted dirt roads into Vidal, CA. The GPS nearly lost us, but perseverance paid off.

This desert adobe was Wyatt Earp’s only permanent home—from 1925 to 1928—where he lived with his wife, Josephine. Aside from its historical significance, the cottage sits alone on a parcel surrounded by ghost-town stillness—only a plaque marks its presence. No tours—but plenty of mystique.

Nearby, we discovered an old cemetery, its weathered tombstones telling stories of early ranchers, miners, and forgotten frontier families. If you love dusty history, this stop is for you.

🛠️ Desert Night & a Flat Tire Surprise

On the way out of the cemetery, we clipped a bush that punctured our tire just as daylight was fading. Panic struck—but so did our can-do camper spirit! We patched the tire and realized we had enough daylight to hit one more stop…

🕊️ Poston Memorial Monument: Remembering Fellowship & Pain

Crossing back into Arizona, we made a beeline for the Poston Memorial Monument—an emotionally powerful site honoring the nearly 18,000 Japanese-Americans interned there during World War II.

Set on land ceded by the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), the monument features a 30-foot pillar surrounded by a circular sundial of twelve posts. Built in 1992 mostly by volunteers, the trees and plaques were donated during the internment period—a poignant, solemn tribute to a dark chapter in American history.

We visited at sunset and felt reverence in the still desert air.

🍁 Celebrating with Dusk Mexican Food

After the emotional weight of Poston, we finished the evening with a warm meal in Parker—perfect comfort food after a day of discoveries.

🎖️ Exploring Swansea Ghost Town

The next day dawned bright, and we piled Julius in the back for the ride to Swansea, an old copper mining town nearly swallowed by time.

Founded in the 1860s and booming in the early 1900s, Swansea once housed 500 workers and supported extensive smelting operations. By 1937, the mines shut down permanently. Today, the skeleton of the town—rock foundations, mine shafts, abandoned workers’ cabins—remains. Sadly, much of it was damaged by vandals, but enough stands for a remarkably ghostly ambiance.

🍔 Off-Road Eats: Nellie’s Saloon (The Desert Bar)

Steve and Diana finally rolled in—so they were able to join us at a day trip to Nellie’s Desert Bar, ironically called the Desert Bar but officially known as Nellie’s Saloon.

About 5 miles off-road, this seasonal gem opens Saturdays and Sundays (noon to sunset) from fall to spring. Bring cash, patience (they’re bustling busy!), and appetite—especially if you love garlic fries and cold drinks. It’s a full desert experience: metal sculptures, a chapel, vintage trucks, live music, rock scrambling, and desert views.

🎲 BlueWater Resort & CRIT Casino Corner

Back in Parker, we checked out BlueWater Resort & Casino, operated by the Colorado River Indian Tribes. This riverside casino offers plenty:

• Discounted food specials with a membership card

• RV parking: dry lot, riverfront, or full-hook-up sites

• On-site marina, pool, gym, live entertainment, and arcade

• Bonus: golf course rumored to be out there somewhere

We tried our luck with the $5 “free slot play” promotional credit—Mark came out even, Paula lost her few dollars. But the verdict: not big gamblers, but big on hospitality—friendly staff and solid service.

🔐 CRIT & Off-Road Adventure Zones

If you plan to ride on CRIT land or Arizona State Trust land, be sure to secure the proper permits:

• CRIT off-road registration & sticker from the tribal Fish & Game office

• AZ State Trust Land recreational permit to legally ride across state lands

No permit means big trouble—confiscation of your OHV is a serious risk from the tribe. Always do your research and prep before you ride.

🛠️ Next Week: RV Buying Blunders Revealed!

By the end of the day, we reconnected with Steve & Diana, caught up on news around the fire, and had a memorable sky moment—an unbelievable flare in the sky, like a burst of UFO light. Totally unplanned, totally breathtaking.

Before I forget: next week’s video is wild—we dive deep into what NOT to do when buying an RV. Trust us, this one’s filled with “oh no” moments that could save you thousands.

📌 Camp, Eat & Explore: A Parker Overnight Guide

Category	Pick
Boondocking	BLM land (CA) — 5 miles from Parker
Water & Propane	Town dump station + utility center
Historic Visits	Parker Dam, Wyatt Earp cottage, Swansea Ghost Town, Poston Memorial
Off-Road Fun	CRIT land, AZ Trust land trails (permit required)
Food & Drink	Desert Bar (Nellie’s Saloon), BlueWater Casino dining
RV Parking	Casino dry, riverfront, or full-hookup

🎯 Final Takeaway: Parker, Arizona is more than a desert town—it’s a crossroads of history, adventure, and hospitality. From engineering marvels and poignant memorials to off-road bars and ghost towns, this place has a million stories to tell—and we’re loving every one.

If you’re into RV life, boondocking, and historic Western tales—hit that Like button, Subscribe, and ring the bell 🔔 so you never miss our next adventure.

Until next time—Mark & Paula