Roam The Largest Ghost Town in America: Jerome, AZ
The connection I have with Arizona is unlike any other I have felt compared to other US states. I constantly find myself returning for the beautiful desert scenery, endless fields of cacti, and of course the many historic ghost towns.
Scattered across the state you will find many different types of ghost towns. Towns either deserted and abandoned or refurbished and full of life with tourists and locals. Whichever type, to explore the old rustic streets of these towns has always been a huge personal interest.
After our overnight stay in the beautiful city of Sedona, we discovered not too far away lay America’s largest ghost town – Jerome, Arizona.
We were recovering from a previous hike to Devil’s Bridge the day before, so a relaxed outing to Jerome sounded perfect to end our trip. Plans were updated and we scheduled the following day to go explore this legendary location.
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Jerome Arizona is located about 100 miles north of Phoenix, in between Sedona and Prescott. The town is nestled high in the Black Mountains, about 5,000 feet above sea level, overlooking the Verde Valley below. A very quaint, little village bustles with families, tourists, and locals.
Jerome is right off highway 89A just west of the town of Cottonwood. Once you start heading up a small windy road towards the top of the mountain, you know you’re getting close.
For being America’s largest ghost town, the city is only made up of a 3 main streets and a few small side streets. You can find most of the attractions off the 3 main streets known as Clark St, Main St, and Hull Ave.
Parking is free! You can choose any one of the few parking lots or luck out with street parking.
The History of Jerome
Before Jerome became the town it is today, it was a small mining site where the Yavapai Tribe mined copper for jewelry. The first miners began mining rich ore deposits in the late 1800s. For around 70 years, Jerome’s copper mines were very successful and produced millions of dollars. The town was named after Eugene Jerome, A New York Lawyer who financed the United Verde Copper Company.
Eventually gold was discovered and thousands of people flocked to Jerome for a chance of striking big within the mines. Population grew from around 250 people in 1890 to over 15,000 people in the 1920s.
“Wickedest City In The West”
Due to its large and growing population, businesses and various forms of entertainment started to appear in the small city. Residents could now enjoy more lively establishments like saloons, restaurants, hotels, brothels, and even an opera house. With its expanding activities, Jerome eventually started to grow a bad reputation. Crime increased as more gangs and gamblers started to infiltrate the city.
The town became so corrupt that it was eventually named the “Wickedest City in the West” by a New York newspaper.
It was common for the towns residents to die from gunfights, being stabbed, beaten, strangled, overdosing, or committing suicide. A very similar case to the other dangerous and rowdy ghost town in Arizona known as Tombstone. (my favorite ghost town in the US!)
In 1953, gold and copper started to disappear from the mountains and the last of the remaining mines shut down. Many of the residents left with only around 50 people who remained. Jerome was slipping into becoming a deserted ghost town as buildings were left to decay and crumble.
Today, you can still see remains of many of the original buildings scattered throughout the town.
In 1970, the town was given a second chance as residents founded the Historical Society and established Jerome as the largest ghost city in America. The town was preserved and restored, now with a population of around 500 people.
Wandering Jerome’s Historic Streets – What to See & Do
Roaming the streets of Jerome today, you can still find many of the towns original buildings lining the streets. Although the city has undergone drastic changes and looks different compared to what it once was. Majority of the area has been renovated with a large selection of shops and restaurants. Very similar to Calico Ghost Town, another lively ghost town we visited earlier in the year.
We only had half the day to explore Jerome, so we did what many others do – drink, eat, and wander.
The town itself was a lot more crowded than I expected! This was probably due to the fact we were visiting over Memorial Day weekend. I’m sure you can enjoy this ghost town more peacefully if you were to visit during the week or outside of holidays.
Time for Saloon Beer!
To start, we wanted to enjoy a cold one from one of the original saloons of Jerome: Paul & Jerry’s Saloon off of Main Street. This bar had an authentic feel like many other historic saloons we have visited in other ghost towns.
The beer was cold, the locals were friendly, and the game of pool was cheap. Exactly the type of saloon experience we were looking for.
Haunted Hamburger – Burgers and Spirits (of both kinds)
Out of the numerous restaurants in Jerome, the one that caught my attention was a unique restaurant named Haunted Hamburger. Yes, the place is exactly what the name entails. This “haunted” themed restaurant enticed me not only with it’s name but with it’s many plastic skeletons strewn across the exterior of the building.
Honestly I’m a sucker for themed places, especially haunted places.
Discovering this ghostly burger place was both intriguing and hysterical. I felt we had to dine here.
The interior was also appropriately themed with spooky decorations. Despite the decor, we chose to sit outside on the patio deck which offered a beautiful view of the desert valley. A prime spot if you’re looking to dine in with an epic view.
If you’re wanting to save money on food, pack and bring a lunch! There are many incredible spots to have a picnic while you overlook the gorgeous view below. Including a nice and shady park!
Learn The History Along The Streets
We spent the last hour in Jerome wandering the main streets. Besides shopping, you can find some of the old historic buildings and preserved sites along the streets. There are placards at each location so you can read more detail on what these structures once were. Kind of like a self guided walking tour. One of the shops we visited was the location of one of the towns brothels!
If you’re exploring the entire town of Jerome, expect to walk up multiple staircases or steep hills since the entire town sits on a mountain.
Not the easiest if you have super full bellies like we did!
Nonetheless, the city is gorgeous for its charming historic streets and sweeping views of the Verde Valley. Definitely one of the more picturesque ghost towns we’ve visited.
Curious what else this charming city has to offer? Here’s a more extensive list of things to do in Jerome including ghost tours, museums, historic lodging, and other popular activities. A list we would love to tackle more of next time we visit.
Other Popular Nearby Attractions
Another popular attraction to check out if you’re in the area is Jerome State Historic Park. This park has a mining museum in the historic Douglas Mansion, as well as a picnic area with outdoor displays.
Further down the road, about a 5 min drive from Jerome, is the Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. For a small admission fee of $5/person, take a tour through dilapidated buildings, an old mine, and an expansive collection of old cars and trucks.
We would have loved to visit both of these locations but didn’t have enough time in our day. Unfortunately we had to leave early afternoon for a long drive back home to California.
It’s not always easy to fit travel in with a full time job! Still, we make due and won’t let work restrictions stop us from having these incredible experiences.
Amazingly, there is just so much to do and see in Arizona. It’s definitely hard to see it all on your own.
Discover more by checking out some of the popular tours in the area. A wonderful way to experience more of Arizona without needing to do too much research or planning.
Experience The Lively Ghost Town of Jerome, Arizona
If you’re vacationing near Sedona or Prescott, I highly recommend making some time to visit the ghost town of Jerome.
Unlike other ghost towns, this populated and bustling mountain town has a lot to offer for all types of visitors. Learn the history as you walk the streets, have a beer from the authentic saloons, chow down delicious food, or simply take in the lovely view from many vantage points throughout the city.
While a bustling “ghost town” is fun, I still do enjoy my fair share of abandoned ghost towns. One of my favorite being Bodie Ghost Town in central California, just east of Yosemite National Park. Also known as America’s most well preserved ghost town!
It was amazing visiting America’s largest ghost town. A historic town that stands above the rest, literally.
If you love ghost towns, be sure to visit the other living ghost town of Arizona known as Oatman. Very similar to Jerome but with wild burros (donkeys) roaming the streets!
Still wanting more? Check out this list of these 15 fascinating ghost towns of America that we saw during our US cross country road trip! Explore abandoned locations among deserts, forests, and even swamplands!
Have you visited Jerome Arizona? What was your favorite thing to do here? Share with us in the comments below!
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