Arizona is one of the most naturally beautiful states in the country. There’s the Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Park, and plenty more to see. Besides the natural beauty, there are museums, great places to eat, and some excellent universities.
You may already know those facts about Arizona, but did you know that Arizona is home to some spectacularly creepy haunted places? If you’re heading to the Grand Canyon State and want to experience everything from ghost towns, hauntings, and other paranormal activities, here are the 18 most haunted places in Arizona.
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1. Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff, AZ
Address: 100 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
If you love staying at haunted hotels, then the Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff is one you’ll want to consider. Not only is the Hotel Monte Vista a lodging place, but for over 90 years, it’s been a nightlight hot spot in the city.
In the 1930s the hotel served as a community-watch program. A light would flash to alert others if some sort of catastrophe happened.
Plenty of Hollywood celebrities stayed at the Hotel Monte Vista, including John Wayne. People say that John Wayne is the first person to discover that the hotel is haunted by several rather mischievous ghosts.
Some reported ghost sightings include a bellboy who knocks on guests’ doors at night.
People also report hearing and seeing two sex workers who were killed on the third floor. Its rumored that they love to haunt male patrons. If you’re a male staying at the hotel, you may be forced by these ghosts to relive the night someone killed them.
2: The Palace Restaurant and Saloon, Prescott, AZ
Address: 120 S Montezuma St, Prescott, AZ 86303
Before Phoenix was the capital of Arizona, Prescott was. The town still has much of the western charm from back in the day, and people say that one of the most haunted places in town is the Palace Restaurant and Saloon.
It was only a saloon decades ago, but they’ve started serving food more recently. The pub still features 1870s western decor, and it is a place you’ll want to see on your haunted tour of Arizona.
Many people were murdered in the saloon, and there were several fires. With so much tragedy, you may have a paranormal experience when you stop in for a beer or meal.
3: Vulture City Ghost Town, Wickenburg, AZ
Address: 36610 355th Ave, Wickenburg, AZ 85390
In Wickenburg, Arizona, about 65 miles northwest of Phoenix, is a very haunted area. This is the land of the Vulture City Ghost Town. During the Gold Rush, Arizona was popping with mines and people flocking there to get rich. This was one of those areas.
Specifically, the Vulture Gold Mine is said to be the most haunted area of this ghost town. With over 340,000 ounces of gold and other minerals, thieves and violence were present. When people caught thieves, the townspeople took them to the Hanging Tree, where they were executed.
The ghosts of the hanged thieves are known for haunting brave tourists who step too close to their graves. They’re known for haunting people near the old gold mine. If you head to the mine, the ghost of Jimmy Davis will greet you. He died in a freak accident. You can hear his cries at night.
4: Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction, AZ
Address: 6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119
You’ll find the Lost Dutchman State Park in the Sonoran Desert. The park is particularly haunted near the Superstition Mountains near the Lost Dutchman’s mine. The legend goes that there’s a hidden treasure within the mine, hence why people keep trying to explore the area.
More than a dozen people have lost their lives in pursuit of this fabled treasure. Many people say that the mine is guarded by spirits trying to prevent more people from entering. While this doesn’t stop all people, it does prevent some people from wandering in and getting lost.
5: Jerome Grand Hotel, Jerome, AZ
Address: 200 Hill St, Jerome, AZ 86331
What’s now a wonderful hotel in the small Arizona town of Jerome used to be the site of the main hospital in town. The Jerome Grand Hotel is one of the most popular places to stay while in town but also one of the most haunted in the entire state.
This was the hospital miners went to when they were injured at work. With so many miners in the area, it’s no wonder thousands of people died here. Nearly 9,000 people died on the grounds when it was a hospital.
Some people report seeing nurses, miners, and other ghosts. Knowing how many people passed here is enough for some people.
6: Orpheum Theater Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
Address: 203 W Adams St, Phoenix, AZ 85003
The Orpheum Theater is a popular destination in Phoenix and has been around since 1928. It still boasts a beautiful and vintage atmosphere and interior. Most people believe all older buildings have a ghost or two, but the staff here swear that there are.
The ghost that is most talked about is Maddie. Staff report seeing her hanging out on the balcony. Patrons who sit in this area report feeling nudges and hearing shushes throughout performances.
7: Yuma Territorial Prison, Yuma, AZ
Address: 220 Prison Hill Rd, Yuma, AZ 85364
One of the most brutal places to be in Arizona in the 1800s was Yuma Territorial Prison. The prison was outdoors, making it especially brutal in the Arizona heat. Many prisoners passed due to the heat, scorpions, and violence.
If they managed to survive the elements, some prisoners were sent to what is known as the Dark Room when they didn’t behave well. The prisoners were in complete darkness, and chains held them to the walls.
You can visit the prison today. Don’t be surprised if you hear chains rattling and snakes hissing when you visit. You can even step into the Dark Room if you dare.
8: Copper Queen Hotel, Bisbee, AZ
Address: 11 Howell Ave, Bisbee, AZ 85603
Bisbee is one of the most haunted towns in the state. It’s just north of the Mexico border and used to have a reputation for the most dangerous people passing through.
Some of the dangerous criminals who passed through the border got into gunfights or resorted other forms of violence, often killing those in their way.
One of the sites for bloodshed was the Copper Queen Hotel. You can still stay in it today, but if you do, be warned. You may hear gunshots that aren’t there and see apparitions floating down the halls.
9: London Bridge of Lake Havasu City, Lake Havasu, AZ
Address: 1340 McCulloch Blvd, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
Have you ever wondered what happened to the old London Bridge? It landed in Lake Havasu City as a landmark. Since making its way to Lake Havasu City, it’s become one of the most haunted places in Arizona.
When the bridge moved from London to Arizona, it brought the ghosts of British people who died from falling or jumping off the bridge. Residents report seeing ghostly figures walking across the bridge at night in Victorian Era clothing.
Some even report being chased by a dark spirit as they cross the bridge, specifically at night.
10. The Domes of Casa Grande, Casa Grande, AZ
Address: 8109-7467 S Thornton Rd, Casa Grande, AZ 85193
People flock to the Domes of Casa Grande because they believe it’s a UFO landing site. Actually, the buildings were built by a failed tech company, but the amount of activity there makes me a believer. Many people report experiencing paranormal happenings in the area.
There are four buildings made of concrete, with holes that make frightening howling sounds when you are nearby.
Besides being a UFO landing site, the domes have plenty of urban legends. Some say satanic rituals happen here, and there may be some truth to it. There are also murder victims that have been buried here. In fact, human remains have been found near the site more than once.
The Domes are also the burial ground for ancient ancestors of the Pueblo tribe called the Anasazi tribe. It is rumoured that a member of one of the nearby tribes cursed the area.
Electronics tend to stop working near the domes, and if you’re driving by, your radio may start making funny noises. Cars parked nearby also report being attacked by disembodied hands and hearing a rapping on their windows.
Next time you’re in Phoenix, take a quick trip south to experience the howling domes…
11. Florence Arizona State Prison, Florence, AZ
Address: 1305 E Butte Ave, Florence, AZ 85132
Prisons are already creepy places, but Florence Prison is incredibly scary. The prison opened in 1908 and has had a dark omen ever since.
The prison has operated for over a century, and many inmates have died here of natural causes and of suicide. But the darkest part of this prison is that there have been over 100 inmates executed. Inmates were executed by hanging, a trip to the gas chamber, or by lethal injection.
While executions likely cause a lot of the hauntings, there are more dark stories to this prison’s past. In June of 1973 two officers (aged 33 and 26) were killed during a cell-block riot. An inmate reportedly set a mattress on fire and when the officers tried to put out the fire, inmates stabbed them to death.
Both inmates and correctional officers have reported hearing strange sounds and even screams throughout the years. Plus, there have been some reports of “mists” that appear to look like human ghosts floating along the hallways and grounds.
The prison is shutting down in 2022, let’s hope some paranormal investigators can record some activity there, and maybe clear some innocent souls’ records.
12. Oliver House, Bisbee, AZ
Address: 26 Sowles Ave, Bisbee, AZ 85603
The Oliver House is a two-story bed and breakfast in Bisbee, Arizona. While nowadays, this bed and breakfast is charming and a great place to stay, it has a bloody history.
Oliver House opened in the early 1900s and has seen 26 deaths since it opened its doors to weary travelers.
Many of the murders that occurred at the Oliver House were due to fights between cheating couples. One of most infamous stories is of a police officer who shot his cheating wife and her lover in 1920. He then went on to murder dozens of other people who were innocently staying in the building.
You can pick which haunted room you’d like to experience: there is grandma room where an elderly woman awaits you, the room of the officer who shot his wife, and Room 13 – the last living room of a man named Nat who was shot clear in the head by a debtor.
People report hearing footsteps and gunshots during their stay. And even phantom party sounds coming from empty rooms. This hotel is sure to surprise!
13. The Birdcage Theater, Tombstone, AZ
Address: 535 E Allen St, Tombstone, AZ 85638
Tombstone used to be one of the rowdiest towns in the state, well before it was even a state. At the center of the rowdiness is The Birdcage Theater. There were barfights, shootings, and murder regularly at this establishment.
One of the most famous ghosts that haunt The Birdcage Theater is a sex worker who was murdered by another sex worker. The murderer carved the heart out of the victim’s chest using her high heels her high heels.
People who visit the theater report that the ghosts are just as lively as ghosts as they were alive. If you can visit, you’ll be in for a unique experience.
14. Casey Moore’s Oyster House, Tempe, AZ
Address: 850 S Ash Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281
Casey Moore’s Oyster House is a popular bar and restaurant for Arizona State University students for the great food and drinks, but it’s also famous for its resident ghosts.
The first reported death onsite was in 1929, one of the brothers who first lived in the house suffered a hemorrhage and died by the fireplace. His mother died just ten years later upstairs in her bedroom.
Since these two deaths the house has become a center of paranormal activity and disturbing stories.
The most famous ghost is a girl who lived upstairs in the 1910s. Her boyfriend strangled her in her room, which is now a dining room. People report seeing apparitions upstairs and throughout the restaurant.
15. St. Augustine Cathedral, Tucson, AZ
Address: 192 S Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
In 1858, this stunning cathedral only just two rooms. Today, it stands as a beautiful church in downtown Tucson. St. Augustine Cathedral is a wonderful place of worship, but it has a spooky side too.
When you visit the cathedral take a look around the courtyard for the “faceless nun” who roams around. I couldn’t f
16. The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Address: Tucson, Arizona 85721
One of the most sought-after universities in the west is The University of Arizona, but it’s also one of the most haunted places in the state. Even though the university is well-known for its science and research facilities, if you ask most people on campus, they’ve had or heard of ghostly encounters.
The University of Arizona has seen plenty of murders, suicides, western duels, and suspicious deaths throughout its life. These happenings have led to paranormal events and students and faculty seeing things they can’t explain.
The hauntings occur in eight of the buildings on campus, the most famous being the halls of Old Main. People say that the school has been haunted since the 1880s when someone stabbed a construction worker in the throat.
17. The Rosson House, Phoenix, AZ
Address: 113 N 6th St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
The Rosson House is one of the oldest houses in Arizona and it sits in Heritage Square in Phoenix. A doctor and politician built the home in 1895. Today the city owns the building and has kept most of the gorgeous Victorian-style homes original features.
The house has a few hauntings that visitors and workers report. The main one is the ghost of a caretaker of the house that was shot just outside of the home in the 1980s. Phoenix Ghost Tours report a shadowy figure walking up the front steps of the house and disappearing on a regular basis.
People experience warmer temperatures and report hearing footsteps throughout the house. Doors are known to open and close, and lock from the inside. This is certainly a spooky old house.
18. Cherry Cemetery, Cherry, AZ
Address: 11010 W Cherry Creek Rd, Cherry, Arizona 86327
Once a famous mining town, today Cherry is a small and very isolated town. Since its mining days most people have left town for other areas of the state.
The Cherry Cemetery, however, is a center of activity. There are several children and babies buried here in unmarked graves (the tombstone just says “baby”) that people say they can hear crying at odd hours of the night.
If you’re looking for a haunted cemetery in Arizona, Cherry Cemetery is a spooky one.
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