The tenth and last stop of our virtual tour of the places of interest of the Verde Valley is Jerome, Arizona. Jerome is a small town that is perched on a hill called Cleopatra Hill at an altitude of approximately 5,200 feet. You must climb for quite a while before reaching this quaint town from the valley below. You immediately feel the difference in temperature as you climb out of the desert area. The town consists of a few streets that zigzag on the side of the hill. This town was begun for labor to support a nearby copper mine. When the copper mine closed many people moved away to find other employment. Several fires destroyed many buildings in the town. It then basically became ghost town. The local people say that in the 1980’s when property was cheap, artists started buying property. The town began to fill up again. The town today is basically an artist’s paradise and tourist destination. Each business in town is either an artist gallery or some type of tourist attraction. Businesses close promptly at 5:00 in the evening except for the restaurants. To really enjoy the atmosphere and ambiance of the town it is best to arrive early to shop and peruse the many art galleries that abound in this quaint little town.
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