Haunted Phoenix
As is to be expected with any city that has a history as rich and mysterious as Phoenix, there are plenty of reportedly haunted sites throughout the area. Just in time for Halloween, we’ve rounded up four of the most intriguing, possibly haunted sites in town, populated by sinister and benevolent spirits alike.
The Orpheum Theatre
There’s at least four (but almost definitely more) spirits that occupy the Orpheum, the most famous of which being a mischievous but friendly ghost known as Maddie. Employees and visitors to the theatre have reported plenty of encounters with this character, a girl of about 12 or so who keeps an eye on the balcony, tapping on the shoulder of anyone she deems to be too loud or distracting during live performances. Orpheum staffers try to keep tales of the other ghosts that roam the property quiet, revealed only to those who opt in to their guided ghost tours. 203 W Adams St, Phoenix, AZ
Casey Moore’s Oyster House
This popular pub/seafood joint has occupied the former home of influential Tempe family, the Moeurs. The home was (clandestinely) converted into a boarding house and bordello in the 1950s and stayed that way until the 1970s, when it was fixed up and transformed into a restaurant space. The sordid roots and volatile history of the property makes it prime grounds for haunting. People have regularly reported spotting spirits that look suspiciously similar to William and Mary Mouer through the windows late at night, as well as the ghost of a young woman who was tragically murdered in the bordello in the 1950s, popping up throughout the restaurant at all hours. 850 S Ash Ave, Tempe, AZ
The Rosson House
This gorgeous bit of architecture is home to several possible hauntings and wayward spirits, perhaps most notably the ghost of a museum caretaker that was murdered outside the house in the 1980s, who now is a regular sighting for curious ghost hunters and put-upon staff alike. The house has all the classic signs of a haunting like unidentifiable footsteps, unexplainable hot and cold spots throughout the building, and doors opening and closing for seemingly no reason. 113 N 6th St, Phoenix, AZ
Hotel San Carlos
Weeks after this 1920s hotspot opened, a woman named Leone Jensen checked into a room on the seventh floor of the Hotel San Carlos and jumped to her death, possibly due to a brutal breakup with an employee of the hotel. Ever since, the spirit of a woman dressed in all white is reported to appear in rooms throughout the hotel, lingering for just a few seconds before disappearing. Other guests have reported hearing the sound of children laughing and crying through the hallways and other corners of the facility, perhaps former students of the Little Adobe school, which was demolished to make room for the San Carlos in the 1910s. 202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ