Ghosts of the Grand Canyon
State: Know Who You're Sleeping With!
courtesy: Arizona Office of Tourism
As those who have been to the Grand Canyon State can attest,
the spirit of Arizona is a compelling and enticing force that
is not soon forgotten. When the leaves begin to change and the
air turns crisp, that spirit becomes a little stronger, making
Halloween an enchanting time in Arizona. From haunted hotels
to ghost sightings, Arizona is full of spirit - of the supernatural
kind. Meet some of Arizona's most well-known spirits:
Claude Harvey: Poor Claude had the misfortune of being
killed when he was caught in a hospital elevator shaft in Jerome
in 1935. Although the hospital closed in 1950, residents of this
old mining town reported seeing strange lights and loud noises
coming from the inoperable elevator shaft for years. The massive
building re-opened as a hotel in 1997, and visitors still report
strange happenings in and around the elevator. Don't feel too
bad for Claude, though-he's apparently not alone. Other paranormal
activity in the hospital includes coughing noises from patients
long-deceased, rapid drops in temperature and flashing lights.
www.jeromegrandhotel.net
Lon Megargee: This proud cowboy and artist built his
beloved Casa Hermosa ("beautiful house") in Paradise
Valley to use as his home and studio. Although not a rich man,
Lon lived happily and made extra money by allowing travelers
to rent out his extra rooms. He died in 1960, and his home was
later converted into The Hermosa Inn, a luxury boutique hotel.
The owners named their award-winning restaurant LON's at the
hermosa and kept some of Mr. Megargee's original artwork hanging
in the resort. Both employees and visitors have reported seeing
a tall, lanky cowboy in hallways and guestrooms. They say he
also gets a kick out of flushing toilets and breaking glasses.
This proves that it's apparently difficult to leave the place
you call home. www.hermosainn.com
Abby Byr: Abby, a former owner of the Hotel Vendome in
Prescott, was left waiting a bit too long after her husband ran
out to get medicine for her. It is assumed that he chose not
to return from his errand. After waiting for several days, depressed
and sick, she died with her trusty cat, Noble, by her side. Both
of their spirits continue to reside in room #16 at the hotel.
One of Abby's favorite pastimes is turning off the radiator in
her former room. Noble can sometimes be heard meowing at night,
and has even been known to brush up against hotel guests' legs
every once in a while. www.vendomehotel.com
William Ray Flour: This ghostly spirit, affectionately
known as "Oatie" by locals in Oatman, was an Irish
miner who made his home at the Oatman Hotel & Restaurant
in the early 1900s. It is believed that he drank himself to death
after hearing the news that his family died on the way to meet
him in the United States. Oatie is mostly a mischievous nuisance.
He enjoys playing harmless pranks on employees and tourists,
moving things around, laughing at all hours of the night and
even playing bagpipes at times. Some guests, however, don't see
the humor in the pranks, and have been seen running from the
hotel shortly after checking in, never to return. www.oatmangoldroad.com
Leone Jensen: On a warm May night in 1928, this young
woman was dressed in her finest evening wear and looked to be
ready for a night of dancing. Unfortunately, her date, a handsome
bellman, broke her heart that evening. Distraught, she went to
the roof of the Hotel San Carlos in Phoenix. It is not known
whether Leone chose to jump, or was pushed from the roof of the
seven-story building. Today, she appears as a blurred white spot,
often accompanied by moaning sounds and unexplained breezes.
www.hotelsancarlos.com
To plan your trip to meet Arizona's most famous ghosts, go to
www.arizonaguide.com
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