Table Of Contents

1. When to Visit
2. History
3. Where to Park
4. Old Jerome Cemetery
5. Ghost City Inn
6. House of Joy
7. Jerome's Sliding Jail
8. Cuban Queen Bordello 
9. Husband's Alley
10. Liberty Theatre & Gifts
11. Connor Hotel
12. The Spirit Room
13. Bartlett Hotel
14. Jerome Park
15. Mile High Inn
16. First Episcopal Church
17. The Haunted Hamburger
18. Surgeon's House
19. The Old Company Clinic
20. Asylum Restaurant
21. The Grand Hotel
22. United Verde Mine

When to Visit

Obviously, since this is a ghost tour, the best time for it is at dusk as it day turns to night. But even during the daytime, the abandoned streets and buildings still have an ominous feeling. Three of the locations on this tour are also hotels so for those brave enough to stay overnight, you’re in for an extra treat. Overnight stays allow you to experience the town without as many tourists, and the silence allows for keener ears and eyes to spot those spectres.

History

Jerome was founded in the late 19th century on Cleopatra Hill. It overlooks the scenic Verde Valley, which is 5,000 feet above sea level. During its heyday, it was home to more than 15,000 people. During the first world war, the price of copper soared, and American citizens came here in droves to mine the rich copper quarries that were abundant in this area of the west. Jerome was dubbed the “Wickedest Town in the West” by the New York Sun newspaper in 1903. It had a reputation for rampant gambling, an abundance of alcohol consumption, drug abuse, gunfights and other mayhem. With all of that debauchery came a series of unfortunate deaths, each one relating to the abandon that was felt throughout the town. It was lawless and rarely were crimes investigated to the full extent of the law.

Over the years the town seemed to be cursed. Jerome was subject to numerous fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters. The population continued to decrease and the copper mines dried up. Eventually, it became a ghost town with little to no sustainable source of income. In the late ’60s, the Arizonian Tourism board saw Jerome’s untouched architectural and cultural history to be valuable for visitors. And in 1967 Jerome was established as a Historical Landmark.

State Park and National Mine Museum

In the late 2000s, art galleries and trendy restaurants started popping up to drive more people into the town. The local State Park and National Mine Museum were established to help preserve the history of mining in this village and to educate travelling visitors on the history of Jerome. But what people come to Jerome for these days, are the ghosts! Even if you don’t believe in these spectres, the dark history of the town’s past is a fascinating way to explore its decrepit streets and abandoned buildings.

United Verde Mines

The United Verde Mines in Jerome were a dangerous place. In 1922, the quality of ore they had been mining began to degrade, and they had to switch to open-pit mining. This resulted in multiple fires which plagued the operations. Often, there was no way to control the flames which burned the ore under the ground. These ever-burning fires resulted in dense smoke on the skyline of Jerome for months, a haunting sight to see. The recklessness of the mine owners was in their quest for power and wealth is thought to have cursed the town. Fire after fire, earthquakes, landslides and rampant diseases seem like something more than just chance.

Dynamite and Explosions

If the fires and dynamite explosions didn’t kill the miners, brawls and shootouts would. In its heyday, it is estimated that there were four murders a day in Jerome! Since these men were poor miners there was no money for a funeral and burial. So they were disposed of in the cities smelting furnaces, and the bone fragments from the corpses are literally now still in the foundation of the city itself. It’s a living tomb. Today, the ghosts of these fallen miners are thought to haunt the town, in search of their final resting place.

So many ghosts died in the fires which tore through the camp in the early days of Jerome. At that time, most of the buildings were made from timber, and once something caught fire, it spread rapidly. Being high up on the hill meant that the winds would pick up any bits of burning embers can carry them past where the initial blaze started. In 1898 one of the most massive fires pretty much levelled the entire town to ash and took with it many lives.

Where to Park

After visiting the cemetery, which is on the outskirts of the town, there is a parking lot for anyone on a day trip marked on the map where you can easily leave your car and then head over to the next spot on tour. If you’re staying overnight, almost all the hotels have dedicated parking.

Old Jerome Cemetery

We’ll start our tour on the outskirts of town. Before you even enter the ghost town, you’re immediately met with a sign of its darkened past. The old cemetery once housed over 400 graves and markers, but today almost nothing remains. Because the ground was so tough, most of the time, the earth wasn’t dug too deep to bury the bodies. This meant that animals, such as coyotes, were able to dig up the corpses and drag them from their “eternal” resting place out to the mountains where they were never recovered. Today, the last of the stones and markers are protected with iron fences to ensure they don’t slide right off the cliffside. From this place, you have a panoramic view of the United Verde Mining Operations and the towering Cleopatra hill which rises up above the city.

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Ghost City Inn

This charming red and white painted two storey bed and breakfast seem anything but nefarious. But like everything in Jerome, it’s not what it seems. The Ghost City Inn was initially built in 1885 by the Garcia family as a lodging house for the managers of the various mines. In 1930, a miner staying in the house had constructed a bootleg still in his room. The poorly made machine exploded, causing an enormous fire which engulfed the entire second floor. In the 1950s and 70s, the house went through multiple renovations. This was in an attempt to keep relevant after the closure of the mines.

It became an art gallery, funeral home, spiritual retreat and restaurant. In 1994, it went through its latest transformation into a bed and breakfast where brave visitors stay the night to see if they can spot a ghost. The hotel’s most popular room, the Cleopatra Hill room, a female spirt it thought to be seen roaming the halls. In the Verde View Room, there is a male spirit seen outside the halls spying through keyholes on those people inside. People have seen doors slam on their own and whispering voices in the hallways when no one is there. Perhaps these are the ghosts of the people who perished in the fire, searching for a way out.

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Ladies of the Night

The ghosts of these ‘ladies of the night’ are thought to roam these streets, searching for redemption. High-class escorts worked in brothers where they had madams who took care of their health and safety. But if you were one of the lower class working women, you worked in what was called “the cribs”. These women saw upwards of 30-80 men a night and exposed themselves to harsh conditions, illness and violence.

Dozens of women died either by the hands of jealous clients or passed away from sexually transmitted diseases they weren’t even aware of. One such woman, who is seen wandering the street, was named Sammie Dean. Sammie Dean was murdered on Tuesday July 7th 1931 inside ‘Lil’s place’, a brothel apartment off Hull Ave. Her killer is a mystery but suspects include the Mayors Son, or Deputies Son. She is reportedly spotted in windows along the street, continually looking for her killer.

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House of Joy

The House of Joy on Hull Avenue is now an eclectic shop, but it was once one of the most famous brothels in town. In front of this house, people have said they feel like they are being watched by eyes in the window, despite no one being home. Often you’ll hear footsteps behind you, only to turn and nothing is there. People have even been said to be able to smell old fashioned perfume wafting from nowhere.

This red and black painted bordello was owned by the famous Madam, Nora “Butter” Brown. She was the very first madam to open a brothel in Jerome and taught Madam Jennie everything she knew. Jennie (who we will learn about late) went on to become much more success than Brown herself but learned everything from good ol’ Nora. During one of the many Jerome fires, Nora ran to the fire department and begged them to save her house over all the others. She went so far as to offer all the firefighters free “business” if they managed to save her property. With that kinda incentive its no surprise to hear, her house was saved.

Jerome’s Sliding Jail

Continue walking along Hull Avenue, and as you climb, on your right, down the hill (pathway marked), you’ll find the famous Sliding Jail. As the miners continued to dig and disrupt the steep hillside, many buildings were lost to landslides. And this jail is one of the remaining examples of this phenomenon. In 1936, the earth gave way under the jail, and it literally slid down the hill. It originally was located 200 feet from here, upon the main street.

The concrete cell block literally fell right out of the tin and wood building it was contained within. One can only imagine if someone had been inside this cell or not when it made a run for it. The cell is now reinforced by a few new walls and an iron fence to attempts to keep people out. Spirits have been drawn to this site for years, perhaps ghosts of old prisoners, searching for somewhere familiar.

Cuban Queen Bordello 

Just up from the sliding jail, is the remains of the Cuban Queen Bordello. This building was finally torn down in 2017 as it had been left to rot and eventually collapsed on itself. The once swanky Bordello was the site of one of the town’s most unlucky couple. After drinks in the bordello, two men had a quarrel in the streets, and one had killed the other. The murdered man’s wife, now left with no income became a prostitute at the Cuban Queen Bordello. There she was also shot to death by an estranged lover. Perhaps the angry spirits of the murdered couple brought down the building itself, but no doubt they still roam the area. But at least they are together again in death.

Husband’s Alley

Husbands Alley is the small alley behind what is now the Nellie Blie building. It had a false store front with access down to the Cribs. The Cribs District or ‘Husband’s Alley’ by the locals, as this was where the majority of Jerome’s prostitutes and ladies of the night would set up shop. Miners rarely brought their families with them when they took a position at a mine, and this meant prostitution was rampant. Although prostitution was technically legal, police would look the other way, and the trade was second only to copper in terms of the money brought into Jerome. At one point over 100 prostitutes were working in town.

Brothels and Saloons

These brothels were once located right on the main street, but when Jerome attempted to become a more “family-friendly” town, these establishments were moved to this new area, away from the saloons on the main drag. This meant men could head down to the main street to drink and gamble, and then walk out the back door, to access Husband’s alley. Then they would head back into the saloon once they were finished their “business” and walk out the front of the bar without knowing anyone knowing any the wiser what they had been up to.

Liberty Theatre & Gifts

Turning up Jerome avenue, we come upon the old Liberty Theatre, which now also acts as a gift shop. This was Jerome’s first silent movie theatre. Although the theatre closed in 1929, you can still explore the space it once resided in, and ghosts don’t just head off because of renovations. To this day, the spirit of a former patron haunts the building. Immigrants often came to mining towns as that kind of labour didn’t require too much legal paperwork.

A German-born immigrant woman to the city had struck up an affair with another one of the town’s immigrants. The two had a fight, and the woman fled to the movie theatre to clear her mind. But the man followed her there. He waited until the music got louder and then he strangled her to death, her screams masked by the tune. Today, people have been said to still hear screams coming from the second floor where the theatre once was.

Connor Hotel

Built in 1898 by David Connor, the Connor Hotel is one of Jerome precious jewels of the past. Formerly this hotel was built with over twenty rooms on the second floor to house all the different travelling miners, businessmen and contractors coming from all over the west to cash in on the natural resources to be found here Verde Valley. Rooms only cost $1.00 but back in that day that was a king’s ransom and the Connor Hotel didn’t disappoint. There were a bar, card room and even billiard tables on the first floor. Everything inside the Connor Hotel felt luxurious. It was the top of the line for hotels in the West, know all over Arizona. Just like the Bartlett hotel down the street, the Connor hotel also suffered at the hands of the flames and burned down in 1898.

Because there was so little land that could be built upon and all the buildings downtown were built do close together once a fire started, it spread very quickly, and there was no stopping it. But unlike many other shop owners, Connor had purchased insurance and was able to start construction on his new hotel very quickly. He made some lavish improvements on the previous hotel, including making this one in brick (much more fireproof) and was up and running right away.

Trouble at the Hotel

But as the mines began to run dry and the travelling miners went back home, the hotel started to run out of money. And by 1931 the hotel had to close its doors, for what they thought would be the last time. It still tried to rent out its first floor to different shops to make some money but the second floor remained dormant. It wasn’t until the late 60s with the tourist boom that it was transformed into a hotel once more. After a considerable renovation to update the hotel to modern safety codes and health standards, the hotel is inviting travellers back through its doors to experience a piece of history.

The Connor Hotel is haunted by an unnamed male spirit who loves to play with and manipulate electronics. He loves to turn on and off radios, TVs, telephones, and computers. This man’s presence can be sensed with cold spots in an otherwise warm room, or sometimes the echo of his voice can be heard calling from down the dark and creaky hallways.

Ms. Marie Gallagher

Another famous incident at the hotel involved a woman named Ann Hopkins. Ann’s husband was having an affair with a local school teacher, Ms. Marie Gallagher. In a jealous rage, Ann bought carbolic acid and waited till Gallagher was coming to the hotel to meet her husband. Ann caught her in the lobby and threw the acid in her face. The school teacher, Ms. Marie Gallagher, was not killed in the acid attack, but Ann was sent to jail for about 6 years, and came back to Jerome, living for a time inside the Connor Hotel room #1. Today, her spirit returns to haunt the hotel.

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The Spirit Room

On the lower level of the Connor Hotel, you’ll find the Spirit Room. Be sure to stop in here for a drink along your journey as the desert heat can leave any traveller mighty thirsty. This famous ghost sighting stop is a must-see building along your tour. Many people have seen a mysterious woman in red who comes into the Spirit Room to quench her ever-present thirst. She is a bit of a flirt and is thought to caresses the fingers, faces and necks of visitors. Whispering sweet nothings in their ears. If you take photos inside the spirit room, look for a red smudge, as this is her telltale lipstick stain. The lady in red has also been known to crawl right into bed with male guests who she takes a particular liking to.

Bartlett Hotel

The original building built on this spot was once called the Grandview Hotel and was constructed in 1895. It was a dancehall, a dining room and a high-society social club. In 1898 a great fire broke out throughout the city, and the hotel was destroyed. The Bartlett Hotel was rebuilt in 1901, this time using bricks, hoping this would help withstand another fire. It was a lavish hotel. Each room was decorated in a different colour, making every guest feel uniquely special.

The New Jerome’s Times, the longest-running newspaper, ran its offices out of the Bartlett hotel for 20 years until it had to shut its doors due to poor circulation. But in the late 1940s, the building became unstable and eventually abandoned. Now, all that’s left of it is the framing. The Jerome Historical Society has set up wooden ghosts for tourists to throw pennies into. The money collected is raised for future repairs and hopefully more preservation efforts throughout the city. 

Jerome Park

Across from the Bartlett, the hotel is the old Jerome Park. I hesitate to call it a park; it’s little more than a rusted swing set and an empty patch of land. But this is where one of the many deadly shootouts in Jerome took place. Alcohol and boredom fueled the fires of many a miner’s heads and after one too many, feuds between men, often over the love of a woman, would get heated enough to be taken outside and ended in a bloody shoot out. People often walking the streets at night have heard the sound of gunshots, but the shooter is never found and often thought to be echoes of the past.

Mile High Inn

Beside the park is the infamous Mile High Inn. This establishment was once owned by a woman named Madam Jennie Bauters. She was the wealthiest woman in northern Arizona. Jennie arrived in Jerome when it was nothing more than tents and shacks. There was no real main street to be heard of. But what there were was men. The original building which became the Mile High Inn was first the Clinkscales Building. It was built in 1899 by an insurance adjuster from Los Angeles. It was many things over the years, including a mortuary, one of Jennie’s Brothels, then a Hardware store when Jennie left Jerome in 1903.

The brothel was exceptionally well furnished, with a large front reception room and interior bedrooms dripping with luxurious velvet. These were for the elite of Jerome and Jennie made a pretty penny from these extravagances. The “sinful” business flourished, but despite her seemingly perfect life, Jennie had her fair share of troubles. One of her best girls, Maggie Shults, was murdered in the house by a rejected suitor. He shot her multiple times and then turned the gun on himself on the second floor.

Jennie’s Murderer

But Jennie didn’t let one measly murderer get her down. No, her business was booming, and she was buying up more and more property on Jerome’s main street. Jennie was killed in the small mining town called Acme Gold Road. The town changed its name to just ‘Gold Road’ in 1906. She was seen running down the street in her nightgown barefooted pleading for her life. Clement, her lover, was a gambler, heavy drinker, and always asked her for money. She turned him down one night for money, and he got angry and killed her.

After he realized what he had done he shot himself in the chest. The he lay down next to her dead body and covered his face with his hat, ready to die. He survived, was arrested and taken to jail, and was hung for Jennie’s murder in 1907. She was buried in Kingman at the old Pioneer cemetery. But has been seen still returning to Jerome to visit her old haunts.

Today’s Mile High Inn

Today, the Mile High Inn is much as it was in the 1940s, although remodelled to become a restaurant and hotel. The Madame herself is known to be seen roaming the halls of her institution, looking after the girls as she would have done in life. Jennie is pretty particular about how her home is kept and has been seen throwing dishes if they are not put away correctly or leaving fingerprints on the bed frames as she attempts to clean them. Visitors have come back to their room with the furniture moved around and doors locking and unlocking by themselves.

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First Episcopal Church

The First Episcopal Church was built in Jerome in 1900 but moved to its current building on Clark Street in 1927. Although the church closed its doors in 1953 when the mines closed, the Jerome Historical Society bought the property in 1953 to ensure it was not lost to the ages. Today they use this place for their archives and administration. If you come to her at twilight, you’ll get the chance to meet the church’s resident ghost. She is a woman, robed in white mist, who often stands in the doorway of the church, looking out at the town from this high vantage point.

The Haunted Hamburger

If you’re looking for a place to eat which serves up a side of the spooks, then you must head over to the Haunted Hamburger. While the menu is pretty standard diner fare, the ambience and stories from the locals you’ll learn while visiting are what you really come for. Chefs say that while in the kitchen, ghosts like to throw utensils around to tease them. Contractors swear that the ghosts have been known to steal their tools. A spirit by the name of Claire is thought to wander the second floor, and often you can head footsteps when they swear no one is up there.

Surgeon’s House

This old home, once the residence of the town’s surgeon, is haunted by many spirits. The surgeon was like a celebrity. He was often the richest man in Jerome who was old not a miner. He was a scholar and an educated man. Women were enthralled by these men from big cities. And miners were impressed by the stories they would tell of these lives, so different from the ones they knew. The Surgeons House was the site of many cocktail parties that would rage well into the late hours of the evening.

To this day, phantom music has been known to play, heard all across town. These days the old house is bed and breakfast. And guests have been known to see spectres dancing through the halls. These ghosts seem rather friendly and are just there to have a good time, as they did in life. A famous ghost dressed in a blue gown is frequently seen laughing through the halls. Often chasing a man seen carrying a leather doctors bag, perhaps the surgeon himself.

The Old Company Clinic

The Old Company Clinic was the second hospital to be built in Jerome. It was where, during the 1918 flu epidemic, hundreds of Jerome’s residents came to attempt to be treated. Unfortunately, hundreds of those people died, and their souls are thought to haunt this building. People claim to have said they’ve seen eyes in the windows and patients in turn of the century gowns walking around the 2nd floor. Doctors and nurses rush from room to room, as they would have done while they were alive, trying to cope with the hundreds of sick and dying people who came through their doors. The flu was genuinely horrific to behold and the imprint this terror wrought on the people who witnessed it made a lasting impression on the town, even years after the fateful events.

Crematory

When the third hospital was built, now the Grand Hotel, this one was left to rot. But not for long. The doctors and nurses began using it as a kind of social clubhouse in 1927, to retire in after a long day at work. It had a library, pool tables and lounge. But once the winter came, they found there was no heating in the building. Going on at the same time, the new hospital realized they did not have a working crematory to dispose of their dead bodies. Never to squander an opportunity, the doctors saw a solution to both their problems. They began using the crematory in the old hospital to burn bodies and heat their clubhouse all at once. Despite the ingenuity of the solution, this imbued the entire place with ghosts angry to be thought of as nothing more than coal for these doctors.

Ghost of the Little Girl

The last famous ghost to see if you can spot is that of a little girl. She is often seen sitting near the front door of the old hospital waiting for her mother. Her mother had come down with the flu and the little girl starved to death waiting for her mother to return home, although she never did as she died in hospital of the flu. The little girl often will only come out to maternal figures who she thinks might be her mother returning to her.

Asylum Restaurant

The Award-Winning Asylum Restaurant located at the Jerome Grand Hotel offers lunch and dinner services every day. The restaurant overlooks the entire Verde Valley and provides the diners one of the most amazing views. Although the name seems a bit cheesy, the decor inside is beautiful art deco from the period the building was constructed. The food is all classic dishes and is wonderfully prepared by some of the best chefs in the Valley. The select dishes include Pastrami Salad, Char-Broiled Chilean Grilled Salmon and Mesquite Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon. If you’re looking for a spot to eat dinner, this is an excellent choice for something a little more luxurious!

The Grand Hotel

The new Jerome Grand Hotel was initially built in 1926 as the Verde County Hospital. The hospital was designed in the Spanish mission revival style of architecture which was so popular at the time. It was one of the last significant buildings to be constructed in Jerome. Since it was so far away from the city centre, it avoided a lot of the fires that broke out downtown and therefore remained its original facade. Also, because it was a hospital and contained so many expensive machines, it was made to be fireproof and withstand dynamite blasts of up to 260,000 pounds.

In 1926 it was the most modern and well-equipped hospitals in Arizona as the mining finances paid for the best services money could afford. But by the 50s, when the mining dried up, the hospital closed down. The building stood unused for 44 years until it was renovated by the Altherr family in 1994 and was turned into a hotel for tourists. The family made many efforts to keep the structure and design of the original hospital to maintain its historical memory. But this also kept within its walls, the ghosts who passed away inside these walls. It was thought that over 9,000 people lost their lives here in this very spot.

Ghosts of the Hotel

Even if you’re not staying in the hotel, venture inside the lobby where some of the most restless spirits are found. Sitting in the dimly lit waiting room, you might spot the old woman in elegant clothes who is thought to be waiting for her husband. Items have flown off the gift shop shelves, doors close on their own and the front desk phone often rings with calls from unoccupied rooms. Behind the front desk of the lobby is still in working 1920’s elevator.

Claude Harvey

The most famous ghost of them all who lives in the hotel is Claude Harvey. Claude was a maintenance worker in the hospital during the 1930s. Claude was well-liked by everyone in town, and when he was found dead at the bottom of the elevator shaft, pinned under the elevator, everyone was shocked. There was an official inquest into his death where they discovered that his neck had been broken before the fall, and there were several strange scratch marks on his body not caused by the fall. In the end, the death was ruled an accident, but many people in town thought otherwise.

Shortly after his death, strange occurrences began at the hospital, specifically around the elevator. Even when no one is inside the lights go on and off and it sounds like someone is walking around inside. The owners went so far as to think someone had been breaking into the hospital and living there unbeknownst to anyone else, but no one was ever found. To this day, any strange occurrences in the elevator are thought to be the ghost of Claude.

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The Old Hospital Ghosts

The 3rd floor was where the operating room was and where most patients lost their lives. For years people have reported hearing coughing, painful groans and cries of distress echoing through the halls. Despite replacing the old wooden floorboards with sound cancelling carpet, guests have been known to hear the rolling of old hospital gurneys on wood floors. The most famous spirit on the 3rd floor is that of an old bearded miner who has been seen turning the lights on and off in the hallways.

Strange occurrences have happened to the living inside the hotel as well. In-room number 32, a man in wheelchair mysteriously managed to fall off a balcony, reportedly committing suicide. In the same room, only a few years later, a businessman shot himself in the face. A caretaker was hanged, and there were multiple murders throughout the hotel. Although this could be due to the “wildness” of the town, the thought of these deaths being influenced by ghosts of the past is hard not to imagine.

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Maternity Ward

On the 4th floor, where the maternity ward once was, there is a ghost of a mother who lost her baby in childbirth. She still roams the halls, frantically searching for her little baby. People report smells coming from unoccupied rooms such as cigar smoke and whiskey, in the waiting room where expectant fathers would have once waited.

United Verde Mine

From the parking lot of the Grand Hotel, you have a beautiful view across Verde Valley, and the old United Verde Mines. Beneath the entire city of Jerome, there are old mine shafts and tunnels which are thought to be the resting place of hundreds of miners. One famous ghost is named “headless Charlie” who was decapitated in an accident years ago. His head was recovered but the rest of him, much like the headless horsemen, was never found. After his death, many other miners would report hearing groaning and shuffling as if it was the ghost of Charlie searching for his lost head.

Today, standing on the cliff of these mines, the wind can play tricks on you, and you might hear what sounds like the echos of men trapped beneath the earth for eternity. Cries in the distance are a common occurrence, and here in the uneasy quiet, there is almost always something which can trick your mind into thinking it heard something quite not of this earth…or many it was just that.

Jason S. Voss

A BIG thanks to Jason S. Voss, who helped clear up a few facts for us! Jason has worked for the Jerome Historical Society and works for Jerome’s oldest local tour company, Tours Of Jerome. He is also an amazing local artist. Feel free to contact him for a personal tour of the city! Jason was a contributor to the book “Haunted Jerome” which just came out 3 months ago written by Midge Stueber and Pat Jacobson. If you’re interested in learning more about Jerome I would highly recommend you pick up a copy!

I’ve been to Jerome multiple times, and the people who live here LOVE telling stories. In addition to taking this walking tour, make time to chat with the locals as everyone seems to have had their own personal ghost encounter which they are eager to share! If you’ve ever had your own haunted happening let me know in the comments!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ADVENTURERS

The post Explore the eerily beautiful haunted streets of Jerome, Arizona, on a self-guided walking tour first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Table Of Contents

1. History
2. Where to Stay
   • Hotel Le Madaleno $
   • Le Mas Des Carassins Hotel $$
   • Chateau De Roussan $$$
3. Access
4. Walking Tour
   • Santon Museum
   • Eyguieres Gate
   • Les Baux Jus
   • Manville Mansion City Hall
   • Yves Brayer Museum
   • Place St. Vincent
   • St. Vincent Church
   • The Church Of The Penitents
   • Une Table Au Soleil
5. The Castle of Les Baux
   • The Chapel Of Saint Blaise
   • Quiqueran Hospital
   • The Troglodyte Houses
   • The Sarrasine Tower
   • Dovecote Wall
   • The First Courtyard
   • The Keep
6. Carrières de Lumières

History

Les Baux-de-Provence has been home to the people of France as far back as 6000 BC. But it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that the town became a military stronghold for the surrounding villages. The original fortress was built in the 11th-13th century. It became known all over France as one of the most formidable citadels in the country. Today, the ruins of the castle and the tiny village below are popular tourist destinations. Visit this living museum to take a peek into Provence’s past.

Where to Stay

Les-Baux has dozens of quaint little hotels and chateaus where you can lay your head for a night. Or for the entirety of your stay in Provence if you like! Often you can find the most charming options outside the most popular cities. If you have a car and are heading around Provence, consider spending a night or two in Les-Baux.

Hotel Le Madaleno $

Hotel Le Madaleno is extremely reasonably priced for the historic and luxurious setting! Its red-painted facade with green shudders and ivy-covered exterior makes it a joy to look at from its crystal-clear swimming pool. Since the historic part of Les-Baux closes before dinner, most hotels offer their own dinner service. Dining alfresco, under the fairy lights, is one of the best parts of this hotel stay. Double rooms range from €79 – €99. Book through their website and save yourself 5%!

Le Mas Des Carassins Hotel $$

Le Mas Des Carassins in an oasis in Saint Remy, just a few minutes from Les-Baux. The hotel is located inside an old stone farmhouse built in the 19th century. The private grounds, large swimming pool and lush gardens nestled in the tree-lined hillside all act as a stunning backdrop. Standard Rooms go for €112 – €152. If you’re looking for something more opulent and large, book yourself a suite, perfect for a week-long stay.

 

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Chateau De Roussan $$$

If you’re looking to splash out some extra cash and want to feel what it was like to live like a French courtier, then Chateau de Roussan is for you. This chateau is home to herds of sheep, beautiful parklands and, of course, the French countryside. I love that the chateau didn’t renovate everything to the extreme when turning the old manor into a guest hotel. They let the place feel lived in, making it feel homier than hotely. Double rooms cost between €205 – €255, and Suites run €335 – €415.

 

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Access

Driving

To arrive in Les-Baux from Arles, take the D17 highway through the scenic hillsides. From Avignon, take the D570N. Both ways take around 30-40mins but be prepared to stop along the way. There are so many little vignettes of French country life along the roadside, so take your time and soak in all those little roadside attractions.

Parking

When you arrive in Les-Baux, there is a free parking lot where you can leave your car for the day, which I’ve marked on the map at the bottom of the post. There are additional paid parking lots if this one is full, ranging from 4-5 euros for the entire day. So either way, leaving your car here while exploring is not too expensive.

Taxi

If you happen not to be travelling by car through Provence, various taxi companies can arrange to drive you out to Les-Baux and schedule a time to bring you home. Talk to the concierge at your hotel for more information. This should cost you about 30-50 euros each way. While it’s not a cheap option, it is super convenient if you don’t have another means of transportation.

Bus

If you prefer to take the bus, #59 from Saint Remy or Arles will take you to Les-Baux. The bus schedule is restricted and often not running outside the high tourist season. Tickets only cost 2,20€, so it’s worth looking into if the timing works. Check the schedule for more information. There are also tour bus companies that run day trips to Les-Baux. But I often find these are rushed and tend to make superfluous stops along the way when you’d much prefer to spend quality time in one place.

Walking Tour

After parking your car, head into the lower town. The villagers lived in the lower town when the castle was in full swing. The small streets and stone houses are home to various restaurants, tourist shops and museums. While some people complain that the tourist trade has invaded the humble town, plenty of history is still steeped in these walls. The key to exploring the lower town is to look past the tourist shops and poke your head into tiny, seemingly empty alleyways. Look up above the souvenir storefronts to see pieces of the past hidden in the stone walls.

Tourist Office

When you first enter the town, stop at the tourist office inside the city gates. Here you can get a free map of the city and a list of exhibitions and pick up an audio guide if you prefer to follow along with their guided audio system. Throughout the village and castle ruins, there are dozens of numbered plaques which you can punch into the audio guide to get more detailed insights into the history of Les-Baux.

Santon Museum

If you aren’t in a rush, your first stop should be at the Santon Museum. A ‘santon’ is a small hand-painted figure made out of terracotta. They were originally produced to portray scenes of nativity and depict historical scenes of Provençal life. Even if you’re not interested in going inside, walking around the front of the building is recommended since the museum is inside the old guardhouse. The building still houses two dungeons built in the 16th century that housed prisoners until the Revolution.

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Eyguieres Gate

Continuing along Place Louis Jou, turn right at the fork in the road and head down the stairs towards the Eyguieres Gate. Until the 18th century, this gate was the only entry point into the city. After the newly formed city gates were created, the Eyguieres Gate led the villagers toward the Fountain Valley below. Since there is little else to see and do down this way, the tourist crowds are much less intense here, and you’ll be surprised to see that you have this iconic place all to yourself.

Look up at the top of the gate, where you can still make out the coat-of-arms of the House of Grimaldi. The Italian Grimaldi family helped Louis XIII defeat the Spanish in the 16th century and were gifted the town of Les-Baux and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence as a reward for their service. Today, you can still find their coat of arms throughout the city.

Les Baux Jus

There aren’t many quality restaurants if you’re here around breakfast or lunch. Despite it being such a wonderful place to visit, the restaurants here leave much to be desired. There are a few exceptions, and Les Baux Jus is one of those. It might not be for everyone, but this charming cafe serves local, organic food and fresh juice. They also provide a gluten-free menu if you have that dietary restriction. While it might seem a little trendy, there really isn’t a better way to experience the natural splendour of Provençal produce than in its raw form.

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Manville Mansion City Hall

The next stop is Manville Mansion City Hall. The building originated in the 15th century and was created for a rich Protestant family named Manville. The mansion was the first Renaissance design which graced the village and, for the time, was considered very “modern.” Along the outside of the Mansion, you can study the luxurious millioned windows, which provide a huge amount of light into the interior, which was seen as a luxury in the Renaissance era. Later, after the Manville’s moved out of Les-Baux. The mansion was transformed into the new City Hall. Today, you can come inside to see various art exhibits on display.

Yves Brayer Museum

Turning to the right, head towards the Yves Brayer Museum. Brayer was an expressionist like Van Gogh, who spent most of his life in Les-Baux, inspired by the incredible landscapes surrounding him. Entry is €8 per person, but if you’re interested in expressionist paintings, this is a joyful little museum. The museum is inside one of the most magnificently preserved houses in town, which is a nice bonus.

Place St. Vincent

Just past the Brayer Museum is Place St. Vincent. In the centre of the square stands an ancient cross surrounded by lush green trees. On either side of the square are two of the oldest buildings in Les-Baux; St. Vincent Church and the Church of Penitent.

St. Vincent Church

St. Vincent’s is one of the three original town churches. This Romanesque church was built in the 12th century. While Romanesque architecture might not be the most impressive and elaborate, there is something so humbling about the simplicity of its design. Inside is a pure layout of a nave and two small side aisles complete with Romanesque arches. The funeral chapel inside the church is built right into the side of the rock. The chapel holds the remains of the Manville family whose mansion we saw earlier. The modern stained glass, added in the 20th century, gives a bright juxtaposition to the ancient rock and simplistic design.

The Church Of The Penitents

The Church of the Penitents was built in the 17th century for the Brotherhood of the White Penitents. The Brotherhood of the White Penitents was the most important sect of the Roman order and cared for the sick, buried the dead and provided medical services for the poor who could not afford private doctors. They even would raise money to give to poor girls for their doweries to ensure they could marry and provide a better life for their children than they were given. Before walking into the church, look up at the facade, where you can see the relief showing two of the penitents kneeling below the carving of a dove.

The church’s interior is very modest, but it might surprise you despite its size. Inside, the entire room is covered in an enormous mural by Yves Brayer. The mural depicts the Shepherds’ Christmas, painted in golden yellows and cobalt blues, synonymous with Provence.

Une Table Au Soleil

Before you head into the castle ruins, check to see if Une Table Au Soleil has any reservations left for dinner. It’s a cozy little restaurant with quality food at good prices, which is often hard to find in highly touristy areas. It’s a hidden gem in Les-Baux, serving traditional French cuisine on a charming outdoor terrace. Since there are only 12 seats, making a reservation before heading into the castle is advisable. Once you know the time of your reservations, you can make sure you leave the castle in good time.

The Castle of Les Baux

Admission

To enter the castle, you need to purchase an admission ticket. Adult tickets cost €8 during the off-season and € 10.50 during the high season when there are performances and entertainment as a part of your ticket. You can also buy a combined ticket with the Carrières de Lumières. I HIGHLY recommend this since going with the combined ticket will save you a few euros, and the Carrières de Lumières is a MUST-DO while in Les-Baux.

The castle’s admission gate is open from 9:00 am to sunset (check the website for the exact schedule). But once you are through the gate, you can stay as long as you want. Come the evening, there are so few tourists here you might think you have the entire place. Ghost hunters get a real kick out of exploring the area in the dark when the ruins are the perfect setting for spooky encounters. If you have the time, pack a picnic and enjoy the view as the sun sets behind the mountains.

History of the Castle

After winding your way through the narrow streets of the lower town, entering the castle is like taking a breath of fresh air. You walk out of the admissions office into the huge hilltop ruins. Before heading out to explore the vestiges of the castle, take a moment to imagine the power and influence this enormous castle would have had in its heyday. The Lord of Les-Baux in the middle ages controlled more than 80 villages around Provence. When Les-Baux became an official part of France, the King wanted to ensure they knew their place and destroyed the once-powerful fortress in 1426.

The King couldn’t bear the thought of anywhere in his country being more powerful than the throne where he sat. Although the Lords of Les-Baux attempted a few times to regain power, their castle was demolished for the last time in 1632. As the townspeople left, and the castle remained untouched, the French people referred to Les-Baux as the ‘ville morte’ or the dead town. The rubble remained untouched for ages until later in the 1900s when interest in these ancient sites became popular, and the tourist trade brought the city back to life. Say what you will about the cheesy souvenir shops and annoying tourists; tourism brought this forgotten town out of the darkness, and without money from tourism, preserving this ancient site wouldn’t be possible.

The Chapel Of Saint Blaise

The small chapel of Saint Blaise is the first building you see inside. This tiny chapel was built in the 12th century by the guild of weavers in honour of their patron Saint, Blaise. Walking inside, you might expect to see relics of the old church, but instead, the room has been remodelled as a small auditorium which plays the film ‘Provence from Above.’ While the film isn’t about the castle’s history, it is a loving homage to the landscapes of Provence and, if you’re here on a hot day, it is a nice escape from the sun.

Trebuchet

Walk out straight along the path towards the Costapera plateau. Along the way, you’ll pass a giant replica of a trebuchet. The trebuchet was a medieval siege machine used to attack fortified walls of opposing fortresses during times of war. Large objects were placed inside the trebuchet and catapulted long distances. This particular trebuchet inside the castle could launch boulders weighing 50-100kg over 200 meters!

Windmill

Continuing on the path, head towards the large windmill along the cliffside. The original mill dates back to 1652. Situated on the cliff’s edge, the windmill was exposed to the most powerful gusts of wind, and the town erected the mill here to utilize this natural force.

Costapera Plateau

Past the windmill, you can walk out to the view across the entire Costapera plateau. The plateau features a special calcareous rock, a particularly soft, easy-to-carve rock. It was used in Roman times to create sculptures, monuments and facades in many old Roman cities across Provence, particularly Arles. During the evening hours, when the tourists have all gone home, you can sit here and listen to the wind whipping across the landscape. It is immensely peaceful to sit here and simply listen to the music of the Provence.

The Charloun Rieu Monument

Walking back from the viewpoint, stop off at the Charloun Rieu monument. Charles Rieu, now known as Charloun dou Paradou, was a French poet in the 1900s who was influential in writing and reviving the Provencal language and culture. Looking out at the scenery here and touring Provence, you can see how different this part of the country is and how important their language would have been to distinguish themselves from the rest of France. It is no surprise why Charloun dou Paradou is so important.

Quiqueran Hospital

Walking back towards the main entrance, let’s take a minute to walk through the large remains of the Quiqueran Hospital. ‘Quiqueran’ meant charity house and was where the poor and the sick of the city were transferred and cared for. The hospital was run with funds from wealthy donors. It was built in the 16th century during the French Wars of Religion when hundreds of thousands of French people fought on the front lines. Families lost their heads of household and were left destitute, and often, the charity houses were the only place they could come to get food and medicine. Although it’s hard to imagine now since there are only a few walls left intact, this building used to have three large arched porticos and a second level where the main part of the hospital was located.

Battering Ram

As we turn in towards the castle’s courtyard we pass by the wooden battering ram. The ram is another reconstruction of the kind of warfare instruments which tAs we turn in towards the castle’s courtyard, we pass by the wooden battering ram. The ram is another reconstruction of the kind of warfare instruments the fortress used during its historical battles.he fortress used during its historic battles. 

The Troglodyte Houses

The “Baume de Roucas,” or rock caves, were a popular form of residence during the 16th century. Now named Troglodyte Houses, since Troglodyte refers to a person living inside a cave, these rudimentary houses have one of the best views in the entire castle. Although they are very simple and perhaps lack the flash and flourishes of the castle, I wonder if the peasants who once lived here appreciated the natural beauty their home backed out upon.

The Sarrasine Tower

Standing in the outer courtyard entrance, look up at the top of the Sarrasine tower, which overlooks the entire area. You can access a staircase from the other end of the courtyard that leads right out to this lookout point. The tower is known as the “guardian of the Château” since it is the highest point in the castle, where guards would be able to see any incoming invaders.

The Second Courtyard

Inside the second courtyard is where you’ll find the old residences of the craftsmen and farmers who lived inside the castle walls. During the high tourist season, actors in period costumes recreate life in the castle in the middle ages.

Dovecote Wall

During the middle ages, pigeons were one of the most popular forms of communication; therefore, the birds were treated like royalty. Their homes were called dovecotes, little niches carved into the rockface. The birds would lay their nests here, and the castle guards collected their eggs and young babies using huge ladders. You can still see the holes where the pigeons stayed even today, carved into the remains of the wall.

The First Courtyard

The first courtyard is further into the castle grounds, where the Lords and Ladies of the castle would have been found. You can still enter various floorplans of old aristocratic residences along the first courtyard, rooms carved out of solid rock. Walking inside, they are nothing more than cold, empty rooms but try to imagine them covered in rich velvet tapestries, filled with elaborately decorated furniture and a furry of servants peddling the finest food the province had to offer.

The Keep

At the top of the castle are the remains of the military keep. To prevent attackers from climbing up the side of the mountain and simply entering the castle, the castle’s walls on the vulnerable side of the mountain were built up another 20 meters and at the top, various guard towers were erected to further add another level of protection.

Walking along the top of the guard tower provides the best view of the entire castle and the surrounding countryside. When we visited, there were only a handful of other people around, and none ventured up as far as we did, so we had the entire place to ourselves! Imagine the courtyard below filled with courtiers and servants, jousts and jesters. Guards walking back and forth, head to toe, in the finest armour. It must have been such a sight to see.

Crossbow Practice

At the foot of the castle was a dry moat which has now been replaced with a reconstruction of where the archers would do their target practice. You can try your hand at shooting crossbows and watch professional archers take aim at various targets.

Graveyard

Before leaving, head out to the cliffside graveyard, where the tombstones of the old villagers of Les Baux are still being buried today. It is heartwarming to see families buried together here, generation upon generation.

While some might think graveyards are a bit macabre, these gravestones are a beautiful look into the past and how those generations honoured their dead.

Carrières de Lumières

Before heading out of Les Baux, be SURE to check out the Carrières de Lumières, just down the hill from the lower town. The Carrières de Lumières is a multimedia light show projected onto an ancient quarry’s walls.

Les-Baux is a place you cannot skip on your travels through Provence, and I hope you get the chance to experience everything this region has to offer for yourself on your next creative adventure.

Happy Travels, Adventurers

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Table Of Contents

1. History of Jerome
   • Wildest town in the West
2. #1. Jerome State Historic Park
3. #2. Cleopatra Hill Lookout
4. #3. Bartlett Hotel
   • History of the Bartlett
   • New Jerome's Times
5. #4. Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum
6. #5. Hotel Connor and Spirit Room
   • The Connor Hotel Fire
   • The Spirit room
7. #6. Bobby D’s Bar-B-Q Pit at the English Kitchen
8. #7. Caduceus Tasting Room
9. #8. Shop Along Jerome's Historic District
   • OJ's Copper Country Fudge
10. #9. Asylum Restaurant
11. #10. The Grand Hotel
    • Mission Architecture

History of Jerome

Before we get into the places to visit, just a bit of history to set the scene… Jerome was founded in the late 19th century on Cleopatra Hill. It overlooks the scenic Verde Valley, which is 5,000 feet above sea level. During its heyday, it was home to more than 15,000 people. In WWI, the price of copper soared and American citizens came here in droves to mine the rich copper quarries that were abundant in this area of the west.

Wildest town in the West

Jerome was known as the wildest town in the west. It had a reputation for gambling, alcohol abundance, drug abuse, gunfights and other mayhem. But when the copper deposits were exhausted and the town became subject to numerous fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters, the population continued to decrease and eventually it became a ghost town with little to no sustainable source of income. As of 2010 the population was only 444 people. In the late 60’s, the Arizonian Tourism board saw it’s untouched architectural and cultural potential and established Jerome as a Historical Landmark in 1967. In the late 2000’s, art galleries and trendy restaurants started popping up to drive more people into the town.  The local State Park and National Museum was established to help preserve the history of mining in this village and to educate travelling visitors on the history of mining in Jerome.

#1. Jerome State Historic Park

To begin your journey in Jerome, the best place to start is at the Jerome State Historic Park located inside the old Douglas Mansion. The Museum is located on the other side of the town and provides fantastic views of the city and the phenomenal Verde Valley. Inside the museum you’ll get a great primer for what you’re going to see once you step inside the city. It’s a fantastic historical resource devoted to the preservation of the city of Jerome.

The Douglas Mansion was built in 1916 by James S. Douglas. He built it up on the hill beside the Little Daisy Mine which he owned. You can still see the old mine from the Mansion viewpoint. After his death, the house was turned into a National Museum and features photographs, mining artifacts, and minerals. They also have a video presentation and a 3-D model of the town as it was in the 1900s along with a model of the underground mines. Outside the mansion, you can visit the Audrey Headframe Park. It’s open from 8am-5pm where guests can stand on a glass floor above a 1,900 foot shaft where miners used to descend daily to begin their duties in 1918.

#2. Cleopatra Hill Lookout

One of the best views of the city and Cleopatra Hill is from inside the Museum. The lookout point in the courtyard provides panoramic views of the Verde Valley as well as the entire city of Jerome. You are provided with a map and an infograph of all the buildings (past and present).

#3. Bartlett Hotel

Once you’ve had your fill of history, it’s time to get back in your car and drive into the city. Main Street is the perfect place to find parking and drop your car off before you begin your walk. If you plan on staying overnight, then your hotel might provide overnight parking as well but there are lots of great spots right across from the Bartlett Hotel. Once you’ve parked your car, jet back across the street and look over the plaque dedicated to the Barlett Hotel.

History of the Bartlett

The original building built on this spot was once called the Grandview Hotel and was constructed in 1895. It was a dancehall, a dining room and and a high-society social club. In 1898 a great fire broke out throughout the city and the hotel was destroyed. The Bartlett Hotel was rebuilt in 1901, this time using bricks, hoping this would help withstand another fire. It was a lavish hotel. Each room was decorated differently, making every guest feel uniquely special.

New Jerome’s Times

The New Jerome’s Times, the longest running newspaper, ran its offices out of the Bartlett hotel for 20 years until it had to shut its doors due to poor circulation. The building was also used as a bank, drug store, and has four different offices and shops along the ground floor. But in the late 1940’s, the building became unstable and eventually abandoned. Now, all that’s left of it is the framing.  The Jerome Historical society has set up set up wooden ghosts apparitions for tourists to throw penny’s into to help raise money for future repairs and hopefully more preservation efforts throughout the city.

#4. Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum

After visiting the Bartlett Hotel, wander down the street until you get to the Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum. When you think “Museum” you might think “Oh no, we just were at one of these today!” But fear not! This place only costs $2 and takes only a few minutes to walk through. It gives you a better glimpse into what the lives were like for the miners who lived in Jerome during these boom times. It tells you stories from the perspectives of the miners themselves. You’ll learn why Jerome was named the Wickedest Town in The West and hear about how the miners sought their fortunes in the “billion dollar mining camp“.

They also have over 11,000 maps, newspapers and documents. The Historical Society also is responsible for protecting and preserving this town so you know your entry fee is going toward the preservation of this old city for future visitors.

#5. Hotel Connor and Spirit Room

Walking north east along Main Street and you’ll come upon the Hotel Connor and the Spirit Room. Be sure to stop in here for a drink along your journey as the desert heat can leave any traveller mighty thirty. This famous ghost sighting stop is a must see building along your tour.

Built in 1898 by David Connor, the Connor Hotel was one of Jerome precious jewels of the past. Originally this hotel was built with over twenty rooms on the second floor to house all the different travelling miners, business men and contractors coming from all over the west to cash in on the natural resources to be found here Verde Valley. Rooms only cost $1.00 but back in that day that was a kings random and the Connor Hotel didn’t disappoint. There was a bar, card room and even billiard tables on the first floor.

The Connor Hotel Fire

Just like the Bartlett hotel down the street, the Connor hotel also suffered at the hands of the flames in the great fires and burned down in 1898. Because there was so little land that could be built upon and all the buildings downtown were built do close together once a fire started it spread very quickly and there was no stopping it. But unlike many other shop owners, Connor had purchased insurance and was able to start construction on his new hotel very quickly. He made some lavish improvements on the previous hotel, and was up and running right away.

The Connor Hotel was one of the first hotels in Jerome to have electricity and telephone lines. What was their telephone numbers you ask? Well just dial “8”. There were only a few places with telephone so each one had a single digital number. Everything inside the Connor Hotel felt luxurious. It was the top of the line for hotels in the West, know all over Arizona. But as the mines began to run dry and the travelling miners started back home, the hotel started to run out of money and by 1931 the hotel had to close its doors, for what they thought would be the last time. It still tried to rent out its first floor to different shops to make some money but the second floor remained dormant until the late 60s when the tourist boom awakened the city once more.

The Spirit room

After a huge renovation to update the hotel to modern safety codes and health standards, the hotel is inviting travellers back through its doors to experience a piece of history. But for day trippers that just want to see a piece of this treasure, go inside the Spirit Room to grab a drink inside the bar. It’s full of little treasures from the original hotel and had so much character to it. It feels like a saloon from an old Western movie and you just expect a cowboy to walk through the door at any minute.

#6. Bobby D’s Bar-B-Q Pit at the English Kitchen

By now you’re probably pretty hungry and I’ve got the perfect lunch spot picked out for you! There’s a lot of pretty cheesy restaurants when it comes to ghost towns. A lot of them themed on “ghostly” menu items featuring plenty of random western decor all over the walls. But Bobby D’s BBQ Pit is just plain good food at great prices. In tourist towns, sometimes you just stuck with terrible food at high prices but this little gem is neither. It’s just around the corner from both the Connor hotel and the Historical Society so it’s the perfect place to grab something to eat before heading up the hill for the rest of our tour.

Their drinks are all served in wonderfully western mason jar glasses which just adds to the down-home atmosphere to the place. Try any of their local craft beers or iced teas. Some of their most popular menu items are the brisket and ribs tips, Mac ‘n Cheese, Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread and Pulled Pork! Everything is smoked in house and you can smell the BBQ all over town – it is pretty hard to resist. Everything is absolutely delicious and the best picks for a great western luncheon.

#7. Caduceus Tasting Room

Once you’re all full up on BBQ, it’s time to relax and sample some of Verde Valley’s best vino. Located high on top of Cleopatra Hill along the main street is Caduceus Tasting Room and Espresso Bar. In here youou can sit and relax while you sip on your wine selection provided to you by a wonderfully kind and knowledgeable group of staff. This place also has lots of room to sit and enjoy one of their incredible charcuterie platters. If wine isn’t you thing, this place also has a selection of incredible espressos to give yourself a boost for the rest of the day.

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#8. Shop Along Jerome’s Historic District

As you finish your last sample of wine, take one last look at the view and head out the door. We’re going to head back along the historic Main Street where local artisans and souvenir shop owners have begun to pop up over the years. It’s here you can find the most unique and interesting delights from chocolate fudge to vintage dresses to kaleidoscopes and hand painted art.

There is something for everyone along this strip. Among the different shops you’ll also pass by old run down houses, abandoned for years and years. It’s interesting to see the marriage of old and new. But despite new tenants moving into these buildings, the facades and the structures haven’t changed much, or at all, over the years. 

OJ’s Copper Country Fudge

One of my favourite shops is OJ’s Copper Country Fudge. It sells different sweets treats made using the same recipe they’ve used sine the 1930’s. This feels like the kinda of place a miner might have taken his family to relax after a long week in the mines.

#9. Asylum Restaurant

Walk along Clark street toward the fork in the road where Clark meet Hill Street. This is where you’ll veer off the path and start walking up Hill street. Before you start up Hill street, you’ll pass by the scenic Surgeons house which was built in 1916 for Jerome’s Chief Surgeon and used all throughout the heyday of Jerome mining boom for the nurse’s residence. Many people were treated by the doctors here as mining was one of the more dangerous professions and it is widely rumoured that the ghosts still haunt the house today.

The Award Winning Asylum Restaurant located at the Jerome Grand Hotel offers lunch and dinner services every day. The restaurant overlooks the entire Verde Valley and provides the diners one of the most amazing views. Although the name seems a bit cheesy, the decor inside is beautiful art deco from the period the building was constructed. The food is all classic dishes and are wonderfully prepared by some of the best chefs in the Valley. Their best menu meals choices include Julienne Pastrami Salad, Char-Broiled Chilean Grilled Salmon and Mesquite Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon.

#10. The Grand Hotel

If you decide to stay the night, or even if this is just the last stop on your tour, ending the day at the Grand Hotel gives you a breathtaking view of the city and puts a historical button on the day. The Grand Hotel, as it stands today is fairly different in appearance from its original. The Jerome Grand Hotel was constructed in 1926 as the Verde County Hospital. In 1920 it became one of the most modern and well-equipped hospitals in Arizona as the mining finances paid for the best services money could afford.

But by the 50’s, when the mining dried up, the hospital closed down. The building stood unused for 44 years until it was renovated by the Altherr family in 1994 and turned into a hotel for tourists. They made sure to try and make as little changes to the building to keep it as historical memory of this town as well as a functional attraction.

Mission Architecture

The old hospital was built in the original mission revival style of architecture and was one of the last major buildings to be constructed in Jerome. Since it was so far away from the city centre it avoided a lot of the fires that broke out downtown and therefore remained more intact architecturally. Also, because it was a hospital and contained so many expensive machines, it was made to be fireproof and withstand dynamite blasts of up to 260,000 pounds.

If you’re brave enough to stay the night, you’re up for a few chilling surprises. There have been several hauntings known to appear throughout the halls of the hospital. People report hearing smells coming from unoccupied rooms such as cigar smoke and whiskey. Others report televisions sets turning themselves on and off without explanation. There have also been two apparitions known to be seen on occasions. One in a white hospital gown and the other in a nurses outfit. Are you brave enough to survive a night in this ghost town? 

I hope you enjoyed this walking tour. Jerome is a great place for a day out and will give you a taste of what a historic mining town was like back when it was the “Wildest Town in the West!”

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