Check in…if You Dare! Nine of the Most Haunted Hotels in America CheapOair Staff October 19, 2021 Destinations, Interests When most people hear the word “haunted,” they think of old or abandoned houses with creaky staircases and eerie sounds coming from locked rooms. But what about hotels? For anyone who’s interested in the paranormal or ghosts, staying at a haunted hotel can make for an unforgettable trip. And there are plenty of hotels all over the United States with terrifying tales of unexplained incidents and supposed ghosts. You just have to know which haunted hotel to book a stay in for your amateur ghost hunting plans. Here are 9 of the most famous haunted hotels in America and some of the scary stories behind them! RMS Queen Mary — Long Beach, California The Queen Mary is one of the most famous haunted hotels in America. There is a lot of creepy stories in the long history behind this former ocean liner turned hotel, but its most interesting (and scary) ones involve the “White Lady” — the specter of a woman that’s been seen wandering around the pool area dressed in gray clothes with her hair tied back. She appears very quickly, and then just as mysteriously, she vanishes within seconds. Many guests have claimed they saw her, while others say that their children only point out where she went afterward when asked if anyone was there or what they were looking at! Some believe it’s the ghost of a passenger who died aboard the ship from pneumonia many years ago. Others think it’s the ghost of a former stewardess who died in an accident. 17Hundred90 Inn & Restaurant — Savannah, Georgia You can’t have a list of haunted hotels without having one from Savannah on it. The southeastern riverfront town is considered by many as the most haunted city in America. So it makes sense that one of the most haunted places in Savannah would also be the oldest inn, the 17Hundred90 Inn & Restaurant. Strange events frequently take place at the inn and especially in room 204, where a guest named Anna Powers is rumored to have thrown herself to her death over a love interest in the 1800s. Hotel Chelsea — New York City Although its current management no longer accepts long-term guests, New York’s Hotel Chelsea (now the Chelsea Savoy Hotel) once served as a periodic home for famous artists and musicians and is thus a historic and cultural landmark. It’s also one of the most haunted hotels in America. Many of its sightings are attributed to former resident Sid Vicious, bassist for The Sex Pistols, who died at the hotel after he fatally stabbed his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. His room was #105, which has since become known as “Sid’s Room.” Guests have reported seeing him walking around there while dressed in leather pants and no shirt (his style when performing). Sid isn’t alone, though — other guests claim they’ve seen a little girl running through hallways wearing a white dress. Other reports include dolls falling off shelves, strange sounds in the bathroom when rooms are empty, and a woman wearing all white appearing at night outside certain guest doors. Le Pavilion Hotel —New Orleans The Le Pavilion Hotel is perfect for any ghost hunter looking for last-minute hotel deals. Not only is the luxury hotel in New Orleans, one of the most haunted cities in the world, but it’s also one of the most haunted places in the city. So much so, that the hotel staff reached out to paranormal investigators to identify the supernatural activity, who reportedly detected up to 100 different spiritual entities in one night. Guests can even request to stay in rooms where they’re most likely to encounter ghosts. The most-seen spirits include a couple in 1920s evening attire that have been spotted in the first-floor lobby and in rooms on the second floor, as well as one of a teenage girl that seems to be from the mid-nineteenth century on the 9th floor. The Hollywood Roosevelt — Los Angeles Hollywood Hotel Roosevelt by Alexander Migl licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 The ghosts that are said to haunt this hotel named after President Theodore Roosevelt include a young starlet that was murdered in her room in the 1920s and many late Hollywood celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, and Jayne Mansfield. There are several claims of glasses being thrown out windows of the Hollywood Roosevelt by unseen hands, furniture moving around while no one is near them, and strange sounds coming from empty rooms even when they’re locked. Room 2928 is said to be haunted by actress Carole Lombard, who reportedly appears in the room dressed in a white gown. Crescent Hotel — Eureka Springs, Arkansas Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, Arkansas by TXphotolady licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 The Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is renowned for its chilling reputation as one of America’s most haunted hotels. Originally built in 1886 as a luxury resort, it took on a darker mystique when it became a cancer hospital in the 1930s. Legend has it that restless spirits still roam its historic halls. The most famous ghost is that of Dr. Norman Baker, the hospital’s charlatan doctor, who allegedly conducts ghostly surgeries. Guests have reported eerie apparitions, disembodied voices, and inexplicable cold spots. The Crescent embraces its haunted status with nightly ghost tours, making it a must-visit for paranormal enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike. Hawthorne Hotel — Salem, Massachusetts Hawthorne Hotel – Salem MA by Mr.TinMD licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 Salem, Massachusetts is another one of the spookiest cities in the world. The site of the infamous Salem witch trials, it’s the embodiment of iconic New England creepiness. The town has embraced its spooky history and uses it to attract tourists. Case in point: the Hawthorne Hotel, which was built in the 1920s and has been featured as a filming location for many different TV shows, including Bewitched and Ghost Hunters. Some believe that the building sits on or is close to where the trials for the Salem witches took place and so their ghosts haunt it. Emily Morgan Hotel — San Antonio, Texas The historic Emily Morgan Hotel has had many reports of paranormal activity, including sightings of a ghostly man wearing boots and spurs who often appears at night by the elevators or through glass doors on certain floors — it’s thought to be “the captain” who worked for Emily Morgan during her days as an infamous madam. The sounds of footsteps, women crying, and loud thumps have also been heard throughout this hotel. And guests have reported seeing ghostly orbs outside their windows, which some claim mean spirits are wandering around outside. You May Also Enjoy: What to See in Paris If You Love the Macabre & Mysterious The Stanley Hotel — Estes Park, Colorado The Stanley Hotel is easily one of the most well-known haunted hotels in the world. It was the inspiration behind Stephen King’s The Shining, although it was more the resort’s massive and regal design in such a remote setting that really piqued the writer’s interest than any supposed ghost that can be found there. Still, the hotel openly discusses its paranormal side and even offers ghost tours almost every night. The story goes that children can often be heard playing on the fourth floor, even when there are no children present. Do you know of any other haunted hotel in the U.S. and the spooky story about its ghosts? Tell us about it in the comments!
