The Spirits of The Bisbee Grand Hotel

Posted: 03.21.2025 | Updated: 03.21.2025

It’s not uncommon to hear spooky ghost tales and urban legends in a town that experienced its glory days during the times of the Old West. With a rough and tumble past and gunfights frequenting the dusty streets, the hotels that were around over a hundred years ago in the city of Bisbee are ideal places to experience ghostly encounters if you know where to look.

If the thrilling combination of the rowdy Wild West mixed with eerie ghost tales interests you, then you need to book a ghost tour with us here at Tombstone Terrors for an electrifying time while staying in Arizona.

Who Haunts the Bisbee Grand Hotel?

The Bisbee Grand Hotel is one of the oldest establishments in the area, and it has several haunted guests who checked in for a permanent vacation. While guests have seen multiple apparitions at this location, two ghosts tend to haunt the halls of this quaint and quirky hotel the most often.

The History of the Bisbee Hotel

The city of Bisbee was founded in 1880. Located in the Mule Mountains of Arizona, it was a bustling copper mining town between the 1880s and 1975. Thanks to this copper boom that brought hundreds into town, Bisbee was almost named the capital of Arizona. And the best place for wealthy mining executives to stay while they were in town was The Grand Bisbee Hotel.

Located on Main Street, the Bisbee Hotel was within walking distance of most of the popular restaurants and saloons in the old city. The hotel saw many guests come and go, and some retrieved a fortune thanks to the local mines. 

But after decades of luck and prosperity, the copper mines dried up, which also meant the population of Bisbee was on the decline during the mid to late 1970s. Because of that, the hotel eventually closed down.

Restoring The Hotel

In the late 1980s, renovation work started on the Bisbee Grand Hotel for a reopening. The newly renovated hotel features an interior and exterior design that pays homage to the days of the Old West while also incorporating modern-day amenities. 

This newly restored Old West-style Victorian hotel features a saloon on the ground floor, period-style furnishings, and thirteen guest rooms that all feature themes of a quirky nature. Some of the featured themes include The Oriental, The Hacienda, and The Hollywood Suites.

While most visitors enjoy their stay at the Grand Bisbee Hotel, there are some guests from years past who enjoyed their visit so much they decided to stay for an undisclosed amount of time.

The Ghosts of the Bisbee Grand Hotel

Like many historic locations throughout the town of Bisbee, the Grand Hotel is said to be haunted by several spirits. Visitors, locals, and staff members alike have reported seeing at least two apparitions roaming the halls frequently, a man and a woman.

While their presence at the hotel may be unsettling for some, these ghosts are said to be quiet and harmless. They don’t bother anyone or make unusual noises; there haven’t been any reports regarding these specific ghosts moving objects or performing mischievous acts that are typical of many other spirits. 

It seems they simply enjoy the company of the hotel’s guests and want to remain among the living. The lady ghost has been said to leave the scent of roses wherever she roams.

Could the Pair of Ghosts Be Long-Lost Lovers?

The male spirit is often spotted downstairs, roaming around the saloon area, while the female has been seen in the upper level of the hotel. Could the duo be a couple who were separated by death and found each other again at their favorite location? 

Or perhaps they were two strangers who met at a local saloon during the days of the Old West, and their souls met once again at the Grand Bisbee. Whatever their reason may be for staying at the hotel, most of the visitors and staff members don’t mind them hanging around.

While it may not be the same ghost, people have seen the spirit of a female dressed in a white dress in a style from the 1800s, fluffing the pillows in the guest rooms and making sure everything is nice and tidy. It has been said that when she departs a room, there is a fresh scent of lilac left behind. She has also been seen by people standing outside the building, looking out the window.

Ghostly Encounters at the Bisbee Hotel

While the commonly seen friendly pair of ghosts do not bother the guests, there have been other reports of ghostly encounters at the hotel that are less than pleasant.

Another frequently reported ghost encounter at the Bisbee Hotel involves the spirit of a young woman who is dressed in Victorian-era clothing. She has been seen by guests holding a tray and often shows up in guest rooms 2 and 3. Guests have also reported hearing the chilling sound of an old piano playing on its own when she’s around, which adds to the creepy ambiance of the hotel.

Ghostly apparitions have been reported by guests in all thirteen rooms. Items have been moved around or turned over, the bathroom towels are hidden, and there are all types of unexplained noises occurring in the rooms and in the hallway.

A guest who stayed at the hotel a few years ago said he woke up to use the restroom at around 4 am. There was a rock in place holding the door open, and he heard the sound as if the rock was being moved. The door then closed on its own. He was freaked out by the experience but thought it seemed harmless and returned to bed. 

About an hour later, he was awakened by his girlfriend yelling his name out in a state of panic; she told him something was shaking the bed. She then saw someone run from the double doors in the room to the side of the bed.

Haunted Tombstone

The city of Tombstone has a rugged past filled with countless deaths caused by murder or tragedy. There is no question that this town has its fair share of haunted locations. One visitor said while touring through the community, he took a photo of an empty playground at night. 

The playground was rumored to be built upon an old cemetery. He took the photo in his camera’s long exposure mode, which many ghost enthusiasts agree is the best way to capture ghosts in photos. 

When the man went home to look through his camera, he noticed the image of a young girl standing in the playground. There were no children around while he was there, and the site was empty.

If you would like to learn more about the most haunted places to visit while staying in Bisbee or the surrounding areas, be sure to check out our blog. You can also schedule a ghost tour with us here at Tombstone Terrors for a thrilling evening you won’t soon forget.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more haunting details of all the spooky places you can visit from coast to coast.

Sources:

• https://www.bisbeegrandhotel.com/about
• https://southernarizonaguide.com/bisbee-grand-hotel-bed-breakfast-a-review/#:~:text=Restoration%20&%20Upgrades,as%20air%20conditioning%20in%202008.
• https://www.legendsofamerica.com/az-hauntedhotels/
• https://www.phoenix.org/attractions/experiences/haunted-bisbee-arizona-s-favorite-arts-town-celebrates-its-ghostly-residents/article_cd1292ea-a1a7-5133-a0a1-0f51a7e5d981.html
• https://www.tiktok.com/@wildjoyexperiences/video/7154240912548318510
• https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g31171-d113040-r666495729-Bisbee_Grand_Hotel-Bisbee_Arizona.html
• https://kwcdcountry.com/most-haunted-place-arizona/
• https://freakyfoottours.com/blog/post/the-13-most-haunted-hotels-in-arizona
• https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/1gtn5kf/bisbee_ghost_girl/