15 Best Things to Do in Dewey-Humboldt (AZ)

Located in central Arizona between Prescott, Jerome and Camp Verde, Dewey-Humboldt only became a town in 2004, though its history goes back to the 1500s when Spanish explorers and missionaries scoured the land in search of gold, silver, and lost souls to convert to Christianity.

The towns of Dewey and Humboldt brought their distinct heritages in farming and mining together, in the hopes that this diversity and history would help them prosper.

With less than 6,000 residents at the time of the last census, most of the area’s attractions are outside the town’s limits, but the quaint and historic town is a great place to explore and hang your hat for a few days while enjoying all there is to do.

Below are 15 things to do in Dewey-Humboldt.

1. Peddler’s Pass Old Time Farmers Flea Market

Located on East Highway 69 in Prescott Valley, Peddler’s Pass Old Time Farmers Flea Market is the place to go in the Verde Valley for gently used housewares, tools, clothes, artwork and lots of other stuff.

Like most flea markets, you’ll have to invest some time if you want to find that rare gem, but that’s half the fun.

It’s open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and has some of the best fresh baked goods like cinnamon buns too.

The market is a great place to meet the locals, support the community, and find that priceless painting of the dogs playing poker you’ve been looking for.

2. Mortimer Family Farms

Located in Dewey, Mortimer Family Farms is an area favorite for family-friendly fun at the farm for all ages.

There’s a country store on site that has a great selection of fruit and vegetables, baked goods and Black Angus beef raised right on the farm.

With lots of seasonal activities, one of the most popular is the Pumpkin Festival and Corn Maze, which takes place in November on the farm’s 15-acre pumpkin patch.

The corn maze is fun for everyone and is especially spooky at night if you’re brave enough to give it a try.

Check out their website for their calendar of events.

3. Fain Park

Located on North 5th Street in nearby Prescott Valley, Fain Park is one of those great free places to visit if you’re looking to walk the dog, take a jog, or just relax and read a book.

There are rolling hills in the park and plenty of benches if you overdo it and need to take a load off.

The small lake, bridge and babbling waterfall are hotspots for local animals like ducks and hummingbirds. The park also sports old mining tools and a few machines – interesting bits of Arizona history that are becoming more and more scarce.

4. Visit Historic Mayer

During the Second World War, people of Japanese descent living in America were subject to internment, as there was the suspicion that some of them were aiding and supporting the Japanese war effort.

The Mayer Assembly Center was one such location, though it housed less than 70 families – and only temporarily.

Downtown Mayer still retains its old-west aura and was the filming site for a ‘90s television show that featured Beau and Lloyd Bridges.

There are three sites in town that are included on the National Register of Historic Places, of which the Mayer Red Brick Schoolhouse is the most popular.

5. Freedom Station Family Fun Center

Thanks to its elevated location in central Arizona, Dewey-Humboldt is spared much of the brutal heat that towns at lower elevations get.

Don’t be fooled though, in the summer it can get downright hot and have you scrambling to find a place to escape.

If laser tag, mini-golf and lots of other fun games and activities sound like your cup of tea, plan on stopping at the Freedom Station Family Fun Center for a few hours in the morning or afternoon.

There are activities for every age, so check out their website for hours of operation and prices.

6. Findlay Toyota Center

Sporting an event center that would make most large cities jealous, Prescott Valley is a regional home for events of all kinds that are popular with locals and visitors alike.

The nearly $40 million multi-use facility opened in 2006 and seats thousands of people for sporting events like hockey, soccer and arena football.

There aren’t many places where you can see a monster truck show one week and listen to a national renowned choir sing Christmas carols the next, but the Findlay Toyota Center is one such venue.

Check out their calendar to see what’ll be there when you’re in the area.

7. Watson Lake

Dewey-Humboldt and the surrounding towns are home to many lakes that are favorite hangouts of fisherman, photographers, outdoor enthusiasts, and even artists who come to capture the area’s natural beauty.

There’s a small parking fee to enter the lake, but its proximity to the majestic rock formations known as the Granite Dells and all the park has to offer will make it money well spent.

Camping sites are available if you’d like to spend the evening gazing at stars in the dark sky.

Showers are available too, which will come in handy after a day of swimming and hiking through the surrounding forests.

8. Phippen Museum

The Phippen Museum on Highway 89 in Prescott has been showcasing western art, history, and heritage since 1984.

The museum’s permanent exhibits include western-themed paintings, sculpture, drawings and jewelry, and interesting and historically significant art and artifacts from the area’s Native American people too.

Many of the museum’s pieces are rare or one-of-a-kind and were almost exclusively created by Arizona residents.

The museum is named after an Arizonan named George Phippen who was instrumental in the founding of the Cowboy Artists of America.

It’s open most days except for holidays, and admission is very reasonable considering all you’ll get to see.

9. Prescott Peavine National Recreation Trail

The Verde Valley is home to many large state and national parks that are full of natural splendor and plenty of trails.

The Prescott Peavine National Recreation Trail is one of the most popular and can be full of walkers at peak times, so if you’re not interested in crowds, try to go during the week or when the weather isn’t so good.

Depending on how far you’d like to go, trails going to nearby Watson Lake are accessible; some of them can be a bit confusing, so pick up a trail map at the visitor’s center before you head out.

10. Goldwater Lake

At over a mile above sea level, Goldwater Lake is surrounded by pine-forested mountains and was formed by a dam built on Bannon Creek – the lake’s main source of water.

The lake’s surface area is about 25 acres, and with an average depth of 10 feet, it’s home to many native and non-native sport fish like bass, catfish, and crappie.

Perhaps the most sought-after of all the lake’s fish is the Gila Trout, which was nearly extinct in decades past but has made a remarkable if slow, comeback.

If fishing isn’t your thing, consider a hike, picnic lunch, or a game of volleyball.

11. Yavapai County Courthouse Square

The historic square surrounding the Yavapai County Courthouse building is a bit of middle-America located in Central Arizona.

Full of historic buildings, businesses, government agencies and homes, the square is the town’s center for history, heritage and seasonal events – including a summer concert series, Fine Arts and Crafts Show, and an annual Christmas Light Parade, which draws people from all over the Verde Valley who come to see the town lit up in Christmas lights.

The square is a great place to take a stroll no matter what season you’ll be in town, so check out the county’s website to see what events will be in town when you are.

12. Sharlot Hall Museum

Located in nearby Prescott, the Sharlot Hall Museum was founded in 1928 to preserve the gubernatorial mansion and the history and heritage of the Verde Valley region in general.

The open-air museum sits on nearly four acres and has 11 buildings – including the Governor’s Mansion built in the 1860s, well before Arizona was even a state.

Several other buildings which weren’t originally on the site were painstakingly moved there over the years, including the Fort Misery log cabin, the Fremont House – former home to a territorial governor – and Bashford House, home of a prominent businessman from the 1800s.

13. Roll the Dice at Bucky’s & Yavapai Casinos

Even if you’re not a gambler, casinos are great places to escape the weather, do a bit of people-watching, and enjoy some great food.

Bucky’s and Yavapai Casinos in Prescott have lots going on all the time, and as is the trend with casinos these days, they now offer family-friendly activities in addition to their adults-only ones.

From live music and stand-up comedians to kid’s game rooms and world-class cuisine, there’s a little something for everyone, and you won’t need to spend a bundle to have a great time.

They’ve got a great hotel too if you’d like to make a day of it.

14. The Highlands Center for Natural History

The Highlands Center for Natural History is a special place that’s been established to preserve and promote all that makes the Central Arizona Highlands and Verde Valley unique and unforgettable.

With so much of Arizona experiencing a development boom that has lasted for decades, the Highlands Center is focused on instilling a reverence for the land in all those who visit.

Guided tours are available if you’d like to get professional insight into the wonders of the natural world, but if you’d rather do it on your own that’s okay too.

The center is full of helpful information so you’ll understand the exhibits you’re seeing.

15. The Smoki Museum

For the small towns that dot the Verde Valley, there’s a high concentration of amazing museums highlighting everything from the state’s natural history to its fascinating Native American cultures.

Located on North Arizona Avenue in Prescott, the Smoki Museum includes rare and unique items of Native American origin, including jewelry, baskets, pottery and ceremonial ornaments from Apache, Navajo, Pima, Yavapai and Tohono O’odham people who’ve called the state home for countless generations.

The museum also contains a 600-volume library and a collection of historic photographs and magazines from the decades in the early 20th century.

Admission is very affordable considering the scope of the museum.