Washington, D.C., October 7, 2024 ------- Historic Hotels of America®, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels across America, offers heritage and cultural travelers spectacular experiences and stories to take home with them, including the local folklore of where they spent the night. For some historic hotels, the past is not only present in their historic architecture and authentic character, but also—according to legends—in the ghostly spirits attracted to the historic hotel. The historic hotels highlighted in The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Haunted Hotels list are places where generations of staff and guests pass along the tales of spectral Revolutionary War soldiers, the smoky silhouettes of U.S. presidents, the melancholy spirits of tragic would-be brides, unexplained footsteps, as well as friendly phantom bellhops and engineers. For believers and skeptics alike, these hotels offer legends of guests who never want to leave and staff who never stop helping. Some historic hotels celebrate the spooky season with “A Room with a Boo” packages, pumpkin carving contests, ghost story readings, haunted history tours, and specialty cocktails. Thrill seekers and cultural travelers interested in a local legend need to look no further than the grand hotels, legendary luxury resorts, and iconic inns across the United States that have been inducted into Historic Hotels of America.
Sign up to receive Discover & Explore, with future news and specials from Historic Hotels of America.
View The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Haunted Hotels List with images here.
Concord’s Colonial Inn (1716) Concord, Massachusetts
Due to the hotel’s history and the role that it played during the American Revolutionary War, Concord’s Colonial Inn in Concord, Massachusetts, is rumored to have a few resident ghosts. During the war, part of the historic inn was privately owned by Dr. Timothy Minot, where he operated a small medical practice. When Continental Army soldiers were injured in the Battles of Lexington and Concord at the North Bridge, they were brought to his home for medical attention. Dr. Minot used what is now the Liberty Room as a hospital, and Room 24 as an operating room. Many guests who have spent the night in the haunted room have reported some strange activity. Thrillseekers travel great distances to stay in the historic hotel’s infamous Room 24, hoping to catch a glimpse of some supernatural activity. But the inn's resident spirits do not just confine themselves to Room 24; they like to wander the halls of the Concord’s Colonial Inn just as much as guests do. Both an older woman and a tall, slim gentleman with a top hat have been spotted in the sitting room–thought to be former residents Henry David Thoreau or his aunt entertaining company. A young girl wearing a bonnet has been seen walking by the inn’s front desk. Both guests and employees have spotted apparitions dressed in 18th-century attire sitting in an otherwise empty Liberty Room. Books and décor fall from shelves without worldly cause, and items go missing without explanation for weeks, only to turn up in odd places. Both guests and employees have heard voices coming from right behind them–only to see nothing when they turn around. Concord’s Colonial Inn was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2005 and dates to 1716.
Colonial Williamsburg Resorts: Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection, and Colonial Houses (1750) and Williamsburg Inn (1937) Williamsburg, Virginia
Colonial Williamsburg Resorts offer guests a wide range of historic lodgings, from the cozy Colonial Houses that date to 1750, and were carefully restored or preserved; to the refined Williamsburg Inn, a historic inn built in 1937 during the early years of Colonial Williamsburg, the largest outdoor educational living museum in the country. Ghost tours are immensely popular in Colonial Williamsburg, and spooky tales can be found throughout the historic area. According to one legend, the Brick House Tavern, one of the bookable Colonial Houses, may come with additional guests: guests have heard keys jangling in the night, seen a man dressed in Colonial Era clothing looking into the second-floor bedroom, and even smelled pipe tobacco, keeping guests up at night. Some believe that Thomas Jefferson’s spirit still haunts Market Square Tavern, another one of the bookable Colonial Houses. Jefferson stayed there while he was a student at the nearby College of William & Mary. During the month of October, Colonial Williamsburg embraces the Halloween spirit with a range of spooky and engaging events, like the Haunted Williamsburg tour, a chilling experience that takes guests through 18th-century Colonial ghost stories and modern-day eerie encounters. This one-hour, candlelit walking tour is the official ghost tour experience of Colonial Williamsburg, offering a unique chance to explore historic buildings while being entertained by costumed storytellers. The tour starts at the Market House and is designed for ages eight and older, although all children must be accompanied by an adult. The tour runs rain or shine, weather permitting. Visitors are advised to eat before heading out on the ghost tour, and the Williamsburg Inn offers a Spooky Sips Afternoon Tea during the season. This special event features a Halloween-inspired menu, with a delightful selection of handmade scones, tea sandwiches, pastries, and more, all accompanied by a signature tea created in collaboration with The Spice & Tea Exchange. Williamsburg Inn was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1994, and Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection, and Colonial Houses was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2000. Colonial Williamsburg was designated a National Historic Landmark District by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 1960.
Historic Inns of Annapolis (1772) Annapolis, Maryland
The Maryland Inn, one of the Historic Inns of Annapolis in Annapolis, Maryland, is reportedly haunted by a variety of specters since it was established in 1772. Supposed sightings by employees and guests include glimpses of shadowy figures dressed in either Revolutionary War-era uniforms or 19th-century clothing. Unexplained noises, scents, and missing objects–as some employees have experienced–are thought to have supernatural explanations, at least according to some believers. Local legend suggests that at least two of the ghosts that haunt the inn are Navy Captain Charles Campbell and his intended bride, known only today as The Bride. According to the tale, Captain Campbell and The Bride were separated while he was away at sea, during which time The Bride waited for him at the Maryland Inn. Campbell was killed by a horse-drawn carriage as he was returning from sea to be reunited with his love at the inn, and she took her own life minutes later, both dying right outside the historic inn. Both The Bride and Captain Campbell are rumored to haunt the Maryland Inn to this day. According to authors Michael Carter and Julia Dray in Haunted Annapolis: Ghosts of the Capital City, The Bride paces around the fourth floor and Captain Campbell has been seen in his naval uniform in the basement taproom. Guests encountering ghosts in residence is an uncommon occurrence but is not unheard of; some guests in the fourth-floor guestrooms have felt a cold presence. Historic Inns of Annapolis was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1996.
The Red Lion Inn (1773) Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Ghostly rumors swirl around The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, which has been visited by many paranormal investigators and mediums hoping to connect with guests from past centuries. Its idyllic setting, comforting atmosphere, and dedicated staff make The Red Lion Inn an exceptional example of New England hospitality, making the 250-year-old hotel a perfect place to spend eternity. The fourth floor is said to have the most paranormal activity, and Guestroom 301 is also known to be a haunted hotspot. Housekeepers, staff, and guests have claimed to see a ghostly young girl carrying flowers and a man in a top hat. Cold spots, unexplained knocks, and electrical disturbances have all been reported by guests. A few guests claim that they awoke to the feeling of someone standing over them at the foot of the bed, but staff familiar with the goings-on at the inn describe the spirits as friendly. So legendary are the ghost tales from The Red Lion Inn that writer and teacher Robert Oakes included a chapter on the historic hotel in his book, Ghosts of the Berkshires. The Red Lion Inn was inducted as a Charter Member of Historic Hotels in 1989 and dates to 1773.
The Sayre Mansion (1858) Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
The spirits at The Sayre Mansion in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, reportedly are mischievous in nature. Employees and guests report experiencing tugs at their clothing that cannot be explained, as well as televisions that mysteriously turn off. A maintenance technician was alone repairing a toilet when a small washer suddenly disappeared and ended up across the room underneath the bathmat; it seems as if a playful ghost wanted to play a game of hide and seek! The standing theory is that these playful spirits are the ghosts of children. The Sayre Mansion saw more than its fair share of tragedy in its early days. The Sayre Family moved into their Gothic Revival-style Victorian mansion in Bethlehem’s prestigious Fountain Hill borough in 1858. Of the family's 12 children, eight survived into adulthood, with six drawing their last breath at the family home. A paranormal investigation several years ago detected supernatural activity in several areas around the mansion. Throughout the year, including during the Halloween season, The Sayre Mansion hosts a Paranormal Experience. The overnight stay features a catered dinner in the mansion’s refurbished basement, and a paranormal presentation and investigation led by a team of ghost hunters. The Sayre Mansion also periodically offers hour-long evening Ghost Tours. The Sayre Mansion was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2013 and dates to 1858.
The Menger Hotel (1859) San Antonio, Texas
Three ghosts are rumored to haunt The Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas: a chambermaid, a U.S. president, and a Texas rancher. Established in 1859 and inducted as a Charter Member of Historic Hotels of America in 1989, The Menger Hotel embraces its hauntings. In fact, it was its kindness toward chambermaid Sallie White both in her life and in her death that supposedly keeps the tragic young woman's spirit tied to the hotel. When Sallie White was killed by her jealous husband, the hotel paid for her funeral. Today, the hotel still has records confirming the funeral costs. Guests and staff have reported seeing Sallie White in the halls of the historic section of the hotel, and her popularity led to the hotel putting the funeral's receipt on display in the hotel lobby. The other two specters are attributed to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and Captain Richard King, the founder of King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas, and a frequent guest at The Menger Hotel. King died in his suite on April 14, 1885, and his funeral service was held inside the lobby. King is said to still be wandering the halls and is often seen entering his suite, where the original furniture, including his bed, is still preserved. Roosevelt's connection to the hotel dates to 1898, when he recruited his Rough Riders in the Menger Bar for the Spanish-American War. According to rumors and reported sightings, Teddy Roosevelt is often seen in the bar alone or with his men, having a drink or ordering one. This October, guests can visit the bar to see a ghost or order a drink: The Menger Hotel has two seasonal specials, The Black Widow and JameO’ Lantern.
La Posada de Santa Fe (1882) Santa Fe, New Mexico
La Posada de Santa Fe is not only known for its historical significance, but also its haunted history. The most famous ghost associated with the hotel is the original owner's wife, Julia Staab. Julia endured numerous hardships, including the loss of a child and severe depression, and is said to still linger in her former residence. Guests and staff have reported seeing her apparition in the Staab House, particularly in Room 101, where she is said to appear near the fireplace. Her presence is often described as a melancholic but benign spirit, adding a layer of mystery and allure to the hotel. She is active with guests who are disrespectful to the team and resort. In one case, when moving furniture in her suite, Julia’s Suite (Room 101), a team member received strange, long scratches on his back as he was carrying out the furniture. The Rose Room on the ground floor of the main house was special to Julia, as this was where she hosted her tea parties. A silhouette has been seen by staff near the stained-glass window in the wee hours of the morning. The hauntings have become part of La Posada's charm, attracting visitors interested in its unique accommodations and supernatural stories. The hotel embraces its haunted reputation, offering history tours that include tales of Julia Staab and other ghostly encounters. Julia – A Spirited Restaurant and Bar pays homage to the hotel’s haunted history and its famous ghost. La Posada de Santa Fe stands today as a testament to Santa Fe's rich cultural tapestry, blending historical elegance with an intriguing paranormal legacy. La Posada de Santa Fe was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2019 and dates to 1882.
1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa (1886) Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Among several restless spirits believed to haunt the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is Theodora. In the 1930s, the hotel was a hospital for the treatment of cancer patients. Unfortunately, a con man, "Dr." Norman Baker, claimed to be a licensed physician and charged unsuspecting families their life savings to "treat" patients in his hospital. Tour guides, hotel staff, and guests alike allege that Theodora, one of Baker's patients who passed away on-site, makes her presence known by folding guests’ clothes, organizing their closet, or arranging personal items that had been scattered around the room. In recent years, a couple purposefully scattered their loose change around the room on tabletops and nightstands shortly before leaving for dinner downstairs in the Crystal Dining Room. Upon their return, they were overjoyed to find their coins neatly reorganized in stacks of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies atop their dresser. Guests have also reported seeing Norman Baker in the hotel lobby. He is described as a man in a purple shirt and white linen suit matching photographs of the infamous entrepreneur. Some of the most haunting stories about the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa are those recounted during the hotel’s ghost tour by the tour guides. Year-round, the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa offers a cocktail named Theodora's Surprise in honor of the eternal guest. 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2000.
Hotel Monteleone (1886) New Orleans, Louisiana
Hotel Monteleone has developed a reputation over the years as being one of the most haunted places in New Orleans, a city widely appreciated for its gothic charm. The most famous of these tales involves that of a young boy named Maurice who stayed at the hotel with his family during the 1890s. The child’s parents were avid theatergoers and regularly visited the French Opera House located along Bourbon Street. But since Maurice was just a toddler at the time, his parents often left him in the care of a nurse whenever they went out. On one such night, the Begeres decided to stay at the Hotel Monteleone before departing for the French Opera House. While under the care of his nanny, the young child developed a fever and passed away. Grief-stricken, the couple returned to the hotel in the hopes of spotting the spirit of their beloved Maurice. According to legend, the parents did not have to wait long to see the apparition of Maurice. The boy supposedly appeared before his mother, proclaiming: “Mommy, don’t cry. I’m fine.” The experience left his mother in tears, happy to know that her boy was at peace. Many guests have also reported running into his spirit on the 14th floor. Along with Maurice, a housekeeper, known as “Mrs. Clean” reportedly haunts the hotel. Paranormal researchers once asked why she stayed, and the housekeeper, whose mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother also worked at the hotel, said she was picking up after housekeeping to ensure exacting standards. Hotel Monteleone was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1999 and dates to 1886.
Casa Monica Resort & Spa (1888) St. Augustine, Florida
Built as a labor of love and as an ode to Moorish-style architecture by Franklin W. Smith, this majestic St. Augustine, Florida, resort has been a landmark of the historic city since 1888. Unfortunately for Smith, financial troubles forced him to sell the hotel to his business rival after only a year in operation—a dream ending in despair. In 1911, Smith died in anonymity and poverty. Did his spirit return to haunt his beloved Casa Monica Resort & Spa? Some guests and staff believe it did. From glowing lights on the third floor and mischievous pillow fights in rooms staged for photography, the hotel decided to bring in a paranormal expert. A local tour guide accompanied a medium to witness the haunting, and on the top floor of the Kessler Suite, the medium reported seeing a man with big bushy sideburns pacing back and forth. She encouraged the tour guide to approach the man, who was clearly in despair. The guide only remembers being completely frozen, a feeling unlike any other she had felt in ten years of tours, and the medium saw a confusing vision of broken tiles crashing outside the window. Later, while researching the history of the hotel, they discovered that not only did the medium describe the physical characteristics of Franklin W. Smith, but they surmised that he would have been heartbroken to know that the building's original terra cotta roof had been replaced. Perhaps after a life full of hardships, Franklin W. Smith is trapped inside the source of his greatest heartbreak. Guests can discover more haunted history by joining that same tour guide for complimentary hotel tours, which they can plan—along with other St. Augustine ghost tours—with the help of the hotel concierge. Casa Monica Resort & Spa was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2001.
Hotel del Coronado (1888) San Diego, California
Hotel del Coronado, according to medium James Van Praagh, “besides being gorgeous and completely unique, [is] extremely haunted.” Van Praagh, who held a 2018 séance at Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California, was especially impressed by the paranormal activity he perceived in the lobby of the grand resort hotel. Over a century of unexplained phenomena have occurred throughout the resort, where there have been sightings of a small Victorian-era girl, a man in period clothing, and a woman in white. Pots and pans rattle in the kitchen, and objects move in the historic gift shop. The hotel’s most famous ghost is the tragic Kate Morgan, who died at the hotel in 1892, and is rumored to have never left. Her room (Room 3327) is the most requested guestroom at the resort. Another room, Room 3519, is also the subject of ghostly reports. In 1992, parapsychologist and investigator of paranormal phenomena, Christopher Chacon, assessed phenomena reported at the resort. This 12-month investigation yielded nearly 10,000 hours of content and documented over 400 anomalous phenomena in Room 3519. Hotel del Coronado was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2007 and dates to 1888.
Jekyll Island Club Resort (1887) Jekyll Island, Georgia
Jekyll Island Club Resort on Jekyll Island, Georgia, has seen many families come and go since it opened in 1887. Since that time, there have been seven different ghosts that reportedly haunt this resort. One story is about the ghost of a former president, who walks along the veranda at sunset. A woman in a blue party dress has also been seen dreamily dancing around and looking for her lost love, a handsome hotel waiter with whom she had spent a flirty evening dancing. She passed not long after, but perhaps never left the resort. Another ghost is a bellman dressed in a period uniform from the 1920s, with a cap and suit, who is said to regularly deliver freshly pressed suits to bridegrooms. More than one soon-to-be-married groom, who had not ordered this service, has asked the hotel staff about the ghostly bellman. Another such encounter involves industrialist J.P. Morgan, who stayed at the resort's Sans Souci Cottage. Mr. Morgan was a lover of cigars. As the story goes, one could tell where he was by following the trail of smoke. To avoid criticism of his favorite hobby, he would rise early every morning, by 5 a.m., to enjoy a cigar on the porch. While most contemporary guests are not rising at such an early hour for a cigar, those who have stayed in the historic Morgan apartment swear that they have awakened to the faint smell of cigar smoke wafting about when there is absolutely no one else awake. Jekyll Island Club Resort was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1994.
Airlie (1899) Warrenton, Virginia
In the heart of Airlie, a historic resort in rural Warrenton, Virginia, in a dimly lit meeting room, there hangs an antique portrait of a grand lady that has sent shivers down the spines of those who dared to venture close. Painted by the renowned 18th-century English artist Sir Joshua Reynolds, the depiction shows a woman posing with such pride and elegance that her likeness has been said to captivate the soul of anyone who gazes upon it. At Airlie, some guests and staff over the years came to suspect that the Lady's portrait held a sinister secret. Whether you crossed the boardroom to fetch a forgotten document or sat at the grand dining table for a meeting, the Lady's gaze remained locked upon you, unwavering and unnerving. On stormy nights, when the winds howled and the rain beat against the windowpanes, some have claimed that her lips curled into a sly smile as thunder rolls and lightning illuminates the room. Despite the spine-chilling tales that surround it, the portrait remains a cherished heirloom, an integral part of Airlie’s history. To some, it is a source of fascination, drawing visitors from far and wide, eager to experience the eerie sensation of the Lady's gaze. To others, it is a dreaded presence, a reminder that even the most beautiful things could conceal the darkest of secrets. And so, the portrait of the Lady, with her haunting eyes that seem to pierce the veil between the living and the dead, continues to watch over the boardroom of Airlie’s main house, a silent sentinel of a bygone era. Airlie was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2015 and dates to 1899.
Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel (1915) Berkeley, California
Since 1915, Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel in Berkeley, California, has built a cherished reputation for its luxury accommodations, beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay, pampering spa services–and for being one of the most haunted places in California. From reports of phantom elevators to eerie voices, the resort has been the source of countless paranormal tales for generations. Of all the stories, the spookiest involves the fourth floor. Specifically, one room seems to attract the most activity. It is common for both guests and staff to experience extreme temperature changes in rooms, or to walk into a room that has cold spots. Other guests have encountered an elevator that will go to floors that they did not request, or that will simply not start to move until an unseen force allows it to move. Additional stories abound throughout the Claremont Club & Spa about the spirits of children. One such tale pertains to a six-year-old girl. While no one knows exactly why her ghost haunts the hotel, all who encounter her admit that she is peaceful, reporting that she has visited them at night and gently reached out as if to say “hello.” The resort hosts Haunted History Tours at the Claremont every year during the spooky season. Tickets sell out fast, so call to check availability. Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2016.
La Fonda (1922) Santa Fe, New Mexico
After dark, Santa Fe, New Mexico, promises to enchant visitors with its paranormal legends and ghost stories from its 400-year history, and La Fonda offers guests a first-hand look at the myths surrounding Santa Fe Plaza. This October, the historic hotel offers a ghost tour and a special room package. On the tour, guests are invited to listen for mysterious harp music in the historic plaza, and to watch for the spectral echoes of tragic brides, mournful mothers, and headless horsemen. Of course, the hotel itself is no stranger to ghosts: several apparitions have reportedly been seen at the hotel, including one thought to be John P. Slough, Chief Justice of the New Mexico Territorial Supreme Court. Slough frequented La Fonda, then the Exchange Hotel, and was shot and killed in 1867 in the hotel lobby. Another sighting at the hotel is attributed to the spirit of a distraught salesman, who jumped into the hotel well after losing a card game; guests have claimed to see his form emerging from the fountain. The La Fonda Ghost Tour Package includes accommodation and breakfast for two at the hotel, two tickets for the tour, plus a copy of Haunted Santa Fe by Ray John De Aragon. La Fonda was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1991 and dates to 1922.
The George Washington Hotel (1922) Washington, Pennsylvania
Since opening in 1922 in downtown Washington, Pennsylvania, The George Washington Hotel has developed a reputation for being haunted. In fact, many contemporary ghost hunters, including the television show Ghost Hunters, have conducted regular investigations of the building. Their visits have often turned up a wealth of evidence, with much of the activity supposedly focused on the fourth floor, and the rest of the activity spread out between the eighth and tenth floors. Staff and guests have recounted dozens of paranormal encounters. For instance, visitors have spotted the grand piano in the hotel lobby playing by itself, with disembodied voices resonating in the background. Some have even stated that the lobby’s paintings of George and Martha Washington possess a glaring stare, their eyes following them intently throughout the lobby. Spectral images can sometimes be seen drinking in Bradford’s Lounge, the hotel’s speakeasy. Staff have reported hearing children’s laughter on the fourth floor, housekeepers have told stories of watching ghostly figures glide across various floors, and maintenance workers have observed shadows near the boilers. Perhaps these spirits are trying to help at this historic hotel. Guests can rest assured, as the spirits that allegedly roam the halls are friendly. Happy to share these spooky legends, the hotel offers ghost tours and proudly displays a photograph taken at the hotel of orbs. The George Washington Hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2023.
The Emily Morgan San Antonio - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (1924) San Antonio, Texas
The Emily Morgan San Antonio - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, which is located across from The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is known to be one of the most haunted hotels in all of Texas. In 2015, it was even ranked by USA Today as the third most haunted hotel in the world. According to various reports, given by the hotel’s own management team, the most haunted floors are the seventh, ninth, and fourteenth floors. It was these floors that at one time functioned as the psychiatric ward, surgery level, and waiting area and morgue, respectively. At The Emily Morgan San Antonio, almost all of the paranormal reports involve ghosts and spirits from when the building was a hospital. Guests have reported strange things occurring on these floors. On the fourteenth level of the hotel, hauntings have been associated with a smell reminiscent of a hospital. It is uncommon, but not unheard of, for guests to report having a vision of a hospital scene–rather than their guestroom–when they open their guestroom door from the hallway. On the twelfth floor, guests claim to have witnessed their bathroom doors opening and closing on their own. Others have seen lights flashing in their rooms. And yet others have reported seeing actual apparitions of nurses in the hallways as they push rickety gurneys down the corridor. Then the scene disappears into thin air, as if the ghostly image was never there in the first place. The Emily Morgan San Antonio - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2015 and dates to 1924.
Hawthorne Hotel (1925) Salem, Massachusetts
The Colonial seaport town of Salem, Massachusetts, is notorious for the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, and the historic Hawthorne Hotel is prone to hauntings and spirits of its own. Often ranked as one of the most haunted hotels in the United States, guests have reported furniture moving, sightings of a ghostly woman, and unexplained noises. Named after well-known resident and author Nathaniel Hawthorne, many of the hotel’s hauntings are attributed to the sea captains who were returning to their favorite gathering place. According to lore, Room 325 is the most haunted room in the hotel, where guests have claimed to feel cold spots and smell fresh-cut flowers. Guests staying in Room 612, as well as on the sixth floor in general, have reported witnessing a ghostly woman roaming the halls. Rooms 621 and 325 have also had reports of lights and faucets turning off and on. In 1990, the hotel held a séance in the Grand Ballroom to try and contact Harry Houdini. In 2007, Syfy's popular paranormal show, Ghost Hunters, visited the hotel to investigate. Established in 1925 and inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1991, Hawthorne Hotel was ranked #9 by public voting in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2023 Best Haunted Hotel contest.
The Hotel Viking (1926) Newport, Rhode Island
The Hotel Viking was built by the Newport, Rhode Island, community entirely through community investment at the height of the Roaring Twenties. This civic undertaking helped keep Newport and its people afloat through wars and recessions by offering the same thing in 1926 as it does today: a genuine sense of belonging for visitors and residents alike. It is this sense of belonging, perhaps, that keeps guests checked in long after they check out. The Hotel Viking has had many guests and staff members report paranormal experiences. One kind of sighting that has been reported many times is of a little boy cleaning the floors of the historic wing of the hotel. This has also been confirmed by most of the housekeeping staff, who very much appreciate the help! The Hotel Viking is also believed by some to be haunted by a ghostly group of partygoers. Frequently, the staff hears the noise of a grand party at odd hours of the night when no events are planned. This noise was first heard above one of the ballrooms in a space used for storage. But after renovations, the location of the spooky soiree seemed to have changed to the lower levels of the hotel. The Hotel Viking was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1997 and dates to 1926.
Hassayampa Inn (1927) Prescott, Arizona
Hassayampa Inn in Prescott, Arizona, has a reputation as an active haunt, with a variety of unexplained experiences reported since it opened in 1927. Most of its paranormal tales involve a ghost that many have called Faith. Legend has it that soon after the hotel opened, a bride (Faith) and her newlywed husband checked into the Hassayampa Inn on their honeymoon. According to the story, Faith’s husband went out to buy cigarettes and never returned. Faith waited for three days and then took her own life in despair. Since then, countless hotel guests and employees have reported encounters with a young woman throughout the hotel, crying at the end of a bed, dressed in a pink gown in the hallway, and appearing and disappearing from guestrooms. One housekeeper saw a woman by a bed, holding flowers and crying. When asked if she needed help, the woman vanished. Kitchen staff have reported feeling Faith’s presence in the kitchen, right before the burners on the stove suddenly went out. Others have reported strange cold spots in Faith’s honeymoon suite. Frequently, the smell of flowers emanates from the empty room. Others have experienced lights or the television turning on in the middle of the night, or waking to find their toothbrushes missing. However, Faith never threatens in these encounters; the heartbroken ghost simply appears unable to move on from her anguish. One recent guest, a young man, said he sensed someone in his room when he awoke. He drifted off to sleep and awoke to someone hugging him. Then he asked if there had been incidents of ghostly encounters at the hotel. “Oh, that’s just Faith,” the front desk clerk said. Hassayampa Inn was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1996.
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa (1927) Sonoma, California
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma, California, welcomes guests past and present, believing that their ghosts haunt where they were happiest. The inn’s tenured employees will testify that when the evenings are still and the fog rolls in from the San Francisco Bay, a beautiful woman has been seen strolling the hallways of the inn in period clothing: Victoria. One of the early European settlers of Sonoma Valley, Victoria is said to have celebrated her wedding and many anniversaries at the resort. For decades, guests have even commented on the otherworldly presence at the inn. A handsome room in the original inn building is reportedly haunted by the ghost of an elderly man. Guests have for years noted a feeling of not being alone in their room at night. They have described hearing doors slam, catching sight of something out of the corner of their eye, or seeing something run down the hall and around the corner. The hauntingly famous Round Room is perhaps one of the most haunted hotel rooms in California. Since then, guests have reported paranormal activity in the room, including flickering lights, unexplained noises, shadowy figures, running water and more. The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2014.
Hotel Saranac, Curio Collection by Hilton (1927) Saranac Lake, New York
Goblins, ghouls, spirits, and specters all promise to be wandering the streets of Saranac Lake, New York, on Halloween night. Of course, most will be children dressed in costumes for the occasion. But deep in the heart of the Hotel Saranac, there may be a sighting of a distinguished man dressed in a black suit with tails and a top hat. Believers think that the man is Howard Littell; and, no, he is not in costume. Saranac Lake’s high school once stood on the grounds where the Hotel Saranac currently is located, and the dearly departed Littell was the superintendent of schools for nearly 35 years. Littell was known for roaming the high school’s hallways and keeping the students in line. The high school relocated in 1926, and Hotel Saranac was built on the site the following year. Littell moved on with the new high school, but–apparently–his spirit did not; people have claimed to have seen him wandering the halls of the hotel, perhaps looking to keep a stray student in line. Every floor has a story, from the spectral sightings near the ballroom on the second floor of Frances Peroni, who taught there when the hotel was owned by Paul Smith’s College, to the scratching of a ghost cat on the third floor. Stories abound about guests hearing singing on the sixth floor. Of course, some report that Howard Littell is still roaming the basement. Established in 1927 and inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1998, Hotel Saranac was ranked #3 by public voting in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice 2023 Best Haunted Hotel contest.
Lord Baltimore Hotel (1928) Baltimore, Maryland
Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland, has had numerous reports of paranormal activity. Built in 1928, the hotel was one of the tallest buildings in the city during the Great Depression, and, tragically, there were at least 20 documented reports of jumpers from the 19th floor rooftop deck. The most infamous tale tells of a couple who attended an event at the hotel with their daughter and fell together off the building to their deaths. Their daughter, called “Molly,” is the specter in this story, and some believe that they have seen her in the halls on the 19th floor, wearing a white dress and playing with a red ball. There has also been a lot of paranormal speculation around a handprint of a child on a wall in one of the hotel’s penthouses that will not go away. The hotel staff embraces its haunted reputation and participates in the annual World’s Largest Ghost Hunt, in celebration of National Ghost Hunting Day, held every year on the last Saturday in September. Ghost tours are offered throughout the year by Lord Baltimore Hotel’s partner, Poe’s Magic Theatre. Tours start in the lobby of the hotel and include the haunted history of the hotel. Dates and times vary, so visitors should call to confirm. Lord Baltimore Hotel, built in 1928 and a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2005, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Wort Hotel (1941) Jackson, Wyoming
The Wort Hotel in Jackson, Wyoming, is home to a friendly, mischievous ghost named Bob, a former engineer at the hotel who likes to play tricks on his successors. Robert “Bob” Tomingas took a job as The Wort Hotel’s maintenance engineer in 1950. Bob was a mechanical genius and, over the course of his career, he rebuilt the hotel’s heating, water, and electrical systems. During the winter nights in the 1950s when the temperature would drop below zero and the hotel’s overworked boiler would begin to act up, Bob would arrive in the middle of the night to nurse the system. Hotel workers arriving in the morning would find him asleep on a blanket next to the boiler. In life, Bob was known for being able to fix the impossible. He spent his time off repairing and maintaining equipment around the valley of Jackson Hole. In his later years at The Wort Hotel, Bob was often consulted on the whereabouts of wiring, pipes, valves, and all the secrets of the historic hotel. Current engineers credit Bob for helping them solve the mysteries of burst pipes and broken wiring. On occasion, Bob also enjoys rearranging the maintenance shop, to the delight of the hotel’s engineers. While Bob never appears to hotel guests, the staff at The Wort Hotel consider him to be a valuable team member. The Wort Hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2002 and dates to 1941.
Tubac Golf Resort and Spa (1789) Tubac, Arizona
The history of Tubac Golf Resort and Spa in Tubac, Arizona, can be traced back over four centuries to a young man named Don Toribio de Otero. Generations of Oteros lived on the ranch for four centuries before they were forced to sell, and the core of the estate was reinvented as a luxury resort in the 1950s. Harkening back to the days of the Otero family, occupants and guests have claimed to hear, see, and experience unexplainable activity. In recent decades, resort guests have reported at least four unique ghosts including a boy, a lady in gray, a very active gentleman, and a cowboy. Some of these spirits are believed to date back to the early days of the resort when it was the Otero Ranch. The paranormal activity has been investigated by the Phoenix Arizona Paranormal Society and featured in the society’s DVD, The Haunted Series (Arizona). Guests can learn more about the Tubac hauntings in Haunted Otero: Ghost Tales From the American Southwest by Diana Hinojosa-DeLugan, who has given ghost tours of the Tubac Golf Resort and Spa. Tubac Golf Resort and Spa was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2008 and dates to 1789.
“More than mere ghost stories, these enduring legends and folklore contribute to the unique qualities of the inns, resorts, and hotels of Historic Hotels of America,” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “The spirits reported to reside within these Historic Hotels of America have been described as sad to happy, shy to friendly, slowly meandering to in a rush, in casual coveralls to elegant finery, and range from young to old. The hotels on this list embrace their ghost stories as a treasured feature of their hotel. Many offer seasonal activities and spooky events for all ages throughout October.”
About Historic Hotels of America®
Historic Hotels of America® is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels across the United States of America. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was chartered by U.S. Congress in 1949 and is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is leading the movement to save the places where our history happened. To be nominated and selected for membership in this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historical significance. Of the more than 300 historic hotels inducted into Historic Hotels of America from 44 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, all historic hotels faithfully preserve their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity. For more information, please visit HistoricHotels.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Katherine Orr
Historic Hotels of America │ Historic Hotels Worldwide
Director, Marketing Strategy and Communications
Tel: +1-202-772-8337
korr@historichotels.org
###
