If you've just made the move to Arizona, or you're thinking about it, you probably expected sunshine, saguaros, and a lot of talk about the heat. What you might not expect is how many of our oldest buildings come with a ghost story attached.
Arizona's mining towns and boom-era hotels have more than a century of history behind them, and some of the guests apparently never checked out. Here are seven spots you can tour, grab a drink at, or even stay the night. Whether you believe the stories is up to you. We're just the messengers.
1. Hotel San Carlos, Phoenix
The Hotel San Carlos opened in downtown Phoenix in March 1928 and is still taking guests today. The most famous story is about Leone Jensen, a young woman who, according to legend, died at the hotel shortly after it opened. Guests say she still wanders the building.
The hotel also sits on the site of Phoenix's first schoolhouse, and some guests report hearing children when none are around.
2. Orpheum Theatre, Phoenix
The Orpheum opened in 1929, and staff have said at least four ghosts reside there. The best known is "Maddie," a little girl who hangs out in the balcony and is said to tap people on the shoulder or shush them during shows. Catch a show and see if she says hi.
3. Jerome Grand Hotel, Jerome
Before it was a hotel, this building on the hill above Jerome was the United Verde Hospital. It took its first patients in 1927 and closed in 1950, then sat mostly empty for decades before reopening as a hotel in 1996.
The hotel's favorite story involves "the Head Nurse," who was reportedly unhappy when the old dispensary desks were removed. Once the desks were found and put back, the hotel says she stopped complaining. Jerome itself is a former copper mining town about two hours north of Phoenix, and it's worth the drive even if you don't believe in ghosts.
4. Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff
The Monte Vista opened on New Year's Day 1927 in downtown Flagstaff, and it has a long list of ghost stories. Guests in Room 210 report a phantom bellboy who knocks and announces room service, with no one in the hall. In Room 305, staff say a rocking chair keeps ending up back by the window, no matter where they move it.
John Wayne reportedly said he met a friendly ghost during his stay in the 1950s. Not a bad review.
5. Bird Cage Theatre, Tombstone
The Bird Cage Theatre opened on December 26, 1881, and it was one of the rowdiest spots in a very rowdy town. The walls are still full of bullet holes from those days. It's reported to be haunted, and it was featured on the TV show Ghost Hunters in 2006.
Today it's a museum you can walk through, complete with Tombstone's old horse-drawn hearse.
6. Copper Queen Hotel, Bisbee
Built by the Phelps Dodge mining company and finished in 1902, the Copper Queen says it has at least three ghosts. There's Julia Lowell, whose story is tied to Room 315 (yes, you can book it), a young boy named Billy, and an older gentleman in a cape and top hat who never introduces himself.
7. Hotel Congress, Tucson
Hotel Congress has been a downtown Tucson landmark for more than 100 years, and it lists its haunted rooms right on its website. Guests in Room 242 have reported a woman in a long white dress. In Room 212, the door is said to lock and unlock on its own, and staff say they've seen it too.
Thinking about a move to Arizona? The history is part of the charm
Arizona gets a reputation for brand new everything, but there's real history here once you go looking. Phoenix has historic neighborhoods like Willo and Encanto-Palmcroft, and towns like Jerome, Bisbee, and Tombstone feel like stepping back a hundred years. Ghosts optional.
If you're planning your move, our Arizona relocation guide is a good place to start.