Bisbee. It’s as fun as it sounds. And perhaps their website describes it best: “Bisbee is a free-spirited place with a thriving arts/music/hospitality scene, amid a remarkably well-preserved historical architectural setting.” And you know what lots of history means…lots of potential paranormal activity, and thus this historic stop is another paranormal adventure…
The Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee Arizona
Finally we get to explore a mine that’s open! Mix one part eerie, one part legit mine shafts with two parts cool as hell, add a splash of pitch dark and a sprinkle of claustrophobia with a garnish of hard hats, flashlights and waterproof raincoats and you have the perfect underground haunted cocktail.
The copper mine was operational for nearly a hundred years before closing down in 1975. These days it’s open to the public for guided tours.
We went down via tiny rail cars, which pumped our anxiety high when it derailed and had to be pried back on the tracks. Our guides were calm and cool and got us back on track…literally.
The guides are all former mine workers, and have incredible stories about life in the mines and make the epic adventure deep underground even more authentic. Surprisingly, out of the thousands who worked the mine, only a handful had ever died there.
At our deepest, we were 700 feet under the mountain top, definitely not a place to freak out. I kept an eye and ear open for any sign of tommy knockers…our guide and Kristin both gave me skeptical looks.
I’ll say the mine is to me still a “para” normal place because it’s not every day we get to see such an engineering marvel of a location. Some of the side shafts and air shafts dropped over 1,000 feet below us. It’s definitely not a tunnel system that I’d want to be wandering in without a light source…it gave absolute darkness a whole new meaning.
We also don’t recommend it for those with even the mildest case of claustrophobia. Otherwise it’s a great adventure!
Copper Queen Hotel, Bisbee Arizona
Old school is the best word for this haunted retreat. It has been investigated by numerous paranormal groups and all believe it to be infested with the undead.
First things first, Kristin and I each partook in an ice cold beer in the hotel bar before starting our way through the cozy historic lobby and up the grand staircase.
It’s the upper floors that are said to be the points of activity however on the second floor Kristin decided to stay while I made my way up to the third and fourth floors.
Taking numerous pictures and talking aloud into thin air I had hoped for a response from some of its residents. At one point on the fourth floor I came across a door handle that was jiggling from the inside for what seemed like an awfully long time. I couldn’t rule out human error so I won’t call it evidence of anything paranormal, but it continued to jiggle for 15-20 seconds as I watched from the hallway.
The upper floors kind of gave me a sad feeling and teetered towards a more not-so-nice side of human behavior, at least that’s the feeling I got from it. So I headed back down after my self-guided tour and met back up with Kristin.
If walls could talk, I imagine there would be plenty of stories to behold in this history packed place of legend. After about an hour inquisitively searching the building we decided it was time to move on. So with more to see and do in the town on our agenda, we left the Copper Queen behind and off we went.
The Olive Oil Store
All I can say about this place is it’s off the radar, run by a kind man who loved to talk and is afraid of the underground space below his own shop. The building shares the same area of basement walls as the Copper Queen Hotel, though not connected. And it is packed full of energy. Not only does he feel it emanating from the building’s dark space below but guest mediums and investigators who have been down there also believe it to have a presence.
What’s down there? We don’t know, and neither did he. All he knew was that whatever it is hides under two steel doors at the back of his shop. While listening to his stories he also showed us pictures of the place. I kind of wanted to check it out but decided against it. Not only is it unwise to take candy from strangers, it’s probably unwise to walk into dark basements of haunted old brick buildings run by a stranger. Based on his pictures, it looks like kids from the sixties sprayed graffiti on the walls and probably played with Ouija boards. Who knows what might reside down below…as for us, we left with some tasty olive oil and spicy peanuts. Maybe one day there will be a professional paranormal investigation here.
That’s it for the paranormal Southwest…stay tuned for America’s Haunted South next….
Cheers!
Matt
Stubs says
Too spooky for me!