Summary
- Bisbee: Hauntingly unique town with creepy tales and vintage RV accommodations. Explore Evergreen Cemetery and Bisbee Séance Room.
- Paradise Valley: Wealthiest town with world-class golf courses and handmade bells at historic Cosanti. Enjoy dining and shopping.
- Globe: Storied town with a globe-shaped silver history. Visit Seneca Lake, Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive, and Round Mountain Park.
Arizona is home to some of the most beautiful destinations in the US and entices travelers from around the world. The state is one of the unique locations in the Southwest and offers plenty of weird places that tourists won’t find anywhere else in the world. Arizona might be loved for its world-famous bustling cities like Phoenix, but there is something exhilarating about exploring its lesser-known side. The unique and strange towns in Arizona to add to the bucket list give travelers an incredible chance to immerse themselves in the local culture. These places might not be among the most beautiful Arizona small towns one should visit, but they offer an authentic experience of the state.
10 Bisbee
See the haunted places, and The Shady Bell
Bisbee is a copper mining loved for its breathtaking architecture and numerous unique places to explore. The town is also among the most haunted spots in Arizona and has creepy tales. Some of the most haunted locations to explore in the city include Evergreen Cemetery and Bisbee Séance Room. The Shady Bell is not haunted but is another strange thing to experience in Bisbee and is perfect for lovers of RVs. The nine vintage trailers take travelers back to the 1940s and 1950s. It offers one of the strangest accommodation experiences, including TVs that only broadcast in two colors.
9 Paradise Valley
Visit Cosanti, a historic site that is home to handmade bells and wind chimes
Paradise Valley is a town with a rural feel located east of Arizona’s capital, Phoenix. It is famous for being the wealthiest town in the state, with world-class golf courses, incredible culinary experiences, and a fantastic shopping scene. What makes this place unique is Cosanti, a designated historic site in Arizona with terraced landscaping and impressive garden courtyards. It is among the strangest places in the state of Arizona. Cosanti is home to handmade bells and windchimes, and vacationers can see these being created in person.
8 Globe
A storied past, including the fact that it was named after a globe-shaped silver discovered there
Globe was founded in 1876 and boasts unique experiences that every traveler will fall in love with. Its name originates from the globe-shaped silver that was discovered near the townsite. Located in the middle of Tonto National Forest, this charming town has a long, fascinating history that involves silver miners, gunfighters, and ranchers, among others. Its legacy and unique name have endured through its discovery, mining period, and even today as one of the most stunning places to explore in Arizona. There are numerous things to do here, including Seneca Lake, Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive, and Round Mountain Park.
- Year founded: 1876
- Population: 7,185
- Things to do: Seneca Lake, Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive, and Round Mountain Park
7 Lake Havasu City
Home to a scenic coastline in a desert landscape
Lake Havasu City is located on the California border, and the fact it has an incredibly scenic coastline makes it a unique destination, which makes it stand out among other tourist spots. It offers numerous outdoor activities, thanks to the pristine beaches, mountains, and the surrounding desert. Some of the best things to do in Lake Havasu City include lounging on the beach, kayaking on the lake, strolling along the historic London Bridge, and taking in the breathtaking mountain and water views.
- Year founded: 1964
- Population: 58,926
- Things to do: Lounging on the beach, kayaking on the lake, strolling along the historic London Bridge, and taking in the breathtaking mountain and water views
6 Jerome
America’s largest ghost town
Famous for its authenticity, Jerome is one of the strangest and most unique towns in Arizona and offers some of the most unforgettable memories. This spot was once the “wickedest town in the west” and has multiple unique places to explore. The Abandoned Post Office, which is about a quarter mile from the free parking lot, is among the most unusual places. The aging dates back to the mining days. Other strange places in Jerome include the Sliding Jail, Jerome State Historic Park, and the Gold King & Ghost Town.
- Year founded: 1899
- Population: 467
- Things to do: Explore the abandoned Jerome mine, take a ghost tour
5 Winslow
Visit the Apache Death Cave
Winslow is a small, charming town in Navajo County. The town is famous for being featured in the Eagle song “Take it Easy.” It is among the unique and strange towns in Arizona to add to the travel bucket list. One of the most unusual places to explore here is the Apache Death Cave, which is located on Old Route 66. This cave is believed to be haunted by the Apache, who were burned to death by the Navajo. This followed after the Apache raided a Navajo encampment along the Little Colorado River in 1878, killing every woman and child – and imprisoning three remaining girls (believed to have been murdered later). The cave has never been used since then, and the locals try to warn everyone that it’s cursed.
4 Sedona
Breathtaking red sandstone formations and Sedona Vortexes, believed to emit energy
While there are small and underrated towns in Arizona that are great alternatives to Sedona, this place is like no other. What makes Sedona stand out from other destinations include its unique red rock formations and the Vortexes, which emit their energies. The Sedona Vortexes can be seen in Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, and Boynton Canyon. Other unique things to do include visiting the spiritual stores and taking a healing massage treatment.
- Year founded: 1902
- Population: 9,896
- Things to do: Visit the Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, and Boynton Canyon
3 Tombstone
Paranormal encounters
The Southwest is home to some of the most haunted places in America, and Tombstone is among the spookiest locations in Arizona, with numerous ghostly stories to explore. Vacationers can stroll down the town’s streets, which are believed to be wandered by spirits. Taking a ghost tour is one of the best ways to enjoy some of the strangest experiences in Tombstone. Tombstone Terrors: Ghosts and Gunslingers of the Wild West allows vacationers to discover the town’s darker side by taking them through places like Crystal Palace and Big Nose, some of the eeriest locations.
2 Wickenburg
Explore Vulture City Ghost Town
Wickenburg is an unusual gem with multiple strange things to experience. One of the top spots to explore is Vulture City Ghost Town, which is situated in the Sonoran Desert, just outside the town. Established in 1863, Vulture City Ghost Town is one of the things that make Wickenburg among the unique and strange towns in Arizona to add to a bucket list. It was a vibrant gold mining town until 1942, when it met its fate, thanks to the War Production Board, which authorized the shutting down of all the non-essential mines. Today, tourists can take a ghost tour of the abandoned remnants of this former mining town. The tour guide will walk the group through the haunted buildings as he narrates some of the creepy tales of the ghost town’s haunted history. One will get a chance to spot paranormal activities, including flickering lights and weird shadows in the historic buildings.
- Year founded: 1863
- Population: 8,045
- The year the Vulture City ghost town was established and abandoned: 1863 and 1942, respectively.
- Admission fee: $15 per person, $12 per senior/veteran, $7 per child (7-12), and free for kids aged 6 and below
1 Nothing
An unusual name and a sign with a weird statement written on it
Located in eastern Mohave County, Nothing is definitely one of the most unusual places to visit in Arizona. Its founding dates back to 1977 and is popular for its unusual name. While this town falls among the quirkiest places to explore in Arizona, there is no one living there. After several attempts to revive it, the town remains an abandoned ghost town with nothing except a restroom, ruined structures, and a sign written:
Town of Nothing Arizona. Founded 1977. Elevation 3269 ft.
The staunch citizens of Nothing are full of Hope, Faith, and Believe in the work ethic. Thru-the-years-these dedicated people had faith in Nothing, hoped for Nothing, worked at Nothing, for Nothing.
Some vacationers are actually intrigued by places without anything to explore, and while Nothing lacks landmarks or fun adventures to experience, it entices people with its nothingness.
- Year founded: 1977
- Opening hours: 24 hours
- Admission fee: Free