(Okay, so 1 in London makes 14, but 13 is spookier.) ?
What’sa Matta? U Scurrd?
Attention ghost busters and wobbly-kneed chickens, alike. Behold! Here’s your access to the haunted list of lists. Enter at your own risk … Muuuuahahahahaha!
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Stanley Hotel | Estes Park, Colorado
Haunted events have been recorded at the Stanley Hotel since 1911. It was then that housekeeper Ms. Elizabeth Wilson was shocked during a lightning storm. Room 217, where it happened, has become a hotbed for paranormal activity. She may or may not think she is the “gate keeper.”
Wha? You say this place looks familiar? Better tighten those boot straps, Pardner. The Stanley was made famous in the movie “The Shining.” And even before the movie, it was known for a deep connection to the paranormal. Haunted events have been recorded at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, as far back as 1911. Be sure to ask for Room 217 (so we don’t have to).
Red Rum … Red Rum …
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Bourbon Orleans Hotel | New Orleans
The grand, historic Bourbon Orleans Hotel originally opened in 1827 as a ballroom for glamorous events. By the late 1800s the hotel was acquired by the Sisters of the Holy Family. Their idea was to use it as a school, orphanage, medical ward, and convent. It was then that the yellow fever epidemic struck and leading to the death of many children. It’s said that the ghosts of children and nuns can be seen and heard throughout the hotel. Additionally, there have been several reports of a ghost dancer in the famous Orleans Ballroom. You can book a Ghosts & Spirits Walking Tour, which stops at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel during your visit to New Orleans. Let the creeping begin!
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Emily Morgan | San Antonio
Housed in a historic neo-Gothic building with a reputation for paranormal activity, the 177-room boutique Emily Morgan Hotel has a prime downtown location across from the Alamo. It also at one time was a medical facility, so the property housed a morgue and a psychiatric ward. Reports of unexplained noises, apparitions, and the feeling of being touched (go ahead and book now if you like) are fairly frequent. If you want to up your chances of a paranormal encounter, book a room on the seventh, ninth, eleventh, or twelfth floors. Also, as a nod to the hotel’s notoriety for paranormal activity, the on-site Oro Restaurant and Bar offers a Psychic Happy Hour with palm readings on Thursday nights – if you DARE!
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Omni Parker House | Boston
Steeped in history, stuffed with ghost lore, and teeming with old-world grandeur, the surprisingly affordable Omni Parker House is the place to stay for a taste of Boston’s literary and political past. The original hotel opened in 1855 and was run by founder Harvey Parker until his death in 1884. Many guests have reported seeing him in their guest rooms, where he’s asked about their stay. After a businessman died in room 303, there were multiple reports of laughter and the smell of whiskey. Stephen King’s short story 1408, which was made into a movie with John Cusack, centers on a writer who experiences a haunted stay at a New York hotel; the story was based on the supernatural activity in room 303. If you plan on staying, do not watch the movie. In fact, you should probably steer clear anyway. It is terrifying … you’re welcome.
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Langham Hotel | London
Not in U.S. – more than creepy enough for this list
One of the more notable historical hotels in London, the Langham Hotel has been around since 1865 — when it opened as the city’s first purpose-built luxury hotel. The hotel is a frequent place of lodging for celebrities and royals, and apparently, ghosts. Guests have reported seeing the apparition of a German prince, a German solider and a doctor who murdered his wife and then killed himself on their honeymoon, among others. The spirit of Emperor Napoleon III, who lived at the Langham during his last days in exile, has also been said to occupy the basement. Room 333 is supposedly the most haunted of the guest rooms and is available for booking for any brave travelers and, of course, the unbeknownst (insert creepy laughter here.)
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The Marshall House | Savannah
Built in 1851, the charming 68-room Marshall House accommodated Union soldiers during the Civil War — and some guests say their spirits still walk the hallways. The oldest hotel in Savannah, it also acted as a hospital three times (always a red flag for hotel conversions) — once for soldiers and twice for yellow fever epidemic victims. During renovations, workers found human remains under the floorboards from long-ago surgeries when the ground was frozen and nothing could be buried. In addition to seeing ghosts throughout the property, guests report hearing children run down the halls, faucets turning on by themselves, and the rattling of doorknobs.
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The Hay-Adams | Washington D.C.
Another spooky thing about Washington
Quite possibly the most famous hotel in the capital, The Hay-Adams has hosted many a politician, including the Obamas before inauguration. In 1884, best friends John Hay (Abraham Lincoln’s private secretary and later a Secretary of State) and Henry Adams (the author, and descendant of John Quincy) built their homes on the plot of land where the hotel now sits. In 1927, nine years after Adams’ death, the houses were razed and replaced by the hotel that stands today. Adams’ wife, Marian Hooper Adams, committed suicide on the site in 1885 and her spirit reportedly haunts the hotel. Guests and staff say they can hear a woman crying softly, disembodied voices, and doors opening and closing on their own.
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Hotel Sorrento | Seattle
Built at the turn of the 20th century, the upscale Hotel Sorrento is an iconic Seattle boutique property. It’s said that the ghost of Alice B. Toklas, a woman credited with the invention of pot brownies, can often be seen roaming the halls, particularly around room 408 (you would think it would be 420). Guests have also reported their drinks being moved at the Dunbar Room. To honor her, they have a Ms. Toklas cocktail on the menu that includes lucid absinthe, elderflower, chamomile, honey, and lemon juice — so you can get both a trick and a treat at the Sorrento. Of course, all of this could just be absinthe related …
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Hotel Provincial | New Orleans
What isn’t a little haunted in French Quarter?
The two-story Hotel Provincial — with 94 rooms in the historic French Quarter — is a retreat into old New Orleans. Like many New Orleans properties, it also claims to be a popular paranormal activity hub. Like other area hotels, the property acted as a medical facility for wounded confederate soldiers and is said to still possess their spirits. From distressed soldiers and operating doctors to pools of blood, guests have reported it all. If actually staying at the property seems too spooky, it’s also a stop on many walking ghost tours of the city.
11. Omni Shoreham | Washington D.C.
Built in 1930, the Omni Shoreham Hotel has echoing ceilings, grand chandeliers, and an allegedly haunted suite. The Ghost Suite, a two-bedroom apartment-style suite with a full kitchen, is reportedly haunted; spirits of the original owner, his daughter, and the housekeeper supposedly linger here. Both the housekeeper, Juliette, and the owner’s daughter, Helen, died in the suite. Once the family was gone, reports of unexplained noises, lights being turned on, and the feeling of someone running by, were made. Travelers can book the suite if they’re looking for the chance of a paranormal encounter – or just need someone to jog with, indoors.
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Le Pavilion | New Orleans
Often called by many locals “The Belle of New Orleans.” The Le Pavilion Hotel offers guests turn-of-the-century charm in the heart of downtown Haunted New Orleans. At one point a few years ago the hotel management hired several local paranormal investigators. They identified several ghosts in the hotel and recorded EVP’s saying “Please, get out” and “Hold on I see you now.” Another team said they documented 100+ individual ghost and haunted hotspots in the hotel. A third team said this hotel was actually a portal to the other side. We hope you don’t accidentally walk through THAT door.
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Crescent Hotel & Spa | Eureka Springs
Guests who want an extra scare can take a nightly ghost tour of the Crescent. And you may want to. This historic Victorian-style claims to be “America’s most haunted hotel.” Members of Historic Hotels of America can watch ghost videos and even learn about Eureka Springs’ unusual history. The “fun” peaks during Paranormal Weekend, a three-day, hands-on paranormal investigation event in January. It even includes and everybody is welcome ghost hunt. While completely unrelated, the French Onion Soup is said to be excellent.
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Queen Mary | Long Beach
This historic ocean liner in Long Beach is considered one of the most haunted places in the the nation, and even beyond. Visitors can sign up for special haunted twilight tours of the Queen Mary. A guide will take you through the ship, right to the supposed paranormal epicenters. Some visitors claim to experience the ghost of a dead sailor. Others say they see children who drowned in the pool or a woman in white. The Queen Mary’s tours even include séances, for the bravest guests. There is even an option for “dining with the spirits.”