“I hope he didn’t book us in one of the haunted rooms.” I’m half-joking with one of the staff members at the Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee, Arizona, about the fact that my husband, who thinks it would be cool to see a ghost, booked our stay. “Oh, every room here is haunted,” the employee responded. “It just depends on how receptive you are to seeing them.”
The landmark hotel, built in 1902, is known as one of the most haunted locations in the state, and ghost hunters often prowl the floors in search of the resident spirits. Luckily, we had our dog with us, and the employee pointed out that the ghosts tend to stay away from rooms with pets.
The hotel that copper built
Wedged into a steep canyon in the Mule Mountains, about an hour and a half south of Tucson and 30 minutes south of Tombstone, the picturesque former mining town of Bisbee was once the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. Rich deposits of precious metals once underlaid the region’s rugged limestone surface, attracting thousands of prospectors, industry men, and fortune hunters.
The Copper Queen Mine, which opened in the 1880s, became one of the most productive mines in the country. It produced nearly 8 billion pounds of copper, 3 million ounces of gold, and 77 million ounces of silver, as well as lead, zinc, turquoise, and azurite. Today, tours of the mine are one of the town’s top attractions.
Overlooking downtown, the four-story Victorian villa-style Copper Queen Hotel was built by the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company to house visiting dignitaries and investors. Many famous people have stayed in the hotel, including First Lady Nancy Reagan, Jake LaMotta, Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland, and John McCain, among others. John Wayne’s favorite suite was Room 211, and guests now can sleep in the same bed that The Duke did. And Room 203 served as inspiration for many stories by mystery writer and Bisbee resident J.A. Jance.
Since it first opened, the hotel has never closed its doors. It is the oldest continuously operated hotel in Arizona.
Step back into history
The Copper Queen offers 48 remodeled rooms and suites, each with a private bathroom. Sizes range from cozy Single Full rooms, with a full-size bed, to the Teddy Roosevelt Suite, with two queen-size beds. And each room features period antiques, colorful floral wallpaper, and plush bedding. You’ll feel as though you’re staying in your grandma’s house. On a fun note, keys are actual large metal keys, which hang on a key rack behind the vintage wood check-in counter. You won’t find any electronic key cards used here.
My husband chose to book a Single Full, which was located on the second floor near the main staircase. The room was small, and although it did have a coffee maker and TV, there was no fridge or safe. Some rooms do offer these amenities.
Our room recently had been renovated, but its age was showing. There were water stains on the ceiling. The wallpaper had tears at the seams. And the carpet, which I was told was recently replaced, already looked worn. An in-window HVAC unit provided plenty of heat.
The bed was soft with fresh white linens.
The bathroom featured a clawfoot tub and pedestal sink. Wall-mounted dispensers offered liquid soap, body wash, shampoo, and lotion. The soap, body wash, and shampoo appeared to all be the same product. However, the towels were large, soft, and very fluffy.
Overall, our stay was comfortable and quiet. If you’re looking for the latest conveniences and modern technologies, the Copper Queen isn’t for you. But if you enjoy history, and you want to stay in the heart of the action, you can’t go wrong with this hotel.
Beyond the rooms
The public spaces are filled with antique and reproduction furnishings. An upright piano sits in a corner in the lobby. Across from it is the hotel’s old telephone switchboard. Victorian-style seating with dark wood trim and red velvet upholstery add to the historic vibe.
The second floor opens to a large sitting room. Here, guests can enjoy a game of chess by the fireplace, tickle the ivories on an antique spinet piano, or relax on more Victorian seating in shades of red and gold.
To the left of the lobby, across from the front desk, is 1902 The Spirit Room. This fine-dining restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Lunch and dinner menu items include classic American dishes such as burgers, pizzas, spaghetti and lasagna, and steak. But the meal to have here is breakfast. Choose from crepes, quiche, waffles, benedicts, and more. The spacious patio is dog friendly.
At night, head next door to The Saloon for a round of refreshments. Here, friendly locals mingle with hotel guests. Sidle up to the antique bar or relax outside on the patio. Mondays are open mic night, and weekends offer live music. During our last stay, a guitarist performed country songs. The Saloon is open nightly until 10 p.m.
Ghosts of the Copper Queen Hotel
There are three main ghosts that occupy the property. The most famous is a former prostitute named Julia Lowell who took her life in the hotel. Her spirit is most often spotted wandering throughout the second and third floors. And in her honor, the hotel named Room 315 after her, the Julia Lowell Room. Julia and the hotel have appeared on the Syfy Channel’s Ghost Hunters and The Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures.
Billy was the son of a hotel worker. He reportedly drowned in the nearby San Pedro River when he was 8 years old, although some say that his drown in one of the room’s bathtubs. His mischievous spirit is seen only by children, although some adults have reported hearing a child giggling or crying. Then there is the “Cigar Man.” The employee who I was speaking to in the bar, said that the hotel is smoke-free, but many guests report smelling cigar smoke. The aroma appears right before and immediately after the figure of an older man wearing a top hat and black cape materializes. Cigar Man haunts the fourth flour, and he even randomly appears in guests’ rooms.
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If you go
Rooms at the Copper Queen Hotel start at about $125 per night for a Single Full, depending on the day of the week. You can also compare rates and make a reservation at Booking.com or Expedia. Weekends are busy, so book early. If you are planning on visiting Bisbee during Pride Week, which takes place in June, you need to book months in advance. The hotel is pet-friendly, but there is a $50 one-time fee. Service animals stay for free.
To learn more about the spirits that haunt the Copper Queen Hotel, check out The Ghosts of the Copper Queen Hotel by Jean Nolan Krygelski. And for more ghostly stays in Bisbee, see our story about the town’s haunted B&Bs.
