Originally built in 1931 as the largest log cabin in Arizona to house taxidermist Dean Eldredge’s natural history collection, this building evolved from a trading post and museum into a roadhouse. In 1963, steel guitarist Don Scott and his wife Thorna purchased it and transformed it into a legendary country music venue. Willie Nelson, Wanda Jackson, and a 14-year-old Tanya Tucker performed here. Then tragedy struck — twice.
The Tragedy
In 1973, Thorna fell down the stairs leading to their apartment above the club. She lapsed into a coma and never recovered.
Two years later, grief-stricken and financially ruined, Don Scott took his rifle and shot himself in front of the massive stone fireplace.
The Haunting
Both Don and Thorna haunt the Museum Club, and they couldn’t be more different in temperament.
Thorna is frequently mistaken for a bartender, appearing at any time of day or night to help out. She’s described by those who’ve encountered her as a “sweetheart.” She once pinned down a man who was living in her old apartment, appearing above him and saying clearly: “You should only fear the living” — before vanishing. He ran out and never returned.
Don is less friendly. His presence is darker, angrier — perhaps still processing the grief that took his life. The fireplace where he died occasionally lights on its own. Chairs rock in the empty bar. Staff report feeling watched from above, hearing footsteps in the apartment overhead, and experiencing sudden drops in temperature that have no physical explanation.
The Campy Detail
The giant log building itself is impressive enough even before you consider the ghosts. Taxidermied animals still watch from the walls, creating an eerie atmosphere that predates the hauntings by decades. The building looks exactly like what it is: a place with deep history, deep tragedy, and deep strangeness.
Historical Context
The Museum Club sits directly on Route 66, and in its heyday it was a destination for country music acts touring the Southwest. The combination of its history, its architecture, and its ghosts makes it one of the most compelling stops on the entire Arizona stretch of the Mother Road.