Halloween season is usually when we dust off our scariest stories, brave a corn maze, or willingly walk into a haunted house knowing something is likely waiting around the corner.
But here in Arizona, you don’t necessarily have to wait until October to get your ghostly fix. In the Grand Canyon State, spooky season is year-round.
Arizona’s history is filled with boomtowns, mining accidents, old hospitals, Wild West legends and historic buildings that have witnessed more than a century of stories. Some of those buildings happen to be hotels where guests and staff have reported unexplained footsteps, mysterious voices, apparitions and other paranormal encounters.
From historic hotels in Jerome, Phoenix, Prescott, Flagstaff, Bisbee and Tucson, these
properties have earned reputations that go far beyond their vintage charm. Whether you believe in ghosts or enjoy a good story and a hotel room with a little extra personality, Arizona has plenty of places where checking in might mean more than just getting a key.
So turn off the lights and keep an eye on the hallway. Here are 10 of Arizona's most haunted hotels.
Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff
The Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff is considered haunted for plenty of reasons. Built in the late 1890s, the hotel has played host to famous guests like Theodore Roosevelt, Zane Grey and William Randolph Hearst.
One of the most famous ghost stories centers around the “newlyweds,” a bride and groom supposedly murdered during their 1930s honeymoon in room 54. That room and the rooms surrounding it make up the laundry room and are therefore off-limits outside of official tours. People still report seeing the couple sitting on the bed or walking through the door.
Other eerie occurrences include lights flickering over the pool table, cold spots, hearing whispers in empty hallways, and even a woman in a red dress wandering the halls.
Details: 23 N. Leroux St., Flagstaff. 928-779-1919, weatherfordhotel.com.
Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee
The Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee isn’t just Arizona’s oldest continuously operating hotel; it also has a haunting reputation. Open since 1902, the hotel’s most famous "ghost" is Julia Lowell, a woman said to have been a sex worker in the early 1900s who tragically ended her life after a failed love affair. Many believe she still lingers in room 315. On the upper floors, guests report hearing whispers, feeling touches and even glimpsing her spirit.
Another well-known ghost is Billy, a young boy who supposedly drowned in the nearby San Pedro River but now roams the halls, laughing and playing tricks.
There’s also the mysterious bearded man in a top hat and cape, often accompanied by the scent of cigar smoke before he appears.
Details: 11 Howell Ave., Bisbee. 520-432-2216, copperqueen.com.
Hotel Vendome in Prescott
The Hotel Vendome in Prescott is not just a charming boutique hotel, but its stories linger in its hallways as much as its vintage woodwork. Built in 1917 and now on the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel has long preserved its original character, such as claw-foot tubs, iron radiators, rich wood paneling and a veranda that looks out onto historic downtown Prescott.
But it's in room 16 where most of the ghost tales are told. According to lore, in 1920, a woman named Abby Byr, who once co-owned and managed the hotel, ended up living in room 16 after losing ownership. After her husband vanished while fetching medicine, Abby, who was ill with tuberculosis, and her cat Noble died of starvation. Guests say they’ve heard soft footsteps, whispers and even cat noises coming from the closet. Some have felt a gentle presence brushing against their legs or seen a rocking chair move on its own.
Rather than menacing, the spirits are often described as polite, turning off faucets, adjusting lights or devices or simply making their presence known in subtle ways.
Details: 230 S. Cortez St., Prescott. 928-776-0900, vendomehotel.com.
Jerome Grand Hotel in Jerome
The Jerome Grand Hotel is considered one of the most haunted places in the state thanks to its chilling past as the old United Verde Hospital, where an estimated 9,000 patients died when it operated in the early 1900s. Guests and staff have reported eerie activity ranging from ghostly voices, coughing and labored breathing echoing through empty halls. Some guests have even heard children laughing and faint cries of a baby.
There have been dozens of encounters with various spirits. One of the famous spirits is believed to be Claude Harvey, a maintenance man who died mysteriously under the elevator in 1935. His presence is often felt near the shaft and boiler room.
Details: 200 Hill St., Jerome. 928-634-8200, jeromegrandhotel.net.
Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff
The ghost stories are woven deep into the history of the Hotel Monte Vista. Built in 1927 and a staple of Route 66 lore, the hotel is said to harbor spirits of a bank robber who died in the lounge, a phantom bellboy who knocks on guests’ doors and a shadowy figure known as the “Meat Man” who once allegedly hung raw meat from chandeliers in room 220.
Others have mentioned seeing the spirits of two women who were murdered in room 306. Guests have reported flickering lights, TVs turning on by themselves, bedsheets moving and whispering voices.
Details: 100 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff. 928-779-6971, hotelmontevista.com.
Gadsden Hotel in Douglas
This historic hotel, opened in 1907 and rebuilt in 1929 after a fire, is steeped in history and haunted reputation alike. Guests frequently report strange encounters in room 333, where lights flicker or turn off and on, knocking sounds emerge from within the walls or radiators, and people claim to feel an unseen presence lying beside them in bed.
Other sights include a tall, headless figure dressed in black and seen in the hotel’s basement or hallways, with some speculating the specter might even be connected to Pancho Villa lore.
Others have seen a cowboy, a Native American boy and a comforting female spirit.
The Gadsden’s haunted status has been featured on ghost shows and draws paranormal enthusiasts eager to catch a glimpse of “Gadsden Ghosts,” whose presence has been felt everywhere from the maze-like basement all the way up through the floors above.
Details: 1046 G Ave., Douglas. 520-364-448. thegadsdenhotel.com.
Hassayampa Inn in Prescott
According to local lore, a young bride named Faith Summers stayed at the Hassayampa Inn Grand Balcony Suite, room 426, shortly after its opening in 1927. Her husband reportedly left to buy cigarettes and never returned. Being distraught, Faith is said to have taken her own life in despair.
Guests and staff have long reported strange phenomena such as disembodied crying, flickering lights, faucets or burners turning on and off, and sudden cold spots.
Many claim to have seen a translucent figure in a pink gown roaming the halls, sometimes carrying a bouquet or appearing at the foot of the bed.
Details: 122 E. Gurley St., Prescott. 928-778-9434. hassayampainn.com.
San Carlos Hotel in Phoenix
In the heart of downtown Phoenix is a hotel most have passed by. Opened in 1928, the San Carlos Hotel was one of the city’s first luxury hotels and has hosted numerous celebrities over the years. However, its history is also marked by tragic events.
The most well-known ghost associated with the hotel is that of Leone Jensen, a 22-year-old woman who tragically took her own life by jumping from the hotel’s rooftop in 1928 after a broken engagement.
In addition to Leone’s spirit, there are stories of other hauntings, including the sounds of children playing and laughing in the hallways, believed to be the spirits of children from a former school that once occupied the site.
Details: 202 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-253-4121. hotelsancarlos.com.
Hotel Congress in Tucson
This 100-year-old hotel has witnessed over a century of events, including Prohibition, the devastating 1934 fire, and even the capture of the infamous gangster John Dillinger.
However, it’s the hotel’s past that continues to captivate visitors. One of the most chilling tales is that of room 242. In the 1940s, a young woman staying in this room took her own life, and guests have reported unsettling experiences in this room, including the sensation of someone sitting on the bed, staring at them or attempting to touch them.
The hotel also houses a resident ghost named Vince, a longtime handyman who passed away in 2001. Staff have found butter knives from the hotel’s downstairs café in various places around the second floor, suggesting that Vince continues his work from beyond the grave.
Details: 311 E. Congress St. #1811, Tucson. 520-622-8848. hotelcongress.com.
The Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley
Originally built in 1936 as the home and studio of cowboy artist Alonzo “Lon” Megargee, the Hermosa Inn has a few haunting experiences.
Guests have reported sightings of a tall, lanky figure wearing a cowboy hat, believed to be the ghost of Megargee himself. These apparitions are often seen in the bar and foyer sections of the inn.
Additionally, unexplained events such as glasses and bottles breaking when no one is around and toilets flushing on their own have been attributed to Megargee’s spirit.
Details: 5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley. 602-955-8614. azhideawaycollection.com/hermosa-inn.
Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Tiffany.Acosta@gannett.com. Follow @tiffsario on Instagram.
Looking for the best things to do in Arizona? Sign up for our newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 10 most haunted hotels in Arizona. Check in if you dare
