Lauren Albrecht
Follow me on Twitter @OwlFeedLauren

Arizona may be the known as the land where the sun shines and the cacti flourish, however there are much darker stories embedded in the state’s history. From ghost towns to abandoned hotels, there are many unfortunate yet mysterious events that have occurred in these places.

People from all over the world tour the dark parts of Arizona in hopes to come across the unknown, supernatural forces such as ghosts, demons, and forces much deeper than our understanding.

The chilling areas I am about to disclose are no fear farm or thirteenth floor. These are the most chilling venues with real stories and hauntings.

The Halloween season is upon us and it is probably the best time of year to visit these places with your friends and families… if you dare, of course.

Disclaimer: Some of the following venues to be discussed will involve controversial topics including conspiracy theories, cultural beliefs, and death. The following is not meant to harm the identities or memories of those who were involved, their families, nor any other company.

• Jerome Grand Hotel, Jerome

Most people who live in Arizona have heard of the infamous Jerome Grand Hotel because of its insanely large amount of deaths throughout its dark history.

However, the location was not a hotel at first.

The hotel was originally constructed in 1926 under the name United Verde Hospital and later became the Phelps Dodge Mining Corporation in the 1950’s when mining corporations sought to mine more in the Southwestern region of the United States.

It is believed that nearly 9,000 people died during its previous existence as a hospital. That’s a lot of sickness, suffering, and death.

When researching this location, I couldn’t help but think that it was like a season of American Horror Story because these deaths all seem somehow interconnected. After all, how could that many people die in one place over such a short period of time?

Unusual sounds, apparitions, unexplained orbs of light, and other paranormal occurrences infest the location of what it now the hotel where anyone can check in and stay the night to possibly delve into the terrors that await them.

Guests who are usually hunting for supernatural forces in the hotel tend to request to stay in room no. 32, apparently the most haunted room throughout the hotel.

Television shows such as Ghost Adventures have dedicated episodes to the notoriously haunted venue and so should anyone else who wants to experience the paranormal setting offered by the Jerome Grand Hotel.

• The Birdcage Theater, Tombstone

Opened on December 26, 1881, The Birdcage theater was home to many performances as well as deaths.

The theater was considered to be the most haunted place in the ghost town of Tombstone (and that’s quite impressive actually since the town is known for its wide variety of hauntings).

Over 26 people have died at the venue due to the old southwestern traditions of duels and gunfights spontaneously held there. The theater was temporarily closed and then reopened in 1934 where the hauntings of both previous cast and audience members began taking place.

Many spirits of the old southwestern town were recorded in the theater during the filming of a Ghost Hunters episode. Tombstone is not a tour suited for the weak, but the Birdcage theater is only for the brave of heart.

• Northern Arizona University’s Morton Hall, Flagstaff

As a high school senior who is currently looking into colleges, especially instate, a haunting at an NAU dormitory certainly caught my interest.

An institution of learning may be seen as an area of solitude and intellectual thought, however the history of this 100 year-old hall is very sad and dark.

The story goes that 19 year-old Kathy died of heartbreak in room 200A upstairs at the hall in 1953. It was nearing Christmas break and sources say that her parents could not afford to bring her home for the holidays and her boyfriend broke up with her for another woman.

As it turns out, a month after her death a stillborn baby was found in the basement. Some believe that it was the spirit of Kathy coming back to haunt the building she had recently passed away in.

For current residents of Morton Hall, some have suspicions about the paranormal activity occurring in the dormitory. Some have reported paint randomly peeling off of the walls, television channels changing, and pieces of furniture being arbitrarily moved.

While many of the ghost stories at universities are simply made for a good scare, it makes you wonder what’s real and what isn’t at the buildings young people just starting to live on their own for the first time occupy.

• Thornton Road Domes, Casa Grande

“In almost every small town in America, there seems to be at least one place like The Domes of Casa Grande, Arizona,” Reports Weird US.

The domes are said to be abandoned structures left by Area 51 during the 1970s to 1980s. Many of the structures are unfinished as they are halfway cemented and the ground is described to have dotted lines, areas where more building would occur.

Inside, domes are covered in graffiti and dark smoke. Debris covers the interior floor which gives off an abandoned and unsafe vibe.

The mystery of the domes leads to several conclusions, one being that the U.S. government developed contact with extraterrestrial forces and the saucer-like structures were made as bases to communicate.

Even if the talking with aliens scenario is not true, it can still send chills down one’s spine when alone at night and it also makes for a good road trip. The mystery of the domes still remains.

• Casey Moore’s Oyster House, Tempe

Quite local to the West Valley, Casey Moore’s Oyster House is not only known for its great history and food, but also its possibility of paranormal activity.

Almost every employee in the restaurant has said to have had a paranormal experience while working. Late at night, people claim to see a woman dressed in early 20th century clothing dancing in the upstairs dining room.

As well as the figure, articles from the house suddenly tend to disappear and show up in odd places. It is believed that the spirits have something to do with this disturbance.

These figures apparently tie back to the first owner of the establishment, the namesake, Casey Moore who was born in 1886 to Irish immigrants. Workers claim that her joyful presence and her love of music continues to linger in the restaurant, however it can still be unsettling when one is alone in an area.

Her legacy as well as the other owners’ legacies are still traced in the pub and grill through historical documents encased in the establishment where customers can look upon the olden days of Casey Moore’s Oyster House.