If tourists truly want to see Tombstone, you need to visit Ringo’s Grave, too. It’s a must-see.
A lonely place, dark and sullen under a giant five-stemmed blackjack oak. You might not believe in Old West lore, but you are heedful when you approach it.

It’s the place where John Ringo died. The tree where he supposedly shot himself in the head with his Colt .45, ending an apparently troubled life.

In front of the tree on the west side of Turkey Creek near the Chiricahua Mountain foothills is a body-length cairn with a scratch-worded epitaph:

“The remains of this noted gunman and outlaw lie here . . . A coroner’s jury reported the death to be suicide, and Ringo was buried on the spot. There were others who viewed the body and maintained that the July 13, 1882 death of Ringo was murder.”

Ringo the legend has had more extravagant claims about him than Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James and Buffalo Bill combined, writes author Jack Burrows in “John Ringo: The Gunfighter Who Never Was.”

There is a feeling he was “a coward and a backshooter,” Duhanich says. “But he did stand up to Doc Holliday.”

Area newspapers, including those in Tucson, bought the Ringo myth of him being a deadly gunslinger, but the closest he apparently came to killing anyone was when he got mad at a guy in a Safford bar who declined his offer of whiskey for a beer. Ringo shot him point-blank, but hit only his ear.

His judged suicide may be the most compelling story. He was cradled in the tree, the rifle placed carefully against it, boots hanging nearby on his saddle. And he was partially scalped.

One rumor was Wyatt Earp was after him. But the close range angle of the bullet to the right temple clearly indicated the wound was self-inflicted.

Find Hotel Wedding Venues in Pearce, AZ

Change your mind
Book hotels with free cancellation
Treat yourself
Sign in to save 10% or more on thousands of hotels
Sign in
Be picky
Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check availability on Pearce Hotel Wedding Venues

Tonight

Nov 29 - Nov 30

Tomorrow

Next weekend

In two weeks

Dec 12 - Dec 14

Top Pearce Hotel Wedding Venues

No exact matches found, but these alternatives could be just right

Recommended hotels in Pearce

Balcony

Tombstone Grand Hotel, a Baymont by Wyndham

Tombstone

United States

juanita

₩155,993 total

includes taxes & fees

Dec 2 - Dec 3

Property grounds

Landmark Lookout Lodge

Tombstone

United States

Ernest

₩112,000 total

includes taxes & fees

Dec 7 - Dec 8

Superior Room, 1 King Bed | Exterior

Inn History Tombstone

Tombstone

United States

JASIM

₩172,491 total

includes taxes & fees

Dec 1 - Dec 2

Front of property

Tirrito Farm

Willcox

United States

Enrique

₩316,591 total

includes taxes & fees

Dec 1 - Dec 2

Seasonal outdoor pool, open 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, pool umbrellas

Trail Rider's Inn

Tombstone

United States

Sharon

₩113,322 total

includes taxes & fees

Dec 1 - Dec 2

Room, 2 Queen Beds | 1 bedroom, blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Tombstone San Jose House

Tombstone

United States

John

₩142,484 total

includes taxes & fees

Dec 1 - Dec 2

View all properties

Top Pearce Hotel Reviews

Tombstone Grand Hotel, a Baymont by Wyndham

Tombstone Grand Hotel, a Baymont by Wyndham

10/10 Excellent

"rooms very nice and clean the personnel there are very professional and helpful"

Tombstone Monument Guest Ranch

Tombstone Monument Guest Ranch

10/10 Excellent

"This was a first time staying here and it was more than we can have expected. The staff is friendly and helpful. We did not make a reservation for dinner and they were able to add us and the steak was one of the best we have had. Coffee the next morning with great stories around a fire pit was really fun. Breakfast was great. I honestly can not say enough about Tombstone Monument Ranch. We did not ride horses this year, but can't wait to go back next year and take full advantage of the trail rides. "

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

488b6f62-5305-46b9-8d36-1deb98fb96e52fa52276-efe7-44eb-8c16-301ba03858ea