JEROME
The Asylum, a longtime favorite restaurant for tourists, is located in the Jerome Grand Hotel, built in 1926 as a hospital.
The way buildings cling precariously to the side of Cleopatra Hill, it’s as if gravity has been suspended in this former mining town. Jerome is laid out vertically, with Arizona 89A switchbacking through it. The Verde Valley spreads out below in one of the most accessible vistas in Arizona.
With few signs of the mine shafts that run through Cleopatra Hill like a honeycomb, Jerome now thrives on tourism, enhanced by a welcoming vibe exuded by artists and small-business owners. Those who visit during the holiday season will see a plethora of peace signs outlined by Christmas lights.
A great day: On the lower end of Cleopatra Hill, you’ll note a towering wedge assembled of formidable timber. Completed nearly a century ago, the Audrey Headframe lowered miners more than 1,000 feet down a narrow shaft. Visitors may stand on the thick sheet of transparent plastic now covering the opening and peer into the abyss. Continue to downtown Jerome for lunch at the Haunted Hamburger and enjoy the view from the patio. Spend the day browsing the dozens of shops and galleries, and take a break at the tasting room for Caduceus Cellars, owned by Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan.
Claim to fame: The town may be Arizona’s most haunted. Many visitors hoping for a spontaneous outbreak of spirits can play it by eerie at the Jerome Grand Hotel. The building opened in 1927 as the United Verde Hospital and since then guests and staff have reported all sorts of unearthly activity, from apparitions and flickering lights to disembodied voices. The hotel looms over Jerome and even appears menacing at sunset. That’s a great time to duck into its bar, The Asylum, where spirits of a different kind are served. Easy day trip from: Phoenix, two hours away. Details: http://jeromechamber.com/