Posted in Arizona
February 14, 2016
This Creepy Ghost Town In Arizona Is The Stuff Nightmares Are Made Of
OK, I admit that title is a bit of a stretch—but the place we’re talking about today is still pretty creepy. In a state that receives a record amount of sunshine, it can be difficult to find places particularly scary since the “dark and stormy night” scenarios rarely occur here. However, if there is any place in the state that routinely receives a reputation for being haunted and offering some visitors more than they bargained for during their stay, that location would have to be Jerome.
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Sitting in the middle of the Verde Valley, Jerome today really only has an honorary ghost town status. Jerome currently has a population near 450, meaning it is certainly more populated than how we typically view ghost towns. But despite our progression into the 21-century, there is still something a little unnerving about this little place in the hills even during the day.
Founded in the late 19th-century, Jerome once was a bustling copper mining town rife more than 10,000 residents at the height of its days. The nearby mines produced more than 33 million tons of ore, including copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc, which led mine owners to claim the town was worth at least $1 billion.
After some boom and bust times, Jerome eventually saw its demise begin during the Great Depression. Copper, which was previously in high demand, prices fell and the mines began laying off employees until the mines closed completely. At the same time, many of the town's buildings were falling into disrepair and became damaged from soil disturbances which may have resulted from the mining. By 1953, the town barely had 100 residents.
After some boom and bust times, Jerome eventually saw its demise begin during the Great Depression. Copper, which was previously in high demand, prices fell and the mines began laying off employees until the mines closed completely. At the same time, many of the town's buildings were falling into disrepair and became damaged from soil disturbances which may have resulted from the mining. By 1953, the town barely had 100 residents.
Today, parts of the town still exist in the same state of disrepair and abandoned status as it was back in 1953. This creates an eery feeling in the town, especially as night begins to fall.
Some current residents, former residents and visitors also claim that the town is haunted. Places such as the Connor Hotel, the Mile High Inn and the old mines are supposedly rife with spirits. One of the most haunted areas of the town (and the state) is the Jerome Grand Hotel, which was formerly the United Verde Hospital.
While there are many stories of the grisly events that have taken place in the former hospital and other places in town, reading some reader stories of interactions with both passive and very aggressive ghosts is just as frightening. Take this experience from a reader named Robin who left this comment on an article about haunted places in Arizona:
"I spent a night at the hotel in Jerome. I will NEVER go back. The evening started with sounds of deep fingernail scraping the door and the sound of key going in and out of a lock ( there was no keyhole). Woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of heavy breathing. Woke up to the sound of the TV being lifted,...was not moved but the sound of electronics being lifted is very distinct. Woke up to the sound of a cart ( gurney?) going down the hall but nothing was there and the hall is carpeted. When I finally decided to leave at 5 am, my radio station that was normally tuned to 107.9 was at 56.1. I tuned to 95.5 and it was 73.5... So weird !!!!"
So, have you visited Jerome before? What was your experience like? Let me know if you think Jerome should still be considered a ghost town and whether or not it is creepy.
