Key Highlights
- Explore some of the most haunted hotels in America and the chilling stories behind them.
- Learn about the different types of paranormal activity reported, from ghostly apparitions to unexplained noises.
- Discover the haunted history that makes each historic hotel a unique and spooky destination.
- Find out which spirits, from Civil War soldiers to heartbroken brides, are said to linger in these halls.
- Get tips on booking ghost tours and overnight stays at these fascinating locations.
- Uncover why these spots are considered the best historic destinations for a supernatural experience.
Introduction
Have you ever wondered if ghosts are real? Across the United States, certain historic hotels have gained a reputation for being more than just a place to sleep. They are some of the most haunted places you can visit, where tales of paranormal activity are as common as room service. These haunted hotels offer a unique glimpse into the past, where stories of lingering spirits and unexplained events attract brave travelers. Are you ready to check in and explore these spooky destinations?
America’s Most Haunted Hotels and Their Fascinating Stories
The United States is home to countless historic hotels, and many of them come with a rich and haunted history. From coast to coast, these establishments have stories passed down through generations of staff and guests—tales of paranormal encounters and spirits who never truly checked out. These are not just ghost stories; they are a part of the fabric of these unique locations.
Historic Hotels of America recognizes many of these destinations, celebrating their heritage and the local folklore that makes them special. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, the tales from these haunted places are sure to fascinate you. Get ready to discover some of the most haunted hotels and the legends that make them so captivating.
1. The Stanley Hotel, Colorado – Inspiration for “The Shining” and Room 217’s Ghostly Legend
Famously known as the inspiration for Stephen King's "The Shining," The Stanley Hotel in Colorado is one of the most haunted hotels in the country. Its reputation for paranormal activity draws thrill-seekers from all over the world, many of whom hope for their own supernatural experience. The hotel fully embraces its spooky reputation, offering ghost tours that explore its most active areas.
The most famous of its haunted rooms is Room 217. This is where the head housekeeper, Elizabeth Wilson, was injured in an explosion in 1911. While she survived the incident, her spirit is said to have returned to the room after her death. Guests have reported her presence in a non-threatening way.
Many who have stayed in Room 217 share stories of their clothes being mysteriously unpacked and put away or items being moved around the room. It seems her spirit continues her housekeeping duties, making her one of the most well-known and helpful ghosts in any historic hotel.
2. The Bourbon Orleans Hotel, New Orleans – Haunted Ballroom and Civil War Spirits
Located in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter, the Bourbon Orleans Hotel has a past as rich and complex as the city itself. Before it was a hotel, the site was home to the French Opera House, a convent, and an orphanage. This layered history has made it one of the most haunted places in a city known for its ghosts.
The hotel is said to be home to numerous spirits, including a lonely ghost dancer in the grand ballroom, which was once the site of the opera house. Guests have reported seeing her sway to silent music. Another well-known story involves the ghosts of children from the orphanage. Their laughter and the sound of bouncing balls are sometimes heard echoing through the halls.
In addition to these spirits, the ghost of a Confederate soldier is often reported on the third and sixth floors. Guests staying in these guest rooms have described seeing a solitary figure in a Civil War uniform, forever wandering the corridors of the Bourbon Orleans.
3. The Queen Mary, California – Sunken Spirits and Unexplained Events Aboard the Historic Ship
If you're looking for haunted hotels in California, the Queen Mary in Long Beach offers a truly unique experience. This historic ocean liner, now permanently docked and converted into a hotel, is considered one of the most haunted places in the world. Its long and storied past as a luxury liner and a World War II troopship has left behind a fascinating haunted history.
The ship is a hotspot for paranormal activity, with numerous ghostly sightings and unexplained events reported over the years. Guests and investigators have documented everything from disembodied voices and phantom footsteps to full-body apparitions. The engine room is particularly active, with reports of a sailor who was crushed to death by a door still lingering there.
Other areas known for ghostly activity include the swimming pools, where the spirits of children are said to play, and the staterooms, where guests have experienced faucets turning on by themselves and blankets being pulled off their beds. A night aboard the Queen Mary is an unforgettable dive into the supernatural.
4. The Driskill Hotel, Texas – Political Intrigue and Phantom Footsteps
The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas, is steeped in a history of political intrigue and high-society gatherings, and its resident spirits seem to be as much a part of the hotel as its grand architecture. Built in 1886 by a cattle baron, the hotel has long been a landmark in the city, but it's the stories of its ghostly inhabitants that often capture the most attention.
One of the most prominent ghosts is that of the hotel's founder, Colonel Jesse Driskill. It is said his spirit never left his beloved hotel. Guests and staff have reported the distinct smell of his cigar smoke when no one is smoking, and some have even seen his apparition, dressed in period clothing, gazing out of a window.
Another sad tale involves two brides who took their own lives in the same room, twenty years apart. Guests staying in that suite have reported feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness and have seen the ghostly image of a woman. These real ghost stories contribute to The Driskill’s reputation as a place with a truly haunted history.
5. The Crescent Hotel, Arkansas – America’s Most Haunted Motel with Eerie Medical History
Often called "America's Most Haunted Hotel," the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, has an eerie medical history that fuels its paranormal reputation. In the 1930s, the hotel was turned into a hospital and "health resort" by a con man named Norman Baker, who claimed he could cure cancer. Many of his patients died, and their spirits are said to remain.
One of the most frequently encountered ghosts is Theodora, a former patient. Staff and guests report that she is a friendly spirit who tidies up rooms, folds clothes, and organizes personal items. In one instance, a couple returned to their room to find their scattered coins neatly stacked on the dresser, a gesture attributed to Theodora.
The ghost of the fraudulent former owner, Norman Baker, has also been seen in the lobby, wearing his signature purple shirt and white suit. With so many documented encounters, the Crescent Hotel stands out among haunted motels and hotels as a place with a truly chilling past and a very active present.
6. The Marshall House, Georgia – Civil War Wounds and Paranormal Guests
In historic Savannah, Georgia, The Marshall House stands as a witness to centuries of history, including its time as a hospital during the Civil War. This past has left an indelible mark on the hotel, with many believing that the spirits of soldiers and other past residents still roam its halls. The hotel embraces its haunted reputation, and guests often check in hoping for a paranormal encounter.
During renovations, workers discovered human remains under the floorboards, believed to be amputated limbs from surgeries performed when the hotel served as a Union hospital. This discovery only added to the hotel's ghostly lore. The sounds of children running down the halls at night are commonly reported, even when no children are staying at the hotel.
Guests in various guest rooms have reported seeing apparitions of soldiers in period clothing and waking up to the feeling of a nurse checking their pulse. Faucets turning on by themselves and ghostly figures appearing in the hallways are just a few of the real ghost stories that make The Marshall House a fascinating place to stay.
7. Congress Plaza Hotel, Illinois – Notorious Room 441 and Chicago’s Creepiest Encounters
The Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the city's most haunted locations, with a history filled with tales of ghosts and unexplained phenomena. Overlooking Grant Park, this grand hotel has hosted presidents and celebrities, but it's the stories of its permanent, spectral guests that often draw the most attention, making it a site of some of Chicago's creepiest encounters.
One of the most notoriously haunted rooms is Room 441. Guests have reported seeing the shadowy figure of a woman and have had their belongings violently thrown across the room. The room is so active that many staff members are reluctant to enter it alone. The story goes that a woman threw her two children from the window of this room before jumping herself.
Other paranormal activity includes sightings of "Peg Leg Johnny," a ghost said to haunt the halls, and the disembodied whispers and cold spots felt throughout the hotel. With a high volume of documented paranormal claims, the Congress Plaza Hotel is a prime destination for ghost hunters and those curious about the supernatural.
8. Hotel Monteleone, Louisiana – Literary Legends and Elevator Ghosts
The Hotel Monteleone is a landmark in the French Quarter of New Orleans, known for its literary legends and its many resident ghosts. This classic New Orleans hotel has been family-owned for generations and has attracted famous authors like Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway. However, it's the hotel's otherworldly guests that make it one of the most haunted places in the city.
One of the most famous backstories involves the ghost of a young boy named Maurice Begere. In the late 1800s, Maurice died of a fever in the hotel while his parents were at the French Opera House. His spirit is often seen on the 14th floor, the same floor where his family stayed. Guests have reported seeing his apparition, and his distraught parents are also said to return, searching for their son.
In addition to Maurice, the hotel is home to "elevator ghosts"—spirits of former employees who still seem to be on duty. The famous Carousel Bar is also a site of paranormal activity. With its rich history and many spectral residents, Hotel Monteleone offers a classic New Orleans ghost experience.
9. The Omni Grove Park Inn, North Carolina – The Pink Lady’s Mysterious Presence
Yes, North Carolina has its share of spooky histories, and The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville is at the top of the list. This historic resort is known for its stunning mountain views and its resident ghost, the "Pink Lady." For nearly a century, guests and staff have reported strange encounters with a gentle, mysterious spirit who roams the halls of the hotel's Main Inn.
The Pink Lady is believed to be the ghost of a young woman who fell to her death from a fifth-floor balcony in the 1920s. She is often seen as a pink, misty apparition or felt as a cold spot, particularly around Room 545. Her presence is usually described as playful and harmless; she is known to tickle the feet of sleeping guests and move personal items.
Many people who have stayed in the haunted rooms where she is most active report feeling her presence. Some have even seen her in the grand hall near the fireplace. The haunted history of the Pink Lady adds a layer of mystique to this beautiful North Carolina resort, making it a must-visit for those intrigued by the paranormal.
10. The Mizpah Hotel, Nevada – The Lady in Red and Haunted Motels of the Wild West
In the heart of the Wild West, The Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada, stands as a relic of the state's silver-mining boom. Like many historic buildings from that era, it has its share of ghost stories, rivaling even the most haunted motels in the region. The most famous spirit here is the "Lady in Red," a ghost with a tragic story.
The Lady in Red is said to be the spirit of a prostitute who was murdered by a jealous ex-lover in her fifth-floor room. Guests staying in her room, the Lady in Red Suite, have shared many real ghost stories. They report feeling a sudden chill, hearing whispers, and finding a single pearl left on their pillow, a supposed token from the ghostly woman.
Her presence isn't confined to her room; she has been spotted in the hallways and on the hotel elevator. Some male guests have even reported feeling a caress on their cheek. The legend of the Lady in Red adds a touch of romantic tragedy and supernatural intrigue to this classic Wild West hotel.
What Makes a Hotel “Haunted”? Official Criteria and Paranormal Activity
What exactly makes a hotel officially considered "haunted"? While there's no single governing body that hands out a haunted certification, a hotel typically earns this reputation through a combination of consistent paranormal reports, historical context, and local lore. It’s more than just a single ghost story; it’s a pattern of unexplained events over time.
Paranormal investigators often look for recurring phenomena, such as apparitions, disembodied voices, or objects moving on their own, to classify a location as active. These haunted places become legendary when guest and staff experiences align with the hotel's history, creating a compelling narrative we'll explore further.
Documented Ghost Sightings and Local Folklore
Documented ghost sightings are the cornerstone of a hotel's haunted reputation. When multiple guests and staff members report similar strange occurrences over many years, it lends credibility to the claims. These accounts are often compiled by the hotels themselves or by ghost hunters and paranormal researchers who investigate the sites. The Crescent Hotel and Congress Plaza Hotel are great examples of places with a high volume of documented paranormal activity.
Local legend also plays a huge role. Stories passed down through generations become part of the community's identity and add to the haunted history of a location. These tales, whether about a tragic bride or a playful spirit, give context to the paranormal events and make the experience much richer for visitors.
Here’s a look at some common documented sightings at famous haunted hotels:
The Stanley Hotel
Common Sighting/Activity: Items moved, clothes unpacked in Room 217.
Associated Legend: Ghost of housekeeper Elizabeth Wilson.
The Queen Mary
Common Sighting/Activity: Apparition of a sailor in the engine room.
Associated Legend: A young sailor was crushed by a door.
Hotel Monteleone
Common Sighting/Activity: A young boy seen on the 14th floor.
Associated Legend: Spirit of Maurice Begere who died there.
The Crescent Hotel
Common Sighting/Activity: A nurse-like figure tidying guest rooms.
Associated Legend: Theodora, a patient from its hospital days.
Historical Events, Tragedies, and Their Lasting Impact
A key factor that makes a hotel officially considered "haunted" is its connection to significant historical events or tragedies. Places that have witnessed intense human emotion—such as battles, accidents, or personal despair—are often believed to retain that energy. This is why many haunted places in the South have ties to the Civil War, with reports of lingering Confederate soldiers.
The Marshall House in Georgia, for example, served as a hospital during the war. The pain and suffering that occurred within its walls are thought to be the reason for its lasting paranormal activity. Similarly, the 1886 Crescent Hotel’s dark past as a fraudulent cancer hospital has had a lasting impact, with many believing the spirits of deceived patients remain.
These tragedies create powerful narratives that explain the presence of spirits. Whether it's a jilted lover, a victim of an accident, or soldiers far from home, these stories give meaning to the unexplained noises and apparitions, solidifying a hotel's status as a haunted destination.
Visiting Haunted Hotels: Tips, Tours, and Halloween Stays
Are you ready to experience a haunted hotel for yourself? The good news is that many of these historic properties welcome curious guests. You can absolutely book overnight experiences in their most famously haunted guest rooms or join guided ghost tours to learn about their spooky histories. Many hotels even offer special packages and events around the Halloween season.
For Halloween stays, top choices often include the 1886 Crescent Hotel, The Stanley Hotel, and Hotel Monteleone, as they fully embrace the spooky season with tours and themed events. Planning your visit, whether for Halloween or any other time of year, can be an exciting adventure into the unknown.
Booking Overnight Experiences and Ghost Tours
Yes, booking overnight experiences and ghost tours at haunted hotels is not only possible but also a popular activity. Many hotels, like The Stanley and The Queen Mary, have made their paranormal reputation a key part of their guest experience. You can often request specific "active" rooms, though they tend to book up quickly, especially around Halloween.
Most haunted hotels offer their own guided ghost tours, which provide a safe and informative way to explore the property's history and paranormal hotspots. These tours are led by knowledgeable guides who can share detailed stories and point out areas with frequent activity. Some hotels even partner with local paranormal groups for more in-depth investigations.
When planning your spooky stay, keep these tips in mind:
- Book in Advance: Haunted rooms and ghost tours are extremely popular. Book well ahead of time to secure your spot.
- Check for Packages: Many hotels offer packages that bundle your stay with tour tickets or other themed extras.
- Sign Up for Newsletters: Get advance notice of special offers and seasonal events by subscribing to the hotel's mailing list.
- Enjoy the Amenities: Remember, these are still hotels! Even the spookiest locations offer modern amenities for a comfortable stay.
Conclusion
As we delve into the eerie tales of America’s most haunted hotels, it becomes clear that these locations are steeped in history and intrigue. Each hotel offers a unique glimpse into the past, with ghostly legends that continue to captivate visitors. Whether you’re a skeptic or a true believer, the stories behind these hotels enhance their charm and allure. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider booking a stay at one of these haunted havens or joining a ghost tour to immerse yourself in the spine-chilling experiences they offer. Prepare for an unforgettable journey through the supernatural! Get ready to explore these haunted hotels, and may you uncover the mysteries that lie within their walls.
