If traditional haunted houses aren’t your thing, the Valley still has a lot to offer this spooky season. Real-life ghost stories are tucked into historic hotels, theaters, graveyards and more.
Below, we’ve compiled a guide to some of the Valley’s true haunts—places where ghost stories meet history and curious visitors can explore for themselves.
Casey Moore’s Oyster House
850 S. Ash Ave., Tempe.
Nestled at the corner of 9th and Ash in Tempe, Casey Moore’s Oyster House is a popular spot for ASU students, but the lively Irish pub sits atop a dark and storied past. Originally built over a century ago as the home of the influential Moeur family—relatives of Arizona Governor B.B. Moeur—the house later fell into neglect. By the 1950s, it had transformed into a boarding house and bordello, a hotspot for wild parties, alcohol, drugs, and tragic crimes, including murder, suicide, and assault.
The building became a restaurant in 1973 and was rebranded as Casey Moore’s in 1986. Today, the pub is famous not just for its food but for its hauntings. Neighbors report seeing a couple dancing in the upstairs windows late at night, believed to be the Moeurs, while staff recount tables mysteriously rearranged and silverware flying across the floor. Some say the restless spirit of a young girl, a victim of the house’s dark past, still roams the halls.
More information: caseymoores.com.
The Hermosa Inn
5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley.
Known for its Southwestern charm, luxury casitas and stunning views of Camelback Mountain, the Hermosa Inn is one of the region’s highest-rated hotels. Originally built in 1935 by cowboy artist Alonzo “Lon” Megargee, the property, known then as Casa Hermosa, served as his home, art studio, and even a secret gambling hideaway, complete with escape tunnels.
Today, the inn incorporates Lon’s original home and studio, with the restaurant Lon’s honoring his legacy. Guests and staff report sightings of Megargee’s ghostly figure in a cowboy hat, along with mysterious disturbances like broken glasses, beer bottles, and randomly flushing toilets.
More information: azhideawaycollection.com/hermosa-inn.
Hotel San Carlos
202 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.
Rising from the heart of downtown, Hotel San Carlos has stood as a Phoenix landmark since 1928. Once the city’s first air-conditioned, high-rise hotel and a hotspot for Golden Age Hollywood stars, it’s now best known for its ghostly guests. The most famous is said to be Leone Jensen, a young woman who died by suicide from the rooftop just weeks after the hotel opened. Visitors and staff have reported eerie footsteps in empty hallways, phantom knocks, and the unsettling sight of a woman in white drifting through the stairwells.
More information: hotelsancarlos.com.
Lost Dutchman State Park
6109 N. Apache Trail, Apache Junction.
At the edge of Apache Junction, Lost Dutchman State Park sits in the shadow of the Superstition Mountains—a place long steeped in mystery and legend. Named after Jacob Waltz, a German immigrant known as the “Lost Dutchman,” the park draws its eerie reputation from tales of a hidden gold mine said to be lost somewhere among the rugged cliffs and canyons.
Stories of the Peralta family’s ill-fated mining expeditions in the 1800s, ambushes, and treasure maps that vanished without a trace have fueled the lore for generations. Searchers who set out to find the mine have disappeared or met untimely ends, leaving many to believe the mountains themselves guard their secrets. Today, hikers and campers come for the striking desert scenery, but the legend of the Lost Dutchman still lingers.
More information: azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman
The Orpheum Theatre
203 W. Adams St., Phoenix.
The Orpheum Theatre has been a downtown Phoenix landmark since 1929, first opening as a Spanish-Baroque vaudeville house before later serving as a movie theatre under different names.
Saved from demolition and restored in the 1990s, it’s now a cultural centerpiece—and one of the Valley’s most talked-about haunts. The best-known ghost, “Maddie,” is said to linger in the balcony, where patrons have reported being tapped or shushed during performances. Staff members also speak of other unexplained presences that keep the Orpheum’s ghost stories alive.
More information: orpheumphx.com.
Pioneer and Military Memorial Park
1313 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix.
Located in downtown Phoenix, Pioneer and Military Memorial Park is the city’s oldest cemetery, dating back to 1897. It holds the graves of early settlers and military veterans, including those who served in the Spanish-American War. Visitors and locals tell tales of Nina Talbot, a young woman said to roam the grounds at night searching for her lost love.
More information: azhistcemeteries.org.
The Rosson House Museum
113 N. 6th St., Phoenix.
The Rosson House in Phoenix, built in 1895 and designed by architect A.P. Petit, was originally home to Dr. Roland Lee Rosson, a prominent physician and former Phoenix mayor, and his wife, Flora Murray. Over time, the house was converted into a boarding home and eventually fell into disrepair.
In the 1980s, the city of Phoenix undertook restoration efforts. The house now operates as a museum, offering visitors a glimpse into the past. Reports of unexplained phenomena, including sightings of a former caretaker’s apparition and mysterious occurrences, have added a layer of intrigue to this historic landmark. One of the most talked-about hauntings at the Rosson House Museum centers on its fireplace. Even in the heat of summer, visitors sometimes feel intense warmth in the living room, though the fireplace remains unlit.
More information: thesquarephx.org.