Cleator, Arizona
The Cleator Bar & Yacht Club isn’t just a bar, it’s the soul of this little town. Cleator started back in the gold rush days of the 1860s, grew into a busy mining and railroad stop, and somehow managed to hang on through the ups and downs ever since. Through it all, the bar has been here, giving folks a place to grab a drink, share some laughs, and swap a few tall tales. These days, we’re still serving cold beer to anyone tough enough (or curious enough) to make the dusty trip out here. It’s old west Arizona at its best.
Timeline of Cleator and the Bar
1864 – Gold is discovered in the Bradshaw Mountains. A mining camp and stage stop form near Turkey Creek.
1869 – The first post office opens under the name Turkey Creek, but closes within a few months.
1901–1902 – Lev P. Nellis opens a general store and saloon to serve miners and railroad workers. The Prescott & Eastern Railroad reaches the settlement, known as Turkey Station.
1905 – James P. Cleator, a prospector from the Isle of Man, arrives and partners with Nellis in running the store and saloon.
1915 – The partnership dissolves. Nellis takes the cattle ranch, and James Cleator takes full ownership of the town and saloon.
1925 – The post office and town are officially renamed Cleator in James’s honor.
1932 – Mining slows, the railroad is removed, and the population drops to just a few dozen residents.
1949 – James Cleator puts the entire town up for sale—but no buyer steps forward.
1954 – The Cleator post office closes for good.
1959 – James dies. His son, Tom Cleator, inherits the town and bar.
1959–1996 – Tom keeps the heart of the community alive through the Cleator Bar, later nicknamed the Cleator Bar & Yacht Club—a landmark filled with rustic Western charm.
1996 – After Tom’s passing, the bar continues as the center of life in Cleator.
2000s–2010s – The town becomes a popular stop for off-roaders, bikers, and curious travelers looking for a true Old West experience.
2020 – Cleator is listed for sale for $1.25 million.
2022 – The town sells for $956,000.
2025 – The town welcomes new owners, bringing fresh energy and excitement. The Cleator Bar and Yacht Club is now proudly owned by Tina, Kyle, and Tina's family, carrying forward the community spirit with their own awesome touch.