From gold mines to airplane boneyards, there’s no shortage of abandoned places in Arizona guaranteed to send a chill down your spine. One of the scariest places in America is Fort Courage, a defunct trading post near Petrified Forest National Park and the New Mexico border. Reminiscent of a real Army fort, this former Route 66 tourist attraction is quickly succumbing to the elements. It’s one of the creepiest abandoned places in Arizona.

Historic Route 66 is brimming with roadside attractions. Some are still operational, but many have been abandoned since the highway was officially decommissioned in 1985.
Google/Greg Scott
One such place is Fort Courage, a 1970s-era trading post built in the image of the popular TV show, F Troop.
Fort Courage is located about 40 miles east of Petrified Forest National Park, just before the New Mexico state line. The now desolate property was once a buzzing tourist hub complete with a gift shop, gas station, and restaurant/coffee shop.
s34nVideos/Google
Today, the site can only be described as eerie. All of the structures remain intact, however, they are quietly succumbing to the elements.
Nobody knows for sure why or when Fort Courage was abandoned. Some speculate it was to avoid inevitable legal issues, as the gift shop sold authentic F Troop merchandise despite not being affiliated with the show.
Google/Spencer Connell
Amid all of the uncertainty, one thing is for sure: this place now looks like a scene straight out of a horror movie.

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Behind all the boarded-up doors and windows are memories of what once was - and what could've been.
Google/s34nVideos
The fort is a very popular place among urban explorers. Although we can understand why, we don't recommend attempting to enter, as abandoned places are often unsafe and/or illegal to visit. Drive by to see the structures from the road and enjoy these photos from a safe distance.
Roll down your windows, and you'll almost think you're staring at a real Army fort. They definitely nailed the design!
Google/Spencer Connell
While we aren't aware of any rumors of paranormal activity, we can't imagine a more fitting place for ghosts to hang out.
So if you've never seen Fort Courage before, it's worth tacking onto a Route 66 road trip through Arizona.
Google/Robert Rael
It's one of the eeriest abandoned places in the state, promising to send a chill down the spine of everyone who visits.

Have you ever driven past Fort Courage? If so, was it as creepy as it looks? Are there any other abandoned places in Arizona worth visiting? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! You may enjoy this road trip to the scariest places in Arizona.

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The Creepiest Places in Arizona

William Suphan | January 29, 2023

What are the creepiest ghost towns in Arizona?

The creepiest ghost towns in Arizona include:

  • Cordes. This town was named after John Henry Cordes by John himself in 1883, and it has been abandoned since the 1950s.
  • Fairbank. This town was first settled in 1881 and was abandoned during the 1970s. Its population stayed under 500 people.
  • Pearce. This was a mining town that was abandoned in the 1940s. There are still a few people living in the area.
  • Ruby. This is another mining town that shut down, but it is being preserved and you can visit for a small fee.

Learn more about the creepiest ghost towns in Arizona. 

What are the eeriest abandoned places in Arizona?

The eeriest abandoned places in Arizona include:

  • Gold King Mansion. This was once a luxurious mansion in the Hualapai Mountains but is now an empty, rotting shell.
  • Santa Claus. This was a tourist hot spot that was themed on Santa’s Workshop and drew tourists from all over the country.
  • Swansea. During the rush of copper mining in Arizona, Swansea was a thriving mining town but is now an empty ghost town.
  • Vulture City. This was a gold-mining town that ran from 1863 to 1942 that shut down at the beginning of World War II. 

Discover more about the eeriest abandoned places in Arizona.

What are the scariest places in Arizona?

The scariest in Arizona include:

  • The Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone. Workers at this place have told of ghost sightings and some have said that ghosts have followed them home.
  • Gadsden Hotel in Douglas. Room 333 in this historic hotel is said to have ghosts that try to open the door or even sit on the bed with them.
  • Lee Hotel in Yuma. It is reported that the deceased former owner of the hotel still checks in on his guests by knocking on doors and trying the doorknobs.
  • Big Nose Kate’s Saloon in Tombstone. Visitors claimed to have been pushed from behind with no one behind them and heard whispers and footsteps coming from the basement.

Find out more about the scariest places in Arizona.

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