Don Kiefer goes ghosthunting in Arizona
Written: Oct 28 '03 (Updated Dec 10 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Covers haunted sites the other three books on Arizona ghost folklore doesn't
Cons: Hard to find, occasionally strays from the subject of ghosts
The Bottom Line: Haunts of Arizona documents Kiefer's true adventures of his "one-night stands" pursuing ghosts, but the inclusion of other paranormal subjects can put off ghostlore lovers.
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| adriennefoster's Full Review: Haunts of Arizona |
A couple of recently remade movies, The Haunting and The House on Haunted Hill have played on one of the biggest clichés in the gothic genre, spending the night in a haunted house (preferably while a storm is raging). Despite how much this plot device has been used, it's amazing how much this idea still intrigues people. Haunts of Arizona is one man's pursuit of the supernatural in the Grand Canyon State and documents his true adventures of these "one-night stands."
Author D. R. Kiefer, who usually writes hiking guides for Arizona, has tracked down and spent nights in some of the state's most haunted places. The results are often fruitless (when you want something to happen spirits can be contrary that way), but the idea is enough to brace the reader's spine for some chills, especially since Kiefer does it without company. Each of the 20 chapters introduces why the site is of paranormal interest, describes his overnight experience there, and follows with his conclusions. Each chapter supplies a photo or art to illustrate something about the adventure. Sometimes he deviates from his established format. He wanders on to other aspects of supernatural folklore, including UFOs and Native American myths. Occasionally, he reports on other people's experiences. With a few exceptions, he even includes the location and contact info of the places he writes about.
One of the Oatman Hotel's claims to fame is that Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon there in the late 30s, but the folks there believe their ghost is Oatie, a man who was killed at the back of the building during an argument. Before leaving at night, the bar staff unplugs the juke box. When they return in the morning, it is plugged in and playing. Glasses are pushed to the floor when no one is near them, yet they never break. One of the staff watched footsteps appear on her wet floor as she mopped it.
The Pima Indians have a legend similar to the Irish changlings called the Ha'ak. The Ha'ak was a evil creature believed to have been raised by the Pimas. Despite this, she was aloof and gradually preferred the wilds and raw meat. When the Pimas' small children began disappearing, they sent "Elder Brother" to handle matter. Unlike the changling legend, however, these children weren't being replaced with another.
Probably the most unnerving of sites Kiefer chose to investigate was that of prisons. One of them was the Mesa Southwest Museum, formerly the City of Mesa's courthouse. The basement was used as the local prison facility and now currently exhibits its cells. Even though he does witness some phenomena there, the spirits of lawbreakers are an unknown commodity. There is a bigger risk of facing a malevolent spirit. Is this bravery or foolishness?
I took particular interest in Kiefer's account of the Bisbee Grand Hotel, which I had visited and reviewed myself. I had even stayed in the suite the reservations clerk claimed had the most activity. My vigil came to naught as well, but after some of the stories I had heard of Jeremiah's predilections, I was okay with that.
The most touching story of the collection is the posthumous encounter Kiefer had with his father. Every once in a while, someone has an extraordinary experience like his that makes riveting reading even when it's fiction. Whether this one is or is not up to the reader to decide.
As someone who loves ghost folklore, I have to admit the chapters that covered other aspects of the supernatural were a drag. On the other hand they do help build up the atmosphere of the region. Driving along the freeways of Arizona are a bit chilling when one passes the several spots of colorful effigies created from crosses and flowers along the side of the road that denote where people have died in car accidents. I was told it was a custom Native Americans started and still practice. Occasionally, some of these memorials can be found in California, but the Native American influence is rarely considered in the Bay Area.
This slim 2000 volume does have some format quirks. It has no formal title page or table of contents. Its poor distribution seems to be its biggest handicap. I first learned of it while reading Haunted Arizona, which referred to it a few times. Amazon doesn't carry it and after searching the web on and off for a couple of months, I found no vendor selling it. One of my co-workers, who knew nothing of my efforts, spotted it in the souvenir shop at Colossal Cave Mountain Park while visiting Arizona and picked up a copy for me, to my enthusiastic surprise.
The first book dedicated to ghostlore in the state of Arizona was released in 1998, and since then writers seem to be making up for lost time having produced three more. Haunts of Arizona has interesting approach in handling the subject, but considering the inclusion of UFOs and Native American mythology and the fact some of these vigils brought no results, it would have been more interesting if Kiefer reported on the phenomena other people have witnessed. This is actually a 3.5 rating, but Epinions lacks that option.
For more Arizona ghostlore, please go to my other reviews:
Arizona Ghost Stories, by Antonio Garcez
Haunted Arizona, by Ellen Robson
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This is an entry in sleeper54's Halloween Write-Off. For more info and to read the entries by other contestants, please go to ...Halloween Write-Off.... Get spooky with us!
Recommended:
Yes
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