Hotel Monteleone (1886)
Location — New Orleans, Louisiana
Located in the French Quarter, Hotel Monteleone is one of a few haunted hotels in New Orleans. Founded by Sicilian Antonio Monteleone in 1886, the hotel has remained under family control for over 130 years. For nearly its entire existence, guests have had run-ins with numerous ghosts. One couple has spoken about an elevator stopping on the wrong floor, leading the pair to take a walk down an increasingly cold hallway — only to see ghost children playing at the end of the passage.
One of the more lighthearted haunts includes a locked restaurant door that opens and closes on a near-nightly basis. Nearly 20 years ago, the International Society of Paranormal Research spent a few nights at Monteleone. The team connected with more than 10 spirits, including a toddler and several former employees. The toddler, Maurice Begere, has been spotted by a handful of guests — including his mother — near the room where he passed away.
The Sagamore (1883)
Location — Bolton Landing, New York
What would you do if you saw a ghost standing on the opposite side of a room you were in? Scream, cry, run? Now picture this — you are enjoying dinner in a fancy restaurant when all of a sudden you spot a woman floating down from the floor above you. For many guests of The Sagamore, that hypothetical became a real experience. According to more than a few guests, a silver-haired woman wearing a blue polka-dot dress has descended from the second floor to the main restaurant at the hotel.
In addition to the flying ghost, a little boy who died in the 1950’s is known to prank golfers at the hotel’s course. A former maid who was murdered by a female guest after having an affair with her husband is said to haunt the second floor. If that isn’t scary enough, a young woman named Lillian is said to be waiting near the hotel’s front office — waiting for her friends to pick her up for a boat trip that she never made it to.
Concord’s Colonial Inn (1716)
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Location — Concord, Massachusetts
Open for more than 300 years, it is not a surprise to hear that Concord’s Colonial Inn is crawling with spirits. During the Revolutionary War, the Inn was used as a hospital. Over the years, one room has become known for a ton of paranormal activity. Room 24 on the second floor was utilized as an operating room to tend to wounded soldiers. Interestingly enough, guests haven’t seen the spirits of many soldiers — but instead of the caretakers and doctors who took care of them. If you go down a floor, you will have the opportunity to stay in room 27. Room 27 was the location of the morgue during the war. History is lurking around every corner at the Colonial Inn.
The Stanley (1909)
Location — Estes Park, Colorado
Look familiar? Opened in 1909, The Stanley Hotel inspired the famed Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s The Shining — and was later used during filming of the miniseries. King was inspired to write his novel after staying at The Stanley. The property is known to be haunted by its original owner, Freelan Oscar Stanley, and his wife, Flora. Naturally, the hotel became a hotspot for paranormal investigators following the release of The Shining.
Roaming around room 217 is Elizabeth Wilson — a former housekeeper who was injured in an explosion while lighting lanterns in the room. Just like King’s film, the hotel is said to house a few kid ghosts. One child, known as Billy, is known for playing with the hair of guests. In another King connection (Pet Sematary), guests and workers have spotted the ghosts of a cat and dog in the hotel’s pet cemetery.
The Pfister Hotel (1893)
Location — Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Professional athletes are on record saying that they believe the Pfister Hotel is haunted. Numerous baseball players have refused to stay at the hotel following a personal experience. Former MVP Bryce Harper had this to say about his stay:
“When I woke up in the morning — I swear on everything — the clothes were on the floor and the table was on the opposite side of the room against the wall, Harper said. “I was so flustered. I honestly thought there might be someone in my room. I had no idea what the hell just happened, so I actually looked around, and then I checked to see if the door was still latched, and it was.”
Harper is far from the only player to be spooked at the Pfister. Others have claimed they’ve heard voices, felt touches, had TVs and other electronics turn on randomly, and even seen ghosts in their rooms.
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa (1901)
Location — Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii isn’t exactly the first place you think of when the topic of ghosts/haunted places comes up, but the state’s oldest hotel is full of scares. Back in 1905, a woman named Jane Stanford was murdered. Stanford, co-founder of the prestigious Stanford University, died of strychnine poisoning while vacationing in Hawaii. Now, Stanford is said to roam the hotel in search of her room — both guests and employees have spoken about her presence. While the Moana Surfrider remains one of Hawaii’s most desired hotels, staying there can be a chilling experience.
The Hollywood Roosevelt (1927)
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Location — Hollywood, California
A lot of people dream of coming to Hollywood. Becoming a Hollywood star has long been one of the most coveted gigs in America. The Hollywood Roosevelt has played host to some of the world’s biggest celebrities over the years, and some stars are said to have never left the premises. Marilyn Monroe — who lived at the hotel for two years — has been spotted countless times in her old suite.
Actor Montgomery Cliff is known to haunt room 928. Guests and workers have claimed to not only see Cliff, but also report the spirit will touch people’s shoulders. Carole Lombard, star of My Man Godfrey, allegedly floats around the hotel’s top floors. However, celebs aren’t the only ghosts that dwell at the hotel. In Monroe’s old suite, guests have also seen a little girl donning a blue dress. Also, two men in tuxedoes have been seen in the Blossom Room — the location of the first Oscars.
Omni Mount Washington Resort (1902)
Location — Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Built between 1900-1902, Mount Washington Hotel is a beautiful resort. Joseph Stickney, a New Hampshire native, was a successful coal broker and railroad tycoon. Stickney built the resort and included special additions for his wife, Carolyn Foster. Some of the major perks for Foster included a private dining room and an indoor swimming pool. In the years following Foster’s death in 1936, guests have seen her ghost pacing through the hotel’s halls.
According to many, the woman is dressed in an elegant dress. Foster may be doing more than just walking the halls, as well. Lights often turn on and off randomly, doors will be tapped on — only for nobody to be on the other side — and objects are known to disappear…only to be put back in their exact spot moments later.
La Fonda (1922)
Location — Santa Fe, New Mexico
Unlike most of the hotels on this list, New Mexico’s La Fonda is home to a few ghosts who met a very tragic end. In 1867, a man named John P. Slough was shot to death in the hotel lobby. In addition to being a Union general during the Civil War, Slough also acted as the Chief Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court prior to his death. More than 160 years after his execution, Slough remains a fixture in the lobby.
However, Slough isn’t the only tortured soul at La Fonda. After losing a card game, a salesman took very drastic measures — namely, the man jumped down the hotel well to his death. In something straight out of a horror film, people have claimed to see the man emerging from the hotel’s fountain.
Omni Shoreham Hotel (1930)
Location — Washington, DC
In today’s world, the Shoreham Hotel often hosts presidents and other world leaders. The hotel is truly luxurious and is undoubtedly a landmark of the nation’s capital. However, some dark and spooky things have occurred at the hotel. Henry L. Doherty, creator of the company that became Citgo Petroleum Corporation, moved into the hotel with his family and their maid. The maid, Doherty’s wife, and their daughter all died within Suite 870.
In the years following their unexplained deaths, guests and workers have claimed to hear voices within the room…but that’s not all. Doors open and close randomly, lights and televisions turn on and off, and furniture is sometimes moved. Oh, and this allegedly happens around 4:00 AM — the same time the maid is said to have passed away. No wonder the room is now called “The Ghost Suite.”
Lord Baltimore Hotel (1928)
Location — Baltimore, Maryland
Ghosts can be scary. For anyone who has watched a lot of horror shows/movies over the years (a recent example would be American Horror Stories), sometimes the most disturbing ghosts are ones that want to ‘play’. At the Lord Baltimore Hotel, guests and staff members have seen a little girl running in the building — mainly the 19th floor and in the ballroom. The girl is said to be dressed in a cream-colored dress and black shoes. While she runs, the girl is said to bounce a red ball. The girl is thought to have committed suicide on the 19th floor. According to Frank Carter — the hotel supervisor — he has seen the girl “screaming, crying and rocking herself back and forth.” At night, the elevators are said to make constant trips to the 19th floor. Scary.
The Congress Plaza Hotel (1893)
Location — Chicago, Illinois
The Congress Plaza Hotel was built in conjunction with the 1893 World’s Fair. But while the hotel was built to help accommodate visitors during the Fair, it soon became an alleged place of business for mobster Al Capone. While there are conflicting reports about whether Capone ever stayed at the hotel or not, guests have claimed to see him walking around long after his death. There is also “Peg Leg Johnny,” a man who was brutally murdered in the alley behind the hotel. Other ghostly guests include a young boy on the 12th floor.
According to staffers who have seen the boy, he and his sister were thrown to their deaths from the North Tower by their mother — who went on to jump to her death, as well. But when it comes to The Congress, room 441 takes the cake. In the room that security is called to more than any other room, guests have seen the silhouette of a woman and claim that objects in the room move around.
Jekyll Island Club Resort (1886)
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Location — Jekyll Island, Georgia
Jekyll Island Club Resort is home to a very friendly ghost. Rumor has it, a World War I-era bellman often appears to guests. The man is said to gently knock on doors and proclaim why he is there — to deliver pressed suits to bridegrooms. The bellman is said to offer these services mainly on the second floor. Then there is Samuel Spencer, president of the Southern Railroad Company.
In the early 1900s, Spencer stayed at the resort and routinely had the Wall Street Journal delivered to his room. Following his unexpected death in 1906, guests who stayed in Spencer’s former room claim that their morning paper would be moved/disturbed when they weren’t looking. Additionally, cups of coffee would be poured or sipped from when they left the room.
The Red Lion Inn (1773)
Location — Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Established in 1773, The Red Lion Inn is one of the oldest hotels in the United States. With nearly 250 years of history, the Red Lion Inn is unsurprisingly home to some haunts. The fourth floor of the inn is said to be the most active spot in the building. Guests have stated that many sleepless nights have been caused by the feeling of a person standing by their bed. The telltale signs of paranormal activity are all present — flickering lights, random knocks, cold spots — but two common sightings stand out. On both the fourth floor and in room 301, guests have seen a man wearing a top hat and a “ghostly young girl carrying flowers.”
Hawthorne Hotel (1925)
Location — Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts — a city that everyone knows about. The home of the famed Witch Trials of 1692, Salem is a historically creepy place. So, is anyone surprised that a hotel in Salem is haunted? Didn’t think so. While the entire hotel has a dark vibe, rooms 621 and 325 are often hotspots for activity. Guests have reported moving furniture, loud and unexplained noises, and even sightings of ghost-woman. An old stomping grounds for sea captains, many around Hawthorne believe that the old mariners make their way back to the hotel to mess with guests.
The Queen Mary (1936)
Location — Long Beach, California
The RMS Queen Mary was a British ocean liner that sailed the North Atlantic for 30 years. Now, the Queen Mary resides in Long Beach, California. Upon entering the ship, it is evident that it isn’t a normal place. The vessel has a distinct feel to it, one that may leave you terrified before you set foot back on land. The spirit of a person who was murdered onboard allegedly haunts a stateroom.
Stateroom B340 is home to the most paranormal activity on the ship. In addition to lights being turned on and off, sinks running randomly, and bathroom doors slamming, guests have reported that their bed sheets have been pulled off in the middle of the night. When they woke up, a dark figure was standing at the end of the bed…
Omni Parker House, Boston (1855)
Location — Boston, Massachusetts
The Omni Parker House has quite a history — both in terms of food and haunts. The Parker House claims that it is the birthplace of both the Boston Cream Pie and the Parker House Roll. Additionally, famous chef Emeril Lagasse landed his first big job at the hotel upon graduating from culinary school. On the ghost front, the Parker House is said to be haunted by Harvey Parker — the hotel’s founder. Parker has been seen throughout the hotel, but mainly on the 10th floor. According to guests, Parker has been seen checking on guests rooms, waking guests up from their sleep, and even has had brief conversations. On the third floor, guests have smelled cigars and whiskey — the trademark vices of a businessman who died in room 303.
Hotel Chelsea (1884)
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Location — New York City, New York
The Chelsea Hotel has long been considered one of New York’s most haunted spots. Since it opened in 1884, the hotel has been home to many historical figures including Mark Twain, O. Henry, Dylan Thomas, Stanley Kubrick, Uma Thurman, Jane Fonda, Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison. One of the building’s more well-known spirits is a woman named Mary. Mary is said to have lost her husband in the Titanic tragedy, and later committed suicide in the hotel. Guests have seen the woman in their mirrors — usually on the mid-level floors.
In 1978, Nancy Spungen — girlfriend of Sid Vicious — was found stabbed to death in the couple’s room at the Chelsea. People that have stayed in the room have reported feeling chills and hearing random noises throughout the night. Numerous visitors have reported hearing voices, footsteps, and screams. Others swear they have seen figures in their rooms and in the halls.
