Our exciting plans for a week in Sedona, AZ were derailed because of the Rafael Fires in the Coconino National Forest, but sometimes these sudden changes present new opportunities for adventure. In this case, we lucked out big time! Thanks to a chance meeting with a local, we found out about Jerome, Arizona, an old copper mining town called the “Wickedest Town in the West”. He had me at “wicked” and “ghost town”, so we booked a ghost tour.
The streets of Jerome quite literally hold the city’s past. (Photo credit: Postdlf)
The town of Jerome is about 45 minutes away from Sedona, and it’s quite a drive. The town was built on the side of a mountain, at about a 30% grade. The road to Jerome was windy and steep – very steep. Switchbacks and more switchbacks take you through the historic town whose structures look like they could slip down the hill at any moment. According to local legend, the old jail has slid more than 250’ since it was built.
Carl, our tour guide from Ghost Town Tours, gave us both a history lesson and told us the local ghost stories. The town was founded in 1876 and was an active and very profitable copper mine. There were gun fights, mining accidents, prostitutes and the town burned three times. The census says the population peaked at 15,000 in the 1920’s, however historians believe there were thousands more living and working in Jerome at that time. Records also show that thousands of people died in that time from disease and work injury. Yet, there are only about 200 people buried in the local cemetery.
We visited the local cemetery with Carl who showed us how to use ghost meters and other devices to connect with the spirit world. Carl told us which graves have had chatty spirits in the past. He said it wasn’t uncommon for people to get cursed at when passing the grave of James Kelly. I didn’t have much luck hearing from any spirits, but Seth heard an “f-you” through the static of his ghost walkie-talkie.
We tried to contact spirits in the Jerome, Arizona Cemetery
Mom trying to make contact with spirits using the E.V.P. machine (ghost walkie talkie).
The morgue in Jerome couldn’t keep up with processing the bodies, so they turned to the smelter at the copper mine. They burned the bodies which became part of the slag, waste product from the copper processing.
After the third and final fire destroyed Jerome, the town passed an ordinance that all structures had to be built from concrete. They used the slag as part of the concrete processing and then built the city sidewalks, buildings and streets. Jerome was literally built from the ashes of the people who died. Creepy.
There are many other stories of the haunts in Jerome, like the Grand Hotel which used to be a hospital where many people spent their final days. Read more about it here. And then there are the stories of the prostitutes and brothels, which you can read here.
If you’re into ghost stories and history, this is a great city to visit. You could easily spend a day exploring the town and taking a tour. I’d recommend the longer tour so you can get an even more in-depth history lesson. And, then stop by Haunted Hamburger for dinner!
Grab a bite to eat at the Haunted Hamburger after your tour!
