The Jail Tree

Looks good and well kept. Kinda hard to find a place to park to get to this on a busy day in town but worth seeing it.

Very unique site with a lot of history, definitely worth visiting and it is a quick visit. A must see in Wickenburg AZ

If you love random history stuff or adding off stuff to your roadtrip it’s worth pulling over for a few minutes to check out. Please don’t pull over in the street. Space is limited and roadway small. There is a parking lot behind the jail tree and walkway right to it. This tree (yes it’s real) sits right behind a circle k. There’s a statue of a man in a jail uniform chained to the tree. Beck when Wickenburg was first established there was no jail. So what’s the next best possible thing for those who chose to break the law? Chain you to a tree in the blazing sun and winter desert temps depending on time of year. This mesquite still stands to tell our future generations about the past and to remind you how much better conditions are now. Enjoy!

What a great find, alot of family fun. Make sure you push the button to hear a little history about the Jain Tree

Fun little stop to learn the history of the Jail Tree in Wickenburg. I had never heard of this being a way to keep prisoners but I guess it worked for the small town of Wickenburg a long time ago. No ticket needed, just a fun roadside attraction tucked behind the Circle K

I hit my head on the very tree that I am sure some old timey criminals also hit their heads on! Yay history! I bet the criminals would've loved to have a gas station right behind that tree back in the day. If only they could see it now, I bet they would have gotten a big gulp.

Interesting place to visit. Has a small green button next to the attraction to hear the whole story. This place is just located behind the Circle K gas ⛽️ ⛽️station. As of 07/2024, it's free, and you can stay as long as you like.👍

Thought there be more of a concentrated outlook on the world in the wild western days a little more info would’ve been nice. Great place to walk around the shops check out the scenery of the locals

When in Wickenburg, Arizona...you gotta see it. We were driving through and decided to check out the main area of the old town. There are murals and quite a few cafes & restaurants, shops, and museums to venture to. When I found this spot, there was a small parking lot right in front of the tree area. It is blocked off for traffic. It looks like a coffee vender has a food cart parked there. It was closed by the time we were there. There is parking close by. The tree looks like it's been there for a loooong time. It is interesting to see this man sitting on the ground, chained to the tree. There is a recording of the story and with a push of the button (it is working again) you can hear a tale. This stop has a Knotts Berry Farm feel to it. It's always fun to look for something new or unique. This stop is fun. It doesn't take long to check it out, & take a pic. When you take your next road trip and you find yourself in the area, Check it out!

Definitely have to be more of a history nerd like me to come check this out. If you don't know what you're looking for it's definitely east to miss. This tree (yes it's real) sits on a tiny lot behind a circle k. You can park if there's a spot to check it out. There is a statue of a man in jail uniform. Back when Wickenburg was first being established there was no jail. So what's the next best thing for a possible criminal pending his fate? Chain you to a tree in the hot sun duh. This mesquite tree still stands to tell it's tail. Located in historic downtown. Unfortunately the button you push to hear history of the tree is broken, but still interesting none the least.

Mood- Weird History As we were on a travel for oddities this was on the radar to check out. The tree itself has attracted so much tourism since the 1930's. Back in the day the attraction was just the tree and a safe along with the sign. Jail trees were commonly used to incarcerate a person by chaining that said person to a tree. These trees were used in the Arizona Territory and on the American Frontier in the 19th and 20th centuries. Jail trees were also used in Australia. Some of the trees are still around. In Wickenburg during the years 1863- 1890 the town didnt have a jail. So when offenders would commit crimes, they would be locked to this tree until an official from Phoenix would come and place them in custody. I am thinking Sheriff Joe used some history re: his outdoor tent camps. Just my opinion. An artist names Seward Johnson did a sculpture of a lifesize human on the platform. Complete with prison clothes and tattered socks. This was created in 2009. There is a speaker that is supposed to tell the tale if you press the button. On my day of visit the button didnt work. The grounds are in very good condition. There is a bench for you to sit should you decide. This tree is a 200 year old mesquite. Would def recommend - especially if you are into roadside attractions or even obscure history. Some say this tree was not used for this and this attraction was created for just that " Tourism Purposes" However from all of the research I have done, this is one of the oldest trees in Wickenburg, they didnt have a real jail, and the officials would come from Phoenix to collect offenders, and jail trees were notoriously used in Arizona. So I will leave this for you to decide. Location is Tegner/Wickenburg Way - parking is in the 7-11

In the Old West, with towns sprouting up all over, Wickenburg made due without a prison by chaining outlaws to the 100-year-old mesquite tree in the center of town. A hundred years later, the Jail Tree still stands as one of the city's biggest landmarks. Sandwiches have been named for it in the local cafes, and signs all around town direct visitors right to it. Today the tree has a statue of a downtrodden outlaw chained to a safe beside the tree. A green button beside him, beckoning you to push it, sets off a voice recording explaining the history of the tree. According to local legend, on a day when there were so many men restrained to the tree the authorities had to chain one to a large log and left them all there for hours, days even. Eventually the log-bound outlaw got fed up waiting to be tried, picked up his anchor, and headed into the nearest saloon with it. While jaded tourists might look on unimpressed, it's worth stopping by and checking out this off-beat piece of American history while stretching your legs during a long trip down the 60.

Weird Arizona stopping place in Wickenburg, AZ. This is a fun little place to stop and visit a piece of the old west. Some say it is real other say it is myth. You decide. No matter what it was interesting.

What a lovely little surprise to find just next door to an ice cream shop in Wickenburg, AZ. Not knowing much about the town at all, I appreciated this little hidden gem as it helped me learn more about the town and its rough Wild West history. If you're driving through the area, definitely stop through and check out this little square where prisoners used to be on display for punishment before they had an official jail in town.

A pretty cool piece of weird Arizona history. It's just a mile of two off the highway so if you are interested in history it's worth a stop if you are on your way to Vegas.

Easy parking, wakes down an alley. There was a homeless man with some younger looking kids hanging around. Felt okay.