Just a short drive from Sedona, visit the ghost city of Jerome, Arizona.  An old copper mining operation, you can still see remnants of the mine all over town.  Today, Jerome is a cozy little tourist town with a rich history. During its heyday, more than 15,000 people called Jerome home. Miners not only worked hard, they played hard too. It is no wonder that Jerome earned the nickname “The Wickedest City in the West”.

How to get to Jerome
From Sedona, head out of town on State Route 89A, continue through Cottonwood and Clarkdale and then start up Mingus Mountain until you get into the center of town.  It is a 40 minute drive with a lot of pretty scenery along the way.

Parking & Free Shuttle
There are four designated parking areas that require you to pay a parking fee.  The free parking lot is located on Perkinsville Road, just past the fire station.  It is an easy walk to Main Street where you’ll find shopping and restaurants.  The town of Jerome has a free shuttle that runs between the free lot and town on weekends and holidays. If you are lucky, you may score some free parking along Main Street.

Jerome’s Famous Sliding Jail
Jerome’s historic jail is located about 225 feet down the hill from where it was originally built.  You can see where the jail sits today.  It is located just off Hull Street, on the east of the road, inside one of the paid parking lots.

Visit Jerome State Historical Park
Visit the museum at the Douglas Mansion in the Jerome State Historical Park.  Here you can learn all about the history of Jerome and the local mining industry. Take a tour of the mansion that was once owned by businessman and mining executive James “Rawhide Jimmy” Douglas and learn about his fascinating life. There’s a great display of artifacts and take time to watch the movie.  From the grounds of the park, the view of Sedona is beautiful.  In fact, you can see almost all of the Verde Valley from up here.

See the Audrey Headframe Park
Just before you enter the Jerome State Historical Park, visit the Audrey Headframe Park.  Here you’ll see some old mining artifacts and learn about the Audrey Shaft and Headframe and the history of this mine.  A large copper deposit was found on this land when James Douglas starting his own digging here.  The shaft is pretty deep and you can see this for yourself.  There is a clear glass over the top of the mine so you can see down below and get a feeling of what it was like to ride in a cage into the depths of the earth.

Take a Ghost Tour
Jerome is known for being a ghost town.  Take a tour from an experienced tour guide who will tell you the history and mysteries of some famous people in Jerome.  Learn about Spook Hall, Jerome’s Community Center, the Connor Hotel and the Jerome Grand Hotel which all have several strange happenings going on there.

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Eat at the Haunted Hamburger
Have lunch or dinner at the Haunted Hamburger.  Not only is the food good, but you may see some ghostly activity in the building.

The Spirit Room
Jerome’s world-famous Spirit Room is located on the corner of Main Street and Jerome Avenue. Stop in for a drink and listen to some live music.  Look for the motorcycles that park out front.  It is a sight to see!

If hiking in Sedona isn’t for you, we’ve put together a list of things to do besides hiking.  It includes scenic drives and other excursions like Sedona wine tours.