Ghost Town: Jerome, AZ

What do you get when you combine mining, riches and ladies of the night? The perfect cocktail for a haunting of course!

The town of Jerome, AZ has a history so dark that almost every building still standing is haunted. Upon asking a local couple I was informed that the only place that doesn't go bump in the night is the Surgeon's house. "And that's because they cleanse it everyday," they said. 

To the untrained eye Jerome looks like any other charming mountain town. Quirky shops, local grub and of course, a stress-inducing drive to the mountain's summit. From the moment we rolled in, I knew those streets were something special.

Maybe it was the views or maybe it was the fact that I unwittingly stumbled upon an entire town doused in paranormal history but, Jerome was laying the charm on me, hard. 

For a creep like me, this place felt like home, these were some of my favorite experiences during our visit. 

Ghost Tours

So, have you heard? Jerome is haunted! If I haven't already drilled that tid-bit into your brain let me throw it in here one more time! 

This cute little town on the hill was a hot spot for copper mining back in the day. Where there are riches to be reaped there is also greed, lust and suffering. A good ole' fashioned brawl wasn't uncommon and unfortunately many of these fights had a bloody finale. 

Today, several spooky tours are available that are sure to satisfy your inner paranormal researcher and history-buff alike! We did find some of the ghost tours to be a bit on the pricey side. However, in a town as unique as Jerome it's ok to live a little and go all-in on a chilling adventure. 

The Haunted Hamburger

Food with a view! The goofy outer decor of this restaurant beckoned us from down the street. The sight of 3 miniature skeletons scaling a building is hard to miss. Of course we were intrigued and decided to pay the Haunted Hamburger a visit! Seating on the second floor is where it's at! We were fortunate enough to grab a table near the window allowing us to gawk at the glorious landscape below. While we didn't encounter any otherworldly beings during our visit our food was delightful. If I hadn't been so full I surely would have snagged a piece of the towering cake I spied in the case below.

Wicked City Brew
With some time to kill we decided to beat the heat with a beer. Since it was the middle of the day we had the place to ourselves. The bartender was super friendly and we even made a new friend(see below). The beers were refreshing and reasonably priced. Bonus: The bathroom is hidden behind a secret door! The mystery intensifies!  

The Jerome Grand Hotel 

A well-known location for fans of the show Ghost Adventures, Jerome is home to none other than the Jerome Grand Hotel. You may remember it as the episode where Zak almost got his head chopped off in an elevator shaft, yikes!

Before it's transformation into a hotel the building acted as the town's hospital. "Brilliant, let's turn this hospital into a glorious hotel! What could possibly go wrong?" said some guy who pitched this idea probably.... 

I can't say for certain but I do believe you can still pay to spend the night at this famous haunt. If you aren't feeling brave enough to sleep with some ghouls you can pay a visit to the restaurant, Asylum that occupies the first floor of the hotel.

Shops 
Ice cream, music and home goods, there's something for everyone in Jerome! The streets are lined with local businesses selling one of a kind knick-knacks. 

5 star views
If nothing else, visit Jerome for the scenery. In this town you're literally on top of the world. You don't want to miss these views!