Ghosts and Haunted Places in Arizona

Arizona is probably best know as a hot and humid state full of sand or at least that's what those outside the state think. Those inside the state know that they have more ghost stories than many people would think.

Let's start with the town of Jerome, Arizona. Today the area is known for its large abundance of artists, but once upon a time it was a copper mining town and many of the ghosts are believed to date from that time period. Many people have spotted the ghost of a younger woman standing near the Community Center and walking down the street. The building she's walking to was oddly enough once used as a meeting spot for ladies of the night.

There's also the Inn at Jerome where the prostitutes used to take their clients. The former madam of the brothel is rumored to haunt the hotel as does her cat. Also haunted is the Jerome Grand Hotel, which was once used as a hospital. There are stories of strange lights, elevator sounds and of course people moaning in pain and coughing. Oddly enough a man did once die in the hospital's elevator. The town also has a haunted mine where people hear someone walking around when no one is there.

There's also the haunted Fort Huachuca. This Fort was used during the Indian War and was inhabited from 1877 to the early 1900s. Carleton House located on Fort Huachuca is supposedly haunted and those who have stayed there claimed to hear some strange things. Things have a habit of moving on their own, the lights switch off and the house has cold spots. Many believe these ghosts date back to the time when the house was used as a hospital.

Or you can visit Holbrook, Arizona and see the haunted Navajo County Courthouse. Today the building isn't used as a courthouse, but that hasn't stopped the ghosts. One ghost is that of George Smiley who was hanged at the courthouse during the 1890s. He generally likes to make a nuisance of himself by playing with the doors, lights and even moving things around or walking on the stairs. Legend also claims that the courthouse is haunted by a female spirit who died in the building.

Then you can check out the Yuma Territorial Prison. This prison opened in 1876 and closed in 1909-1910, but by that time a number of people had died there. People report seeing dark, shadowy figures inside the remains of the old prison. Others claim to feel just plain uncomfortable there, as if someone was standing over their shoulder.

You'll also find a number of haunted sites and locations in Tucson, Arizona. The Velasco House is haunted by the ghost of its former owner, Carlos Ygnacio. Some have actually seen the man in the house, while others have spotted the man standing with a female ghost, though no one's quite sure who she might be.

Flagstaff is where you'll find the haunted Museum Club. People report hearing strange noises as if someone is walking up and down the stairs or hearing and seeing chairs move as if someone's sitting there. One woman who owned the house died there and her husband later committed suicide and many believe they are the source of the haunting.

Tucson is also home to Catalina High School where a former custodian still makes his rounds. The man actually died there and now sometimes shows up to help with the cleaning. The University of Arizona in town is also haunted. The Modern Languages Building is haunted by the ghost of a woman who was murdered on the spot years ago before the building existed.

Lake Havasu has the haunted London Bridge, the same bridge that was moved to the city in 1971, over a century after it first went up in London. Many people over the years have reported seeing a couple in old fashioned looking clothing walking across the bridge, looking decidedly out of place.

No discussion of haunted places in Arizona would be complete without a look at the ghost of the Grand Canyon. Supposedly the ghost is that of a woman who killed herself near the Canyon after her family was killed. Now she wanders down the road, looking for her family. Meanwhile there's another ghost there, that of a child who likes to play on a playground.