Hunt For Ghosts All Night Long At The Notoriously Haunted Vulture Mine In Arizona
By Katie Lawrence|Published October 06, 2020
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
Ghost towns aren’t exactly few and far between here in Arizona, but not all of them are as notoriously haunted as Vulture City. This former mining town near Wickenburg is crawling with so many ghosts, it has its own paranormal investigation team! You can join them in an overnight ghost hunt lockdown on October 9 — if you’re brave enough, that is.
Nestled deep within the remote Sonoran Desert, Vulture City was built in 1863 around Arizona's most fruitful gold mine.
The town boasted a population of nearly 5,000 during its heyday, a number that steadily dwindled after the War Production Board forced the mine to shutter circa 1942. Almost as quickly as it boomed, Vulture City became a ghost town.
Rather than let what remained of the town turn to dust, restoration efforts were undertaken beginning several years ago. This photo is dated, but as of today, 12 historic buildings have been successfully reimagined.
Despite being comprised of new material, the structures have retained every ounce of their original intention. History buffs, rejoice, as you'll be hard-pressed to find a better-preserved example of the American Southwest mining culture.
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Vulture City is open seven days per week for self-guided tours. A 0.5-mile path winds through the town, showcasing the cookhouse, post office, infamous hanging tree, and several other buildings.
You can visit anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. beginning in October, and 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. during the summer months. Two-hour guided tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. from late October through mid-May.
As with any mining town, Vulture City saw its fair share of death. Sure, much of it was due to tragic accidents, but as many as 18 men were supposedly hung for stealing rich gold ore, among other crimes.
Given such a gruesome history, it only makes sense that Vulture City would be haunted. In fact, the ghost town is crawling with so many spirits, it's been featured on the Travel Channel's Haunted Case Files.
Overnight ghost hunt lockdowns are held on a regular basis, the next one taking place on October 9.
You'll use state-of-the-art ghost hunting equipment and make contact with entities from beyond the grave as trained paranormal investigators stand by to assist. The lockdown is from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, with dinner and breakfast provided.
The property sits on a sprawling 15 acres, which leaves plenty of room for things that go bump in the night.
Is that rusty, overgrown swingset just creaking in the wind? Or is someone... or something... pushing it? If you're brave enough, tickets for the ghost hunt are $125 per person. Each group gets their own campsite, but you'll need to bring a tent, sleeping bags, and flashlights. RV space is limited.
Ghost hunts that only last a few hours are held throughout the year. Upcoming dates are November 13 and November 20.
You can even book Vulture City for private events such as weddings, photoshoots, or even your very own overnight ghost hunt. How epic does that sound? Click here to learn more.
Tickets must be purchased online or with exact cash onsite. Visit the Vulture City website or Facebook page to learn more.
Have you ever done an overnight ghost hunt at Vulture Mine? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience! Let us know, and check out our previous article for more Arizona ghost towns you wouldn’t want to be caught alone in.
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