Yarnell

Yarnell is in Northern Arizona . It is in Yavapai County. The town is located on U.S. Highway 89, between the Weaver Mountains and below Antelope Peak. The landscape of the town is unique with house-sized boulders strewn about. It is approximately 80 miles northwest of Phoenix, 25 miles north of Wickenburg and 30 miles south of Prescott.

Overview:
Yarnell is an unincorporated town that has its roots in mining and ranching. Today Yarnell’s population is 1,315, which is a combined total with the town of Peeples Valley. The town sits at an elevation of 4,700 feet. The climate is mild all year round with a winter low temperature of 23 degrees and summer high temperature of 89 degrees. Yarnell is a perfect retirement community because of its low cost of living and mild climate. Recently, visitors have made the town their escape destination. There is a growing art, crafts and antique business. It is said that the town is “Where the Desert Breeze meets the Mountain Air.”

Community Features:
An amazing attraction nearby is the Shrine of Saint Joseph of the Mountains. It is located in the Weaver Mountains, about a half-mile west of Yarnell. This hillside shrine has a chapel, the Way of the Cross, replicas of the Garden of Gethsemane and the Last Supper. Felix Lucero sculpted all of the work out of reinforced concrete. The Catholic Action League of Arizona commissioned Lucero. The life-sized pieces are set among a tree-shaded area amidst the boulders. Visitors can take a trail through the statues or mediate in the beautiful park like setting.
You will want to stop and marvel at the sight below. There is a lookout point just west of Yarnell, before you begin your descent down to the Valley. Highway 89 travels four miles and drops 2,500 feet down the side of Table Top Mountain. The lookout point provides a panoramic view of the desert regions below. It is a view you won’t soon forget.

Events:
Yarnell Daze May

History:
The area around where Yarnell is today was covered with small mining claims. Then in 1889, Harrison Yarnell found gold near Antelope Peak. The town grew slowly and was eventually named after him. Yarnell continued to own and operate the Yarnell Mine through the 1890’s. The town’s post office was established in 1892. Then in the 1940’s, the mine was no longer profitable and was closed down.
Today, Yarnell enjoys its small town feel. The town continues to have mining and cattle ranching as its major sources of economic activity. The town has also become a haven for retirees and recently is a place where people escape from the summer heat. The town has a small commercial and service sector, which serves its residents and visitors.