If you want to feel like you're on top of the world, head to Jerome, Arizona. This former mining town, perched on the side of Cleopatra Hill, has an elevation of 5248 feet above sea level. And as you can well imagine, the view is awesome from nearly any vantage point.
An impressive building in Jerome is the Grand Hotel, one of the highest public structures in the Verde Valley. Originally, this building housed the United Verde Hospital, which was specially built to withstand the blasts of dynamite from the mines.
The hotel now offers standard and balcony guest rooms, an award-winning restaurant, and a small gift shop of items unique to Jerome. Pick up a copy of the Jerome Tour Guide here (minimal cost) for a historical background on Jerome as well as a walking tour. There's also an Otis Elevator, built in 1926 and possibly the oldest original "self service" elevator in Arizona.
A good place to visit is the Douglas Mansion in Jerome State Historic Park. The mansion was built in 1916 by James S. Douglas, just above his Little Daisy Mine, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Douglas built the mansion to house his family as well as business acquaintances. Some of the rooms in the 8,000 square feet home have been beautifully restored. Here, you can watch a 15-minute video chronicling the history the history of Jerome, marvel at the view from the balcony, and examine antique mining equipment. There are photos and history exhibits, and you won’t want to miss the phosphorous minerals that give of variety of fluorescent hues when the lights are shut off.
If you walk the streets of Jerome, you’ll find the dirt roads are paved now. Dusty miners no longer hang out at the local watering holes; they've been replaced by tourists and leather-clad bikers. Mining is no longer the town's primary source of income, tourism is. An average of 90,000 visitors come to Jerome every year. Approximately 480 residents live there.
Restaurants, antique, arts and crafts and gift shops, and specialty stores line Main Street. There's also - of course - a Mining Museum. Be sure to check out the Jailhouse, a building that slid some 200 feet from the mine blasts under the town.
The Jerome State Historic Park is open 8 am to 5 pm every day except Christmas. The park is located off State Route 89A, on Douglas Road. For more information, call 928-634-5381 or visit the website.
For more information about Jerome, visit Jerome Tourist Information.
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