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!
