Ghost Tours - Haunted & Interactive Attractions - Year-Round Frights in AZ

Haunted & Interactive Attractions (Year-Round Frights in AZ)

Why wait until Halloween to get your scare on? Arizona has a thriving scene of haunted and interactive attractions that deliver thrills and chills all year long. From legendary haunted houses to eerie ghost tours and puzzle rooms that test your wits, here are the top picks for spooky and interactive fun in spring 2025 – plus an important update on a famed local haunt that’s found a new home.

Ghost Tours in Phoenix – Haunted Pub Crawl & Ghostly Histories

Phoenix may be sunny by day, but it has its share of ghost stories after dark. Spirit of Arizona Tours offers popular evening ghost tours that blend paranormal lore with city history. Two favorites:

• Haunted Pub Ghost Tour (Phoenix) – 21+ only. This 3-hour walking tour takes you to some of downtown Phoenix’s most haunted historic bars and hotels​. With a local historian guide, you’ll knock back a drink or two where restless spirits are said to linger. Stops often include the old Hotel San Carlos (a beautiful 1928 hotel reputed to have multiple ghostly guests), the Clarendon Hotel (site of a famous 1970s murder, with its rooftop bar now a tour highlight), and the storied George & Dragon Pub. As you enjoy the nightlife, your guide shares chilling tales of phantom bellhops, Prohibition-era murders, and unexplained happenings. It’s equal parts creepy and fun – and “spirits” are guaranteed, whether the ghostly kind show up or not!

• Phoenix Murders & Mysteries Ghost Tour – This tour (all ages, approx. 2–3 hours) focuses on downtown’s historic murders and eerie landmarks​. You’ll visit sites like the Rosson House Museum (a beautifully restored 1895 Victorian home – and yes, a few ghosts reportedly roam its halls), the Orpheum Theatre (an ornate 1920s theatre with a famous ghost called “Mattie” who loves the balcony), and even the old County Courthouse which has seen its share of Wild West justice. Guides share true crime tales and paranormal reports, sometimes even showing old photos as you stand on the very spots where the history happened​. It’s a fascinating way to learn the darker side of Phoenix history, and you might finish the night convinced that at least a few spirits still wander the city’s streets.

Both tours are small-group experiences led by enthusiastic storytellers. Expect goosebumps as you hear about ghastly crimes and ghostly sightings​. You’ll come away with a new appreciation for Phoenix’s past – and maybe a slight fear of flickering lights and empty hotel hallways. Remember to wear comfortable shoes (you’ll be walking through downtown), and feel free to bring ghost-hunting gadgets if you have them. Many tour-goers capture odd orbs or shadows in their photos, so keep that camera ready. These tours run year-round, so spring is a perfect time (nice weather for evening walks) to dive into Phoenix’s haunted history.

Haunted Houses & Year-Round Scares

Arizona is home to some top-rated haunted house attractions – and a few have off-season events so you don’t have to wait till October to scream your head off:

• 13th Floor Haunted House (Phoenix): This is the big one – consistently ranked among the best haunted houses in the U.S. The 13th Floor is a massive, movie-quality haunt that delivers an intense, blood-curdling experience each Halloween season​. While the main haunt runs in fall, they’ve started doing year-round special events. For example, in past years they’ve hosted a Valentine’s Day horror event (“Love Bites”) and a Halfway to Halloween haunted weekend in spring. The producers (13th Floor Entertainment Group) are masters of the craft, with Hollywood-style sets, animatronics, and an army of scare actors who will get in your face. Check their site for any spring 2025 events – if they open those ominous doors in April or May, dare to enter. Even if you visit outside the typical season, you can sometimes book behind-the-scenes lights-on tours or attend their off-season haunted mini-golf next door. One way or another, “Halloween lives here. Don’t wait till October to get your fix” is their motto​, and they mean it. (Note: Recommended for teens and adults; 13th Floor is too intense for young kids.)

• Sanctum of Horror (Mesa): An award-winning haunt on the east side, Sanctum of Horror is family-run but seriously scary. They usually open in fall, but keep an eye out – occasionally they’ve done a one-night special in spring (like Walpurgis Night in May). Their two haunted attractions, “Sanctum” (a twisted house of a madwoman) and “The Breach” (a zombie apocalypse scenario), are tight, dark, and filled with jump scares. If they’re not open in spring, put it on your calendar for October. Sanctum consistently gets great reviews for detailed sets and a passionate scare crew.

• Year-Round Haunted Attractions: While Arizona doesn’t have a permanent classic haunted house that’s open every week, it does have plenty of real haunted sites you can visit any time (see ghost tours above or the ghost towns below). And for a different kind of scare, try an escape room with a horror theme – those are open year-round. In Phoenix, there are several escape room companies that offer chilling scenarios: for example, the “Attic” or “Witching Hour” rooms where you and friends must solve puzzles to escape a dark, cursed chamber​. At Eludesions Escape Rooms, “Nora’s Nightmare” puts you inside a Victorian girl’s demon-infested dream​. The Nemesis Club offers an epic horror escape called “Scarab – Curse of the Pharaoh” (more adventure than gore, but world-class set design). These escape rooms are like mini haunted houses combined with brainteasers – the perfect activity for horror buffs anytime. Just remember, the clock is ticking… or is that your heart pounding?

Ghost Towns, Haunted Hotels & Spooky Sites

Arizona’s Wild West history left us with some seriously haunted locales that you can explore on your own or via tours. If you’re up for a day trip with a side of the supernatural, check these out:

• Jerome, AZ – “Wickedest Town in the West”: Jerome is a former mining town turned artsy tourist spot – also famous as perhaps the most haunted town in Arizona​. In the early 1900s it was so wild it earned that “wickedest town” nickname, and legends say many spirits stayed behind after the mines closed. You can visit the Jerome Grand Hotel, once a hilltop hospital now a hotel, where guests report phantom footsteps and a ghostly porter roaming the halls. The hotel embraces its spooky rep; they even have a “ghost register” for visitors to log any sightings. Down in the town, the Old Corner Brothel building and the spooky sliding jail (which moved downhill due to mining explosions) are other haunted spots. Jerome offers nightly ghost tours as well, where guides share stories of saloon shootouts and ladies of the night who still whisper in vacant rooms. Even if you don’t see a ghost, Jerome’s rich history and quirky vibe (plus cool mountain air) make it a great spring getaway.

• Hotel Monte Vista (Flagstaff): Up north in Flagstaff is the historic Hotel Monte Vista, open since 1927 and filled with stories​. This hotel has hosted Hollywood stars and perhaps some ghosts. Guests have reported an old bellboy who knocks on doors and vanishes, a woman who rocks in a lobby chair, and even phantom band music from the second floor. One infamous room is said to be haunted by two prostitutes who were killed there in the 1940s – men staying in that room have felt hands over their mouths at night. Spooky! Even under the hotel, there’s intrigue: a series of hidden tunnels under downtown Flagstaff (from Prohibition days) were partly accessed through the Monte Vista’s basement​. Today, you can grab a drink in the hotel’s lounge and see if anything supernatural happens. It’s a lively spot – you might be chatting with a local musician only for them to point out where they saw an apparition last week.

• Vulture City Ghost Town: About an hour northwest of Phoenix lies Vulture City, an old gold mining ghost town near Wickenburg. By day you can tour the remaining buildings (the assay office, cabins, a tiny “jail”) and learn about its successful – and sometimes deadly – mining past. By night, paranormal groups hold ghost hunts here because so many claim it’s haunted by prospectors and townsfolk long gone​. The isolation and crumbling shacks definitely give off eerie vibes as dusk falls. It’s a photographer’s dream if you like rustic ruins. And who knows – maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of Henry Wickenburg himself, the town founder, still checking on his mine.

• Globe & Miami, AZ: In the copper mining towns of Globe–Miami, you’ll find the Old Gila County Jail in Globe, built in 1910 and closed in 1981 – said to still be haunted by former inmates​. You can tour this old jail, where graffiti from long-ago prisoners adorns the walls and some visitors claim they’ve heard cell doors clanging on their own. Nearby, the Bullion Plaza Museum (in Miami, AZ) had a viral “ghost” video a few years back from a motion-sensor camera catching an unexplained figure. These small towns have big ghost tales – and they’re authentic slices of Arizona history too.

---

Whether you’re a paranormal true believer or just seeking an adrenaline rush, Arizona’s got you covered. Tips for thrill-seekers: Many haunted attractions offer skip-the-line or fast passes – worth it on busy nights so your nerves don’t wear out while waiting. For ghost tours and outdoor sites, bring a flashlight and wear comfy shoes. And if you do encounter something otherworldly? Be respectful – you’re in their territory, after all. Happy haunting!

140th Annual Arizona State Fair – Rides, Food & Fun

Arizona State Fair – Rides, Food & Fun at the 140th Annual Fair

Fall is on the horizon, and in Arizona that means it’s State Fair time! The 2024 Arizona State Fair is celebrating its 140th year, bringing weeks of fun to Phoenix this autumn. If you love thrilling rides, indulgent fair foods, live music, and family-friendly entertainment, mark your calendar for this iconic event in September 2024.

When & Where: Fair Dates and Location

When: The Arizona State Fair runs from September 20 through October 27, 2024, open Thursdays through Sundays each week. (The fair is closed Monday–Wednesday.) That gives you multiple weekends to choose from to get your fair fix. Gates typically open around noon on weekdays (a bit earlier on weekends) and the fun goes until about 11 p.m. or later, so you have plenty of hours to play.

Where: The fair takes place at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in central Phoenix (1826 W. McDowell Rd, near 19th Ave). It’s the same site as always, easily accessible from I-17. Parking is available in fairground lots for a fee (usually cashless, so have a card), and there are also nearby private lots. On busy days, consider the park-and-ride or a rideshare to avoid parking hassle.

What to Expect: Classic Fair Attractions

The State Fair is a sensory overload in the best way possible. Here are the highlights you won’t want to miss:

• Thrilling Rides: With over 60 rides on the midway, there’s something for every level of thrill-seeker. Adrenaline junkies can spin and flip on extreme attractions like the Insanity or plunge from the sky on the Sky Diver drop tower. Prefer a tamer thrill? Take a relaxing whirl on the classic Ferris wheel (one of three Ferris wheels at the fair this year!) or let the kiddos hop on the carousel and Wacky Worm coaster in Kiddie Land. For one price, unlimited ride wristbands are usually offered during certain hours/days (such as on Thursdays) – a great deal if you plan on hopping from ride to ride.
• Fair Food: Diets, abandon hope all ye who enter here! The fair is famous for its over-the-top food indulgences. Stroll the food row and you’ll smell roasted turkey legs, sizzling frybread, and sweet cotton candy on the breeze. Must-tries include: giant turkey legs (smoked and delicious), funnel cakes loaded with toppings (do you want powdered sugar, strawberries and whipped cream, or maybe chocolate sauce and nuts?), and the ever-popular fried Oreos (warm, gooey, and surprisingly delightful). Each year brings new wacky creations too – perhaps Flamin’ Hot Cheetos elote (corn), unicorn cotton candy burritos, or donut cheeseburgers. Our advice: go with a group and share items so you can sample a little of everything. And wash it down with a fresh-squeezed lemonade or a cold prickly pear iced tea for that Arizona twist.
• Games & Midway Fun: Can you throw a ring on a bottle or pop enough balloons with darts to win a prize? The carnival games are a fair staple – challenging but addicting! Test your skills and maybe, just maybe, you’ll take home a giant plush Pikachu or stuffed giraffe. It’s all about fun, so set a budget for games and enjoy the playful competition. If you have little ones, many game booths offer smaller prizes for participation, so everyone walks away happy. Beyond games, the midway also has side shows and vendors – perhaps try your hand at the ladder climb or gawk at the world’s smallest horse (yes, those quirky attractions still exist!).
• Live Music & Shows: One of the best parts of the fair is the concert series at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Major musical acts spanning rock, country, pop, and Latin genres perform on select nights – and general admission seating is free with your fair ticket! (There’s usually an option to buy reserved floor seats if you want to be closer.) The 2024 lineup hasn’t been fully announced yet, but past fairs have seen acts like Trace Adkins, Gin Blossoms, and Ramon Ayala, so expect some crowd-pleasers. Besides concerts, entertainment is everywhere: the outdoor Coca-Cola stage features local bands and dance troupes daily; roving performers like stilt walkers or breakdancers might surprise you; and classic attractions like the demolition derby, rodeo nights, or a hypnotist show add to the fun (check the daily schedule so you don’t miss your favorite kind of mayhem).
• Exhibits & Animals: A trip to the fair isn’t complete without checking out the exhibit halls and livestock barn. Marvel at the blue-ribbon winners in categories like baking, photography, painting, quilting, and Lego building – you’ll see everything from elaborate homemade wedding cakes to the state’s biggest pumpkins proudly on display. In the livestock barn, you can meet farm animals up close: prize dairy cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, even llamas and rabbits. The 4-H kids are often there tending to their animals and happy to answer questions. Kids can also enjoy pony rides or the petting zoo (usually set up outside the barn) with friendly goats and sheep. It’s a great way to remind us city folk about Arizona’s agricultural roots. And don’t miss fun extras like the hatching chicks exhibit or the bee observation hive in the agriculture hall – educational and adorable!

Tips for a Great State Fair Outing

• Plan Ahead for Deals: Check the State Fair’s website or social media for promotions. Common deals include $3 Thursdays (where admission or select foods/rides are $3), or free admission days for certain groups (like educators or military) or with certain donations (bring canned food on a specific day, for example). If you’re taking the whole family, these deals can add up to big savings. Also, consider buying admission online in advance to skip the ticket booth line – plus some online bundles include a ride wristband at a discount.
• Best Times to Go: Weekends are busiest, especially evenings when the concerts and date nights swell the crowd. If you can swing a weekday evening or a Friday afternoon visit, you’ll find shorter lines for rides and food. Alternatively, go early on a weekend day (right at opening); enjoy a few hours of fun, then maybe take a break in mid-afternoon when it’s hottest and most crowded, and come back in the evening for the lights and concerts. Remember, your handstamp or ticket usually allows same-day re-entry if you need to step out.
• Dress & Gear: Wear comfortable shoes – you’ll be walking and standing a lot on asphalt, dirt, and grass. September/October nights can be warm in Phoenix, but bring a light jacket or hoodie if you stay late, as it can get breezy. A small backpack or tote is handy to carry essentials: water bottle (you can refill at fountains), hand sanitizer, sunscreen (if you go daytime), and maybe a picnic blanket if you plan to relax on the lawn by the stage. Pack some cash too; while many vendors take cards, some smaller ones (or game booths) might be cash-only.
• Family Considerations: If you’ve got kids, locate the Kid Zone when you arrive – they usually have a map/brochure at the gate. There you’ll find the kiddie rides and often a family services tent where lost and found or nursing stations are. Write your phone number on a small card and tuck it in your child’s pocket (or use a safety tattoo) in case you get separated in the crowd. Strollers are welcome, but navigating peak times can be tough with one – try to visit the barn and exhibits (where a stroller is easier to maneuver) earlier, and perhaps use a carrier for little ones during crowded evening midways. The fair is loud and stimulating, so plan some breaks – the indoor exhibit halls can be a nice, air-conditioned cooldown period for overstimulated kids (and adults!).

The Arizona State Fair comes just once a year, bringing together people from all over the state for a celebration of community, culture, and fun. Whether you’re there to scream on a carnival ride, devour a plate of deep-fried goodies, sing along at a concert, or see a prize-winning pig, the fair offers a little something for everyone.

So throw on your favorite fair-going outfit, grab your friends or family, and head to the fairgrounds this September. We’ll be roaming the midway (likely with cotton candy in hand) and soaking up every moment – and you can bet we’ll share our adventures. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for a peek at our State Fair fun (and all the crazy foods we try) and tag us in your own fair photos! Here’s to 140 years of tradition – see you under the neon lights of the midway!