Where Two Worlds Collide
The Red Buffalo Trading Company occupies a unique position in Tombstone's supernatural landscape. Built on land sacred to the Apache, this trading post has accumulated artifacts from Native American cultures and frontier settlers alike. Each object carries its own spiritual energy, creating a paranormal powder keg where Native spirits and pioneer ghosts coexist in uneasy tension. What makes this location extraordinary is the protective nature of its hauntings. The Native American spirits don't just manifest - they actively guard the artifacts, becoming aggressive when items are disrespected or threatened. Meanwhile, the ghosts of traders and settlers continue their commerce, unaware that their customers have been dead for over a century.
Sacred Ground Violated
The Apache Connection
Before Tombstone existed, this land was Apache territory, specifically a sacred site used for vision quests and burial ceremonies. The Apache were forcibly removed, but their spirits remained. When the trading post was built in 1879, it immediately experienced supernatural phenomena - objects flying off shelves, mysterious fires, and the sound of war chants at night.
The Trading Post Massacre
In 1882, a group of Apache warriors attempted to reclaim sacred artifacts that had been sold to the trading post. The resulting conflict left five Apache dead and three settlers. The violence was so intense that blood soaked through the floorboards and can still be seen today. These deaths created a spiritual wound that has never healed.
The Artifact Accumulation
Over the decades, the trading post accumulated artifacts from across the Southwest - pottery, weapons, ceremonial items, and personal effects. Many items came from graves or sacred sites, bringing their guardian spirits with them. The building became a supernatural magnet, attracting both protective spirits and the ghosts of those who died for these treasures.
The Guardian Spirits
The Apache Warrior
A tall Apache warrior in traditional dress guards the Native American artifacts. He appears when items are touched disrespectfully, sometimes physically pushing visitors away from sacred objects. His war cry has been recorded multiple times, and security cameras show him walking through the store after hours, checking on specific artifacts.
White Dove
The spirit of an Apache medicine woman called White Dove tends to the ceremonial items. She appears as a elderly woman in white buckskin, often accompanied by the smell of sage and sweetgrass. Visitors report feeling healing energy in her presence, and some claim she has cured minor ailments with her ghostly touch.
The Trader
Jacob Morrison, the original proprietor killed in the 1882 massacre, still runs his store. He appears behind the counter, conducting transactions with invisible customers. Modern cash registers malfunction in his presence, and he's been known to leave notes about inventory in handwriting that matches historical documents.
The Collector
A mysterious figure known only as 'The Collector' haunts the basement storage area. This spirit, identity unknown, obsessively arranges and rearranges artifacts. Items moved during the day return to specific positions by morning, and new acquisitions are sometimes rejected - flying off shelves or disappearing entirely.
Living Artifacts
The Animated Objects
Artifacts in the trading post move on their own, particularly Native American items. Arrowheads point toward danger, pottery pieces produce sounds of water or grinding corn, and weapons rattle warnings. Some items seem to choose their owners - moving closer to certain visitors or falling into their hands.
The Vision Quest Phenomenon
Sensitive visitors report experiencing visions when touching certain artifacts. These psychometric impressions show the items' histories - battles, ceremonies, daily life from centuries past. Some visions are so intense that visitors briefly experience life as Native Americans or frontier settlers.
The Protection Rituals
Every morning, staff find evidence of overnight spiritual activity. Sage has been burned (despite no one being present), protective circles of artifacts appear around valuable items, and sometimes offerings - beads, feathers, tobacco - materialize on shelves. The spirits seem to be conducting protection rituals for the artifacts.
Trading with the Past
The Red Buffalo Trading Company operates as both a store and inadvertent museum of the paranormal. The current owners respect the spiritual nature of their location, maintaining protocols that appease both Native spirits and frontier ghosts. They burn sage daily, leave offerings for the guardian spirits, and never sell items that the spirits have marked as 'protected.' Visitors can purchase artifacts and souvenirs, but should be aware that some items come with attachments. The staff can identify which pieces are 'active' and will warn customers about potentially haunted items. They maintain that the spirits generally mean no harm - they're simply protecting what was once theirs. Whether you're shopping for authentic artifacts or seeking a paranormal experience, the Red Buffalo Trading Company offers both. Just remember to show respect - the guardian spirits take their duties seriously, and they've been protecting these treasures far longer than any earthly security system.
