The Most Haunted Places in Tombstone

Tombstone, Arizona, is a legendary city in the Wild West, steeped in rich history and heritage. Known for its portrayal in popular movies, Tombstone has also gained notoriety for something else—its hauntings.

Why is Tombstone haunted?

Nestled in the far southeast corner of Arizona, Tombstone is often called the most haunted place in the Old West. This reputation isn’t surprising, given its turbulent past filled with lawlessness and violence. The echoes of this chaotic history have left a lasting impression, with many believing that the spirits of the past continue to wander the streets of this storied town.

Keep reading to learn more about Tombstone’s most haunted locations, and to see some of them in person, book a ghost tour with Tombstone Terrors!

O.K. Corral

One of Tombstone’s most famous sites, the O.K. Corral, is said to be haunted by the ghosts of cowboys and lawmen associated with the infamous gunfight that took place on October 26, 1881. This 30-second shootout involved the Earp brothers—Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan—along with Doc Holliday and the cowboy outlaws Frank and Tom McLaury, Billy and Ike Clanton, Billy Claiborne, and Wes Fuller.

The gunfight left Frank and Tom McLaury and Billy Clanton dead, but the violence didn’t end there. On December 8, 1881, Virgil Earp was ambushed by cowboys, and on March 18, 1882, Morgan Earp was shot and killed while in a saloon.

Contrary to popular belief and Hollywood portrayals, the gunfight didn’t actually occur within the O.K. Corral itself but rather on Fremont Street, just west of the corral. Sixteen years later, another ghostly figure, James Burnett, nicknamed “Justice Jim,” was reportedly seen at the O.K. Corral. Burnett, who was the Justice of the Peace in Pearce, Arizona, was shot dead there, adding to the corral’s haunted reputation.

The O.K. Corral, originally built as a livery and horse corral at 308 E. Allen Street, remains a focal point of Tombstone’s haunted history.

Bird Cage Theatre

The Bird Cage Theatre, located at 535 E. Allen Street, was once one of the most notorious late-night attractions in Tombstone, earning its rough reputation with 26 documented deaths due to murder, suicide, and shootouts. The theater also served as a saloon, brothel, and gambling parlor.

One of the most gruesome murders at the Bird Cage was that of Margarita, known as the “Painted Lady,” who was killed with a stiletto through her heart. The spirits of cowboys and prostitutes are said to linger here, with reports of phantom cigarette smoke in a non-smoking saloon, a ghostly piano playing, and eerie laughter echoing through the empty theater.

These apparitions often appear in 1800s attire, as if they are trapped in time, unable to move on from the lives they once led.

Boothill Graveyard

Boothill Graveyard is perhaps the most famous cemetery in Tombstone, a fitting resting place for the town’s notorious dead. The name “Boothill” comes from the fact that many of those buried there met violent ends, often still wearing their boots. Among the graveyard’s residents are Frank and Tom McLaury and Billy Clanton, the outlaws killed in the O.K. Corral shootout.

Boothill is not Tombstone’s oldest cemetery, but it is the one with the most reported ghost sightings. Residents living near the graveyard have reported seeing spirits on unmarked graves, hearing strange sounds, and witnessing mysterious lights emanating from the cemetery.

One particularly chilling account involves a journalist who heard a small, childlike voice coming from an unmarked grave. At first, he thought he was imagining it, but the voice persisted, growing louder and more insistent, leaving him shaken.

Located just north along Highway 80, Boothill Graveyard is a place where the past refuses to rest.

Schieffelin Hall

Schieffelin Hall, built by Al Schieffelin, the brother of Tombstone’s founder Ed Schieffelin, was intended to bring culture and the arts to the West. This luxurious opera house and theater offered a more refined alternative to rowdier venues like the Bird Cage Theatre.

However, after being abandoned for more than half a century, paranormal activity began to take root. Strange noises, such as chains dragging on wooden floors, have been heard during City Council meetings held in the building.

Renée Gardner, author of Southern Arizona’s Most Haunted, suggests that the spirits haunting Schieffelin Hall are those of the performers who once graced its stage. These spectral presences are especially concentrated backstage, where the dressing rooms are located. One of the hall’s most notorious ghosts is believed to be a former actress, often seen wearing a scarlet dress.

Schieffelin Hall, located at 402 E. Fremont Street, is a reminder of Tombstone’s cultured aspirations—and its haunted legacy.

Buford House

Built in 1880 by George Washington Buford, the Buford House has seen its share of tragedy. Buford, a Texas mining executive, and his wife, Anne, were devastated when three of their seven children died, possibly from an epidemic that swept through the town.

Over the years, the house has hosted notable figures, including two sheriffs, a mayor, a senator, and even actor John Wayne. It has also served as a bed and breakfast and a commercial enterprise.

But the Buford House is not just home to the living. Sinister spirits are believed to linger here, leading to its closure as a bed and breakfast. Previous owner Catherine Farrell reported hearing eerie noises and feeling a cold hand touch her leg, an experience so unsettling that she never turned the lights off at night.

The most famous ghost associated with the Buford House is George Daves, who, in a fit of rage, shot Petra Edmunds, a woman he loved, before turning the gun on himself. Although Petra survived, Daves did not, and his spirit is said to still haunt the house and the streets where the tragic event occurred.

The Buford House, now located at 535 E. Allen Street, continues to draw paranormal enthusiasts intrigued by its haunted history.

Big Nose Kate’s Saloon

Once known as the Grand Hotel, Big Nose Kate’s Saloon was a favorite haunt of Tombstone’s most infamous characters, including the Earp brothers, the Clantons, and the McLaurys. Today, it is one of Tombstone’s most popular attractions, not just for its history but for its hauntings.

The most commonly sighted spirit at the saloon is known as “The Swamper” and it is said to linger in various parts of the building, including hallways, staircases, and the basement. According to legend, The Swamper guards a stash of silver he hid in the saloon.

Other ghostly activity includes apparitions, beers being knocked over, and reports of the spirits of the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday making their presence known. Visitors and staff have also reported hearing singing and talking, lights turning on and off by themselves, doors opening and closing, and plates flying through the air.

Located at 417 E. Allen Street, Big Nose Kate’s Saloon remains a vibrant part of Tombstone’s haunted history.

Bordello B&B

Once a brothel owned by Big Nose Kate, this establishment is now a full-service bed and breakfast located just 200 feet from its original site. Despite its transformation, the Bordello B&B retains a connection to its past—and its ghosts.

Legend has it that a miner who died in a fight behind the brothel still haunts the premises, particularly showing an interest in female guests. His spirit, dressed in a duster and loose-fitting coat, has been seen by both guests and staff. Another ghost, believed to be one of the brothel’s former ladies of the evening, also makes occasional appearances.

Despite—or perhaps because of—its haunted reputation, the Bordello B&B continues to attract guests curious about Tombstone’s spectral inhabitants.

In a town with as colorful and violent a past as Tombstone, it’s no wonder that spirits from another time still linger, unable to move on from the lives they once led.

Haunted Tombstone

Tombstone’s tumultuous past makes it an interesting attraction and one of America’s most haunted cities. Check out our blog for more haunted tales of Tombstone, and to see some of these locations in person, book a ghost tour with Tombstone Terrors!

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