Fresh from a couple overnights in the small city of Willcox, Arizona, I hiked that morning and drove the 1.5 hours down to Bisbee, Arizona ready to tear into some food! Located in the Mule Mountains of southeast Arizona, the city has a solid copper-mining past and only a little over 5,000 residents making it more of a small town feel. With a thriving arts, music and hospitality scene, it is a place for all the free spirits to join – including ones that are not alive.
The energy is heavy and historical here. For someone who is sensitive to ghosts and the supernatural, I could sense a lot of it pretty much everywhere I went before people told me their tales. There’s a lot of goth and emo vibes here too, heavy on the black clothing and hardcore music which made me feel immediately at home. Wherever the alternative crowd gathers is always my happy place… always has been, always will be. But don’t worry, people of all types come to explore this strange, spooky place and return time and time again. It has an undeniable charm that makes it so popular.
Welcome to the hilly small city of Bisbee, Arizona!Parking in a lot down the hill, I got even more exercise climbing up the hill and this cool mural in Bisbee, Arizona!If you want a good workout while in Bisbee, Arizona just keep climbing all the endless stairs!Colorful buildings abound in Bisbee, Arizona.Screaming Banshee Pizza in Bisbee, Arizona was yelling my name by the time I reached the space. Don’t be a dummy like me and just park in the lot!The interior of Screaming Banshee Pizza in Bisbee, Arizona.Currently binge watching The Walking Dead, this sign gave me a giggle at Screaming Banshee Pizza in Bisbee, Arizona.And who doesn’t love aliens at Screaming Banshee Pizza in Bisbee, Arizona.A local artist’s metal sayings line the walls at Screaming Banshee Pizza.Thai me up, Thai me down wood fired pizza was outstanding with a fancy side salad and iced tea, not the same old flavors! Outside on the patio in the shade, the weather was just perfect. Just watch out for those pesky flies…
After I stuffed my face with delicious pizza, it was time to check in to my next spot! School House Inn is a historic brick school built in 1918 at the peak of Bisbee’s mining days. Located one mile west of downtown Old Bisbee in the quiet residential area, the Inn is surrounded by lush green hills and quaint colorful homes. Originally built as Garfield School for grades one through four, the school was converted to apartments in the late thirties and in 1989, it became a bed and breakfast. Every room has a school theme including Principal’s Office Suite, the Art Room, the Geography Room and others.
Going back to elementary school at the Schoolhouse Inn Bed & Breakfast in Bisbee, Arizona.School House Inn Bed & Breakfast looking out from the parking lot there were children swinging on metal swings making a squeaking sound in the air.Inside the School House Inn, a map of Bisbee that the owners keep adding to as things change.The breakfast nook inside at School House Inn. There is one lone TV with VCR tapes to watch quietly at night here.The outside patio which appealed to me at School House Inn.Everything becomes so lush with the hammock nearby at School House Inn.Upstairs and inside at School House Inn in Bisbee, Arizona.The front patio has views for days at School House Inn.My room was the geography room and on my way there I asked if it was haunted and was met with a pause at School House Inn.More of the geography room at School House Inn.A sitting area in the geography room at School House Inn.The oversized bathroom at the School House Inn. Apparently the place is haunted but by a very nice teacher they think as she will open doors for you, etc. I wasn’t scared at all.
Wearing a hard hat, miner’s headlamp and a gold tag, thousands of Bisbee visitors descend into the Queen Mine Tour each year heading 1,500 feet underground. Tour guides, some retired Phelps Dodge employees, delve into the mine and recount mining days, techniques, dangers and drama. Certainly not an exploration for those with claustrophobia, make sure you schedule your tour before you go as it tends to sell out extremely fast.
Park and walk over to the main building at Queen Mine Tour to get checked in, reservations only at this time.Interior of the Queen Mine Tour building, lots of activity on a rainy day in Bisbee, AZ.Tons of rocks and crystals for sale on the Queen Mine Tour.It’s tempting to buy all the pretty, shiny things on the Queen Mine Tour.Kids can buy these geodes and break them open themselves at Queen Mine Tour.Fascinating that a lot of these precious stones came right out of Arizona at Queen Mine Tour.Benny our tour guide used to work in the mines at Queen Mine Tour as we all load onto the snuggle train.When I mentioned tight fit, I wasn’t kidding on the Queen Mine Tour.The train car with no one on it on the Queen Mine Tour. Wear pants or shorts not a dress like I did because you’re straddling that padded bench!Walking up into one of the main blast zones with Queen Mine Tour.Photos really don’t do it justice nor do videos, you have to see for yourself at Queen Mine Tour.You kind of get some depth perception with this mannequin on the Queen Mine Tour.The makeshift runaway bike at Queen Mine Tour.The crapper on the Queen Mine Tour where people would move the foot bench away for fun and games.Imagine how heavy one of these weighed on the Queen Mine Tour.How they blew up the rocks with these cords of fire and dynamite on the Queen Mine Tour.And just like that, our tour was over but wow these guys were tough as nails back in the day. Mad props to Benny and the crew!On to my next stop in Bisbee, Arizona and loving these artsy steps with sayings on them. 100%!Dinner at The Quarry in Bisbee, Arizona!The Quarry also has a live music venue in Bisbee, Arizona.Outstanding and eccentric art work at The Quarry in Bisbee, Arizona.Jane Thompson is a millennial with a mission and women owned business in Bisbee, Arizona.Any place with hanging bats is my kind of place in Bisbee, Arizona.And Peter Steele from Type O Negative who I went on tour with in college at Bisbee, Arizona!The steak frites with some tasty tomato soup were so delicious at The Quarry in Bisbee, Arizona.I got a little lost and ended up enjoying some free espresso from Old Bisbee Roasters to keep me going with Seth, the father of The Quarry’s owner in Bisbee, Arizona.Historic and quirky Bisbee, Arizona mural needed to be documented too!Meeting up with Philly transplant Jenn for the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour for a walkabout of Bisbee, Arizona was next on the schedule.The story behind the many flies at Bisbee, Arizona is a trip!An ode to the flies in Bisbee, Arizona.We walked up and down the main street in Bisbee, Arizona hearing haunted tales.Bisbee, Arizona at night with the lights on is whole other experience.Not haunted but still a cool sight to see are these angels in Bisbee, Arizona.The school is where I captured some orbs in Bisbee, Arizona.The city park is built on old burial grounds and chock full of spooky vibes in Bisbee, Arizona.We also went inside some local hotels with Jenn in Bisbee, Arizona. No ghosts spotted though!Soon to be remodeled building in Bisbee, Arizona.Swastikas from a time before they became demonized adorn this old floor in Bisbee, Arizona.After a good night’s sleep with no ghost disturbances, Maria the hostess at the Schoolhouse Inn made me a lovely breakfast. She is the heart & soul of this property and so sweet!
It was a whirlwind not even 24 hours in this funky town and I look forward to exploring more in the future! Visit the website to learn more about this place in the meantime and until we meet again…
2 Comments
Mike Salinas
Thinking about moving to Bisbee
cassieh1
It’s a great small town!