Exploring Cottonwood, AZ: From Mule Trail to Charming Old Town | Verde Valley Part 2

Link to Part 1 -    • The Company Town Arizona Tried to Forget |...  

Welcome to Cottonwood, Arizona — a desert town with a history as rugged and independent as the land it grew from. This is Part 2 of my Verde Valley series, where I explore the towns of Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Jerome, and beyond.

Cottonwood began humbly in the late 1800s, with mule teams carving Main Street out of the brush. Unlike nearby Clarkdale, which was a carefully planned company town for smelter workers, Cottonwood became a haven for those who wanted freedom from corporate control. Its early years earned it a reputation as a Wild West outpost, full of saloons, small businesses, and independent families.

By the 1930s, Cottonwood absorbed the neighboring smelter town of Clemenceau, and despite economic hardships after the mines shut down, the community held strong. Today, Old Town Cottonwood is a vibrant hub of restaurants, shops, and wineries, while modern Cottonwood continues to grow as the Verde Valley’s commercial center.

In this video, I’ll show you both sides of the town: the contemporary Main Street where most locals live and shop, and the historic Old Town where Cottonwood’s story truly comes alive.

If you missed Part 1 of the series, I explored Clarkdale, Arizona — the company town built for smelter workers. Next up, I’ll take you inside the haunted Grand Hotel in Jerome and later walk through Jerome itself before wrapping the series with a bonus episode in Sedona.

00:00 Recap from Pt1
00:48 Drive Along Main St / History
01:39 Intro to Old Town / Merkin Vineyards / MJK
03:33 Exploring Old Town
06:36 Searching for the Verde River
10:20 Another Look at Old Town
11:52 Outro