Whether you’re hunting for a haunted excursion or family-friendly trick or treating, Sedona has both waiting for you this October. From a ghostly dinner to a haunted hotel, you’ll be spooked by Sedona’s historical sites in this special Halloween feature.
Relics Restaurant
If you are looking for a ghostly meal, look no farther than the Relics Restaurant & Roadhouse at Historic Rainbow’s End. Relics is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Sedona, so you’re bound to catch some spirits dining beside you – particularly in the “Gibson Room,” which was built in the early 1900s to house the Gibson family. During their time in Rainbow’s End, the Gibsons had to sell off parcels of their land to survive when food harvests weren’t fruitful enough.
The house was turned into an eating establishment called Rainbow’s End – famous for fried chicken – and later transformed into the Relics Restaurant. Today, customers experience the eerie vibe of the old restaurant, coupled with the occurrences of orbs and blurred forms of spirits in photos taken inside.
The restaurant itself embraces the hauntings by providing a table that is always “reserved for ghosts.”
If you visit Relics and take a photo, be sure to check if a ghost has photo-bombed you. Photographed ghost sightings can get you a $100 dinner gift certificate.
Jerome Grand Hotel
Jerome, also known as the “Wickedest Town in the West,” is a ghost town about 25 miles outside Sedona, and home to old deserted mines and “haunted” hotel attractions. History buffs will love Jerome’s museums and tours, and who knows, you may glimpse the spirit of past hospital patients while sitting at dinner in the Asylum Restaurant, located inside of the Jerome Grand Hotel.
In 1926, the United Verde Hospital opened in Jerome, and was one of the most modern hospitals in the Western U.S. at the time. The hospital closed in 1950, but the building was still managed by caretakers until the last one took his own life in the 1980s. The building was boarded up for years until Larry Altherr purchased it to build the Jerome Grand Hotel in 1994, and when he began reconstruction work, Larry reported that he could feel the presence of spirits that seemed opposed to his alterations. The lingering souls have accepted the new residents, but the owners still believe there are ghostly presences within the hotel. Though, for now, they are content.
The Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures” crew visited the hotel as well to produce an episode based on the old former hospital. You can watch videos of their findings on the Travel Channel website.
Trick or Treat!
For a bit of family fun, the City of Sedona hosts an annual Safe & Fun Trick or Treat event in Uptown Sedona on the evening of Halloween. Get dressed to impress in your Halloween costumes because this is three hours of community fun with local performances and candy in a safe environment. And the best part: it’s free.
These local haunts will send shivers down your spine. Book a vacation with Diamond Resorts at one of four Sedona properties today.
Diamond Resorts International Marketing, Inc., its parents, sister companies, and subsidiaries, make no warranty, express or implied, as to the condition, capacity, performance or any other aspect of the activities, events, or service providers listed herein. No inquiry has been made into the activities or events, or the qualifications or the quality of services offered by the providers. Do not consider this an endorsement of or recommendation for any of the activities, events, or providers.