Cactus Flats – Arizona
Situated in a dusty valley nestled between the rugged peaks of the Sierra Madre Mountains in central Arizona, Cactus Flats is a town where the unforgiving desert stretches in every direction, broken only by the occasional mesa or dry riverbed. The sun beats down relentlessly during the day, and the nights are cool but never quite cold.
Cactus Flats is a town where survival, honor, and power all mix together in the sweltering heat of the Arizona desert. There are no easy answers and no simple lives here—just the hard, gritty reality of life in the Old West.
Wide dirt road running down the center of town, with wooden sidewalks lining both sides. The road is packed down from the constant passage of wagons, horses, and cattle, with thick clouds of dust rising in the dry air as each movement stirs it up.
Old wooden storefronts with weathered signs creaking in the wind. Their paint is faded by the intense sun, and the windows are often dirty, with a few boards nailed over cracks to keep out the desert sandstorms.
Town Culture:
- Ranching: Most of the people in Cactus Flats make their living off cattle ranching. The land is harsh, but the cattle bring in money for those who know how to handle the unforgiving terrain.
- Mining: Several mines are scattered around the outskirts of Cactus Flats. Though most of the gold and silver veins are nearly tapped out, a few ambitious prospectors still try their luck. The mines are dangerous, often collapsing without warning, leaving only a handful of men willing to risk their lives for a chance at fortune.
- Outlaws and Lawmen: A constant dance of cat-and-mouse exists in Cactus Flats. Outlaws passing through or hiding out, and the lawmen trying to keep them in check. But it’s the gray areas in-between that make Cactus Flats interesting—the men who skirt the line of legality but aren’t quite criminals.
Landscape:
- The Desert: Stretching beyond the town, the desert is a barren, sun-baked wasteland, full of cacti, dry riverbeds, and towering mesas. Occasional dust storms make life difficult for the townsfolk, but the town survives by being self-sufficient.
- The Sierra Madre Mountains: To the east, towering peaks are partially covered in snow during the winter. The mountains are home to dangerous wildlife, but also a hiding place for criminals and outlaws who need to lie low.