USA 250 Shirt →
Cf
Login
Arizona › Yavapai County › Prescott National Forest

Palace Station Cabin

Open

Palace Station is a day-use historic site only. The cabin interior is closed to the public; visitors may view the exterior, grounds, and cemetery. No overnight camping or cabin rental is available at this location.

Flash Flood Warning issued July 21 at 10:24PM MST until July 21 at 11:15PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

10:24 PM — 11:15 PM

At 1024 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms had ended over Pocket Fire scar but light rain continued. Earlier between 0.25 and 0.75 inches was estimated by radar. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding in and around the Pocket Fire scar. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around the Pocket Fire scar. Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Sedona, Slide Rock State Park, Edge of the World, East Pocket Lookout Tower, Fernow Cabin, Uptown Sedona, Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness and Indian Gardens. This includes the following highways... State Route 179 near mile marker 313. State Route 89A between mile markers 366 and 368...and between mile markers 374 and 382. This includes the following recreation areas and campgrounds... Manzanita Campground. This includes the following swimming holes... Slide Rock, Encinoso, Grasshopper Point and Midgely Bridge. This includes the following creeks, washes and rivers... Dry Creek, Oak Creek, Spring Creek and West Fork Oak Creek.

Flood Watch issued July 21 at 9:55PM MST until July 21 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

9:55 PM — 11:00 PM

The Flood Watch will expire for northern Arizona. The threat for widespread flash flooding has ended. However, a few heavy downpours will still be possible along and south of a line extending through Prescott and Cottonwood through 11:30 PM. Many roads across the area either have flooded low water crossing or ponding of water. Drive with caution. The flash flooding threat has ended. Therefore, the Flood Watch will expire at 11 PM MDT /10 PM MST/ this evening.

Prescott National Forest

Perkinsville Bridge Area Special Closure Order

The purpose this order is to protect public health and safety due to flash flood risk and sanitation issues and to protect natural resources from degradation.

About

Palace Station was built in 1874 by Alfred Spence in the Bradshaw Mountains as a vital stagecoach stop on the Senator Trail, located halfway between Prescott and the productive Peck Mine. The two-room structure with loft expanded in 1878 and served the Prescott & Phoenix Stage line, providing meals prepared by Mrs. Spence and watering for horses. The station operated until around 1910 when the Spence family abandoned it after failed attempts to sell the property. The U.S. Forest Service acquired Palace Station in 1963, and it remains a significant historic landmark. The cabin itself is closed to the public for interior access, but visitors can view the exterior and grounds. Adjacent to the cabin is a pioneer cemetery containing approximately fifteen graves, including that of Alfred Spence who died in 1908. During the 2022 Crooks Fire, which burned nearly 9,400 acres in the Prescott National Forest, firefighters wrapped the historic structure in heat-resistant foil and cleared surrounding vegetation to protect it. The cabin survived the fire. While there have been announcements about Palace Station potentially joining the Forest Service's "Rooms with a View" cabin rental program, it does not currently appear available for overnight reservations on Recreation.gov.

Directions

From Prescott, head south on Mount Vernon Avenue, which becomes Senator Highway (Forest Road 52). Continue approximately 17 miles south. The drive takes about one hour due to winding mountain road conditions. Two-wheel drive vehicles can manage in dry conditions, but four-wheel drive high-clearance vehicles are recommended. Roadside parking is available.

Nearby Campgrounds

Upper Wolf Creek Group 6.0mi Lower Wolf Creek Campground 6.1mi Groom Creek Horse Camp 6.4mi Groom Creek Schoolhouse 6.7mi Hilltop Campground 9.2mi Eagle Ridge Group Campground 9.3mi Indian Creek Campground 8.8mi Lynx Campground 9.8mi White Spar Campground 9.8mi

Amenities

Water No
Fires Allowed —
Toilets No
Dump Station No
Wifi No
Pets Allowed —
Showers No
Electric Hookups —
Water Hookups —
Sewer Hookups —
Camp Store No

Vehicle

Max RV Length —
Max Trailer Length —
Big Rig Friendly No
Pull Through Sites No

Contact

Phone +1 (928) 777-2200

Cell Service

AT&T None
Verizon None
T-Mobile None

Useful Links

Prescott National Forest
USFS Rooms with a View Cabin Rentals
American Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project - Palace Station

Community Posts

No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!