Jerome, Arizona: A Town Hanging onto the Mountain

I was in Prescott for work with my best friend Kelly, and my son Calvin in tow. After an engagement at the university we worked for at the time, we extended the trip to explore. We headed up the mountain from Prescott and found Jerome.

My first impression: the whole town looked as though it might fall off the mountainside.

Stairs, shops, and a view over the railing

Buildings perch above other buildings, with stairs squeezed between them and the Verde Valley stretching out below. Walking around involves looking up, looking down, and remembering to watch the steps.

On our visit, Jerome was a sleepy little tourist spot filled with shops, small eateries, and bars. It suited an afternoon of poking around. Stop for a shop, stop for something to eat, stop again because there is another view.

Read the signs on the old buildings

Some buildings had signs identifying them as former brothels. After a while, it seemed like every other building had been one.

Jerome’s mining-era red-light district overlapped with its business center. Jennie’s Place on Main Street, built in 1898 for madam Jennie Bauters, is one surviving example. You can feel the history here, and some buildings tell you quite directly what went on inside.

Beside the New State Motor Company building, a painted sign advertises repairs, tow service, and a ladies’ rest room, with that enormous valley view beyond it. The Jerome Historical Society says the building housed automobile dealerships, a garage, and a machine shop—even an elevator to move cars between floors. Getting around this hillside has required ingenuity for a long time.

Know before you go

• Where: Jerome, Arizona, on State Route 89A between Prescott and Sedona.
• What to do: Browse the shops, explore the old streets, and find somewhere to eat or have a drink.
• What to notice: Building signs, outdoor staircases, and views across the Verde Valley.
• Underfoot: Steep streets and stairs. Wear shoes you’re comfortable walking and climbing in.
• Worth stopping? Yes. Give yourself time to get out of the car and wander.