Riordan Mansion – Haunted or Not?
Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, Riordan Mansion (www.azstateparks.com/riordan-mansion) has had some strange goings on over the years. But are these mysterious sights and sounds caused by otherworldly influences or are they merely the result of overactive imaginations? Well the official word from Riordan Mansion is that the home is most definitely not haunted, but they do admit to some strange happenings every now and then. Either way, the tour is excellent, and it’s a good choice for wheelchair-users and slow walkers who appreciate architecture and enjoy history.
Riordan Mansion’s History
The 13,000-square foot mansion was built by Irish immigrants Timothy and Michael Riordan, who developed a successful Flagstaff logging business in the early 1900s. Interestingly enough, the brothers married the Metz sisters — Caroline and Elizabeth — and each couple lived in one wing of this 40-room Craftsman-style house. And if you see a resemblance to El Tovar on Grand Canyon’s South Rim, that’s because the same architect — Charles Whittlesey — designed both structures.
As legend goes, the Riordans always kept a light burning in the chapel at their home, but it mysteriously went dark at the precise moment of Caroline’s death. Caroline and her daughter Anna were extremely close, and today some folks believe that their presence is still very much alive in the mansion. One school of thought believes that Caroline’s spirit wanders around the mansion to take care of Anna. Some folks have reported seeing objects mysteriously move or drop from a shelf, while others have said that there’s a definite chill in the home. Of course the skeptics say that these things are easily explained, and hold the opinion that the mansion is definitely not haunted.
The Riordan Mansion Today
The best way to decide if the mansion is indeed haunted is to plan a visit and see for yourself. And the good news is, although this historic building isn’t 100% accessible, they have made an effort to accommodate wheelchair-users and slow walkers.
There’s accessible parking near the mansion, with level access to the visitor center. Inside there’s plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair around the interpretive exhibits, and barrier-free access to the accessible restrooms. That said, the only way to see the inside of the Riordan Mansion is on a guided tour, which is partially accessible.
There’s ramp access up to the east wing entrance, and from there wheelchair-users can access all the downstairs rooms on the tour, including the back porch, living room, kitchen, dining room, serving pantry, library and reception hall. The upstairs part of the tour, which includes the bedrooms, is not accessible; however a movie of this area is available at the visitor center. The tour ends on the first-floor east wing, which includes interpretive exhibits and more information about the family. It’s an excellent tour, and 95% of the furnishings in the home are original.
There’s also a self-guided walking tour that leads around the outside of the house and features a good interpretation of the history of the home. There’s no cost for this tour, but a walking-tour brochure is available for 50 cents at the visitor center. Although the asphalt walkway along the route is level, there are a few cracks here and there. Even if you don’t take the home tour, plan for a leisurely stroll around the grounds. And for an extra treat, pack along a lunch and enjoy it at the accessible picnic table located near the parking lot. Haunted or not Riordan Mansion is still a must-see on any Flagstaff itinerary.
