Phoenix Trotting Park

Skip the haunted houses and scary movies this month – HERE ARE FOUR CREEPY CORNERS OF THE VALLEY TO INDULGE YOUR INNER SCREAM QUEEN. ubheadline. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit.


Terror at the Track
If you’ve traveled at least 20 miles west of Phoenix, you’ve probably seen the abandoned racing track; it’s that oddly shaped, stadium-like structure that sits eerily beside Interstate 10 in Goodyear. Once a state-of-the-art dog- and horse-racing track built in 1964 for $9 million, Phoenix Trotting Park suspended operations after only two-and-a-half seasons due to poor attendance. Now, the only life there seems to be hordes of pigeons, whose creepy “coos” can be heard as you approach the dusty track. For more information, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Trotting_Park.

Beware of Bats!
If bats creep you out, you may not want to find yourself alone near the Arizona Canal at 40th Street and Camelback Road. Thousands of the winged creatures – mostly Mexican free-tailed bats – flee from their tunnel perches just after sunset each evening to feed on moths, mosquitoes and other nocturnal insects. The show hits its peak during summer, so you may not get the full effect this month, but if you’re still curious, look for the viewing deck just outside the flood control tunnel, which is located on the north side of the Arizona Canal. For more information, visit azgfd.gov/w_c/bat_conserv_bat_viewing.shtml.

Top: Rosson House Bottom: Mil Mayhem

Rosson House
Located in the center of Heritage Square in Downtown Phoenix, Rosson House is a stunning example of late 19th-century architecture by day, but by night, the looming Victorian home takes on the ominous look of a haunted house, with plenty of darkened windows and sharp angles that cast sinister shadows. Of course, there’s nothing sinister about this historic gem, which was built for Dr. and Mrs. Roland Lee Rosson in 1895 and was purchased by the city in 1974, but just in case, we recommend taking a stroll through the square when the sun is still out. For more information, visit rossonhousemuseum.org.

Mill Mayhem
To be honest, we don’t know much about the abandoned flour mill at 116 W. Broadway Road in Mesa, but it sure does creep us out. Internet rumors about the mill abound, including reports that underground tunnels still exist, linking the towers together. Others say that an above-ground tunnel existed at one point but was burned by arsonists, and, our personal favorite, that a group of Satan worshippers at one time used the deserted grounds for their rituals. Even without these rumors, the nearby train tracks and dilapidated facade make this one surefire spot to get spooked.