The Most Haunted Hotels in Tombstone

Posted: 03.06.2025 | Updated: 03.06.2025

The City of Tombstone will always be associated with stories about the famous outlaws of the Wild West. It is home to many historical sites, including the OK Corral. But what many people may not know is that this small town in Arizona hosts many haunting ghosts and troubled spirits who like to linger around the buildings found in the historical district. 

If you have a taste for terror and love hearing stories about the wild west, you are sure to enjoy taking a ghost tour with us at Tombstone Terrors. Book your tour with us today!

What are the Most Haunted Hotels in Tombstone?

Because of the town’s violent past, many people believe the spirits of the dead now roam the streets and stay inside many of Tombstone’s oldest buildings. The old hotels, bed and breakfast locations, and former brothels have some serious dark energy within them that is hard to explain and even more difficult to ignore.

The History of Tombstone, Arizona

Tombstone, Arizona, was founded in 1879 and later officially became a city in 1881. It is known for being home to some of the most notorious gunfights in U.S. history. The OK Corral is located there, as are the legendary Bird Cage Theatre and the longest-running newspaper in the West, the Tombstone Epitaph.

Thanks to the silver boom that brought mining opportunities to Tombstone, it became one of the fastest-growing cities in the West. There is a lot of history tied to the area, and a lot of tragic, gruesome deaths as well. All that bloodshed in this section of the Wild West left a dark and foreboding energy behind. 

While there are several haunted locations throughout the city, the hotels are considered the best spots if you want to experience some soul-stirring activity.

The Buford House

The Buford House is a historic building said to be haunted by more than one ghost. Built in 1880, the adobe-style building was once a popular bed and breakfast. Some of the notable guests who have stayed there include John Wayne and actress Melissa Gilbert.

One of the spirits found in the Buford House is John Buford, who was one of the original founders of the town. Several people have seen the ghost of John standing at the foot of their bed or walking through the walls of the hotel. Guests have also heard strange noises such as knocks on the door or footsteps that cannot be explained. There are also sudden drops in temperature experienced in different areas of the building. 

Another ghost that is mentioned often by locals in Tombstone is the ghost of George Daves.

George Daves

It’s been said that George Daves lived in the Buford House many years ago. He was in love with his childhood sweetheart Petra, who lived across the street. He hoped to marry Petra one day, and when the silver boom hit, he found a great opportunity to earn enough money to give them a good start at a happy and successful life. 

George would stay gone for weeks at a time working in the silver mines. On one occasion, when he stayed away for longer than usual, he returned home and accompanied Petra to a party. Unfortunately, Petra ended up leaving the party with another man.

Feeling depressed from the betrayal, George went into a fit of rage. On April 13th, 1888, he shot Petra with his revolver by firing four shots, two of which made impact. He then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life. Petra miraculously survived her bullet wounds.

Guests who have stayed at the Buford House have reported seeing apparitions of George and experiencing ghostly activity such as lights turning on and off and the doorbell ringing at 3 a.m. 

A shadowy figure of a man can be seen lurking in the back corners of the guest rooms. Apparitions of him are often captured in photographs, and he has also been seen looking at guests through mirrors. 

One female guest staying at the bed and breakfast reported she felt a tingling sensation all over her body while lying in bed. It then felt as if someone climbed into bed next to her and started stroking her back. The entity soon disappeared when the woman’s friend woke up and approached the side of her bed.

Larian Motel

The Larian Motel was built in 1957 and is located just a short distance from other popular haunted locations, including Big Nose Kate’s, the Bird Cage Theatre, and the OK Corral. Although the motel has been renovated recently, there are reports of ghostly encounters happening in the older original section of the building.

The Larian was constructed by Larry McCabe, who originally built the motel with eight units, four on the west side and four on the east side. A few years later, four additional units were added as well as a residential home for Larry and his wife, Lillian. The name of the motel, Larian, is a combination of the letters in their names.

The Hauntings at Larian Motel

The most haunted rooms at the Larian are believed to be room numbers 1 through 4. There is a story about twin sisters who stayed in room 3. 

They both sensed the presence of someone or something being in the room with them, but they didn’t tell one another about it. The next morning, over breakfast, the sisters learned they had both experienced the same eerie ghost encounter.

A typical report from guests who stayed in the haunted rooms is their possessions going missing and turning up later in their original spot. This happened with one man who was unable to find his glasses after leaving them on the nightstand. 

He searched the room and contacted the front desk, who tried to help him find his glasses. After not having any luck, the man went for a walk to visit the shops on Allen Street. When he returned, his glasses were on the nightstand where he initially left them.

Guests who have stayed at the Larian Motel have seen the spirit of a man with white hair in room 4, which is also known as the Wyatt Earp room. The man wears a white shirt, and his style of clothing is from the 1950s or 1960s. There are some who think he is a guest from the past who is trying to check back into the motel.

Recent Ghostly Encounters

The current owner of the motel, Gordon Anderson, said he has heard faint sounds of old-fashioned music playing, but when he goes to investigate the noise, he is unable to find the source. Whispers and disembodied voices have been heard by guests as well. 

Within the Doc Holliday room, there is a purported presence of a spirit inside that is rarely seen but often heard. Guests have noted that they can feel the presence that someone is there.

It is also rumored that the same silver miner, George Daves, who haunts the Buford House, haunts the Larian Motel as well.

Bordello B&B

Built in 1881, the Bordello B&B was once one of the most frequently visited locations for cowboys making their way through town. Home to a former brothel owned by Doc Holliday’s girlfriend Big Nose Kate, the Bordello B&B has a wealth of legends and plenty of haunting spirits within its walls.

Guests have experienced hauntings in several rooms, with the most common being the ghost of an old miner who died outside the building during a scuffle. He has been known to show up occasionally and make advances toward the female guests.

Hauntings in the Rooms of Bordello B&B

One guest who was staying at the establishment with family was in the shower when the door of the bathroom started shaking as if someone was trying to get inside. The woman was alone in the room, while her family was downstairs on the patio. 

She quickly stepped out of the shower, got dressed, and went downstairs to tell her family what happened. Her brother came back to the room with her, and they tried to communicate with the perceived spirit. When they asked who was there, they heard a very distinctive voice reply, “No.”

In one of the guest rooms, aptly painted in brothel red, there is a journal left on the desk where guests can record their experiences. In one of the notes, a woman mentioned feeling someone touching her leg and arm around midnight while in bed. Others stated feeling a distinct tug or feeling as if someone was getting into bed with them.

One particularly disturbing entry in the journal was from a woman who felt as if she was being choked with hands around her neck. She said it lasted for several minutes, and she didn’t feel that she was at serious risk; it just felt uncomfortable. Some believe that it was the spirit of Dutch Annie who used to work at the Brothel and was choked by a former client many years ago.

The Tombstone Motel

Originally built in the late 1870s, the Tombstone Motel, now known as the Budget Host Inn, first started out as a livery stable. It later became a general merchandise store and then a lumber yard. It was converted into a motel in the 1940s.

The manager claims they have several ghosts on site, but as a rule, he doesn’t allow guests to stay in the room with the most ghostly activity. 

The reason is because there have been too many complaints from former guests about strange noises at night. He said he receives too many calls in the middle of the night from people requesting a room change.

Haunted Tombstone

Tombstone has long been associated with the legendary outlaws of the Old West. So it is no surprise that countless murders and other criminal activities took place in this small historical town. Because of this, there is a wealth of spooky locations for curious tourists to explore. 

If you would like to find out more about the creepiest places in Tombstone, you can check out our blog for recent updates. And be sure to schedule your next thrilling ghost tour with us here at Tombstone Terrors.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to learn more about haunted locations all throughout the country.

Sources:

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