Located along old Route 66, Oatman is a true Arizona ghost town. Though it closed its doors to guests more than four decades ago, the remains of the International Hotel of Ponce have endured, becoming something of a beloved symbol on the island. The hotel played host to many celebrity guests in its heyday, including Marilyn Monroe, Mae West, and Clark Gable. A post shared by Townsend James (@tjbetrippin), 8109-7467 S Thornton Rd, Casa Grande, AZ 85193. The project has been shut down for almost 30. What the sign doesn't state is that the AC hasn't conditioned any air since Reagan was in office and the pool is about as appealing as the one from Poltergeist. Kids are welcome, and families can take part in a blacksmithing demonstration or try their hand at gold and gem panning.Stay:Gold King Mine may not be haunted, but ghost seekers can take their chances with a night at the Jerome Grand Hotel, just 45 minutes west of Sedona. Crown King 3. Only a few years later, its concrete bunkhouses became an opulent place to schmooze investors. The more believable story was that he was found shortly after death and preserved in a high level of arsenic. There is reportedly the ghost of a little girl who likes to play pranks on unsuspecting visitors, poking and pinching them with her icy cold fingers. Need ideas? Others say they have felt his presence or are being watched, while others describe hearing faint crying and moaning. Yet others have taken on new life, drawing artists and free spirits who embrace their town's haunted past and welcome outsiders in search of spooky tales and Old West lore.In a state full of ghost towns, you have your pick from the famous (Bisbee) to the infamous (Tombstone). OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Ghost towns in Arizona consist of abandoned buildings and homes that hide in plain sight within the dry deserts and plateau of the old Wild West. Palace Restaurant & Saloon, Prescott 4. David's fondness for science fiction and Lovecraftian short stories is rivaled only by his love for and knowledge in craft coffee. Info? Arizona's 19th-century mining boom gave rise to several towns that bustled with near-instantaneous commerce (and, in some cases, debauchery), but whose rapid growth ended abruptly when precious metals were depleted or sheer bad luck caused residents to move on.Today, many of these outposts are little more than abandoned buildings. The four-story concrete dome was intended as an offbeat hotel, but failed to comply with local building codes during its construction in the 1970s. The Gold King Mine and Ghost Town is a time capsule, of sorts -- home to many of the original buildings and equipment from the town's 1000 Perkinsville Rd. He has never been seen, but is frequently heard! Pocasset's abandoned "Picture Lake M TEL" offers everything vacationers to Cape Cod could desire including air conditioned rooms and a swimming pool. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Some also claim to have seen an apparition of the little girl outside the house in question, and she is always scared and attempting to run away. 26 Bar Ranch (John Wayne Ranch) - December 19, 2011 Immersed in the Hereford's history in Eagar, AZ, sits the 26 Bar Ranch. It was first known as the Milky Way Ranch in the 1940s with its big white show barn which housed many Hereford cattle. The abandoned Emerald River resort tower is seen in the background at Susan Martinolich's home in Bullhead City, Ariz. on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. The Bird Cage Theatre, Tombstone 5. The long-empty swimming pools are choked with leaves, dirt and other debris, and weeds burst through cracks in the dilapidated tennis courts. Email me for permission. schoolhouse, and even old mining equipment. Golden Valley, Arizona. His body was battered and bruised, his arms and legs were broken, and one of his limbs was almost completely detached from his body. This is largely thanks to the building making its appearance on some popular paranormal television shows. The Copper Queen Hotel, BisbeeBook a Room 8. Alternatively, check outour comprehensive guidefor far more options, tips, and tricks. Oatman 8. Over the years, there were several murders and suicides even before it was converted into a hotel. Goldfield 7. While this is where the rest of this building's life would start, it's not where its life had begun. Visiting Arizonas ghost towns can feel like walking straight into the past! Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Workers never received their final paychecks, and the resort owed the county more than $1 million in back taxes. One of the most well-known ghosts to call the saloon home is a male spirit who goes by the name of Nevins. Canyon Diablo is one of the most fascinating. It includes teaching staff, students, parents, administrators, visitors, and custodians both former and current! Vulture City. On the surface, Jefferson Park looks like any other childrens playground in the heart of a suburban neighborhood. Any excess proceeds must be mailed to the tenant at their last known address. He apparently drowned in the San Pedro River, but his spirit is attached to The Copper Queen Hotel because his parents once worked there and it was a place where he felt at home. Well send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state). There are most definitely some dark secrets held in these walls! Arizona is home to more than 200 ghost towns that now serve as popular tourist destinations. The buildings have been relocated to the historical community, and they all seem to have brought their ghosts with them when they arrived! The history of Vulture City, the most significant ghost town in Arizona, reads like a dime store western novel, full of Apache raids and stagecoach robberies. Camping nearby: Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood, AZ. However, the so-called church began losing members after it drifted into cult territory, demanding that its female acolytes shave their heads and the men receive vasectomies. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. View the Drivin & Vibin Privacy Policy Here, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Learn about its rich history at the Jerome State Historic Park, Check out the artist galleries and unique shops in town, Visit, tour, and stay at the haunted Jerome Grand Hotel, originally a hospital and one of the most haunted hotels in Arizona, Look down a 1,900 foot mining shaft at Audrey Headframe Park, Grab a bite to eat at The Haunted Hamburger, Visit the Oatman Hotel, now a museum and restaurant, Get dessert at the Olive Oatman Ice Cream Parlor, Visit the many shops and restaurants that line the streets, View the Lavender pit where mining operations took place. Chloride 5. Get the latest news, guides and updates, straight to your inbox. Watch Now. Furnishings are sparse, but guests compliment the inn's charm, comfort, friendly staff and hearty meals provided by the attached restaurant, Yesterday's. In 1962, the once sought after resort burned down leaving only foundation stones and two hot springs overlooking the Verde Valley. An entire ghost town (for sale?!) Read more about the hike in Everyone In Arizona Must Visit This Epic Hot Spring As Soon As Possible. Get more stories delivered right to your email. The hotel began life in 1927 as the town's hospital, and two different psychics claimed to have felt the ghost of the "head nurse" lingering about. In 1912, the body of a man named Henry A. Others prefer luxe leisure all day long. text-align: left !important; julie.a.fergie@gmail.com. It was rebranded as a Ramada Inn before it was shuttered for good in 2002. Just all urbex all the time. The school was founded in 1914, just two years after Arizona was declared a state. Though a residential community has begun to develop nearbythanks mostly to the proximity of Edwards Air Force Basethe crumbling eyesore stands out like a sore thumb in the dusty desert landscape. Curious what mysteries lie in the wastelands of the Arizona desert? The ghost town of Ruby, Arizona, is desolate and remote. These abandoned towns offer a glimpse into the state's rich historyand make for the perfect spooky season day trip. } Since then, it has been a hub for collaboration and conflict throughout the centuries. 1110 W Washington St, #155 The Monongahela Hotel was built in 1911, originally named the Monongahela House. We recommend both theOsprey Packs Daylitefor sling backpacks or theMardingtop Tactical Backpackfor a standard two-strap backpack. AZ Okay, so a pizza joint is probably the last place you might expect to find some paranormal activity, but there have been years of reports that say otherwise. Among the many reports of unexplained activity have been claims that faucets in the bathrooms turn on and off by themselves and that customers have heard children laughing or babies crying when there are no children in the store. The Casa Grande Domes is another unusual abandoned place in Arizona. How could they not be haunted with a name like the Superstition Mountains? It took them several hours to clear the track. As a Jacksonville resident myself, Im glad to live near one of the most interesting abandoned hotels in the country, and Im excited to see what the future holds for the Ambassador. If you enjoy solitude and history, a visit to Ruby and Arivaca Lake is definitely for you! He has been seen wearing a top hat and cape and the staff and guests who have claimed to encounter him say that he is usually accompanied by the smell of cigar smoke. . Nearby Camping: Tombstone RV Park and Campground. Olive was later traded to another tribe and eventually released years later. } A post shared by prolly.shouldnt.be.here (@ar.i.zo.nan). For the cherry on top of a fantastic getaway, check out these top historic hotels in Arizona, USA. The Ambassador Hotel opened nearly a century ago as a luxury apartment complex in Jacksonvilles urban core. 7. Stay in the Jail, the Grand 895 W Schiefflin Monument Rd Weve scoured the country to identify the top 10 abandoned hotels for exploring in 2021. Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Phoenix certainly isnt short of haunted buildings, but it seems to have an overabundance of a particular type of haunted property schools! Of course, this would come to see 67 . 2021 Urban Exploration Gear List: What To Bring For Urbexing, The 9 Most Important Rules and Urban Exploration Tips, Take A Friend: 5 Great Reasons to Not Go Urbexing Alone, Top 10 Tips for New Urban Explorers: How To Succeed In Urbex, The 15 Best Abandoned Places in Oregon For 2023 And Beyond, The Best Urban Exploration YouTube Channels in 2023, How To Find Abandoned Places With Google Maps In 2023, Exploring Abandoned Hospitals and Asylums: A 2023 Overview, The 9 Most Important Urban Exploration Tips And Rules 2023, Caught Trespassing? Thanks to their abandoned state, they now house drunk teens, the ghost-hunting types, and if the legends are right, a coven. The original structure was demolished in 1956 for construction of a new 538-room oceanfront resort complex, which included multiple restaurants and shops, ice skating rink, beauty salon, swimming pools and even its own radio station. The Domes in Casa Grande, Arizona were a pet project by a 1980s tech firm, and they were meant for computer manufacturing. He got as far as Arizonas Gila Bend desert when he fell off his horse and died face down in the sweltering heat. Ready to visit some relics of the past for the adventure of it all? Another high school auditorium that makes the list is the performing arts center at Peoria High School. Once known as The Wickedest Town in the West Jerome was a harsh environment to live and work. Built in the heart of Miami Beach in 1926, the original Deauville Beach Resort featured a lavish casino and a beach club boasting Floridas largest swimming pool. We will inform you as soon as tickets become available. People often report seeing a female spirit drifting around the hotel. After a major renovation in 1969, the Thunderbird achieved iconic status with its Native American-inspired dcor and celebrity guests like Fats Domino, the Sammy Spear Orchestra and even the Rolling Stones. Many of the homes in the nearby LaVilla neighborhood were demolished or condemned, and the Ambassadors reputation took a hit after a series of code violations, police raids and other unsavory incidents. As Jacksonvilles populationand its tourism industrydrifted southward over the next decade, the Thunderbird continued to founder. You can RV camp nearby at Arivaca Lake. } What once was a trailer park or graveyard, now looks like a junkyard. Verde Hot Spring is located approximately 28 miles southeast of Camp Verde or 19 miles west of Strawberry. This is rumored to be the location of the Lost Dutchmans Mine, which is believed to be cursed and has spirits who stand guard over it. Stay:Get the full roadside hotel experience at Shep Miner's Inn, a historic 1800 adobe inn originally designed for passengers on the Butterfield Stage Line. Its close proximity to the downtown business district and the Gator Bowl football stadium provided a ready-made customer base. As the second largest city in Arizona, it has many cultural attractions, as well as historic sites and natural areas to explore nearby.. Attempting to find any concrete truth buried in a never-ending stream of conflicting and . The jail was restored and operates as a museum with local artifacts and lore, open on the first Saturday of each month or by appointment. Ghosts likely outnumber residents in this western Arizona town of 350 - give or take. Her spirit lingers here, and as midnight approaches, teenagers and passing adults will often report hearing the girl screaming and have also glimpsed her apparition on several occasions. Mystery swirls around these strange domes, and graffiti covers the walls. Three were intact, while one was about to collapse. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com. The Flintstones television debut was on September 30, 1960. Thank you! The only residence that ever made it off the ground was the Lake Shore Inn, which included a pool, jacuzzi, lounge, bar and modest event space. portalId: "5317100", A ghost town is an abandoned village, town, or city whose reason for being no longer exists. For those interested in uncovering the mysterious past of haunted buildings, Phoenix is one city that will certainly not disappoint. Therefore, you wont be surprised by its current spooky state. Rubys mine closed in 1940, and the town was abandoned by the end of 1941. It was decorated in lavish and tasteful dcor and stocked only the finest liqueurs imported from some of the most exotic locations worldwide. Built in 1932, The Professional Building sat vacant from the 1900s until the 2010s until it became the Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown. Youre in luck! Subscribe, Admin Offices Jerome's reputation as a ghost town is well-earned, considering the quaint hillside hamlet in northern Arizona is filled with infamous yarns about specters and spirits that . Many of whom still wander the dark cold corridors and cells to this very day. In its heyday, Jerome had rampant gambling, drinking, and prostitution, as well as disease, famine, poverty, fires, and landslides destroying the town and killing inhabitants. All rights reserved. When its leader was charged with attempted murder in 1980, the church dissolved completely. Town was known as the gateway to Mexico and had the finest hotel from San Francisco to Denver. This mining operation established in 1909 sent ore to Swansea in South Wales and eventually took the same name, soon rapidly declining and collapsing from high production costs. Bisbee is located in southeast Arizona in the Mule mountains. There were a number of daunting reasons for closing, like high operational expenses and flood hazards. The state later declared it idle in 57, and it has thus been one of AZ adventurers favorites to explore. According to one former theater teacher, the ghost that haunts there is the spirit of a student who fell from the catwalk above the stage, but the school administrators are pretty cagey about either confirming or denying that particular rumor! It looked like an abandoned hotel and was housing the homeless. The $20 million project is slated for completion by spring 2022. By the 1970s, cocktail lounges, supper clubs and big-band performances had fallen out of favor, hitting the Thunderbirds revenues hard. With little hope of restoration and not many residents around to complain about the quirky eyesore, the failed hotel is likely to remain in its incomplete state indefinitely. Weeds, trash and other debris litter the property, and a tree has burst through the cracked surface of the tennis courts. Two-thirds of the 3,778 acres that make up the base have been abandoned. See. It seems as though every corner of Arizona has an abandoned place just waiting to be found by new eyes. Proceed with caution. Arizona Ghost Town: . The hotel began life in 1927 as the town's hospital, and two different psychics claimed to have felt the ghost of the "head nurse" lingering about. People in the valley have described seeing mysterious light anomalies and shadows in the mountains, which they believe to be these spirit guardians. Glendale Pizza Hut 6. Trespassers caused two small fires later that year, forcing the owners to add several security guards and new fencing in an effort to keep intruders out of the defunct resort. The property was featured on the MTV show Fear in 2000, allegedly as a location for supernatural activity related to dozens of murders and suicides that had supposedly taken place on-site. Therefore, you wont be surprised by its current spooky state. Despite these measures, the property continues to attract homeless people, vandals and urban explorers, and the citys lawsuit is still pending. Abandoned hotels image by Haerr Trippin' In nearby Miami, the Bullion Plaza School once served as the segregated school for the town's Mexican-American children. It is haunted by a ghost known as Mattie, who has been spotted by staff and theatergoers alike. Over the next 20 years, multiple efforts to save the Ambassador were launched without success. Ruby's mine closed in 1940, and the town was abandoned by the end of 1941. This could be one of the most famous haunts in the state. There are so many fascinating abandoned places in Arizona. A fire broke out in late 2019, consuming a substantial portion of the original hotel building. -->, Curious what mysteries lie in the wastelands of the. Monica Humphries/Insider The Bird House Hotel, formerly known as the Hotel View, was Ashcroft's main hotel. P: 630.864.5270,