Haunted Places In Arizona
Haunted sights fascinate most people, and Arizona has the reputation for being one of the most haunted destinations in the US. It is filled with hotels, hospitals, homes and a range of other sites that have repeatedly witnessed violent death. As it often happens with such places, hauntings may occur. Ghosts walk amongst the living, talk to them, move things, touch and make their presence felt in various ways. Here are the stories of what are, by most accounts, the 3 most haunted places in Arizona.
Jerome Grand Hotel- Jerome, Az
The Jerome Grand Hotel was opened in 1927 as a hospital for a copper mining company. Known then as the United Verde Hospital, it was easily Arizona’s most modern and best equipped hospital. In 1935, however, tragedy struck, when the hospital’s fireman engineer, Claude M. Harvey, died in the basement boiler room, with his head trapped under the elevator. The death had no witnesses, and till today it hasn’t been ascertained whether Harvey, fondly known as Scotty, was murdered or committed suicide. Since then, though, Scotty has been sighted repeatedly in the corridors, near the staircases and in the basement and boiler room. He reportedly has a very angry presence.
The hospital was the scene of several other deaths until it shut down in 1950. The building was renovated and converted into a hotel in 1996, and several ghosts have been sighted since, particularly on the third floor. Among them, guests and employees have reported a nurse, an old man in a wheelchair and a bearded man. Apart from actual sightings, all kinds of paranormal activity is reported here, including phones ringing from empty rooms, voices, labored breathing, and electrical switches and lights going on and off.
The Bird Cage Theater- Tombstone, Az
The Bird Cage Theatre was a nightclub, brothel and entertainment center that operated 24 hours a day for 8 eventful years between 1881 and 1889. During its day it acquired a reputation for being one of the wildest places in the Old West, synonymous with both sin and pleasure. The Bird Cage was the scene of several violent deaths, and according to several sources the count stands at 26 in its short 8 year history.
Today, the place is operated as a museum, and several ghostly sightings and sounds are frequently reported by both employees and visitors. On a couple of occasions unsuspecting employees even made conversation with the ghosts, only to find that they disappeared in a few moments. Most of these ghosts are either of the men who were killed here, or prostitutes who ended up committing suicide out of depression. The strangest story from The Bird Cage is that of an enormous poker table being moved in the night, after closing hours. The next day it took 8 people to replace the table to its previous spot.
London Bridge, Lake Havasu City, Az
The London Bridge is one of the most bizarre haunted places in Arizona and perhaps all of America, since it has reportedly brought across ghosts (with ties to its stones) all the way from London. The bridge served as a replacement for the original London Bridge, and since its construction in 1825, it stood across the River Thames for over a hundred years. Then it was found to be damaged, and eventually it was sold to American Robert P. McCulloch, who established Lake Havasu City in Arizona. The bridge was brought across the Atlantic piecemeal and resurrected here.
It was re-dedicated in October 1971 by the Lord Mayor of London, and during the ceremony several onlookers saw four Englishmen on the bridge in 19th century attire. They thought that they were costume dress performers, till the men suddenly vanished. Ever since then, several ghost sightings have been reported here, and in most cases, the ghosts seem to be unaware of the present time, and vanish when approached. However, some people have reported being touched by ghostly presences, and some even claim to have made conversation with the ghosts.
This list covers some of the most haunted places in Arizona, but it is by no means comprehensive. The state has several other haunted homes, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, bridges and graveyards. If you are planning to undertake a tour of haunted places in Arizona, you will find a lot to thrill you in virtually every county of Arizona.
Ghosts of Tombstone, AZ
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