Monti’s La Casa Vieja

Posted: 04.10.2025 | Updated: 04.10.2025

Twenty minutes east of Phoenix, Arizona, is a former restaurant called Monti’s La Casa Vieja. While it shut down permanently in 2014, this building is rich in history—it is Tempe’s oldest continuously occupied building. But, when places are rich with history, they’re often associated with hauntings.

This is, of course, also the case for Monti’s La Casa Vieja. The building, which was a restaurant from 1924-2014, was originally the place of residence for Arizona’s first senator, Carl T. Hayden. Originally called the Hayden House, it was built in 1873 and is often considered “the birthplace of Tempe.”

And the house still stands today! It’s hard to visit due to a restoration, but there are plenty of other haunted happenings to see just a short drive away in Phoenix, Arizona.

Are you looking for a potential ghostly visit combined with the historical facts to back up your wild experience? Book Phoenix’s most haunted ghost tour with Phoenix Ghosts!

Why Is Monti’s La Casa Vieja in Tempe Haunted?

Imagine sitting down for a nice meal and seeing the ghost of a cowboy sauntering around. That was often the case for patrons of Monti’s La Casa Vieja—but that’s not all they saw.

Stories of many different ghost sightings and odd events have happened at this location over history. While some ghosts are said to have distinct forms, others flicker the lights and open the cabinets when no one’s near. 

The house was used as a boarding house from 1889-1924 before being opened as a restaurant. Many souls have wandered its halls. The building itself has an almost labyrinth-like feel that leaves you disoriented as you try to move around. With such unique features and long history, it’s no surprise that the spectral sightings are out of this world. 

It’s not clear why all of the ghosts that reside there are still hanging about, but their apparitions have been clear as day to some customers. So, who exactly are the ghosts still flitting about the Hayden House? Let’s dive into history to find out. 

The Influential Hayden Family

Also known as the Hayden House, Monti’s was a home for the Hayden family. It was built in 1873 as the primary residence for Charles T. Hayden and his wife, Sallie Calvert Davis. Carl Trumbull Hayden, who set the record for the longest time served in the U.S. Congress, was born and raised in this house. He was known as “the most important person in Arizona history.”

Charles T. Hayden discovered the location one day in 1866 when on a business trip from Tucson to Florence and Prescott. The water in the Salt River was too high for him to continue, but this was actually a blessing in disguise.

Hayden then set up camp on the south side of the river. This allowed him to look across the valley and see how perfect the land was for development. He decided then that he would create an operation in the valley. 

In 1870, Charles Hayden claimed 10,000 inches of water from the Salt River for Hayden’s business, the Hayden Milling and Farm Ditch Company. At the same time, Charles Hayden also filed a homestead declaration on 160 acres. This area would later become downtown Tempe, making Charles Hayden the founder of Tempe. 

What he did for the city didn’t stop there, though. After Charles Hayden established commerce and industry in the area, settlers zeroed in on Tempe (then called Hayden’s Ferry) as a place to make their permanent home. 

Charles Hayden offered tools and supplies to the workers developing the land to build their own homes. In 1872, he opened a store and laid the foundation for his flour mill.

The Hayden House

Which brings us to the Hayden House! As mentioned, Charles Hayden began construction on La Casa Vieja in 1873. He intended it to be a part of his commercial complex, which included his flour mill, a cable-operated ferry, a blacksmith shop, a store, and a carpentry shop. 

In 1876, Charles Hayden married Sallie Calvert Davis, a schoolteacher and suffragist. Together, they had four children, including the most important person in Arizona history, Carl Hayden. 

Carl Hayden was actually born within the house. His birth was strenuous at best. Many patrons of La Casa Vieja claim to hear the cries of his mother giving birth in the Hayden room, which is the room next to the room where Hayden was born. 

Despite a rough start in life, Carl Hayden became a powerhouse in the Arizonian political community. He served 56 years in the U.S. Congress, the longest anyone had served in Congress at the time of his death. 

Not only that, but Carl Hayden also played a vital role in developing western land in the United States. He helped fund the creation of the federal highway system through the Hayden-Cartwright Act in 1934, among many other accomplishments.

With Tempe now a bustling city (for the time), the Hayden family decided to move to a larger ranch. They turned the Hayden House into La Casa Vieja (“the old house”), added a floor, and made it a boarding house. 

Later, in 1924, Charles Hayden’s daughters, Sally and Mary, began restoring the historic house. They hired architect Robert T. Evans to help with the restoration, which is considered the first restoration of a historic house in Arizona. The women then turned the house into a tea house and restaurant named La Casa Vieja. 

Monti’s La Casa Vieja Is Born

Leonard F. Monti, owner of Monti’s La Casa Vieja, was a World War II veteran and successful restauranteur. His previous restaurant, Monti’s Western Tavern Grill, was located in Chandler, Arizona. It opened on Independence Day in 1947.

In 1954, Monti moved to Tempe and decided to use his experience in a new restaurant: Monti’s La Casa Vieja. He bought the building and opened his new restaurant in 1956. He renovated it in the 1960s and 1970s, creating the building’s labyrinth-like feel.

Monti’s was known for its steaks, prime rib, seafood, and other dishes. It was a staple in the community for almost 60 years. But its excellent food wasn’t the only thing drawing visitors in. Tales of ghost sightings and unexplained incidents spread along with rave reviews of burgers and steaks. Let’s talk about what these patrons claimed to have seen.

The Haunted Hayden House & La Casa Vieja

La Casa Vieja has many remarkable stories of odd occurrences throughout the restaurant. Many of the rooms have their own ghostly apparitions. Throughout the building, the sounds of a lively restaurant and clinking dinnerware can be heard—even when empty.

The Mural Room, which was aptly named for its striking mural, came with tales of a ghost cowboy sauntering on through before dinner. Those who have seen him called him friendly, but they could not get too close before he vanished.

The Hayden Room, named for Carl Hayden, is said to have the eerie aura of a woman going through painful childbirth. It is directly opposite the room where Carl Hayden was born.

Lastly, the most haunted room of all is the Fountain Room. Carl Hayden’s granddaughter, Sally, passed away when she was only 4. It’s said that you can hear the sounds of children playing and laughing while in this room.

Due to its many haunted happenings, the West Coast Ghost and Paranormal Society went to investigate. They determined that there are, in fact, ghostly apparitions at Monti’s La Casa Vieja, even having their own (unfilmed) spectral sighting.

Haunted Phoenix

Monti’s La Casa Vieja no longer exists, and the building is not open to the public. But you can still experience spine-tingling horror just 20 minutes away! If you want to hear tales of Arizonian ghosts while visiting some of the most haunted places in Phoenix, AZ, then a Phoenix Ghost Tour is for you! 

Learn about Phoenix’s troubled history, see a mix of modern and historical cultures, and MAYBE see a ghost. We can’t promise they’ll show up, but we can promise an insider’s look into the local legends that haunt the streets of Phoenix. 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for even more spooky stories from across the US! Be sure to read our blog for information on all the most haunted places in Arizona and beyond!  

Sources:

• https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/restaurants/after-nearly-60-years-montis-la-casa-vieja-in-tempe-to-close-later-this-month-6542609
• https://www.tempe.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/468/2856?npage=2
• https://www.tempe.gov/government/community-development/planning/historic-preservation/hayden-house#ad-image-0
• https://www.azwhf.org/copy-of-margaret-taylor-hance
• https://www.npr.org/2009/11/18/120545583/remembering-sen-carl-hayden
• https://www.tempe.gov/government/community-services/tempe-history-museum/history-and-research/charles-trumbull-hayden
• https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/homestead_declaration
• https://historical-markers.arizonadar.org/1964-salt-river-haydens-ferry/
• https://www.azwhf.org/copy-of-margaret-taylor-hance
• https://www.senate.gov/senators/FeaturedBios/Featured_Bio_Hayden.htm
• https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/general-highway-history/moment-time-fdr-and-federal-aid-highway-program-part-1
• https://www.tempe.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/468/20780
• https://www.motleydesign.group/post/hayden-house-monti-s-la-casa-vieja-part-v-la-casa-vieja
• https://northphoenixblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/remembering-lenny-montis-restaurant.html
• https://saltriverstories.org/items/show/449
• https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/news/montis-sells-tempe-property-restaurant-to-stay/article_06792112-a1b5-5d66-84ce-023a42ca54a8.html
• https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/montis-la-casa-vieja/
• https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/tempe/2014/11/04/montis-la-casa-vieja-in-tempe/18464425/
• https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2009/05/11/ghost-hunters-inspect-old-nm/51999645007/