Arizona is known for Native American history, Old West legends, and it’s many remaining ghost towns. Considering this, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Arizona is full of haunted lore and abounding ghost tales. The still desert air adds an authentic feel to Arizona’s historic downtown districts, and any Ghost Walk or Haunted Tour taking place in one of these areas is sure to please. To experience one of Arizona’s Ghost Walks or Haunted Tours, check the following list for one happening near you!
JEROME, ARIZONA
The Jerome Historical Society sponsors and conducts a Ghost Walk, taking participants on a walking tour to see historical buildings and listen to local ghost stories. In the past, they have conducted their Ghost Walk on just one Saturday in October, offering three separate tours that last an hour each. The Ghost Walks have been scheduled to begin at 6pm in the past, and spaces are limited to 600 total, so advance registration is required. Prices range from $5-$12 depending on age. To obtain information regarding this year’s Ghost Walk in Jerome, those interested can either call the Jerome Historical Society at (928)634-1066, or email the staff at [email protected].
PHOENIX, ARIZONA
The Ghosts of Phoenix tour begins in mid October, and runs every Friday and Saturday night through the end of October. Participants will be treated to haunted locations that are typically off limits to the public. This tour begins in the lobby of the Hotel San Carlos located at 202 N. Central Avenue, across the street from the tallest building in Phoenix. This Ghost Walk begins at 8pm, and kicks off with a tour of the hotel itself, reported to be haunted. The Ghost Walk then spills out onto the dark streets of Phoenix, and participants are treated to real accounts of hauntings and ghostly activitiy occuring at local hotels, restaurants, pubs, and coffee houses, relayed to the stafff of Ghosts of Pheonix by owners and tenants of these locations. The Ghost Walk of Phoenix lasts one hour, and all cameras are not only permitted, but encouraged, which is nice because cameras are not always permitted on these types of tours. Although tickets can be purchased in the lobby of the San Carlos Hotel, reservations are required due to limited space. For more information, those interested in this tour can either visit the website listed at the end of this article in the “Sources” section, or call Rachel Miller at (602)574-9304 to find out about schedule dates and times of this Ghost Walk.
TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA
The Ghost Walk offered in Tombstone is highly unique in that all proceeds go towards a charitable cause. Tricia Rawson, founder of the Friends of the Dead Ghost Walk, has made it her mission in life to help ensure that all those who have passed away have a grave marker. This includes replacing and repairing historical grave markers, as well as helping families to provide markers for family members under the age of twenty-one who have passed, when their families struggle to meet these costs. It is an admirable endeavor, and one that the founder of the Tombstone Ghost Walk appears to feel passionately about. The Friends of the Dead Ghost Walk in Tombstone occurs Sunday through Thursday, and tours begin at 11pm. To make reservations, and get details, you can call Tricia Rawson at (520)457-9191, or visit her website, the link to which is listed at the end of this article in the “Sources” section. Tax deductible donations are set at $15 per adult, $10 for those aged 10-15, and children under 10 are permitted on the tour at no charge. If you cannot attend the tour, but are interested in donating to Friends of the Dead, you may do so by sending your contribution to Tricia Rawson, P.O. Box 1661, Tombstone, AZ, 85638.
WILLIAMS, ARIZONA
The Ghost Buffalo Canyon Pararesearch Society operates a Ghost Walk in Williams, Arizona, known as the Saloon Row Ghost Tour. Wiliams, considered a “living ghost town”, offers the perfect atmosphere for a Ghost Walk. This Ghost Walk includes an audio presentation, parts of which include an explanation of embalming and body preparation from a funeral director! The tour culminates in a certified haunted hotel, where EVP’s and ghostly photos from the investigations conducted by the Ghost Buffalo Canyon Pararesearch Society are presented. This Ghost Walk includes interractions and experiences that anyone who wants to learn more about ghosts in Tombstone is sure to enjoy. Tours run nightly from March 1st to Halloween night, beginning at 7pm sharp. This Ghost Walk meets and departs in front of the Grand Canyon Hotel on historic Route 66. This Ghost Walk lasts 90 minutes, after which each participant is given their own souvenir ghost hunting card! Space is limited to 40 persons per Ghost Walk, so make your reservations in advance. Prices are $15 for adults, $8 per child aged 2-12, and $10 for NAU students showing proper I.D. For further details, and to make reservations, visit the Ghost Buffalo Canyon Pararesearch Society’s Saloon Row Ghost Tour website listed at the end of this article in the “Sources” section.
SOURCES ( http://saloonrowghosttour.com/info.php , www.ghostsofphoenix.com , http://www.friendsofthedead.org/ , www.jeromehistoricalsociety.org/ )
