15 Things to Do in Jerome, AZ (Historic Ghost Town)

Residents of quirky Jerome are proud to live in the largest ghost town in the United States. Once a copper mining boom town, Jerome swelled to nearly 15,000 people during its heyday at the turn of the 19th century. Today, only about 500 residents remain, giving Jerome its unique, creative vibe. Visitors come for Wild West history, art galleries, ghost stories, and sweeping views of the Verde Valley. Having spent most of my life in Arizona, I was charmed by this mining town built into a steep hill from my first visit as a kid, and I always get a kick out of wandering its crooked streets and exploring my favorite stops. Here are 15 wicked fun things to do in Jerome, AZ.

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From Wicked Town to Ghost Town

During its notorious mining days, Jerome earned a reputation as the Wickedest Town in America, home to 24 saloons, 18 brothels, and an opium den. After Jerome’s underground mines closed in 1953, the town’s population plummeted, leaving many houses and businesses empty. During the following decades, artists and free spirits slowly moved in, drawn by inexpensive housing and the chance to revive this small community. Jerome eventually reinvented itself as a creative hillside haven. In 1967, the town was designated a National Historic Landmark District, preserving more than 100 historic buildings.

1. Jerome State Historic Park & Douglas Mansion

Kick off your visit to Jerome at Jerome State Historic Park, housed in the stately Douglas Mansion. Built in 1916 by the Douglas family, who owned the town’s copper mines, the mansion opened as a museum in 1965 and is the perfect place to learn about the interesting history of Jerome. Plan about an hour or two to wander through the rooms, historic photos, and mining exhibits.

You’ll also learn about Jerome’s geology and mining operations. Miniature models show how the town sits above a disconcerting Swiss cheese maze of mineshafts. And don’t skip the short film, A Ghost Town Tour of Jerome, Arizona. Narrated by an old‑timey Jerome “ghost,” it brings Jerome’s rowdy history to life and even keeps kids entertained.

2. Ghost Tours & History Tours

Learn lore about Jerome that only a local can provide by booking a guided tour about the town’s ghostly past and mining history. The Jerome Ghost Walk includes electromagnetic field monitors so guests can “detect” paranormal activity, which adds a fun, dramatic layer to the storytelling. For the most spine-tingling option, US Ghost Adventures claims to run the scariest haunted tour in town. Tours of Jerome offers both historic and haunted experiences. My family shies away from spooky stuff, so we chose a milder historic tour with Jerome Ghost Tours (formerly Ghost Town Tours), with stops at mining industry sites, the long-closed Jerome High School, and the town’s cemetery.

3. Audrey Headframe Park

Get a glimpse of what it was like to live and work as a miner in Jerome at Audrey Headframe Park. You’ll see old mining equipment and a 1,900‑foot mining shaft, which opened in 1918. Step onto the plexiglass cover and imagine riding two hours down to work each day. You can visit this historic site on your own, or you might stop here on a guided history tour of Jerome, as my family did. Note: Audrey Headframe is temporarily closed for restoration until further notice.

4. Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum

Tucked along Main Street, the Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum offers a compact but worthwhile look at the town’s mining past. Inside, you’ll find displays tracing Jerome’s evolution from a booming copper camp to the offbeat community it is today. Exhibits include miners’ tools, geological samples, and artifacts from saloons and gambling halls that once lined the downtown area.

5. Gold King Mine Museum

Just a mile from downtown Jerome, the Gold King Mine Museum in Haynes offers a gritty, hands‑on look at life in the Wild West. Miners searching for copper here struck gold in 1901 and built a small settlement, complete with its own post office, before the boom fizzled out. Rediscovered in the 1980s, the property has grown into a sprawling recreation of a mining camp.

Visitors can wander through historic buildings, mining equipment, a working sawmill, and a blacksmith shop. Families will appreciate the farm animals at the petting zoo and hands-on gold panning. Meanwhile, history buffs and gearheads will gravitate toward a collection of more than 100 vintage vehicles, including Studebakers and classic Harleys.

6. Little Daisy Jerome

From Audrey Headframe Park, you can see Little Daisy Hotel on the hill above the mine shaft. Miners once lived here in hot bunks, sleeping in shifts between long hours in the copper mines and overindulgent play in the city.

The 40-room hotel is now privately owned and has been transformed into a luxurious rental property and event space. The Little Daisy hosts gatherings like weddings and corporate events of up to 160 guests, with overnight accommodations for 33 guests across its three private homes. Even if an overnight stay or grand soirée isn’t in your budget, you can still admire The Little Daisy from below.

7. Jerome’s Sliding Jail

Built into the side of a mountain smack along the Verde Fault and perched over dynamite‑blasted mine tunnels, Jerome is vulnerable to sinkholes, earthquakes, and landslides. The most dramatic example of the town’s precarious position is Jerome’s Sliding Jail, which began its slow downhill creep in 1938 after a mine blast. Today, the concrete structure sits about 225 feet from its original location beside a parking lot. Retaining walls stabilize this unique site, and a plaque explains its history.

8. Art Galleries & Artwalk

Find pottery, paintings, handmade jewelry, and other artwork in around two dozen galleries and studios in this ghost town. For many travelers, wandering through these creative spaces is the main reason to plan a Jerome getaway.

If you’re in town on the first weekend of the month, you’re in luck. The First Saturday Jerome Artwalk runs from 5 to 8 pm. Galleries and shops stay open late, with live music and wine tastings. Grab an Artwalk map at the Artists Cooperative Gallery or the Jerome Art Center in the old Jerome High School. Explore at your own pace, or hop on the free shuttle that loops between stops.

9. Nellie Bly Kaleidoscopes

Want to visit the world’s largest collection of kaleidoscopes? Of course, you do. Nellie Bly Kaleidoscopes in Jerome is worth a visit for its impressive array of scopes made from wood, metal, and glass. Visitors are welcome to touch and peek, but families with young children should be careful in this shop, with prices ranging from novelty to downright extravagant. The store is named after Nellie Bly, a journalist and world traveler made famous in the 1800s for an exposé she wrote about the horrific conditions of a New York mental institution.

10. La Victoria Glass Blowing Studio

Kids and adults alike get a kick out of watching Jerome resident and artist Tracy Weisel blow glass. He creates beautiful, delicate works of art at La Victoria Glass Blowing Studio. My kids begged me to buy a small glass pumpkin to add to our Halloween decoration collection, and I happily obliged. You can also buy bird feeders, glassware, and other glass goodies here.

La Victoria Glass Blowing Studio is open noonish to 5-ish daily. Alas, at 4:45 pm we were too late on the day we visited. But Weisel was happy to fake it for my photo.

11. Laura Williams Park

After wandering through galleries and soaking up Jerome’s history, Laura Williams Park offers a nice spot to chill out. This small green space has a playground and shady spots to sit. During our winter visit, part of the park was lit with holiday lights, and when the weather is nice, local artists often set up tables to sell their work.

12. Wine Tasting in Jerome

Wine tasting may not spring to mind when planning an Arizona vacation, but Jerome has several tempting wine tasting rooms. This is thanks to Jerome’s position just above the Verde Valley, known as Arizona Wine Country for its temperate climate. Some offer wine flights and light bites like cheese boards and charcuterie platters. Vino Zona and The Original Jerome Winery are two local favorites.

13. Old Fashioned Candy Shops

Two old-fashioned candy stores can sweeten your Jerome holiday. Rickeldoris Candy & Popcorn Company offers both sugary and salty treats like flavored popcorn, gourmet chocolates, and novelty candies. This shop makes its own popcorn in such varieties as Prickly Pear, Cheddar, and Mixed Fruit.

Handmade fudge is the star of the show at Copper Country Fudge. Look for flavors like Candy Cane, Orange Cream, and Chocolate Jalapeño, along with classic favorites. They also offer ice cream for a cool-down in summer and hot cocoa to warm up during a winter visit.

14. Unique Restaurants in Jerome

Choose from an eclectic bunch of restaurants for a memorable meal while in Jerome. These three stand out for their ghost-town history, theming, and delicious food.

Haunted Hamburger

The kitschy Haunted Hamburger stop has big Verde Valley views, ghost‑themed design, indulgent burgers and desserts, and a ghostly backstory about tools mysteriously disappearing during construction. My kids were particularly interested in the dumbwaiter used to deliver meals prepared in the kitchen upstairs to the dining room below.

Bobby D’s BBQ

Don’t let the huge English Kitchen signs painted on the adobe walls at Bobby D’s BBQ confuse you. Established in 1899 by Chinese American immigrant Charley Hong, the English Kitchen served American and Chinese food to Jerome miners, who hailed from around the world. The original restaurant closed in 2007, but the painted signs remain. Bobby D and his sister Kathryn now run a great smokehouse here, serving finger-licking ribs, brisket, sausage, chicken, and more from their Ole Hickory smoker.

Vaqueros Grill & Cantina

Vaqueros Grill & Cantina‘s colorful Day of the Dead décor celebrates Jerome’s ghost town status with Mexican flair. Come for hearty, mouthwatering traditional dishes from Mexico and huge margaritas.

15. Historic Jerome Hotels

The ghost town doesn’t offer modern hotels with pools or room service. Stays here are all about historic buildings, ghost lore, and being close to the best things to do in Jerome.

The Clinkscale Hotel, Bar + Grill

Smack in the heart of downtown Jerome, The Clinkscale is a retro-chic boutique hotel with just six rooms. The 1899 building was originally a general mercantile store. Fully restored with modern finishes and opened in 2020, it’s the most updated spot to stay in town.

The Connor Hotel

Built in 1898 and rebuilt with brick after two fires, the Connor Hotel sits right on Main Street. It consists of 12 restored rooms with old-timey vibes. Ghost seekers may want to request Room 1, where the Lady in Red apparition is said to make appearances. Right below is the historic Spirit Room, a rocking spot for live music that can be a lot of fun for nightlife lovers and a bit noisy for hotel guests who want to tuck in early.

Jerome Grand Hotel

Once the United Verde Hospital, this 1927 building stood empty for decades before reopening as a hotel in 1996. Today, Jerome Grand Hotel is known for its ghost sightings and dramatic perch atop Cleopatra Hill. This is the biggest hotel in Jerome, with 30 rooms including a few suites.

Jerome, Arizona FAQ

Is Jerome really a ghost town?

Yes — Jerome is considered America’s largest ghost town. Its population dropped from 15,000 during the mining boom in the early 1900s to under 500 residents today, and many historic buildings remain from its mining‑era past.

Where is Jerome located?

Jerome sits on Cleopatra Hill between Prescott and Sedona, overlooking the Verde Valley. It’s about two hours north of Phoenix.

How long do you need in Jerome?

A half‑day works for a quick visit, but a full day or a long weekend lets you explore museums, shops, restaurants, and historic sites without rushing.

What’s the best time of year to visit Jerome?

Spring and fall offer the best weather. October is especially popular thanks to ghost‑town events and Halloween‑season interest.

Is parking difficult in Jerome?

Parking can be tight on weekends and holidays. The town provides several public lots, but street parking fills quickly.

Are there haunted places in Jerome?

Many visitors report ghost sightings at the Jerome Grand Hotel and the Connor Hotel. Several shops and old buildings also share ghost stories.

Does Jerome have hotels?

Jerome has a few historic hotels plus a couple of B&Bs and vacation rentals. The Jerome Grand Hotel is the largest.

What are the best things to do in Jerome?

Popular stops include the Mine Museum, Jerome State Historic Park, art galleries, the Sliding Jail, and the town’s restaurants and bars.

Explore More of Arizona

Jerome is one of my picks for the best places to visit in Arizona and is in good company among the state’s mining towns, big cities, and national parks.

If your travels include the Phoenix area, check out my in‑depth guide to Scottsdale with Kids. I cover the top museums, outdoor activities, and other amusing attractions.

Heading to northern Arizona? Read my tips for visiting the Grand Canyon and discover the best things to do in Flagstaff.

For those curious about desert living, get a feel for what it’s like to live in Arizona.

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A Note from Colleen: My family paid full price for everything mentioned in this story. I will always let you know if I receive anything for free or at a discounted media rate. All opinions are mine, as always.

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