10 Horribly Creepy Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do In Arizona
By Monica Spencer|Published October 11, 2017
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Monica Spencer
Author
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 monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
Okay, guys and ghouls. Halloween is just three weeks away so now is the perfect time to start getting into the spirit of the season. If you’re looking for some spooktacular activities around the state that are strange, creepy, or perhaps even haunted, you’re in luck! We’re looking at ten activities that will take you across the state to some unboolievable destinations.
Enough with the ghost puns. Let’s take a look at these places!
1. Hike to an abandoned mansion hiding in Arizona’s Hualapai Mountains.
If abandoned sites make you feel a bit uneasy, then you may want to check out this building that sits next to an abandoned gold mine near Kingman. If you’re lucky, the leaves of the surrounding trees will be dead or completely gone, adding to the already secluded, eerie atmosphere here.
Arizona is home to hundreds of ghost towns but finding one still somewhat intact is a rare find. Vulture City and its abandoned gold mine is one with buildings that are still standing decades later. You might even sense a ghost or two lingering here, especially near the old hanging tree.
3. Embark on a road trip that will introduce you to some of Arizona’s best, most haunting ghost towns.
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If you really want to make sure you have the absolute best experience visiting Arizona’s ghost towns, then you’re going to love checking out this road trip. You’ll come across true ghost towns, some that narrowly escaped the designation, and the bare remains of others. This is one trip you won’t want to miss out on!
When it comes to Arizona’s institutions, you won’t hear of many abandoned or rumored to be haunted. This one, however, really seals the deal. Located on the Colorado River in Yuma, the prison was a state-of-the-art institution for its time but plenty of inmates still died while here and there’s the questionable use of its sensory depriving solitary confinement, the dark cell. How long do you think you can stand staying in there during a visit to the prison?
It’s a shame the movie industry isn’t a larger influence on the Arizona economy but at least we can take pride in the few movies that have been filmed here. Superior is one small town located in central Arizona that some people think looks just spooky enough to serve as a background setting for horror, thriller, and alien movies.
Whoa, a dozen ghosts? That’s right and you can read up several of them and their grisly lives in our article below. Most of the hotel features haunted rooms and ghosts that aren’t terribly menacing, however, we don’t suggest trying to agitate them.
If there’s any hotel where you’re bound to have a ghostly experience, rumor has it that the Jerome Grand Hotel is it. Purported to be the most haunted hotel in Arizona, this hotel was once a general hospital that served the mine and community, meaning they saw a combination of events where life began and ended.
Boot Hill in Tombstone has a fascinating history and it was nearly lost like many other former boomtown cemeteries. However, community involvement meant this place survived and you’ll be able to find the burial plots of many very real people who lived in Arizona’s wild west.
There are few better ways to get into the Halloween spirit than with a ghost tour! Search for one in your favorite place and you’re bound to find something that combines history with the paranormal. Some tours come equipped with EVP and other ghost tracking devices so you can try searching for them yourself.
If you’re feeling hungry and happen to be near Jerome, you’ll want to check out this haunted restaurant that also has a fantastic menu. Wine and dine on burgers, cocktails, and ridiculously good milk shakes in between trying to find the ghosts that linger here.
Looking for some seasonal things to do that are just a little less spooky? You might enjoy checking out some fantastic fall hikes that will introduce you to the spectacular foliage around the state. Read more in 7 Short And Sweet Fall Hikes In Arizona With A Spectacular End View.
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