How to Find Johnny Ringo's Grave
- 1). Familiarize yourself with what Ringo's grave looks like. According to the Johnny Ringo History Page, Ringo was found dead at the base of a black oak tree in West Turkey Creek Canyon with a .45 caliber Colt in his hand and a gunshot wound in his right temple. He was buried a few feet from this spot. The large oak tree is still there. A white rock atop a pile of smaller white rocks marks the grave, which bears the inscription, "John Ringo July 13 1882." Behind the grave is a large rock structure with a state historical marker on it.
- 2). Plan your route. Ringo's grave is in the Chiricahua Mountains, which are part of the Coronado National Forest about 30 miles southeast of Willcox, Arizona. To get there from I-10/U.S. 191, exit at Haskell Avenue heading toward Willcox. Take Route 186 to the southeast (it only goes one way) until it becomes Route 181 (continue due south; do not go off on the eastern branch of Route 181). In approximately 12 miles, Route 181 will veer sharply to the west. Look to the right instead for a dirt road: Turkey Creek Road. Travel along this for 4 to 5 miles (it will turn into East Turkey Creek Road after approximately 3-4 miles).
- 3). Though it is a state historical landmark, Ringo's grave is on private property: the Sanders Ranch, off Wild Turkey Creek Road. It's inside a small, private park that's open to the public from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. There are no fees for entrance.
- 4). Park in the lot just south of the site along Turkey Creek Road You don't need one, but if you have a compass or navigational system (GPS or smartphone), the coordinates are N 31° 51.955 W 109° 25.133. Begin walking into the park. Find the grave approximately 100 yards from the Sanders' ranch house.
- 5). Look for the "Historic Site" designation, a large green plaque on a stone edifice (made of red rocks embedded in concrete) directly behind the white stone grave marker. It contains a brief biographical sketch of John Ringo inside a mapped outline of Arizona, with a notation on the bottom that it was dedicated by the Cochise Archaeological and Historical Society and the Arizona Historical Society.
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