Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
499
which attracts a more well-heeled clientele than the street-level saloons. On weekends,
there is live music in a wide range of styles.
Two blocks away, you'll find the
Raven Café,
142 N. Cortez St. (
&
928/717-0009
),
which is the most artsy and eclectic nightlife venue in town. Not only does the Raven
have the best beer list in Prescott (with an emphasis on Belgian beers and American
microbrews), but the entertainment lineup ranges from vintage movies on Tuesday nights
to live jazz and salsa dancing.
3
JEROME
35 miles NE of Prescott; 28 miles W of Sedona; 130 miles N of Phoenix
Few towns anywhere in Arizona make more of an impression on visitors than Jerome, a
historic mining town that clings to the slopes of Cleopatra Hill high on Mingus Moun-
tain. The town is divided into two sections that are separated by an elevation change of
1,500 vertical feet, with the upper part of town 2,000 feet above the Verde Valley. On a
clear day, the view from Jerome is stupendous—it's possible to see for more than 50
miles, with the red rocks of Sedona, the Mogollon Rim, and the San Francisco Peaks all
visible in the distance. Add to the unforgettable views the abundance of interesting shops
and galleries and the winding narrow streets, and you have a town that should not be
missed.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
Jerome is on Ariz. 89A, roughly halfway between Sedona and
Prescott. Coming from Phoenix, take Ariz. 260 from Camp Verde.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Contact the
Jerome Chamber of Commerce
(
&
928/634-
2900;
www.jeromechamber.com) for information.
15
EXPLORING THE TOWN
Wandering the streets, soaking up the atmosphere, and shopping are the main pastimes
in Jerome. But before you launch yourself on a shopping tour, you can learn about the
town's past at the
Jerome State Historic Park,
off Ariz. 89A, on Douglas Road, in the
lower section of town (
&
928/634-5381;
www.azstateparks.com). Located in a mansion
built in 1916 as a home for mine owner “Rawhide Jimmy” Douglas, and as a hotel for
visiting mining executives, the Jerome State Historic Park contains exhibits on mining as
well as a few of the mansion's original furnishings. From its perch on a hill above Doug-
las's Little Daisy Mine, the mansion overlooks Jerome and, dizzyingly far below, the
Verde Valley. The mansion was constructed of adobe bricks made on the site, and once
contained a wine cellar, billiards room, marble shower, steam heat, and central vacuum
system. Admission is $3, and the park is open daily (except Christmas) from 8:30am to
5pm. At press time, this park was temporarily closed, so be sure to call first to find out
if it has reopened.
To learn more about Jerome's history, stop in at the
Jerome Historical Society's Mine
Museum,
200 Main St. (
&
928/634-5477;
www.jeromehistoricalsociety.org), which
has some small and old-fashioned displays on mining. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm;
admission is $2 for adults, $1 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. The second
floor of the gift shop
Liberty Theatre & Gifts,
110 Jerome Ave. (
&
928/649-9016;
www.jeromelibertytheater.com), was a theater back in the town's heyday. The theater is
