Ghosts of the Grand Canyon State:
Know Who You’re Sleeping With!

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

Courtesy Arizona Office of Tourism