About 40 minutes southwest of Sedona lies a town never to be forgotten: Jerome, Arizona. Once booming with copper mines, bustling streets, and people from all walks of life, it now rests as a ghost town atop the Cleopatra Mountains. This was once the fourth largest city in Arizona. What made everyone leave?
My boyfriend, Warren, and I traveled to this ghost town near Sedona to find out.
Enter the Miner’s Cabin
We stayed in a town nearby called Cottonwood, which is home to the Verde Valley Wine Trail. It was time for a weekend of hiking, history, and dare we say, relaxation! We chose this exciting cabin because you could access everything the area had to offer: Sedona, Flagstaff, and of course, Jerome.
The cabin itself was hosted by descendants of a former copper-mining guru. It was cozy and interesting with all the decor, and even shared glimpses into a day in the life of a miner. We enjoyed a cup of Joe before taking off to see all the sights nearby. Want to check out this stay for yourself? Book direct and save.
Things to Do in Jerome, Arizona: Explore Its Mining History
The James S. Douglas mansion, now known as the Historic Mining Park, is in the hills of the Verde Valley, just a cut above the Little Daisy Mine. Built in 1916, the mansion was once home to one of Jerome’s most influential copper-mining families. Historic equipment and other memorabilia at the showed the working lifestyle of miners. We wandered through this scenic area, exhilarated by breathtaking views.
As it turns out, there were three things not allowed in a mine: smoking, drinking, and women. As the old saying goes, a woman found in a mine was bad luck. Ironically, ladies weren’t initially what attracted men to the town of Jerome. It was the wages. Many flocked to this ludicrous mining town until 1953, when everything changed.
A Pivotal Moment at the Grand Jerome Hotel
While copper production had just peaked in 1929, the fortune wouldn’t last forever. The Great Depression struck, along with low-grade ore deposits. At least they had the United Verde Hospital to keep their spirits at ease if an illness haunted them. But this hospital was anything but ordinary, keeping asylum patients in house.
Today, the former hospital is the Jerome Grand Hotel, rumored to be one of Arizona’s most haunted buildings. Guests have reported sightings of Claude Harvey, a maintenance man who mysteriously died beneath the hospital’s elevator. With stories like his, it’s no wonder Jerome has a haunted reputation.
We had to see the hotel for ourselves… It felt like a scene out of The Shining, where snowfall covered the ground on a dark night. I remember having an eerie feeling walking near the elevator and down the hall of the first floor. We didn’t see anything personally, but sipped spirits at the bar, wondering if any ghosts were there for a good time too.
It felt like a scene out of the Shining, where the snowfall covered the ground on a dark night.
—Sydney, That One Nomad
Local Haunts of Jerome
We wandered down the street to check out Caduceus Cellars, as we had heard from many the wine is up to Maynard’s standards. If you’re a Tool fan, you’ll be surprised to know this is one of several businesses Maynard owns in the area. A woman who worked there filled us in on a local secret:
There was a ghost of a man who had come to haunt her at the end of her shift. She heard the door of the wine bar jingle, even though it was locked. You could hear someone sigh and lean on the chair at the counter. She yelled, “We’re closed!” Suddenly, the orb of light, or the man sitting at the counter vanished.
She believes it was an old sheriff checking to make sure she was okay. Apparently, the guy just really wanted some Pinot.
Still Searching: A Ghost Walk
Jerome’s quiet streets invited us to explore its wicked past. Near Spook Hall, we uncovered stories of miners who endured filthy streets, rampant illness, and dangerous working conditions. To blow off steam, drinking, gambling, and prostitution ran wild — earning Jerome its nickname, “The Wickedest Town in the West.”
But Jerome endured more than its fair share of chaos: four devastating fires, deadly mining accidents, financial hardship, and even landslides. While exploring Main Street, we stumbled upon the historic Sliding Jail, which literally slid downhill. Apparently, even the jail wanted out of Jerome.
In Closing: Are the Rumors True?
The hilltop town of Jerome is like nowhere else on Earth. While so many had vices here, oddly, there’s a sense of peace I felt walking along the streets. Maybe it had to do with this rumor: former miners are buried beneath Jerome’s streets. Talk about resting in peace.
Fact or fiction? Only time will tell. With many unidentified graves due to mining accidents and landslides, there’s no telling what the real story is. It’s true that some graves have been lost to history. Other stories are just waiting to be discovered. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, this ghost town near Sedona is worth the detour.
Just don’t be surprised if someone follows you home.
That One Nomad,
Sydney
Ready to keep exploring the Southwest? Check out my article about the experiencing the Grand Canyon, secret spots in Joshua Tree, or unexpected places in Death Valley.
