The Definitive Guide To All Things Haunted And Creepy In Arizona
Arizona just may be the creepiest, most haunted state in the U.S. It doesn’t have to be Halloween for weird, unexplained occurrences to take place; no time is safe from strange happenings. From haunted houses to notorious murders, the Grand Canyon State is a hub for all things macabre. Do you want to stay in a haunted hotel or face what could be lurking in the depths of a haunted corn maze? What about looking at some creepy photos or learning creepy facts about our state? No matter what intrigues you most about all that goes bump in the night, Arizona has a little bit of everything.
Now a haunted restaurant and bar, Casey Moore’s Oyster House was once a family home in Old Town Tempe. William and Mary Moeur both died in the house, which turned into a hub for nefarious activities like drugs and even murder after their passing. In 1973, over six decades after it was built, the defunct residence became Casey Moore’s Oyster House. Staff members and patrons alike have witnessed such happenings as forks flying across the room, table settings rearranging themselves overnight, and apparitions — presumably the Mouers — dancing in an upstairs window. The only thing not scary about Casey Moore’s is the delicious food and drink it serves up on a daily basis. If you love seafood, handcrafted beverages, and perhaps meeting a ghost or two, come enjoy a meal at the most haunted house in Arizona.
The Most Haunted Road In Arizona (And Maybe America)
While nobody knows the exact story behind Bucket of Blood Street in Holbrook, the town's gruesome history leaves little to the imagination. Formerly known as Central Avenue, this now infamous road was home to Cottage Saloon. As was customary back in the 1800s, the saloon attracted plenty of unsavory characters, and fights -- both gun and fist -- were regular occurrences. In 1886, 10 percent of Holbrook's population died as a result of violence, and one incident in particular led to the street being renamed. According to several witnesses, a fight broke out at the saloon that was so intense, what added up to a bucket of blood was spilled on the floor. Some say if you visit Bucket of Blood Street today, you can still hear ghostly gunfire and see the spirits of cowboys seeking vengeance for their untimely deaths. Would you drive down the most haunted road in Arizona?
1. Perched on a hilltop overlooking the city, Jerome Grand Hotel is a century-old building with quite a storied past. It originally served as a hospital, treating miners who fell victim to tragic accidents, and as many as 9,000 people died from their injuries. Additionally, a maintenance man was found pinned beneath the doors of an elevator that had previously been working just fine. His demise is now widely regarded as suspicious. The hotel opened in 1993, and so too did the floodgates of paranormal activity. Can you imagine how many restless souls, many who left behind families, careers, and dreams, are left to wander the halls for eternity? Both guests and employees frequently experience unexplained phenomena, from hearing disembodied whispers to catching a whiff of smells whose sources are nowhere to be found. There’s even a resident feline ghost whose meows can be heard throughout the hotel. If you’re feeling extra brave, ask the front desk if Room 32 is vacant. It’s where the strangest happenings take place. Would you stay in this notoriously haunted hotel that also happens to be one of the most haunted places in Arizona?
2. Just outside of Wickenburg, there sits a long-abandoned ghost town by the name of Vulture City. It was once the site of a prosperous mining operation, but WWII forced the thriving industry to shutter. Between mining accidents and 18 men hung for stealing gold, Vulture City is no stranger to death. As a result, the town is absolutely crawling with ghosts — so many, in fact, that overnight paranormal investigations are held on a regular basis. Would you spend the night in this haunted ghost town and come face-to-face with whatever could be waiting in the mine shaft?
3. You'll be hard-pressed to find a native Arizonan who hasn't heard the legend of Lost Dutchman Mine. The story has even spread outside state lines, with hopefuls from all over the country flocking to the park in search of hidden treasure. Supposedly, a man named Jacob Waltz discovered a mine deep within the aptly-named Superstition Mountains. He died before extracting the riches, leaving behind a map (according to several versions of the tale) for anyone lucky enough to find it. Thousands of people hike into the mountains each year, hoping they'll be the fortunate soul who stumbles upon the elusive pot of gold...but many never make it out alive. Whether from murder or succumbing to the harsh desert elements, this deadly treasure hunt has claimed countless lives for a variety of reasons. Does the treasure even exist? Nobody knows, but one thing is for certain. The angry spirits of those whose quest was cut short haunt the trails of Lost Dutchman State Park. X marks the spot...for creepiness!
We can think of few destinations more frightening than an archaic, 17th-century jail in the middle of the desert. Yuma Territorial Prison first opened in 1876, housing more than 3,000 inmates over the course of its 33 years in operation. Violence was an all-too common occurrence, with a suicide and deadly riot just two of many instances. Visitors to this harsh, unforgiving place can see just how maddening it must have felt to spend nearly all of your waking hours behind these old, rusty iron doors. You can even explore the "Dark Cell," the prison's horrifying version of solitary confinement. It's a tiny, impossibly pitch-black room that would send anyone in their right mind running for the hills. The facility is almost certainly haunted, given all the death, sadness, and unrest that occurred within its walls. Upon touring the prison, you just might come to find out the inmates never left.
Consistently ranking among the scariest haunted houses in America, 13th Floor is definitely not for the faint of heart. Spanning 60,000 square feet of pure fear, this horrifying Halloween attraction boasts two different experiences, the themes of which change every season; that means you'll never know what to expect. From an abandoned town where hordes of undead souls prowl the streets at night to a house of mirrors harboring the restless spirit of Bloody Mary, whatever is waiting for you at this haunted house promises to be nothing short of nightmarish.
Owned by 13th Floor, Fear Farm is the best, most terrifying haunted corn maze in Arizona. It features 20 acres of twists and turns, each wrong decision pulling you ever-deeper into the clutches of whatever bloodthirsty creatures are hiding in the stalks. Choose between four different attractions, each one more petrifying than the last. A maniacal doctor, mutants in a post-apocalyptic world, aliens in a top-secret government bunker, and a collection of the farm's most malevolent monsters all have their sights set on invoking a visceral fear in the pit of your stomach. Guided only by the moonlight, would you enter the haunted corn maze at Fear Farm?
Arizona has no shortage of hikes associated with spooky urban legends, but the Grand Canyon's Transept Trail just might be the creepiest. So the story goes, nearly a century ago, a family set off on an outdoor adventure in our state's most iconic national park. This particular trail is relatively easy, ascending fewer than 300 feet, so they didn't think too much of it. Nobody knows exactly what happened, but a tragic hiking accident claimed the lives of all of the family members...except for the mother. Upon realizing her entire world had been ripped away in an instant, she jumped off the canyon rim and plunged to her death. Her spirit, dubbed "The Wailing Woman," haunts the trail at night in search of her beloved husband and children. Is that an animal lurking in the darkness of this haunted trail. or could it be something...more sinister?
Covered in rust, the dilapidated Casa Grande domes are slowly returning to the earth.
5 Creepy Facts About Arizona
1. In 1997, a group of Arizona residents (including the governor) supposedly witnessed an extraterrestrial aircraft hovering over Phoenix for nearly two hours. This strange happening went on to make headlines nationwide, but the question of who — or what — was behind the unidentified flying object still remains.
2. Before it was renumbered, Arizona had a Highway 666. So many accidents occurred on the road that it became known as the “Devil’s Highway.”
3. Arizona is home to a haunted cave. Grand Canyon Caverns, located 300 feet underground, has seen at least eight deaths or burials on the property. Visitors can embark on a ghost walk, with the only light source being the eerie glow of an EMF meter. Are you brave enough to meet these restless spirits lurking below the surface?
4. There’s a portion of Arizona known as “Skinwalker Ranch” after a creepy Navajo urban legend. As the story goes, medicine men have both good and evil powers, and they must choose which path to take. Those who embrace the darkness exploit human trust by disguising themselves as animals, traveling alongside vehicles and luring the drivers out by tapping on the windows. Those who dare step outside are never seen again…
5. Within the aforementioned town of Two Guns is a place called the Apache Death Cave. In 1878, a group of Apache warriors raided a Navajo camp and murdered everyone, save for three girls who they took as prisoners. The Apaches were hiding out in a cave, where they were discovered by another band of Navajos. When the Navajo warriors learned of the girls’ fate, they threw burning drywood into the cave and murdered 42 Apaches. Today, much like the rest of Two Guns, the cave sits abandoned and forgotten.
Love Arizona?
Thank you! You'll receive your first newsletter soon!
