28 Ghost Towns That Have Transformed Into Tourist Hotspots

14. Jerome, Arizona: From Mining Collapse to Arts Colony

Once dubbed the “Wickedest Town in the West,” Jerome was a booming copper mining town perched high above the Arizona desert. When the mines shut down in the 1950s, Jerome was nearly deserted—its population dropping from thousands to just a few dozen. But artists and free spirits moved in during the 1960s and began transforming the ghost town into a quirky, vibrant enclave. Today, Jerome is a thriving tourist destination with galleries, cafes, wine bars, and haunted hotels tucked into its steep, winding streets. Visitors come for the ghost tours, jaw-dropping views, and offbeat charm—but stay for the creativity and resilient community spirit that breathed life back into this once-forgotten mountain town.