By Shannon Maki, Mesa Historical Society
When October rolls around, people want to know where they can see real haunts. Mesa is known for several supernatural encounters.
One of the most talked about haunted locations in Mesa is the old Sunkist Factory. The citrus packing plant began operating in the 1930s, but has since been abandoned—or so we think. There have been reports of a shadowy figure in the basement and a bouncing red ball that disappears.
The Buckhorn Baths Motel, started by Ted and Alice Sliger in 1939, is another rumored haunted spot in Mesa. The former caretakers have claimed to have experienced ghostly encounters, and people passing by the abandoned building have claimed to hear strange noises, screams and laughter.
Many businesses along Mesa’s Main Street have reported supernatural phenomena like items flying off of shelves and unusual items showing up in the storage areas. Witnesses claim to have encountered ghosts in basements under Main Street, while others just have an uneasy feeling there. Interestingly, there are secret tunnels under Main Street that were built in the early 1900s. Their purpose is unknown, but it was rumored they were built for bootlegging alcohol during the Prohibition. Most of the tunnels no longer exist, but paranormal investigators have detected unusual readings in the ones that remain.
The Landmark Restaurant, which closed nearly five years ago, was rumored to be haunted by a little girl who would leave handprints around the basement after moving things around. Another closed down restaurant, Inside the Bungalow, was also said to be haunted by a man and a young girl; possibly the Openshaw family who lived in the building from 1916-1952.
Other ghostly sightings in Mesa include the ghost of a man who roams the halls of the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport (formerly Williams Air Force Base), a ghostly woman who moves around the trees at Jefferson Park, and even the ghost of a little boy who was killed trying to cross the road near Eighth Avenue and Extension Road.
There have also been previous reports of the auditorium building at the Mesa Historical Museum, formerly the Old Lehi School, being haunted by a school caretaker who died in the projector room in the 1970s. While the auditorium is closed to the public, staff tends to spend as little time as possible in that building.
