The Lowdown Verdict: One of the best free overlooks in Jerome, with a genuinely dramatic extra — a glass platform over a 1,900-foot mine shaft. 15-minute stop, no facilities, no admission. It has been temporarily closed for restoration; confirm current status with the Jerome Historical Society before making the drive.
Audrey Headframe Park sits on Douglas Road, immediately adjacent to Jerome State Historic Park — not walking distance from Main Street, so plan on a short drive rather than a stroll. The park preserves one of Jerome's original above-ground mine headframes: the wooden tower, the largest wooden headframe still standing in Arizona, that guided the hoisting cable for the Audrey Shaft, sunk in 1918 by the United Verde Extension mining company. The Jerome Historical Society operates the site and built a glass platform that lets visitors stand directly over the 1,900-foot shaft. The whole visit runs about 15 minutes when the park is open. It's one of the best things in Jerome that costs nothing to see.
The Headframe
A headframe (also called a headstock or gallows frame) is the above-ground structure at the top of a mine shaft that supports the sheave wheel — the large pulley that guides the hoisting cable down into the earth. The Audrey headframe is original industrial equipment, not a replica. It's built of heavy timber — the largest wooden headframe still standing in Arizona — and still retains the industrial scale that defined Jerome's mining operations.
Most visitors to Jerome State Historic Park see photographs of headframes and the underground shaft network in the 3D mine model. The Audrey Headframe gives you the actual object — standing next to something that once lifted ore from hundreds of feet underground clarifies the scale of Jerome's industrial operation in a way that photographs don't.
The View
The viewing deck faces west and south, looking directly over the Verde Valley from Jerome's 5,000-foot vantage. On a clear day the panorama covers:
- Verde River corridor: The cottonwood canopy along the Verde River is visible as a green-gold ribbon cutting through the valley below — especially vivid in October and November.
- Sedona red rocks: The distinctive red formations around Sedona are visible to the southeast, roughly 25 miles out, on clear days.
- San Francisco Peaks: The highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet shows on the northern horizon on clear days — about 55 miles from Jerome. The snow cap is visible October through May most years.
- Clarkdale and Cottonwood: The towns of Clarkdale and Cottonwood in the valley below are visible; you can trace AZ-89A switchbacking down the hillside below Jerome.
Sunset timing: The park faces west-southwest. Summer sunsets occur 7:30–8 PM MST; winter 5:15–5:45 PM MST. Arrive 20–30 minutes early — the valley below illuminates before the sun actually sets. Clouds on the western horizon create the most dramatic colors.
Practical Information
Admission
Free
Posted hours — confirm before visiting
Location
Douglas Rd, Jerome AZ
Adjacent to Jerome State Historic Park
Not walking distance from Main St — short drive
Parking
Small on-site lot
Can fill on busy weekends
Time Budget
15 minutes typical
No facilities on-site
No shade at midday
No facilities: There are no restrooms, water fountains, or shade structures at the park. If you're visiting at midday in summer (June–August), the exposed hilltop can be uncomfortably hot. Early morning and sunset are both better temperature windows.
Confirm before you go: Audrey Headframe Park is operated by the Jerome Historical Society and has been temporarily closed for restoration. Check the Jerome Historical Society's site or call ahead before building your visit around it — the glass platform over the shaft is the whole reason to come, and it isn't accessible while the park is closed.
How It Fits Into Your Jerome Day
The Audrey Headframe Park works best as a standalone 15-minute add-on rather than a primary destination. A few natural pairings:
- Pairs with the State Park: Because the headframe park sits right next to Jerome State Historic Park, the natural sequence is to visit both in one stop rather than trying to walk between the headframe and downtown Main Street.
- Sunset finale: After dinner at the Haunted Hamburger or The Asylum, drive out to the headframe for the sunset before heading back down the switchbacks.
- Self-guided walk integration: The Jerome self-guided walking tour lists the headframe as stop 6 — plan on driving to it rather than walking, since it sits apart from the downtown Main Street route.