7 Eerie, Abandoned Places In Arizona That May Make Your Hair Stand On End
There is an enormous number of abandoned places in Arizona, many dating back centuries before this land was settled by the Spanish, Mexicans, and Americans. Some places have only hints of the people who once lived there while others appear as though they had just been abandoned. Today, we’re going to check out a few abandoned places in Arizona that are places abandoned within the last century or so that will also give you the creeps.
Since many of these places are literally falling apart, enter at your own risk and obey private property laws. You can virtually check them out through photos on the accompanying links or video searches.
This old abandoned dog racing track in Arizona was found just off the highway in Black Canyon City and continued to decay since it was abandoned in the 1980s. While people were no longer permitted to enter the dilapidated building before its destruction, some photographers still managed to sneak in to capture fascinating photos of urban decay. The remaining small bits of evidence show a once-thriving liveliness of the building that appears a bit creepy, especially since the random trash makes it seem as though people suddenly left in a hurry.
Much mystery surrounds these domes that are up for demolition and plenty of rumors have fueled the reason for their abandonment. They also look pretty spooky at night with the graffiti, crumbling structures, and color lights. Learn more about the spooky and awesome casa Grande Domes in more articles.
The Domes of Casa Grande, 8109-7467 S Thornton Rd, Casa Grande, AZ 85193, USA
The Gold King Mansion sits alone in the Hualapai Mountains near Kingman, and it proves that even luxurious settings can seem spooky with slow decay over the decades. Its isolation only adds to this, since it requires a drive on a rough dirt road and some hiking to reach, but you will be intrigued by what you find there.
This spot is a bit of an odd find, since it’s Santa’s abandoned workshop in the Arizona desert sitting off the highway 14 miles north of Kingman. This place was once a small tourist destination featuring a restaurant, inn, and opportunities for kids to visit Santa all year long. However, it was eventually abandoned by the 1970s, and these days you’ll find it covered in graffiti with shattered windows and the original paint slowly fading.
Not many people know about this ghost town in western Arizona but it is an excellent example of mining town remains you’ll find scattered around the state. Swansea had a brief, wondrous life in the early 1900s when copper ore was extracted from the area but was completely abandoned by 1937. The old mines and buildings are still standing so who knows what you may find there.
Two Guns often gets confused with the old ghost town Canyon Diablo, but there is certainly much more still standing at this Route 66 stop than the former railroad town. Two Guns has deteriorated heavily over the decades but that doesn’t stop people from stopping by to check out what remains of the old haunt.
This town and its accompanying gold mine by the same name had a robust life from 1863 to 1942, closing for World War II. Both have been slowly fading under the blazing Arizona sun but some of the buildings have been preserved and restored by the property owners. Of all the places on this list, this abandoned mine in Arizona is one that offers guided tours so that you can learn more about the area.
Vulture City Ghost Town, 36610 355th Ave, Wickenburg, AZ 85390, USA
If you’re looking for more creepy things to do just in time for Halloween, then you’ll want to read about some of our favorite creepy places in Arizona. You may recognize the first two locations – some of the others may surprise you! What abandoned places in Arizona did we skip on this list? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Abandoned Places in Arizona
September 06, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some creepy abandoned places in Arizona?
Arizona is a gorgeous state with numerous state parks, National Parks, recreation areas, and more to enjoy. That being said, the Copper State is no stranger to spooky stories, and it’s home to a plethora of abandoned places worth reading about (or visiting). Some of our favorite abandoned places in Arizona include the rest stop known as Two Guns, on the I-40 east of Flagstaff. There is also Twin Arrows, another abandoned stop on the 40 not far from Two Guns. Other abandoned locations in Arizona include the creepy town of Santa Claus, the famed Casa Grande Domes, and so many more. It’s hard to decide which one to check out first!
Are there any legitimately haunted places in Arizona?
Supposedly, yes. In fact, there are allegedly entire haunted towns in Arizona, like the living ghost town of Jerome. No matter where you go in that little mining-turned-artist town, you’re sure to find ghosts galore. Other haunted places in Arizona famous for being haunted include the towns of Tombstone and Bisbee, as well as numerous haunted hotels in Arizona (like the Hotel San Carlos in Phoenix or the Hotel Weatherford in Flagstaff), haunted roads, and even a haunted mountain range in Arizona so spooky it was named The Superstitions. Hike those trails if you’re brave enough!
Where are some of the creepiest places in Arizona?
That being said, there are loads of super creepy places in Arizona to check out that may or may not also be haunted (we’re just a haunted place, okay?). One of those eerie places is the Apache Death Cave, which is in northern Arizona and comes with an incredibly morbid backstory. There are likely more than 50 bodies buried there. Other creepy places in Arizona include Vulture Mine in Wickenburg, the Oliver House in Bisbee, Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff, and so many more. Arizona is an amazing place for ghost hunters or even just the curious. It’s one of our all-time favorite places!
Arizona In Your Inbox
Thank you! You'll receive your first newsletter soon!
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
