Guide to Haunted Hotels

Experience the Paranormal in Style

Haunted historic hotels are not just places to rest your head; they are establishments steeped in history and mystery. These hotels, often dating back to the 18th or 19th centuries, have witnessed significant events, tragedies, and untimely deaths. Over time, these occurrences have led to the accumulation of paranormal energy, resulting in ghostly apparitions, unexplained noises, and other supernatural phenomena. Imagine checking into a room where a tragic love story unfolded or dining in a hall where historical figures once gathered. These historic hotels offer a unique blend of hospitality and hauntings, making them a magnet for those intrigued by the paranormal. Haunted Places In Europe

America’s Most Spine-Chilling Historic Hotels Where You Can Sleep with Spirits Types of Haunted Hotels

Haunted hotels come in various forms, each offering a unique experience for the brave souls who dare to stay.

• Historic Hotel: These grand establishments have been in operation for over a century and are rich in history. They often have a significant number of reported paranormal experiences, making them a favorite among ghost hunters and history buffs alike.
• Luxury Hotels: Combining high-end amenities with a reputation for ghostly encounters, these hotels offer a unique blend of comfort and chills. Imagine enjoying a spa treatment while knowing that the hotel has a haunted room just down the hall.
• Boutique Hotels: Smaller, independent establishments that often have a unique character and a history of paranormal activity. These hotels provide an intimate setting where guests can experience the supernatural up close.
• Bed and Breakfasts: Offering a more personalized experience, these cozy accommodations may also come with their own ghostly residents. The intimate atmosphere makes every creak and whisper feel even more eerie.

The Most Haunted Hotels in America Where You Can Sleep with Spirits

Ever dreamed of spending the night with a ghost? What is the scariest motel in the world? Many people say the Clown Motel in Tonopah, Nevada is the scariest and creepiest motel in the United States. It was built in the 1950s, is rumored to be haunted, and is located on an isolated desert highway next to an abandoned cemetery. Where was the hotel of horrors? The Hotel of Horrors is a haunted attraction in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, opened in 2002. It is an interactive haunted hotel experience filled with horrors around every corner with realistic sights, sounds, and smells create an immersive environment. For example, some rooms may have the copper scent of blood or the smell of rotting flesh. America’s most haunted historic hotels offer more than just a comfortable bed – they promise an unforgettable encounter with the supernatural. Let’s explore these magnificent properties where luxury meets the paranormal. The Most Haunted Schools

Are you an aspiring ghost chaser? Have you ever wanted to visit a real haunted hotel? It turns out that you actually can. Throughout the country, there are various locations with spooky backgrounds that you can visit and tour or the brave even spend the night, in hopes of catching a glimpse of a ghost or spirit. Here are a few of the most well-known haunted hotels and a little of the history that makes each place a ghost chaser’s dream. The Most Haunted Places In The Caribbean

The Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, is one such place. Originally a medical facility, it was transformed into a hotel in 1984. Guests and staff have reported supernatural occurrences, including ghostly sightings and unexplained noises, attributed to the hotel’s dark past. Its proximity to the historic Alamo adds to its haunting reputation.

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa

Covered on the Sci-Fi Channel, Ghost Hunters, and the Biography Channel, this hotel in Eureka Springs, AR, is said by many to be the most haunted hotel in the U.S. (others feel it is the Stanley Hotel in Colorado.) The property was a hotel in the late 1800’s, then a school, a cancer hospital, and eventually back to a hotel. Guests have reported things being moved around in their room while they were sleeping; feeling someone stroking their hair; voices in the hallways; a woman in a white gown in the luxury suites and even mysterious text messages appearing on their cell phones. The hotel is said to be haunted by several ghosts: The Lady in the Garden which was a cancer hospital nurse; Michael, a worker who fell to his death during construction of the hotel; Miss Theodora, a victim of Dr. Norman Baker, who did experimental treatments causing the death of over 300 people under his care, and Lulu, who was murdered by the evil doctor on Christmas. What brings chills to my spine is the fact that there used to be a morgue where autopsies were performed – also many bodies were said to be buried around the grounds to conceal how many people were dying at the facility. Daily ghost tours include the basement and morgue, or you can book a hotel stay. Famous Haunted Dolls

Hotel del Coronado

The hotel del coronado resident ghost is located in Southern California, named Kate Morgan. Miss Morgan’s sad story begins on November 24, 1982, when she checked into room 304 (now room 3327). She may have been meeting her doctor husband, who was supposed to be bringing her medicine for her stomach cancer, or she may have been a pregnant gold digger who checked in under an assumed name. According to one source, she may not have been Kate Morgan. No one seems to be sure. What is certain is that she committed suicide three days after checking in, by shooting herself on the steps leading to the beach. Since then, strange occurrences have been noted in room 3327, and some hotel staff claim to have actually seen Kate’s ghost firsthand at the beach and in the hotel.

Jekyll Island Club Resort: Where America’s Elite Still Linger

Nestled on Georgia’s stunning coastal islands, the Jekyll Island Club Resort isn’t just a monument to America’s Gilded Age – it’s a haven for sophisticated spirits who refuse to check out. Once the exclusive playground for families like the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts, this grand Victorian landmark still echoes with the footsteps of its elite guests. The most famous spectral resident is Samuel Spencer, a railroad magnate who continues his morning ritual of drinking coffee and reading the newspaper in the elegant Club Room. Guests report seeing a dapper gentleman in period clothing vanish into thin air, while the ghostly bellman in a 1920s uniform still dutifully delivers freshly pressed suits to rooms – long after midnight. With its towering turrets, wraparound porches, and meticulously manicured grounds, the resort offers luxurious accommodations in the main building and surrounding cottages, each with its own unique history and supernatural tales. Whether you’re sipping cocktails on the veranda or enjoying a game of croquet on the lawn, you might find yourself sharing the space with some rather distinguished company from the past. Haunted Bodies of Water

St. James Hotel

This hotel, located in Cimarron, New Mexico, was once known as the Lambert Inn, and under that name, it had quite the colorful history. Famous guests of the old Lambert included Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, Black Jack Tom Ketchum, General Sheridan, Kit Carson, Doc Holliday, and Billy the Kid, just to name a few. Unsurprisingly, the old hotel also sustained a lot of bullet holes, and 22 of them still exist today, in the dining room’s ceiling. The St. James is apparently hosting to a number of ghosts. One in particular, T.J. Wright, is said to be so ill-tempered that he must have a room all to himself. Consequently, room 18 is kept locked and is no longer ever rented. Before the decision was made to keep it locked up, visitors to the room are said to have been physically attacked by Wright’s ghost.

Omni Grove Park Inn: Where the Pink Lady Dances Through Time

Perched majestically in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, the Omni Grove Park Inn harbors one of the most romantic ghost stories in American hospitality. Since the 1920s, the “Pink Lady” – a young woman in a flowing pink gown – has been gracefully haunting the halls of this magnificent stone palace. Legend says she fell to her death from the fifth floor during a period of heartbreak, though the circumstances remain shrouded in mystery. Today, she’s known as a gentle, playful spirit who particularly adores children. Guests report feeling sudden cold spots, seeing mysterious pink mists, and experiencing unexplained tickling sensations – all hallmarks of the Pink Lady’s presence. The hotel itself is an architectural marvel, built from massive granite boulders and featuring spectacular mountain views, a world-class spa carved into the mountainside, and a rich history of hosting luminaries from F. Scott Fitzgerald to multiple U.S. presidents. Whether you’re warming yourself by one of the enormous 36-foot stone fireplaces or enjoying a cocktail on the sunset terrace, don’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of a rosy figure gliding past – she’s just another distinguished guest who loved the hotel so much, she never left.

The Stanley Hotel: Where “The Shining” Comes to Life

Nestled near Rocky Mountain National Park, The Stanley Hotel isn’t just another mountain retreat. This majestic property gained worldwide fame as Stephen King’s inspiration for “The Shining.” Want to test your courage? Book one of the “spirited rooms” – Suites 271, 401, 407, or 428 – where guests regularly report mysterious occurrences that would make even the bravest soul question reality. Top Haunted Cities in America

Provincial Hotel

This New Orleans hotel was once a hospital for Confederate soldiers injured during the Civil War. Guests have witnessed the ghosts of both doctors and confederate soldiers here. The soldier ghosts are described as being in obvious pain, crying and moaning, and covered in blood. Some have described witnessing pools of blood that quickly vanish. Doctor ghosts have been witnessed treating wounded soldiers and imploring guests for help.

Queen Mary Hotel

Located in Long Beach, California, this was a luxury cruise ship in the 1930’s.  The ship was commissioned as a hospital and troop transport during World War I.  Many stories surround the Queen Mary.  The first was when the Queen Mary accidentally hit an escort ship with around 300 men on board.  Because it was during the war, they could not turn to assist the men, which all drowned.  People have reported hearing men screaming and the sound of metal crushing from the front of the ship.  It is said there are as many as 55 spirits, including that of a young girl named Jackie Korin, who drowned in the second-class pool but haunts the first-class pool room onboard the ship.  So much paranormal activity has been detected around that pool that they keep a full-time ghost camera on.  Please note that at the time of posting this blog, The Queen Mary Hotel is temporarily closed due to COVID-19 but they are having a virtual event with six ISO cameras streaming 24 hours a day, alongside live investigations with some of your favorite paranormal personalities!

Emily Morgan Hotel: A Gothic Hospital’s Haunted Legacy

Standing proud in the heart of San Antonio, just steps from the Alamo, the Emily Morgan Hotel’s haunted reputation stems from its macabre past as a medical facility. This stunning 1924 Gothic Revival building, once known as the Medical Arts Building, housed a morgue, a psychiatric ward, and a crematorium – the perfect recipe for paranormal activity. Today, this luxury boutique hotel can’t quite shake its medical history, with the most intense supernatural activity reported on the seventh, ninth, and fourteenth floors (formerly surgical floors and the morgue). Guests routinely report eerie encounters: mysteriously opening and closing doors, phones ringing at odd hours with no one on the line, and perhaps most chillingly, apparitions of nurses pushing gurneys down dimly lit corridors at midnight. The hotel’s distinctive gargoyles, depicting medical ailments, still watch over the city from their perches, while inside, unexplained sounds of hospital equipment and children’s voices echo through the halls. Despite – or perhaps because of – its spooky reputation, the Emily Morgan offers an unforgettable blend of modern luxury and historical intrigue. From its elegant rooms with stunning views of the Alamo to its first-class amenities, this member of DoubleTree by Hilton proves that even the most haunted hotels can offer a sophisticated escape… if you’re brave enough to check in.

Hotel Chelsea: Where Artists, Legends, and Spirits Never Check Out

Rising above Manhattan’s West 23rd Street, the iconic Hotel Chelsea stands as a bohemian beacon of New York’s artistic soul – and its ghostly residents are just as colorful as its living ones. Built in 1884 and recently reopened after an extensive renovation, this Victorian Gothic masterpiece has hosted an extraordinary roster of cultural icons: Dylan Thomas drank his last whiskey here, Sid Vicious’s girlfriend Nancy Spungen met her tragic end in Room 100, and Leonard Cohen and Janis Joplin had their famous liaison in the elevator. Today, the spirits of these legendary artists seemingly refuse to abandon their beloved home. Guests report encounters with Thomas’s ghost, still wandering the halls in an alcohol-induced haze, while the spectral figure of playwright Eugene O’Neill is occasionally spotted limping down the corridors. The most active spirit is said to be Mary, a Titanic survivor who lived at the Chelsea until the 1960s – her ghost is known to help guests carry their luggage, only to vanish at the room’s threshold. The hotel’s recent luxurious transformation hasn’t deterred its supernatural residents; instead, they seem to appreciate the restored grandeur of their eternal home. With its carefully preserved period details, art-filled lobbies, and modernized suites, the Chelsea offers guests a chance to sleep among the spirits of America’s cultural aristocracy while enjoying contemporary comforts. Just don’t be surprised if you hear typewriter keys clicking late at night or catch the faint scent of cigarette smoke where no one is smoking – it’s just another night at the Chelsea, where the creative spirit lives on… quite literally.

Crescent Hotel & Spa: Where Medical Fraud Meets Paranormal Activity

Perched atop the Ozark Mountains in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the Crescent Hotel’s dark history makes it “America’s Most Haunted Hotel.” Built in 1886 as a luxury resort, its most sinister chapter began in 1937 when charlatan Norman Baker transformed it into a “cancer-curing hospital.” Baker, who wore purple and had no medical training, performed questionable procedures on desperate patients, many of whom never checked out. Today, this Victorian masterpiece houses countless spirits, from Baker’s victims to the Irish stonemason Michael, who fell to his death during construction. The infamous Room 218 marks his fatal landing spot and remains the most actively haunted room. Guests report seeing nurses pushing gurneys down empty halls, hearing screams from the old morgue (now a spa), and encountering the ghost of a bearded man in Victorian clothing believed to be Dr. John Freemont Ellis, the hotel’s original house doctor. The property’s nightly ghost tours take visitors through the macabre “Baker’s Morgue” in the basement, where bottles of preserved “cancer cures” were discovered during renovation.

Omni Parker House: Boston’s Grand Dame of Ghostly Encounters

As America’s longest continuously operating hotel, the Omni Parker House in Boston has accumulated quite a collection of spirits since 1855. Its founder, Harvey Parker, apparently still roams the halls, checking on guests and staff to ensure his high standards are maintained. The hotel’s third floor harbors particularly active energy, with Room 303 being so haunted that it was converted into a storage room after too many guests fled in terror. The ghost of Charles Dickens, who lived at the hotel while performing reading tours in Boston, is said to practice his performances in a full-length mirror that once hung in his room. Perhaps most famously, the “elevators to nowhere” regularly arrive at the third floor without being summoned, doors opening to reveal empty cars. Actor Charlotte Cushman died in her room here in 1876, and guests near her former quarters report hearing her final dramatic monologues late at night. The hotel also lays claim to birthing both the Parker House Roll and Boston Cream Pie, though some say the recipes came from supernatural inspiration.

The Historic Lizzie Borden House: Sleep Where History’s Greatest Murder Mystery Unfolded

Dare to spend the night where one of America’s most notorious unsolved murders took place? The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, preserves the chilling atmosphere of the 1892 double homicide. With just two suites and four rooms available, you’ll have an intimate – perhaps too intimate – experience with the past.

The Blennerhassett Hotel & Spa: European Elegance Meets American Hauntings

West Virginia’s crown jewel of hospitality, The Blennerhassett, combines European sophistication with paranormal activity. While enjoying the hotel’s upscale amenities and spa services, keep your eyes peeled for the numerous spirits that call this grand establishment home.

Victoria’s Black Swan Inn: Where Civil War Spirits Still March

Built on a historic battlefield in San Antonio, Victoria’s Black Swan Inn offers a unique blend of Southern charm and supernatural activity. The spirits of fallen soldiers from the 1842 Battle of Salado reportedly still patrol the grounds, making every stay an adventure in historical immersion. The Scariest Haunted Houses In America

The Mizpah Hotel: Where the Lady in Red Still Roams

In the heart of Nevada, the Mizpah Hotel stands as a testament to the Wild West’s enduring spirit. Since 1907, the Lady in Red has made her presence known, along with a crew of spectral miners. After a stunning restoration in 2011, you can now experience luxury accommodations including the namesake Lady in Red Suite, while possibly encountering its ethereal resident.

The Clown Motel

The Clown Motel is a real motel located in Tonopah, Nevada, that has earned a reputation as one of the creepiest motels in the United States. It contains a large collection of clown figurines, paintings and memorabilia scattered around the rooms and lobby. Estimates range from 600 to over 1000 clown items on display. It’s located right next to an abandoned cemetery which reportedly once had a section dedicated to miners who died in mining accidents involving clowns. There have been reports of guests seeing ghostly apparitions of clowns at the motel and hearing faint circus music or childish laughing. The motel’s location, isolated on a desert highway, adds to the creepy vibe. There’s not much else around for miles. While the owners have leaned into the creepy clown theme, the motel itself is quite old, built in the 1950s. Overall, the combination of its dilapidated state, unsettling location and unironic embrace of creepy clowns has cemented its reputation as one of the scariest motels in the world.

If you’re in the mood for a spine-tingling destination this Halloween, consider checking in at one of these or other known haunts!

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The Third Floor Phenomenon: Historical Context & Theories of Elevated Hauntings

The Historical Significance of Third Floors in American Architecture

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the 3rd floor in American hotels and buildings held a particularly dark yet practical purpose. In an era before modern medical facilities, these levels often served as makeshift hospitals during epidemics, military conflicts, and public health crises. The reasoning was both practical and primitive: heat rises, so placing sick or dying patients on upper floors helped contain airborne diseases while providing natural ventilation through high windows. During the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918, many hotels converted their third floors into quarantine wards, leading to countless deaths in these improvised medical spaces.

Beyond their medical use, third floors traditionally housed hotel staff – particularly female servants and nurses – in cramped quarters. These workers often lived difficult lives, working long hours in challenging conditions, with some meeting tragic ends through accidents, suicide, or foul play. The social hierarchy of the era meant these stories went largely undocumented, leaving only their spiritual echoes behind.

During the Civil War, hotels across America, particularly in the South and border states, transformed their third floors into military hospitals. The height provided strategic advantages: it was high enough to keep wounded soldiers away from the hustle of ground-floor activities while being accessible enough for medical staff to transport patients and supplies. The massive casualties and hurried battlefield surgeries performed in these makeshift wards left their mark – both metaphysically and literally, with some hotels still bearing bloodstains beneath layers of renovations. America’s Most Haunted Highways

The Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago The third floor is reportedly one of the most active, where guests regularly report seeing “Shadow People” darting down hallways. Room 311 is particularly infamous – guests report TVs turning on and off, disembodied voices, and an unseen presence that tugs at bedsheets during the night.

The Driskill Hotel, Austin The third floor houses one of the hotel’s most tragic tales. A young girl named Samantha Houston died in 1887 after falling down the grand staircase while chasing her ball on the third floor. Guests report hearing a bouncing ball and children’s laughter, with some even claiming to see a little girl in a Victorian dress bouncing a ball in the hallway.

Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff Room 305 is known for its “Meat Man” – the ghost of a long-term resident who used to hang raw meat from the chandelier. Guests report the overwhelming smell of meat and the sound of someone walking around the room at night.

The Marshall House, Savannah During the Civil War, the third floor served as a makeshift hospital. Guests report seeing ghostly Union soldiers wandering the halls, the sounds of military boots marching, and phantom smells of medical supplies. Some visitors have reported seeing apparitions of doctors performing surgeries in the middle of the night.

The Hawthorne Hotel, Salem Room 325 is notorious for unexplained phenomena. Guests report feeling invisible hands touching them, seeing a woman in white walking through walls, and experiencing extreme temperature fluctuations. The third-floor hallway is also known for the sound of children running and playing, though no children are present.

Paranormal Experiences

Staying at a hotel room that is haunted means you might encounter more than just a comfortable bed. Paranormal experiences can range from mild to extreme, adding an extra layer of excitement to your stay.

• Ghostly Apparitions: Guests and staff often report seeing ghostly figures or apparitions, particularly in specific areas of the hotel. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to see a spectral figure standing at the foot of your bed.
• Unexplained Noises: Strange noises, such as knocking, creaking, or whispering, are commonly heard. These sounds often have no apparent source, leaving guests puzzled and intrigued.
• Unusual Smells: Some guests report smelling unusual odors, such as perfume or cigar smoke, in areas where there is no apparent source. These scents often have historical significance, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
• Mysterious Events: Doors opening and closing on their own, objects moving or disappearing, and other strange occurrences are frequently reported. These events add an element of unpredictability to your stay, making every moment an adventure.

Tours and Investigations

For those who want to delve deeper into the paranormal, many haunted hotels offer tours and investigations. These experiences allow guests to explore the hotel’s haunted history and encounter supernatural phenomena firsthand.

• Guided Ghost Tours: Led by knowledgeable guides, these tours take guests through the hotel’s most haunted areas. The guides provide fascinating insights into the hotel’s history and the paranormal activity that has been reported.
• Paranormal Investigations: Using specialized equipment like EMF meters and infrared cameras, these investigations aim to detect and document paranormal activity. Guests can join experienced ghost hunters in their quest to capture evidence of the supernatural.
• Ghost Hunting Expeditions: These expeditions involve a team of ghost hunters and paranormal investigators exploring the hotel’s most haunted areas. The goal is to capture evidence of paranormal activity, making it an exciting adventure for thrill-seekers.

Whether you’re a seasoned ghost hunter or a curious traveler, these haunted hotels offer an unforgettable experience that combines history, luxury, and the thrill of the unknown.

These are just a few of America’s haunted hotels. If you’re in the mood for a spine-tingling destination this Halloween, consider checking in at one of these or other known haunts!

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Plan Your Haunted Getaway

Ready to book your supernatural stay? These historic properties offer more than just ghost stories – they provide world-class amenities, exceptional service, and the chance to experience history in a deeply personal way. Whether you’re a paranormal enthusiast or simply seeking an extraordinary travel experience, these haunted hotels promise memories that will last a lifetime… and perhaps beyond.

Note: Availability at these popular properties can be limited, especially during peak supernatural seasons like Halloween. Advanced reservations are strongly recommended.

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