36 OCTOBER 2019 Westward Ho in downtown Phoenix. Abandoned Montana Mine in Ruby, AZ. Hotel San Carlos in downtown Phoenix. Abandoned gold mine in Vulture City, AZ. By Miriam Cruson It is nearly impossible to drive very far across the desert without coming into contact with the remnants of a mining town that has long since seen its last boom, or even the lucky few that have come back from the brink of extinction. As Arizona’s “Hip Historian,” Marshall Shore is frequently asked about the best ghost towns in Arizona by his tour groups. And as he’s standing in the heart of Phoenix, he likes to say, “You’re in one right now.” The same can be said for Bisbee, Jerome or Tombstone, which are all considered ghost towns as well. All of these fully-functioning and inhabited locales have been close to disappearing at some point but pulled themselves up by their bootstraps from the brink of extinction and found new ways to prosper. Of course, Arizona’s landscape is dotted with towns and mining camps that were unable to endure, and others have become places where ghostly sounds and sights are a regular occurrence. RUBY Located in southwestern Santa Cruz County near the Mexico border, Ruby was once a thriving mining camp thanks to a rich vein of silver. It met a similar fate to many mining towns, however, when the silver strike ran dry in 1940. Ruby’s post office was located inside the general store and was named after the owner, Julius Andrews’, wife. The school building and others that served this camp from 1877 to 1941 only offer a few remaining walls today. WESTWARD HO Located downtown is one historic building with a story. Westward Ho opened in 1928, and the building operated as a hotel until 1980. Today it serves as public housing. During one of the renovation projects, the once-grand dining hall was sectioned off so that more rooms could be added. Previously, the walls hosted post-WWII conventions. Apparently, the ghostly figure of a lady can be seen making turns through solid walls, on what was once the dance floor, seemingly unaware of the new construction. “Just think about it,” Shore said, “Hotels hold so much energy from all the people who pass through there. People are there to celebrate, have parties, it’s no wonder they leave something behind.” HOTEL SAN CARLOS One of Arizona’s best-k nown haunts is located right in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Accounts of apparitions and sounds are well-known occurrences at the San Carlos Hotel. The property has been in continuous operation since opening in 1928 and can even be spied for a brief moment in the opening scenes of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film “Psycho.” Just imagine all the heads that have laid down to rest inside those rooms. Perhaps a few of them haven’t gotten any rest at all. One story is told of a young lady named Leone Jensen, who was staying at the San Carlos and was heartbroken after learning that the man she loved had given his heart to someone else. “Upon learning he loved another, Leone went back to her room, got gussied up in her best ivory dress and perfume, walked to the top floor and threw herself off. Some say they can smell her rose perfume on the third floor and have seen a figure in white going up the staircase,” said Shore. On the corner of Central Ave. and Monroe St., where the San Carlos Hotel has stood for the past 91 years, was once the home of the first and second schools built in Phoenix. Shore reports this may account for hotel guests and staff hearing the joyful squeals of children playing. VULTURE CITY Vulture City was once a bustling gold mining town just outside of Wickenburg. At its peak it was home to around 5,000 people. Although privately owned and closed to visitors, there are stories of as many as 18 men who were hanged there. The trapped souls can still reportedly be heard roaming through the remaining buildings and perhaps steering clear of the ironwood tree where they met their demise. HERITAGE SQUARE Heritage Square in downtown Phoenix, with its historic buildings and homes, is not short on stories of peculiar sounds and spectral sightings. Outside Rosson House on Monroe and Sixth Streets, it is said that a caretaker was shot. Passersby swear they have seen him still hanging around the grounds, probably ensuring they are being kept up to his standards. Whether a ghost aficionado or mystery sleuth, there are plenty of places around the state to explore for a potential haunting this Halloween. Ghostly haunts in Arizona’s past and present CHECK OUT OUR DRINK AND FOOD DAILY SPECIALS FROZEN MARGARITAS, ICE COLD BEER TRY OUR FULL CATERING SERVICE CALL YESSENIA AT 602-300-7133 FOR CATERING OR RESERVATIONS 602-956-0178 | 4144 E. Indian School Rd. JOIN U S AND ENJOY ALL YOUR TEEPEE FAVORITE S!

37 OCTOBER 2019 By Michelle Donati-Grayman Are you going to travel for Thanksgiving or Christmas? While the holidays are a couple of months away, the best time to book flights for these busy travel weeks is now. TURKEYTIME TRAVELER Most travelers book f lights for Thanksgiving 28 to 60 days prior to the holiday, between Sept. 25 and Oct. 27, which offers relatively good prices ($491 on average). Surprisingly, AAA found that some of the best pricing can be found by booking seven to 13 days before the holiday, Nov. 11-17 this year. However, limited availability will make seats hard to come by at these discounted rates. Flying Monday prior to Thanksgiving week is the best option to arrive at your destination before the holiday. It has the lowest average ticket price ($486) and is a lighter travel day than later in the week. For travelers more concerned about crowds than cost, the Sunday before the holiday has the highest average price per ticket ($564), but is consistently the lightest travel day. Cost-conscious travelers should consider flying on Thanksgiving Day, which has the lowest average price per ticket ($454). HOHOHEADING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS AAA advises travelers to make Christmas travel plans soon. Between Sept. 26 and Oct. 25 is the sweet spot for booking Christmas flights, with prices lower on average ($551) than more advanced bookings. However, most travelers book between 28 and 60 days before Christmas – between Oct. 26 and Nov. 27 – and still get a relatively good price ($561 on average). Like Thanksgiving, last-minute Christmas travelers can find the overall best pricing ($488 on average) seven to 13 days before the holiday week, but flight availability is likely to be very l i m it e d by that time. R e g a r d l e s s of which day of the week Christmas falls, most travelers depart two to four days prior to the holiday. On average, these travelers pay ticket prices of $593 on Dec. 21, $639 on Dec. 22 (the busiest air travel day of Christmas week), and $603 on Dec. 23. AAA found Christmas Eve is the best day to travel. It consistently has the lowest average price per ticket ($527) and is the lightest travel day of the week. Many travelers opt to travel after the Christmas holiday leading up to New Year’s, and they pay a premium to do so. Dec. 26 has the highest average ticket price of the week at $692. Last year, AAA projected 54.3 million Americans would travel over the Thanksgiving holiday and a record- breaking 112.5 million during the year-end holiday season. If those trends hold again this year, travelers are in for crowded airports and, possibly, longer wait times. Be patient and plan ahead, giving yourself plenty of time at the airport to maintain that holiday cheer. For more: aaa.com/travel. Now is the best time to start booking holiday flights HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS When it comes to getting the best value for your travel this holiday season, AAA recommends: • Start researching holiday travel options now and book flights by Oct.27. • Consult a knowledgeable travel agent; they take the guesswork out of researching and evaluating the many options, saving the time, hassle and headache. • Consider purchasing travel insurance for your flight to protect your trip from unexpected surprises that can throw a wrench in your plans. • Deal Direct With Builder • High Quality - Low Prices • Energy Efficient - 57 HERS • 2852 sqft - $325k on your lot • 2500 sqft - $315k on your lot • 2350 sqft - $310k on your lot • Hardscape Landscape Included • Model Home Open Daily 8am-8pm • Spec Homes - Immediate Occupancy Mark A. Wyse, M.D. Kate Montgomery, FNP Allan Goldman, D.O. David Francyk, D.O. T.E. McCauley, M.D. Tyler Southwell, M.D. Alisha Archibeck, D.O. Jennifer Francyk, PA-C Timothy Gloyd, M.D. Victoria Rhodes, PA-C Dermatology Charles Levison, M.D. Because caring for your health has always been our passion, we’ve made the following services conveniently available in our office. • Excellent care for all ages • Same day appointments • On-site clinical laboratory and X-rays • Dermatology services • Botox and Jan Marini skin care now available MON–WED 7AM–7PM THURS–FRI 7AM–5PM SAT 7AM–NOON EXPERT DOCTORS AND PRACTITIONERS. CONVENIENT SERVICES. EXTENDED HOURS. Catherine O’Neill, MSN, FNP 4350 E. Camelback Rd., Ste F100, Phoenix, AZ 85018 • 602.955.8700 • FPSAZ.com IN PRACTICE CELEBRATING