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Ghosts of the Grand Canyon: Personal Encounters that Will Have You on the Edge
Stare Deep into the Abyss...and the Ghosts Stare Back With its breathtaking views, amazing depths, and terrifying ghosts, ghouls, and UFOs, the Grand Canyon is indeed worthy of its title as one of the greatest natural―and supernatural―wonders in the world. This incredible book invites you to journey into the canyon's most haunted locations and explore first-hand accounts of spirits and unexplainable events. Ghosts of the Grand Canyon is packed with extraordinary true tales from people who have encountered the paranormal in and around this awe-inspiring hotspot. Authors Judy and Brian-James Martinez present the history of these sites, their significance to locals and tourists alike, and the facts, legends, and speculations about what caused such horrific hauntings. Also featuring photos of the canyon's breathtaking views and spookiest sites, this book dares you to look deep into the abyss and discover what lurks there.
216 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 6, 2024
Although I’ve never been to Arizona, when I hear “Grand Canyon”, an image of sheer, sunbaked cliffs, surrounding an almost-angry, definitely-defiant crater, instantly pops into my mind. That, and the time during a family dinner when I may have missed my mouth and my father said, “Damn. That’s like throwing a rock at the Grand Canyon and missing,” which is not covered in Judy and Brian-James Martinez’s Ghosts of the Grand Canyon: Personal Encounters that Will Have You on the Edge.
These spooky stories, rich with history and humanity, are exponentially more entertaining and even educational. I enjoyed learning how the El Tovar Hotel came to be, how it has changed since opening in 1905, and who may still call it home.
I did not know that, only a quarter of a mile from the canyon’s rim, is the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world. Within said set of trees is a lodge named for the Hopi Nation kachina god who guards the gulf, “Maswik”.
Pioneer Cemetery, inside of the National Park, continues to be a place to visit, with walking trails and benches along the route. There’s an RV park, Trailer Village, purported to be a paranormal portal.
The Navajo needed their very own word for ghost, “Chindi”. And they believe in “skin-walkers”—an interesting tale, in and of itself.
In 1910, two brothers boarded a boat to travel the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. One sibling carried a movie camera to capture the entire adventure. To tourists’ delight, the resulting silent film was played, daily, for a full 17-year-run.
When just these few facts are so intriguing, the mandatory myths and folklore mixed in are bound to be good. The authors convey the peoples’ stories, using the peoples’ words, for an authentic, fun-fact-filled read.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks for the Advance Review Copy to add to my favorite classroom library.
These spooky stories, rich with history and humanity, are exponentially more entertaining and even educational. I enjoyed learning how the El Tovar Hotel came to be, how it has changed since opening in 1905, and who may still call it home.
I did not know that, only a quarter of a mile from the canyon’s rim, is the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world. Within said set of trees is a lodge named for the Hopi Nation kachina god who guards the gulf, “Maswik”.
Pioneer Cemetery, inside of the National Park, continues to be a place to visit, with walking trails and benches along the route. There’s an RV park, Trailer Village, purported to be a paranormal portal.
The Navajo needed their very own word for ghost, “Chindi”. And they believe in “skin-walkers”—an interesting tale, in and of itself.
In 1910, two brothers boarded a boat to travel the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. One sibling carried a movie camera to capture the entire adventure. To tourists’ delight, the resulting silent film was played, daily, for a full 17-year-run.
When just these few facts are so intriguing, the mandatory myths and folklore mixed in are bound to be good. The authors convey the peoples’ stories, using the peoples’ words, for an authentic, fun-fact-filled read.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks for the Advance Review Copy to add to my favorite classroom library.
January 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I honestly have read a lot of ghost stories and never found any related to the Grand Canyon. I have never been here and didn't know anything about this location. After finishing the book I looked up a travel guide and was able to picture all these places described. I thought this was an Awesome guide to the Grand Canyon, even if you don't like the ghosts. I thought the author did a wonderful job of describing the scenery and the buildings. This also had a really good mix of different types of scary activities that have gone on. I hope this author will write more about other locations.
*Thank you to Netgalley, The Martinez family, and Llewellyn publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.
*Thank you to Netgalley, The Martinez family, and Llewellyn publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.
February 16, 2019
I love ghost stories of all kinds. This one just didn't hit the spot with me. This book does have stories of personal encounters and describes in detail places that "hauntings" take place, but is very thin on factual historic evidence.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
March 3, 2024
3.5 mostly for the history of the Grand Canyon. The first chapter did leave me a little freaked out but not so much after that. Also, the last story in the book is literally a Supernatural episode. I have a trip planned there for later this year so I will still be cautious! Also, this book needed editing in the worst way!
October 24, 2022
Lots of really fun stories. I'm so glad I read this after I left the Grand Canyon, I might have been too freaked out to visit some of the places had I read it before my visit! Needs lots of editing though.
April 15, 2019
Book received from NetGalley
Review to Come
Review to Come
June 6, 2024
2.5 stars. Lots of the stories were very intriguing, but there were many places where I wish there had been more detail. For example, in the section about Victor Hall, it is mentioned that many violent events had taken place there that could account for the hauntings, but we aren’t told what any of those events were. Still, it kept my interest and was an enjoyable read. Somebody should have proofread it, though 😉
January 2, 2019
The copy I received from Netgalley was an astonishingly bad draft. There were major formatting issues (the letter combinations "ff" and "fi" were not included in ANY of the words) that seriously detracted from the reading experience. For example, the word "difficult" became "dicult." Even if I could have ignored that, the abundance of misspelled words gave the text a truly unpolished look. How could a book be published -- even in rough form -- without correcting the words "to" and "too"? In general, the writing needed a heavy editing hand. I couldn't make myself finish, and stopped reading at 34%.
Typos aside, I'm rounding up to 2 stars because the history of the Grand Canyon was interesting. I haven't seen a ghost book about this area before. The authors, who live and work in the Grand Canyon setting, openly share their personal experiences. The stories don't include much specific detail; for example, the dates of actual sightings or occurrences are rarely mentioned. Still, the historical information bolstered the overall appeal.
Typos aside, I'm rounding up to 2 stars because the history of the Grand Canyon was interesting. I haven't seen a ghost book about this area before. The authors, who live and work in the Grand Canyon setting, openly share their personal experiences. The stories don't include much specific detail; for example, the dates of actual sightings or occurrences are rarely mentioned. Still, the historical information bolstered the overall appeal.
January 14, 2019
NetGalley provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This was a very much uncorrected draft, and honestly that made it a little bit harder to read than it otherwise might have been. Anytime there should have been an ff or an fi in a word it was left out, which made for some very rough reading at a times. It was hard to believe that that was a problem and I'm not sure how that even happened!? Also why hadn't it been corrected before the book was presented for anyone to read?
I ended up giving the book a three, because it was pretty interesting content. I love the National Parks, and I hadn't thought much about Grand Canyon ghost stories before. I have read other books about the tragedies and deaths that have happened there, but the idea of haunting's taking place was unusual and I liked that. Mostly though I loved reading the history of the Canyon itself and how that related to the possibility of supernatural occurrences.
Overall I really hope the book gets a VERY heavy handed overhaul and gets all those issues corrected before final publication. I know it isn't just me either, because I read some other reviews that references the same problem with this ARC. Maybe it was a computer glitch?
The content is decent though, and I had a good time reading it!
This was a very much uncorrected draft, and honestly that made it a little bit harder to read than it otherwise might have been. Anytime there should have been an ff or an fi in a word it was left out, which made for some very rough reading at a times. It was hard to believe that that was a problem and I'm not sure how that even happened!? Also why hadn't it been corrected before the book was presented for anyone to read?
I ended up giving the book a three, because it was pretty interesting content. I love the National Parks, and I hadn't thought much about Grand Canyon ghost stories before. I have read other books about the tragedies and deaths that have happened there, but the idea of haunting's taking place was unusual and I liked that. Mostly though I loved reading the history of the Canyon itself and how that related to the possibility of supernatural occurrences.
Overall I really hope the book gets a VERY heavy handed overhaul and gets all those issues corrected before final publication. I know it isn't just me either, because I read some other reviews that references the same problem with this ARC. Maybe it was a computer glitch?
The content is decent though, and I had a good time reading it!
May 23, 2023
I had wanted to read this book for awhile. I finally got a chance and couldn't put it down. I love reading about the history of haunted places cause that how ghosts are made, from past events. The ghost stories were creepy and gave me the shivers. I even read that Tucson Library in Arizona even considered this book for the best non-fiction history book for 2019. Before I decided to write my review I looked through other readers comments. I saw where one reader named Haley Johnson wrote that this book was trash and gave it a 1 star. Sounds like this person is bitter and has a personal gripe towards the authors. If she had actually read the book she would have seen that the authors lived and worked at the Grand Canyon and even gave history most guide books don't! I personally would like to thank Brian James and Judy for writing an awesome book. If you ever read this comment, your book was great and please write another book.
April 30, 2020
I was excited about this book first because I have been to the Grand Canyon many times since I was a teen and even hike from Rim to Rim to Rim. I will say that as much as I have heard just a few of the stories or tails hear in this book, I have had no experiences of any of the ones talked about in this book. Mine were just of the beauty of the Canyon from the North Rim to the bottom seeing and hearing the powerful Colorado river then seeing the difference of the South Rim. Though to me it is still a magical place and I do feel a connection to it whenever I am there, so maybe that is my strange draw.
This book has many type o’s but I was reading an uncorrected proof, other than that I thought it was a good book, but as my wife says I like the Canyon so I am biased. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
This book has many type o’s but I was reading an uncorrected proof, other than that I thought it was a good book, but as my wife says I like the Canyon so I am biased. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
April 3, 2024
"Living in the twenty-first century, we as humans have lost so much about enjoying day-to-day life. It seems everyone's wrong if they are not politically correct or comedians are racist just because they try to make us laugh at ourselves." -Ghosts of the Grand Canyon
Excuse me?? This was such a trash book. The authors political agenda reeks from the pages and it is severely lacking in historical context that is important to the ghost stories it details and instead dives into a weird and inaccurate portrayal of history that seems to almost glorify confederate soldiers and the slaughter of Native Americans. These are intense and emotional historical events that likely lead to the hauntings of the Grand Canyon and yet these details were not discussed and instead typical old white males were given the spotlight yet again.
Excuse me?? This was such a trash book. The authors political agenda reeks from the pages and it is severely lacking in historical context that is important to the ghost stories it details and instead dives into a weird and inaccurate portrayal of history that seems to almost glorify confederate soldiers and the slaughter of Native Americans. These are intense and emotional historical events that likely lead to the hauntings of the Grand Canyon and yet these details were not discussed and instead typical old white males were given the spotlight yet again.
December 30, 2018
I received an uncorrected proof of this book and had to overlook a lot of typos as one does with some advanced copies. However, it only took until the first ghost encounter before I completely forgot about them because I was enthralled with the supernatural stories.
This book is both a guide to the sites and history of the Grand Canyon and a collection of ghostly encounters. It made me at times jealous that I didn’t have the chance to work there when I was younger (what an experience!) and at other times want to immediately begin planning my family vacation.
I’ve already recommended this one to a few people for when it comes out. I’ve got several friends who share my interest in travel and the paranormal and can’t wait to read it as well.
This book is both a guide to the sites and history of the Grand Canyon and a collection of ghostly encounters. It made me at times jealous that I didn’t have the chance to work there when I was younger (what an experience!) and at other times want to immediately begin planning my family vacation.
I’ve already recommended this one to a few people for when it comes out. I’ve got several friends who share my interest in travel and the paranormal and can’t wait to read it as well.
September 6, 2019
Read for The Ghost Story Guys Book Club, August 2019.
I am usually very much into the ghost stories of a location, and I was excited to read this one, having no idea it was even haunted to begin with, and knowing little of the Canyon’s history.
I found it very slow, and very dry. Often it read a lot like a travel brochure for the Canyon itself, being completely overwhelmed with mundane, completely not spooky information about where and what to eat, for example. The writing was bland, and the book could have used the attention of a good editor, because the grammatical errors alone was enough to make my hair stand on end.
The ghost stories actually feel like a bit of an afterthought.
One very generous star.
I am usually very much into the ghost stories of a location, and I was excited to read this one, having no idea it was even haunted to begin with, and knowing little of the Canyon’s history.
I found it very slow, and very dry. Often it read a lot like a travel brochure for the Canyon itself, being completely overwhelmed with mundane, completely not spooky information about where and what to eat, for example. The writing was bland, and the book could have used the attention of a good editor, because the grammatical errors alone was enough to make my hair stand on end.
The ghost stories actually feel like a bit of an afterthought.
One very generous star.
July 10, 2021
We recently took a trip to the Grand Canyon, & when I was looking around the El Tovar lobby I thought “this place has to have some ghost stories .” So when I saw this book in a gift shop, it immediately intrigued me. So here’s my take: this is a great souvenir and a fun read, with the caveat that you have actually been there and know the buildings. That is truly what made this 100% creepier!! It would have lost a lot of the creepies had I not.
There were a number of typos, but it didn’t distract from the story. I feel like the Martinez’s worked very hard to share these stories and create something very cool for fans of the supernatural.
There were a number of typos, but it didn’t distract from the story. I feel like the Martinez’s worked very hard to share these stories and create something very cool for fans of the supernatural.
December 27, 2018
I picked this ARC up for the ghost stories but actually found myself more interested in the history of the Grand Canyon and its surrounding environs. I never had any interest in visiting before, but now that I know the fascinating story of the Grand Canyon's early pioneers and how tourism got started and grew there I definitely want to check out some of those historic sites for myself! Kudos to the authors for making the Grand Canyon and all who have worked or lived there come alive (so to speak) in this book.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
January 31, 2021
Having lived in Arizona for most of my life, I enjoy reading about this incredible states history every chance i get. One place that I return to over and over again is the Grand Canyon. I was pleasantly pleased when I entered the Hopi Houses Gift Shop and saw a new book "Ghosts of the Grand Canyon" about paranormal events around the village and history on the buildings. I read this book during my vacation at the canyon and visited some of the haunted sights mentioned in the book. Great book and the history was a pleasant surprise. Thank you to the authors for such a good read!
January 2, 2023
I saw this book in one of the gift shops while visiting the Grand Canyon and was interested because I really do enjoy supernatural stories. I found the book used through a discount reseller and started reading it right away. I really enjoyed the history aspects. I learned a lot. The ghost stories were ok but didn’t go into much detail. The most disappointing part of the book were the many grammatical errors. A proof reader would have done the authors some good. Overall a quick and interesting read.
March 12, 2019
I really liked how this book delved into the history of the area, and each ghost story had a historical story that might explain where a ghost originated. It was definitely left up to the reader to decide if those were the origins, though. The descriptions of the different locations at the Grand Canyon were very detailed. I have been there, but someone who hasn't should be able to picture the places from reading those parts. Overall, a very cool and engaging read.
November 19, 2019
A friend suggested that I should read this book. I was a little skeptical about reading it but ended up enjoying "Ghosts of the Grand Canyon" beyond belief. I have to admit that some of the stories were actually chilling and gave me goosebumps. Now I am looking forward to my visit at the Grand Canyon in a couple of weeks and will be using this book as my guide to all the haunted areas in the Grand Canyon's village.
June 24, 2022
I picked up a copy of this book on a recent visit to the Grand Canyon. I wish I had read this before I went, because the history of the park detailed within this book is pretty interesting.
The ghost stories presented are pretty good camp fire fodder, but it ultimately did read like a plug for the Grand Canyon.
Overall an entertaining read as I made my way through Arizona.
The ghost stories presented are pretty good camp fire fodder, but it ultimately did read like a plug for the Grand Canyon.
Overall an entertaining read as I made my way through Arizona.
November 21, 2023
Fun book of ghost stories with a hefty amount of history. Written from the POV of a former employee of the park it’s also a great behind the scenes look at how the Grand Canyon is managed. When I bought this book from a a gift shop in the canyon the woman at the register pointed out where she was featured in the book which is super exciting as well.
April 22, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the history of the buildings and the ghost stories were chilling! This book will be a good guide when I visit the Grand Canyon this summer. Thank you to the Martinez Family for writing a fantastic book that finally doesn't give the same old haunted places!
September 6, 2019
I bought this book and thoroughly loved it! I have been to the Grand Canyon multiple times and now I can search for spooks as well as looking at the canyons inner depths. The authors did an amazing job giving the readers history of the buildings. GREAT BOOK! Thank you Judy and Brian James!
October 1, 2019
This book was recommended to me by a friend of the author. Loved it! I love reading the history on the American Southwest region so that was a big plus on this book along with the ghost stories. This book is a must if you love the Grand Canyon!
October 22, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't get enough of it! Besides hauntings it had the history of the Grand Canyon's Village. I've been to the Canyon several times and was always enthralled with its history. Great book if you like ghosts, hauntings and history!
November 5, 2020
Poorly organized-- I am one to finish every book I start and this one was a tough one to sit through. Riddled with grammatical errors that leads me to believe it was NOT proofread as well... I don't recommend. So many other good reads on "unexplained encounters".
March 8, 2021
Not a ghost story person per say but the most interesting parts of this book are the references to the history of the grand canyon and the people who developed / inhabited the canyon. Riddled with grammatic errors.
May 21, 2023
Not a good read at all. The "ghost stories" are boring at best and most of the book reads like a poorly written Grand Canyon guide book. This book is not for someone who is familiar with Grand Canyon already. If you are new and have no experience with the canyon it might be a mediocre read for you.
May 26, 2023
You can tell the authors took a great deal of time putting together this book. It was very well-written, entertaining, and informative. There are some very negative reviews for this, which I don't believe are warranted at all. I am happy to add this book to my collection.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews