We Checked Out The 8 Most Terrifying Places In Arizona And They’re Horrifying
These lands are rich in history and stories. From the red rock buttes to strong mountain tops to sweeping canyon vistas, there’s an incredible number of places in our state that are teeming with the emotion behind history. Some are jubilant, some humorous, but most are violent. We’re going to take a look at a few of the scariest places in Arizona that deserve to be remembered for the horrific moments in history that have taken place and some that continue to hold those emotional memories through haunted encounters.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Just before sunrise on April 30, 1871, a huge vigilante party of 140 American, Mexican, and O’odham men attacked a camp of Aravaipa and Pinal Apache, most of whom were women and children. Believing the group was responsible for raids in Tucson, they ultimately killed, mutilated, and raped 144 people and captured a handful of children to sell into slavery. It’s a history that most people aren’t aware of but you can read more about it in one of our previous articles.
The name of this place sounds pretty gruesome and it actually relates back to an event that took place nearly 144 years ago. The Battle of Turret Peak took place on March 27, 1873 when the U.S. Army ambushed a camp that led to the death of some 25 to 50 Natives. Most sources tend to say it was the Tonto Apache who were ambushed but while they were the main targets, it may have actually been Yavapai people who died that morning.
Arizona clearly has a bloody history and the name of this saloon and street in Holbrook certainly makes that clear. A town once known to be “too tough for women and churches,” it became a key area for outlaws, rustlers, and gang members in the 1880s (along with quite a few other Arizona towns). In 1886, a fight then shootout in the saloon resulted in it appearing as though a bucket of blood had been poured on the saloon floors. You can read more here.
Walking up to this beautiful, quiet area, you wouldn’t be aware of the number of attacks that took place within the canyon’s walls. It became an area where many Navajos sought protection as the U.S. Army swept through to move the people to a reservation but was also the site of killings, destroying homes, and scorched earth policy that ultimately led the Navajo to surrender in 1864.
Another rough and tumble Western town, Canyon Diablo was a small railroad town that sat northwest of Winslow. Not much exists of the town these days (and it’s pretty inaccessible) but in the 1880s, it had a vicious reputation. You didn’t want to be here. Saloons, brothels, gambling houses, and other sordid establishments were open 24 hours where outlaws and railroad workers intermingled. To give you an idea of how violent this place was, the first marshal died within five hours of being sworn in and all others died in the line of duty.
Does this hospital turned hotel even need an introduction? In its hospital days between 1927 and 1950, it saw both the emergence of life and succumbing to death occur almost daily. Hotel guests and workers regularly report creepy hauntings happening here, such as items moving from their original locations, hearing people inside or just outside their rooms in an otherwise empty space, and electronics turning off or on for no reason.
One of several internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II, the Poston War Relocation Center operated for approximately three years in this small place on the Colorado River Indian Reservation. The tribe objected to building the camp as they recognized the event as related to their own sufferings but the decision was overruled by the U.S. Army and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The largest camp, it was hot, dusty, and was notorious for poor sanitation conditions.
This prison operated from 1876 to 1909, hosting a wide range of criminals, including murderers, robbers, jilted lovers, and polygamists. The conditions were not good, as inmates faced diseases, crowding, infestations, solitary confinement, and death. The most common cause was tuberculosis, which was the cause behind about half of the inmate deaths. You can read more about the supposedly haunted prison in this previous article.
How many of these places have you visited before? Be sure to let us know what your experience was like by sharing it in the comments.
Address: Bucket of Blood St, Holbrook, AZ 86025, USA
Address: Canyon De Chelly, Arizona 86503, USA
Address: Canyon Diablo, AZ 86035, USA
Address: PO Box H, 200 Hill St, Jerome, AZ 86331, USA
Address: Poston, AZ 85344, USA
Address: 220 Prison Hill Rd, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Scariest Places In Arizona
June 27, 2020
Leah
Can I visit any abandoned places in Arizona?
If you enjoy that eerie feeling of exploring somewhere abandoned, then you’re in luck if you’re in Arizona. The state has quite a few abandoned spots that can be visited – from ancient ruins to decrepit towns. Especially along the historic Route 66, there are long since forgotten structures being overtaken by nature and time. We put together a fun Abandoned Places In Arizona Road Trip that will fill your whole weekend with them. It follows that famous route and stops by everything from 1000-year-old ruins to relics of the 1930s when Route 66 was heavily traveled. Do you dare to try it?
What is the most haunted place in Arizona?
With so many spooky haunted places in Arizona, you may be wondering which is the scariest of them all. Though that is a matter of opinion, when it comes to entire towns that are considered haunted, Jerome, AZ definitely would take the cake. Other than its infamous Jerome Grand Hotel, you can take entire ghost tours of the area to explore all of the places where ghostly spirits are said to linger. The town has a deep history in mining, and with that comes many gruesome and untimely deaths. The Old Miner’s Cemetery is supposedly haunted, as well as a restaurant beneath the historic Hotel Connor, and – of course – the Jerome Grand Hotel is known to be teeming with restless spirits.
What are the most popular ghost stories in Arizona?
There are quite a few notorious Arizona ghost stories, some more popular than others. One popular tale is that of a ghost that is said to haunt a park in Mesa, Arizona. At Jefferson Park, if you visit it between 11:30 PM and midnight, you might see a spooky paranormal being walking from tree to tree. It’s said that this is the ghost of a woman who was assaulted and then murdered there. Her restless ghost remains and will be stuck there for eternity. Being there at night can really send a chill down your spine.
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 [email protected]
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