Must-Visit Haunted Historic Hotels
Who says Halloween is the only time to explore some old haunts? Next time groups want to get a taste for history with a side of spookiness, consider staying at one of these can't-miss haunted historic hotels.
Historic Hotels of America, which works to increase the recognition and celebration of the finest hotels across America, gathered a special list of the top 25 most haunted historic hotels in America. From a former Carmelite convent to hotels that are adjacent to battlegrounds and a hotel that was once a morgue, many of these accommodations have "spirited" guests that continue to haunt the halls long after they have checked out. Groups will have a comfortable place to call home base and a history-filled, possibly a little spooky adventure—right where they'll lay their heads in the evening. Here are some of our favorites.
Hotel Monteleone (1886) | New Orleans, Louisiana
A maid known as "Mrs. Clean" reputedly haunts the hotel. Paranormal researchers once asked why she stayed and the maid, whose mother, grandmother and great-grandmother also worked at the hotel, said she was picking up after housekeeping to ensure high standards.
Hawthorne Hotel (1925) | Salem, Massachusetts
The city of Salem, notorious for the Salem Witch Trials in 1692, is prone to hauntings and spirits. The hotel has ghost stories of its own, mostly attributed to the sea captains who were returning to their gathering place. In particular, rooms 612 and 325 have had reports of lights turning off and on and a general uneasy feeling throughout them.
The Hollywood Roosevelt (1927) | Hollywood, California
This historic hotel is haunted by multitudes of ghosts. The most famous is Marilyn Monroe, said to haunt the full-length mirror that was once in her suite. Room 928 is believed to be haunted by the restless spirit of Montgomery Clift, the film and stage actor best known in the 1948 film Red River.
The Don CeSar (1928) | St. Pete Beach, Florida
Over the years, there have been a number of reported sightings and strange occurrences at this historic hotel. Although there are various stories, the most common presence felt through the building is that of Mr. Thomas Rowe, the man who brought the Don CeSar to life and is the focal point of the love story surrounding the hotel. It's rumored that people have reported seeing Mr. Rowe throughout the hotel, on the beach, even interacting with guests and staff. In the evening, it's been reported that—from time to time—you can look up at the fifth-floor windows and see the figure of a man watching from above.
Green Park Inn (1891) | Blowing Rock, North Carolina
This 1891 hotel keeps a Ghost Log in the lobby, for its guests to peruse and add to when they have their own encounters to share. Pay attention to notes regarding Room 318, where Laura Green died. Laura, the daughter of the inn's founding family, was jilted at the altar; reports are that she and her would-be groom continue to be seen on the third floor.
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for Groups Today.
Photo courtesy of Hotel Monteleone.
