At the old and stately Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island, there are rumors about more than one ghost haunting the place. When building the hotel, they uncovered so many human bones they lost count. Some say that they are still under the luxurious hotel.
In the pristine waters of Lake Huron, between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island serves as a tranquil retreat celebrated for its picturesque beauty, historic allure, and a notable reputation for the supernatural. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA
With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it.
A Brief History of Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.
The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is.
Mackinac Island: Cars were banned at the end of the nineteenth century due to health and safety concerns for the island’s residents and horses, as local carriage drivers said it scared their horses. This, together with the old historic houses and lush nature makes you feel like stepping back in time and welcoming old ghosts to linger.
The Grand Hotel: A Luxurious Haunt
The Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island has become an iconic symbol of the island, is as famous for its opulence as it is for its ghostly residents. Built in 1887, this sprawling hotel has hosted numerous notable guests—and a few uninvited spectral ones.
Read More: check out all ghost stories from haunted hotels
The Grand Hotel is located on Grand Avenue is one of the most recognizable buildings with its 660-foot porch said to be the longest in the world. It was built in 1887 for the rich rail and steamship passengers.
Movies have been filmed here and presidents and celebrities have stayed here. And according to some, so does the dead.
Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island
The Mass Graves Found on Mackinac Island
In 2011 developers of a new hotel discovered a mass grave downtown on Mackinac Island. They had a plan of building a three storey hotel at the site. Before the hotel construction started, there was a building known as the MacNally Cottage at the location. Some think that the cottage was built on a Catholic cemetery of the St. Anne’s Catholic Church who closed the cemetery in December in 1851. where there were many native american members as well. The police said that there were some bones belonging to animals, but there were also human bones. The human bones found were likely from the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of the Chippewa natives. Many hundred bones were unearthed.
The tribal members came to reclaim and rebury the remains to give them a traditional ceremony, but the building of the hotel went on ahead as well. The next year a few bones were discovered on the site of a remodel for a Main Street store. So it’s safe to say that most of the construction work on Mackinac Island will dig up some bones. Which begs the question, what did they find when they first built the Grand Hotel in 1887?
According to the lore, they found so many bones and bodies during construction that they were unable to keep track of them. Who were the people buried here? Were they Anishinaabe Chiefs, warring tribes, or the fallen European soldiers from the wars fought on the land? We don’t really know, because they decided to build on top of them without removing the skeletons in the ground or doing further investigations. Some say that this has angered the spirits, and awakened them to haunt the Grand Hotel.
The Ghosts of the Grand Hotel
So what are the ghost stories inside of the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island? According to the staff, they keep hearing and seeing things they can’t explain, when they clock in for the morning shift, they find furniture has mysteriously moved. There are many different entities that are said to be the ones haunting the Grand Hotel. Here are some of the legends:
The Lady in Black
One of the most well-known spirits is the “Lady in Black,” believed to be a former guest who never checked out. Guests and staff have reported seeing the spirit of a young woman wearing Victorian era clothing, wandering the halls, particularly near the hotel’s grand staircase or walking a large dog on the porch after dark. She has even been said to get into bed with the other living guests.
The Haunting Black Mass
Another peculiar thing that is said to be haunting the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is a sort of evil entity, appearing for staff and guests as a black mass with glowing red eyes.
A maintenance man was once working at the theater stage at the hotel. According to him, there was suddenly a black mass rushing after him, knocking him off his feet and out. Two days later he woke up from the fall and decided to never go back to the hotel.
Haunted Hotel: There is said to be more than one ghost haunting the hotel. //Source: Photo of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island during the late 1920’s.
Other Ghost Haunting the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island
Another frequent sighting is that of an elderly man in a top hat lingering around the hotel’s bar and piano room, smoking a cigar. Those who see him claim that he disappears when approached.
Another is the ghost of Little Rebecca, who passed away on the grounds and haunts the fourth floor, being spotted floating or walking through the halls and disappearing to nowhere.
In the middle of the night in the Lower East Side hotel in New York City, the elevators of The Bowery Hotel are said to act in a paranormal manner. Every night at one in the morning, they go up and down of their own will, carrying their ghostly guests.
On Manhattan’s Lower East Side, The Bowery Hotel stands as a beacon of luxury and historical intrigue on 335 Bowery in the East Village. Although the hotel is not really that old, it has already managed to have conjured up a haunted rumour.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA
This iconic hotel, steeped in the charm of New York’s Gilded Age inspired decor, offers more than just opulent decor and sumptuous comfort—it harbors a dark, spectral history that has become part of its allure. Beneath the velvet drapes and within the shadows of its oil-painted hallways, legends of hauntings and paranormal activity have taken root, giving the hotel an eerie reputation.
The Bowery Hotel is more than just a boutique retreat; it’s a window into New York City’s storied past. The neighborhood itself, once a hub of the city’s gritty underbelly, has evolved through the centuries from a bustling thoroughfare for immigrants and artists to a chic destination for travelers and residents alike.
The Bowery: Making a throwback to a cozy time, it sticks out from modern New York City. Is the nostalgic interior something that evokes a haunted vibe? Source: Wikimedia
Opening its doors in the early 2000s, The Bowery Hotel was designed to evoke the grandeur of New York’s Gilded Age. Its interiors, adorned with plush velvet, antique furnishings, and oil paintings reminiscent of the late 19th century, create an atmosphere that is both inviting and haunting. The charm of the hotel’s decor is undeniable, yet many visitors have reported an unsettling undercurrent—a sense that they are not alone.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from haunted hotels.
Since then big celebrities have partied their way into the night. And if we are to believe the legends, some of the guests checked into the hotel rooms, sitting having a sip at the bar and riding the elevators, are not of the living kind.
The Haunting Legends of the Bowery Hotel
Perhaps the most famous legend associated with The Bowery Hotel revolves around its elevators. Guests and staff alike have reported strange occurrences involving the lifts, particularly at the stroke of one in the morning.
According to the tales, the elevators often go haywire—doors opening and closing without cause, buttons lighting up at random, and sometimes even stopping between floors. This phenomenon has been attributed to the hotel’s resident poltergeists, mischievous spirits that seem to revel in the disruption of the hotel’s nightly calm.
One popular theory suggests that these spirits are tied to the hotel’s location, which has a long and storied past. The location wasn’t always so swanky, as the Lower East Side used to be one of the city’s poorest places. The Bowery neighborhood was once home to theaters, flophouses, and speakeasies, places where revelry often ended in tragedy. Even when it was built, it was next to the Salvation Army shelter and methadone clinic. Some believe that the spirits of those who met untimely ends in the area have found a new home in the hotel, bringing with them the chaos and unrest of their former lives.
The hotel is also right next to The New York Marble Cemetery, and many think that the ghostly happenings are from the spirits lingering in the cemetery and having taken a trip into the hotel.
The New York Marble Cemetery: With its entrance at 41 Second Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, was founded in 1830 and was the first non-sectarian cemetery in the city and is right by the Bowery Hotel. Could this be the source of the haunted rumors? Source: Wikimedia
Ghostly Encounters at the Bowery
Beyond the mischievous elevators, guests have reported other ghostly encounters throughout the hotel. Shadowy figures have been spotted in the dimly lit hallways, disappearing around corners or vanishing into thin air. The hotel’s oil paintings, some depicting somber and mysterious subjects, seem to watch over visitors, their gazes following passersby in a disconcerting manner.
One story passed around the halls, talks about a guest that got his beer spilled over himself, or knocked out of his hand, although he was sitting by himself. The doing of a malevolent spirit, or one too many beers?
Some visitors have even claimed to hear disembodied whispers in their rooms at night, the faint murmur of voices that cannot be traced to any living source. Cold spots, sudden drops in temperature One story in particular talks about one of the guests who was welcomed by the ghost of a woman wearing white as he was checking into his room.
Room at the Bowery: Some claim to have met the ghost of a woman as they entered the room. Who could this mysterious woman that people claim to have seen, but know nothing of? Source: Wikimedia
This was not the only time the legend of the woman in white at the hotel has been told, and it looks like the legend is spreading. Some sources claim over 700 guests have spotted her, asking for directions before vanishing into thin air.
Perhaps the worst is the talk about the feeling of being strangled in the bed as you are asleep. Would you dare to check in?
The Lady in Red is said to haunt the Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada. Murdered in her room, she whispers sweet words and leaves pearls to guests staying the night. But what actually happened to her?
In the former silver mining town of Tonopah in Nevada, the Mizpah Hotel stands as a striking relic of the early 1900s, when Nevada’s mining boom attracted prospectors and travelers from far and wide to the Silver State.
Read Also: Check out all ghost stories from the USA
Between 1901 and 1921, Tonopah drew thousands of people working to get around $121 million worth of mostly silver ore from mines — especially in the hills directly behind the Mizpah Hotel. There were tons of rags to riches stories back then, although it also left a couple of ghost stories.
The History of The Mizpah Hotel
The Mizpah opened in 1907, designed as a luxury escape for weary miners and well-heeled visitors in Queen of the Silver Camps as the town was called. Originally it had been a saloon there and it was the first permanent building in the town. The hotel was named after the biblical term “watchtower,” and was supposed to be a safe haven for travelers.
The Mizpah Hotel: The hotel in the old mining town is said to be haunted by a lady in red. According to the story, a woman was murdered there and has been lingering ever since. JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD/Wikimedia
There are many stories about the hotel and how it ties into the wild west. According to legend, Wyatt Earp kept the saloon, Jack Dempsey was a bouncer, and Howard Hughes married Jean Peters at the Mizpah. Although all of these stories are most likely tall tales, the hotel has adapted them and named rooms and the bar after them all.
Read Also: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Hotels
Known for its solid granite walls, Victorian furnishings, and Nevada’s first electric elevator, this five-story hotel set the standard for Western opulence. After being restored to the original glory it is called the finest stone hotel in the desert. It is not only known as a historic hotel though, but a haunted one as well.
The Lady In Red Haunting the Mizpah Hotel
However, amid the grandeur lies a darker, blood-stained tale. The most famous legend tied to the Mizpah Hotel is that of the Lady in Red, a ghostly resident who many believe perished on the fifth floor.
According to local lore, she was a woman of beauty and charm, known for entertaining guests in her elegant suite. Because as many hotels used to be, this hotel also operated as a brothel. Or at least, working girls lived there, although the hotel was outside of the city’s red light districts around Main Street. The Mizpah was never a brothel officially, so could the Lady in Red have been a “kept lady” or even a mistress instead of a prostitute? In any case, there she lived and possibly worked. And if we are to believe the legends, this is also where she died.
Tragically, she met a violent end when an ex-lover, or perhaps a jealous patron, strangled her in a moment of rage, shattering her necklace, spilling pearls across the floor—and sealing her spirit to the hotel forever.
The Lady in Red: The Mizpah Hotel has accepted the legend of the lady in red as part of their legacy and you will find portraits of her as well as a room named after her.
In some versions she was a wife who cheated on her husband in the hotel. He found out when he missed his train and went back to her. Finding her in the arms of another, he killed her in rage.
Her name is now lost, if she ever did exist. Some call her Rose and it was most likely her prostitute name. According to some her name was actually Evelyn May Johnston born in Baltimore in 1879 and died on January 2, 1914.
There are no official documents supporting this however, and there isn’t even certain that a murder like hers ever happened at the hotel. Where this name and dates came from is uncertain. Some versions of the story claim she arrived in town in the 1920s so the story varies.
But the stories about her are thriving and growing, and those staying in the hotel, check out claiming that she is still lingering there.
The Haunting of Mizpah Hotel
The Lady in Red is said to make her presence known in eerie yet strangely affectionate ways. Male guests often report hearing a soft whisper in their ear, especially when alone in the hotel’s old-fashioned elevator, as if the Lady in Red is still escorting her guests to her chambers.
Some have even found small pearls under their pillows, believed to be remnants of her broken necklace. While unsettling, her spirit is described as warm, with a kind and welcoming presence that mirrors her rumored generosity in life.
The boudoir belonging to her was eventually split into three rooms. 504 is now called the Lady in Red room, but it is actually in room 502 that most strange things have been reported.
Other Ghosts Haunting the Hotel
The Mizpah Hotel also has reports of other spectral sightings, including apparitions in the hallways and cold spots felt throughout the building.
Some are saying that they can hear the sound of phantom children running around in the hotel hallways, especially on the third floor. When they look into the hall, there is no one there though, and when they call the front desk to complain about the children, the front desk tells them there are no children staying at the hotel for the night.
Staff also passes around stories about two men who linger in the basement. People speculate that they must have died when one of the subterranean tunnels in the mines nearby collapsed. There are said that several miners are haunting the hotel, still looking for silver.
A Haunted Night at Mizpah Hotel
Now fully restored to its former glory, the Mizpah Hotel attracts visitors from around the world who come for both its luxurious ambiance and the thrill of its hauntings. You can today stay at the Lady in Red Suite and there is a portrait of a Lady in Red on the wall as a homage to the in house legend.
And the guest book of the hotel tells it all. Perhaps after a stay here, you too will have something to make an entry on in the book of ghosts.
Hotel Monte Vista is an iconic landmark in Flagstaff, Arizona, housing guests in their afterlife as well. There are many ghost stories coming from the rooms, but just how many of them are actually true?
“Meet me at the Monte V.”
Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff, Arizona, has a reputation for housing more than just living guests close to its Route 66. Built in 1927, this historic hotel is a hub of paranormal activity. The Hotel Monte Vista on the corners of Aspen and San Francisco street was built as tourism was on the rise and the locals felt that Flagstaff needed something first class.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA
The hotel staff are no strangers to the haunted rumors of the hotel and even encourage curious residents to explore its history, mentioning that it is the housekeeping staff that have the best stories.
Among the most eerie reports are that of Room 210, where a long-term resident used to hang raw meat from the chandelier—a bizarre habit that lingers in the air even now. Two women who were thrown from the third floor are said to haunt the halls, asphyxiating male guests in their sleep. Disturbingly, a phantom infant’s cries echo from the basement, sending chills up the spines of those who hear it.
The Dancing Couple
Hotel Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge
One of the few hidden speakeasies in Flagstaff during prohibition was in Hotel Monte Vista. They had secret tunnels built by the Chinese railroad workers and ran underneath the hotel and it was known as the Cocktail Lounge. Moonshine, opium and other illegal activities could freely move in the underworld of the city. The Lounge was fronted as a newspaper publishing house until the local police shut it down in 1931, although it opened up again when prohibition ended.
In the Cocktail Lounge as it’s still called, the staff and guests claim to have seen a couple dancing in the room in the early hours. Transparent and dressed in formal clothing, they smile and laugh as they dance their way through the afterlife.
When some asked the staff about the dancing couple though, it is said that it was a story made up by a TV show. Who knows by now where the legend originated, but it certainly isn’t the only haunted rumor from the bar.
The Bank Robber in the Bar
According to this urban legend, the Lounge is also the eternal home of a man who bled out having his last drink. Three men robbed a nearby bank in 1970 a couple of towns over and the bank guard managed to shoot one of the men. Although they had one injured man with them, they decided to celebrate the robbery at the local bar and went to the Hotel Monte Vista. They had a drink and the man who got shot bled to death.
Ever since, guests and staff reported that barstools and drinks move on their own. There is also a voice greeting them with a “Good Morning”, they think must be the dead bank robber.
But was it ever a bank robber though? Historical records can’t really support this story as there isn’t really any reports about someone bleeding to death in the Lounge or being shot by a bank guard. Some claim this haunting is rather from one of the many shootings that happened in the Lounge, but this is also without proof.
The Rocking Chair in Room 305
One of the most active haunted rooms in the Hotel Monte Vista according to themselves is the Room 305 and this have even talked about on TV shows, although some of the staff claim that the show exaggerated the haunting experiences people have had. But what does the legend actually say?
People who have stayed here claim to have seen a woman in a rocking chair place close to the window that is said to rock by itself. There are also some reports that they hear a knock from within the closet. Some say that the chair is not rocking, but have simply moved by itself. Some even claim that it was the staff themselves who started the rumor when several people entered the room and moved around the furniture, confusing each other.
But who is rocking the chair from the legend? It is said that the room used to belong to a long time renter, an old lady that would sit by her window on the chairs all day long. What she was looking for no one knows, but legend has it, she is still looking.
The Meat Man in Room 210
One of the most notorious incidents revolves around Room 210, where a long-term resident had a macabre habit of hanging raw meat from the chandelier. No one really knows much about him and why he did this or even existed at all. Sometimes in the 1980’s the man was found dead in his room, three days after he died according to the legend.
Though the tenant is long gone, the unsettling atmosphere of the room remains, with strange noises and inexplicable cold spots sending shivers through guests who dare to stay. Not long after his death, a maintenance worker was called to do some repairs. He left the room to get something and turned off the lights and locked the door. When he returned the TV was on full volume and the linens on the bed were ripped up and thrown around the room.
Even today, the hotel claims that guests complain about the TV that turns off and on on its own. There are also some saying that they can feel the cold touch of a man’s hands when they sleep.
The Murdered Women in 306
Two women who were allegedly thrown from the third floor now haunt the halls, targeting male guests. The Red Light District in Flagstaff used to be just south of the railroad tracks, two blocks from the hotel and one legend claims that two of the sex workers ended their days in the hotel.
In the early 1940s there were two prostitutes that met up with a client in room 306. Inside of the room they were killed and thrown from the window.
Hotel Monte Vista: So many legends are contained within the building. How much of it is really true?
Those who’ve stayed on the upper floors have reported waking in the night to the sensation of being watched Some even speak of invisible hands trying to asphyxiate them, mostly claimed by male guests. These spectral women are said to be vengeful, exacting their wrath on unuspecting male guests, making their presence terrifyingly clear through phantom touches and whispered threats.
Did sex workers really get murdered in the hotel though? There is no corroborating evidence like newspaper articles or police reports that are able to back this story up.
The Wailing Baby in the Basement
Even more unnerving is the ghost of an infant whose cries echo from the depths of the basement. There is no clear history or theories that can explain this, but those working at the hotel claim that they really heard it.
Staff members, mostly maintenance and laundry personnel, have fled the lower floors in panic after hearing the unmistakable wails of a baby. Despite searches, no source of the noise is ever found, leading many to believe the cries belong to a child long gone, yet somehow still present. Other suspects it is simply the echo and how you can hear everything that goes on on the upper floors when being downstairs.
John Wayne’s Paranormal Experience With the Ghostly Bellboy
The Hotel Monte Vista used to be a place where many of Hollywood stars went to in the 40s and 50s, especially those involved in western films that were shot near Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.
John Wayne
Adding to the hotel’s spooky legend, famed actor John Wayne himself reported a paranormal encounter while staying at Hotel Monte Vista. He claimed to have sensed a ghostly presence in his room. Some even claim that he was the first to ever report the ghosts publicly as well. Many think that he encountered the Phantom Bellboy said to haunt the halls of the hotel.
Read Also: Check out all ghost stories from haunted hotels
They claim to have heard a knock on their door followed by a muffled “Room Service”. But when they go to open the door, there is no one there. Unlike many of the other ghosts, the phantom bellboy is said to be more friendly. It is also said the ghost have been seen as well, some claiming he is standing outside of 210. Housekeepers also claim to have encountered him when they work the halls, seeing a young man in the old fashioned red uniform with brass buttons.
Now, was there ever a young bellboy who died in the hotel? Unclear. It is even unclear if John Wayne really did speak about the ghosts in the late 1950s, and all we have to go on is what is coming from the hotel. It is also worth noting that Wayne was filming in Arizona in the late 30s, not 50’s as the story wants to narrate it as.
A Night at the Haunted Hotel Monte Vista
Although it is without much evidence of it happening as the stories goes, the legends and haunting is said to go on in the Hotel Monte Vista. Staff will often reply with: It’s not exactly like the legend goes, but this one time… and then give a story of something strange that happened to them at work. So what truly happened over the years of the hotel, perhaps only the mountain view will know.
The ghost stories about the cigar smoking cowboy, the two suicide brides as well as the playful ghost of a little girl has haunted the pristine rumor of The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas. But how much of the stories are true, and how many ghosts are still checked into the hotel?
Downtown in Austin, Texas, stands a grand hotel with a dark and mysterious past. The Driskill Hotel, built in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill has been a staple of the city’s skyline for over a century and is the oldest operating hotel in the city. But behind its impressive architecture and luxurious amenities lies a darker side.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA
Over the years, the Driskill has gained a reputation as one of the most haunted hotels in the country, with countless ghostly sightings and eerie occurrences reported by guests and staff alike. From the ghost of a young girl who fell to her death down the hotel’s grand staircase to the spirit of a cowboy who met his untimely demise in one of the guest rooms, Driskill’s history is steeped in supernatural lore.
History of The Driskill Hotel
The Driskill Hotel was built in 1886 by Jesse Driskill, a wealthy cattle baron who wanted to create a luxurious hotel that would be the jewel of Austin’s social scene. The hotel was designed by Jasper N. Preston, one of the most prominent architects of the time, and its grand exterior and opulent interior made it an instant icon after its grand opening close to Christmas that year. The Driskill quickly became the center of Austin’s social and political life, hosting events and galas that drew the city’s elite.
But the hotel’s fortunes took a turn when Jesse Driskill lost his fortune in a high-stakes poker game. He was forced to sell the hotel, and it changed hands several times over the years. By the 1920s, the Driskill had fallen into disrepair and was in danger of being demolished. That’s when a group of Austin citizens banded together to save the hotel and restore it to its former glory.
Driskill Hotel: The lobby of the Driskoll Hotel in Austin Texas, a portrait of the founder by the stairs believed to still haunt the hotel. // Source: Kenneth C. Zirkel/Wikimedia
Today, The Driskill Hotel is a beloved landmark in Austin, known for its rich history and luxurious amenities. But the hotel’s past is not all glamour and elegance – it’s also steeped in ghostly legends and spooky stories.
Ghostly legends of The Driskill Hotel
The Driskill Hotel is no stranger to supernatural activity. Over the years, countless guests and staff members have reported eerie encounters and ghostly sightings. Disembodied voices, apparitions, strange noises, mysterious leaks and cold sensations are only some of the rumors people staying and working at the Driskill have experienced.
The Haunted Song: “Ghost of a Texas Ladies’ Man” is a song from rock band Concrete Blonde, from 1992. Napolitano was inspired to write “Ghost of a Texas Ladies’ Man” after a supernatural experience she had during an overnight stay at the Driskill Hotel, in March 1991, on tour as the opening act for Sting: “There’s this horny ghost there that goes for women. ‘I wanna see you naked,’ that was the vibe. The minute I took my clothes off, I felt like there was someone watching me.He kept turning the lights on and off in my room. I finally unplugged all the lamps. Then he turned on the light in the closet and really slowly opened the closet door, just like a hand was opening it. The light in the closet shined out into the room onto the bed. Then I knew for sure he was there. I just said, ‘I know you’re here, but I know that you’re not going to hurt me, so I’m going to go to sleep now.’ I just got this feeling of amusement, like he was playing. He was just like a rascal. It was like a game. I guess I’m lucky he was in a good mood.”
The amount of information that has been passed down through the years have created many different variations and at times conflicting ghost stories. Here are just a few of the most chilling legends associated with the hotel.
The Ghost of Colonel Driskill
Jesse Driskill, the hotel’s founder, is said to haunt the halls of the Driskill to this day. Right after the hotel opened, he fell under financial stress as he had spent it all on alcohol, women and gambling as well as hotels. Besides the harsh winter and drought the following year after opening killed his cattle. Because of this, he had to give the Driskill up almost as soon as it opened and sold it to his brother in law. He had lost his fortune and built it up again many times, but this time, he wouldn’t recover financially. He died in May, 1890 of a stroke.
Legend has it that his restless spirit wanders the hotel, checking on the guests and staff and making sure everything is running smoothly. Some guests have reported hearing footsteps and the sound of a cane tapping on the floor, as if Colonel Driskill himself is still in residence. Driskill’s portrait hangs in the hotel’s grand lobby and some claim that this is the man they interacted with.
It is especially the room that was his favorite, overlooking 6th Street & Brazos that is haunted according to the stories. He has been seen by visitors, smoking a cigar as he looks out the window.
The smell of cigar is most connected with his haunting, the smell lingering in the lobby he used to greet guests. Security guards also claim to have heard his voice, asking for a match behind them, although nothing was there except the smell.
The Suicide Brides of The Driskill
Some of the more well known ghost stories from the Driskill are about the brides supposedly haunting it. The staff have reported about a woman crying on the floor when it is empty. Even the singer Annie Lennox claimed that one of the ghost brides had helped her choose a dress when she put two on the bed before taking a shower. When she came back, one of them was back in the closet.
Some say that perhaps in the 1950s, a bride stayed in room 525 when the fiance called the wedding off the day before. According to the lore, she hanged herself in the room.
The same thing happened several years later in the same room twenty years later on the same day. Or was it really the same room? Was it even a suicide the first time? Some claim that both brides killed themselves in room 525, but one of the stories is also said to have taken part in Room 329, and at least one source claiming it was in room 427 or 29.
One story goes like this: A bride checked into her room in the early 1990s. Or was it in the early 1980s? 1989 as some claim it was? This was by the way during a time when room 525 was shut off before it reopened for guests in 1998.
According to the legend, she was a socialite who had just been left by her fiance. She booked a five day stay at the Driskill. She had one final day where she went shopping for around 10 to 40k the second day she stayed there, all on her fiance’s credit card.
On her third day, she put up a “do not disturb” sign on her door. She lined up all of her new stuff by her bed before shooting herself in the head with a pillow muffling the sound. Some say they found her in the bathtub after they broke into the room after they suspected something was wrong.
The True Story of the Ghost Brides
How true this story is, is uncertain. There are many dates, room numbers and little detailing of the incidents, especially the first. According to the Austin Ghost Tour, this version was written by an employee in India for a company in New York that has never been to Austin. So what is the true story then?
Police reports talk about Tara, and she was not a socialite. She was said to have bought alcohol, cigarettes and a people magazine, instead of shopping goods. It is said that she would have died of alcohol poisoning if she hadn’t shot herself.
According to guests staying there, they claim to sometimes see the ghost of the woman dragging her many bags from her shopping day up and down in the halls of the hotel. There is also said to be a ghostly wailing coming from the rooms the brides died in.
The Child Ghost Playing at the The Driskill Hotel
On the fifth floor of the hotel is a mysterious portrait that is said to have caused supernatural occurrences. The portrait is unnamed, but based on a painting by Charles Trevor Garland (1855-1906) known as “Love Letter” by or for a Richard King.
It depicts a little girl with flowers in one hand and a letter in the other. Some claim it is haunted by the four year old daughter named Samantha Houson, of the US Senator Temple Lea Houston, who died in a horrible accident at the hotel.
The girl often called Samantha was playing in the Grand Staircase of the Mezzanine in 1887. This is before the painting was created though, or perhaps around this time. That May the hotel also closed its doors, so it had to have been before this.
Driskill hosted a function that year for a Legislative Session that year. US Senator Temple Lea Houston had seven children. Only four of their children survived childhood and one of them who didn’t was said to have been Samantha. The Senator had given his daughter a ball to play with. Skipping in the staircase she reached for her ball to bounce, but she fell and died of a broken neck.
People claim to have heard the sound of the ball bouncing from the walls as well as hearing the giggles of a little child. Guests have reported seeing apparitions of children playing in the hallways. When children come back from playing, they often claim to have played with a little girl called Samantha.
It is especially heard around the stairs, but as mentioned, the portrait on the fifth floor is also said to have strange things like dizziness and strange sensations around it that people often claim is connected to the girl. It is said that the painted girl looks eerily similar to Samantha. Perhaps the wildest story is how the girl’s expression in the painting seems to change when looking away.
The Presidential Ghost
One of the more famous ghosts said to haunt the hotel is Lady Bird and Lyndon B. Johnson, often referred to as LBJ. The couple first met in the Driskill Dining room in 1934 and returned every year for special occasions. It is said that the hotel was Lyndon B. Johnson’s favorite place in the city. It was even here he waited for the results of his 1948’s Senate run, his 1960’s Vice President run and in the presidential election in 1964.
According to those visiting the ballroom, they sometimes claim to see the late president with his wife in the mirrors as they pass by.
The Ghost of a Mrs. Bridge Minding the Front Desk
One of the former employees of the hotel said to haunt it, is Mrs. Bridge. She worked at the hotel for many years in the early 1900s and it is said she is sometimes still working. At night, people claim to have seen a woman in a Victorian dress, fussing over flower arrangements in the lobby. It is said that her apparitions are often accompanied by the smell of roses as she loved flowers when she was alive. She has also been seen walking from the vault to the lobby where the old front desk used to be.
The Ghost of Peter Lawless
One of the ghosts haunting the hotel is said to have a more poltergeist presence than the other. Peter Lawless worked as a ticket agent for the Great Northern Railroad in the early 20th century. Peter Lawless was born July 23, 1851 and died in Austin on June 29, 1931. After his wife passed, he moved into the Driskill.
From 1886 to 1916, he lived and worked from the fifth floor where he set up shop. Years it is said he lived there vary. Ever since his death people claim to have seen Lawless coming out from the elevators, looking at the time and his railroad watch and greeting the staff at the front desk before vanishing into thin air.
Housekeeping claims he is watching them as they are cleaning and there have even been those claiming to have seen him stepping in front of a bus outside the hotel. His ghost is said to have dark hair and pants with a white shirt and a pocket watch.
The Royal Haunting in the Mirrors
The Driskill Hotel is also said to be the place of a certain royal haunting.This haunting legend tied to Empress Carlotta of Mexico. She was born Charlotte and was a princess of Belgium. In the 1850s, Carlotta and her husband, Emperor Maximilian, ruled Mexico, seen as a puppet regime, but their reign ended in tragedy when Maximilian was executed, and Carlotta descended into madness. Heartbroken she survived with the support from European courts, suffering paranoid delusions.
The Ghost of an Empress: Empress Charlotte in mourning clothes. Photography by Eugène Disdéri, 1867.
After their fall, eight ornate gold-framed mirrors, originally meant as a belated wedding gift for Carlotta, made their way to the Driskill in 1930. It is not known if Empress Carlotta knew about the wedding gift at all, but some say that she is now haunting the mirrors. Adorned with a color palette of gold and white, the Maximilian Room features unique accents such as eight lavish gold leaf mirrors, originally discovered in the 1930s. This charming space has since been converted into an area for premium dining events, with 1,500 square feet of space and room for 20 to 150 attendees.
Since their installation in the hotel’s “Maximilian Room,” guests and staff have reported eerie experiences, including sightings of Carlotta’s ghost. One photographer claimed to see a woman in a white gown appear in the mirrors but vanish when he turned around, leaving only her reflection. Many believe Carlotta’s spirit haunts the mirrors, watching over the last remnants of her lost empire.
Why did the Hotel Become Haunted?
The Driskill has had many faiths coming through its doors throughout the years, but could it be another reason for it being haunted? Something older perhaps? One of the many reasons the hotel was built on this exact spot was because of the artesian water right by it. Driskoll thought that this would supply the hotel with water for years to come.
This artisan water used to be hollow ground for the native Americans though. Both the Apache, Tonkawas as well as the Comanche used to believe that the water from the spring had the power to hold spirits. Many believe this is the foundation that started the haunting.
Many paranormal investigators have spent numerous nights in the hotel in search of ghosts. Could the hotel really be haunted? Could it be that the ghost of Driskill is still smoking in the lobby, or could it actually be from the tobacco shop that used to be in the lobby still lingering? Could there be something lurking within the mirrors and paintings as well as the rooms not of this world?
Inside the Grand Canyon Caverns you can explore, have dinner in their restaurant or even sleep in their overnight suit. According to the stories, there are also stories about the possibility of encountering ghosts within the deep dark caves.
Venture to the western expanse of the Grand Canyon, and you’ll find yourself within the mystical embrace of the Hualapai Indian Reservation, home to a haunting mystery that unfolds in the depths of the Grand Canyon West Rim near the Peach Springs in Arizona along Route 66.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA
Amidst the expansive terrain lies a subterranean wonder known as the Grand Canyon Caverns, discovered by Hualapai woodcutters in the year 1917, revealing itself as the largest dry cavern system in the United States. Some also claim they are some of the most haunted ones.
The Grand Canyon: The National park of the Canyon encompasses over 1.2 million acres of rugged landscape, with the Colorado River carving a mile-deep gorge that stretches 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide around 5 or 6 million years ago. The park’s striking geological formations, vibrant hues, and dramatic vistas attract millions of visitors each year, offering opportunities for hiking, rafting, and exploring the highs and lows of the Canyon. It is also said to have several haunted places.
The Grand Canyon Caverns History
These dry caverns, situated 220 feet below ground level, were formed 65 million years ago through the action of an ancient inland sea that covered the area. Visitors can explore the extensive underground network of rooms and passageways, which are known for their stunning geological formations, including stalactites and stalagmites.
The cave system is the largest dry caverns in the U.S and visitors can both tour, eat at the restaurant as well as stay the night. The caverns house the unique Grand Canyon Cavern Suite, a luxurious hotel room that provides an extraordinary and eerie overnight experience.
Yet, beneath the surface beauty of these colossal caverns lies a veil of spectral enigma, where shadows dance with the echoes of a bygone era, and the whispers of restless souls seem to linger in the eternal darkness.
Inside the Caves: Grand Canyon Caverns was designated a fallout shelter in 1961 and is believed to be haunted. // Source: Lauri Väin
It is said that the Grand Canyon Caverns are so dry that no bacteria or viruses can survive there for more than 72 hours. But could ghosts still be lingering here? According to the stories they do. The question that perplexes both visitors and locals alike is: Who are the spectral inhabitants of the Grand Canyon Caverns? Some believe that the ethereal presence of Native Americans, who found their final rest within these rocky chambers, continues to wander among the subterranean labyrinths.
It is said that many Hualapai tribe members were buried in the caverns centuries ago as an ancient burial place. It is the spirits of these tribesmen that haunt the caverns today. In the past 50 years, there have also been at least 8 people who have died or at least been buried on the property around the caves. Could some of these also be haunting the caves?
Other chilling accounts tell of a ghostly mine worker, a phantom of the past whose apparition has been glimpsed standing beside the cavern’s eerie elevator. His spectral form, frozen in time, echoes the tales of labor and sacrifice that once resonated within the subterranean depths.
The Haunted Grand Canyon Cavern Suite
For a truly haunted experience, there is also the Grand Canyon Cavern Suite found in the caves where a lot of the haunted rumors come from. This subterranean hotel room, situated within the expansive Grand Canyon Caverns, provides guests with an extraordinary opportunity to sleep in a lavishly appointed space surrounded by ancient rock formations. The room dates back to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when a corner of the caverns was set up as a fallout shelter.
Grand Canyon Caverns Luxury Suite: For around 1000 dollars you can stay underground in the caves. Several of the guests that have stayed the night claim to have experienced what they believe to be paranormal. // Source: Flickr
Haunting of the Cave Hotel
One of the most common reports from the cavern suite involves rocks inexplicably whizzing through the air, especially after the Grand Canyon Caverns appeared on an episode of “Ghost Adventures.”.
Many guests have been disturbed by strange noises emanating from around the bed’s headboard. These sounds range from soft whispers to loud thumps, and often occur in the dead of night when the caverns are at their quietest. Some visitors have even reported feeling an unseen presence moving near the bed, as if someone—or something—is watching them as they sleep.
Dancing Shadow Figures
Shadow figures are another common sight within the cavern suite. Guests have described seeing dark, humanoid shapes dancing along the walls of the room, moving in eerie, fluid motions. These shadowy apparitions often vanish as quickly as they appear, leaving behind an unsettling sense of unease and the feeling of being observed. Could it be the pressing feeling of being placed deep in a dark cave or could it be something else?
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Hotels
Perhaps the most unnerving reports involve the sounds of chanting that echo through the cavern’s depths. These chants, often described as rhythmic and otherworldly, seem to emanate from deep within the earth, reverberating through the suite’s stone walls. Some believe these chants are connected to ancient rituals or spirits that dwell within the caverns, adding to the suite’s mystique and haunted reputation.
Who are Haunting the Caves?
As mentioned, there are not many names attached to the possible hauntings said to go on inside of the Grand Canyon Caverns.
Some believe one of the ghosts to be that of Walter Peck, the man who turned the cave into a tourist attraction after he stumbled over it in 1927 on his way to a poker game. Perhaps it could be the two brothers of the Hualapai woodcutters who died of the flue when they discovered it in 1917 and were buried there after being trapped in a snow storm in 1917?
Or could it perhaps be something more ancient and unknown, lost in the darkness and deepness of the Grand Canyon Caverns?
The original owner of the Dorrington Hotel in California is said to be haunting it. One Christmas the ghost of the former mistress of the place went knocking down every fake Christmas Tree the current owner had put up.
In the picturesque and mountainous landscape of Calaveras County, California, the Dorrington Hotel is not just a charming relic of the past, but also a hotbed of paranormal activity. Established in the mid-19th century, this historic hotel of the Gold Rush Time in California, is said to be haunted by its former mistress, Rebecca Dorrington Gardner, whose restless spirit roams the halls, particularly during the Christmas season.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA
With its storied past and eerie occurrences, like the very name, Calaveras, Spanish for Skulls after the reported remains of natives, the Dorrington Hotel offers a chilling blend of history and hauntings in the sequoia redwoods.
Dorrington Hotel: The place is still in operation even to this day, even years after the Gold Rush died down. It is however said to be haunted by the original owner today.
The Legacy of John Gardner and his Inn
The Dorrington Hotel was built in 1852 by John and Rebecca Gardner, on top of the Big Valley Road as a coach stop were it served as a depot for stockmen as well as a summer resort. John Gardner, a Scottish immigrant, purchased a small sheep ranch and 160 acres of land from Barnabus Smith when it was still just a trail passing by the Miwok and Washoe Native land. Smith, a former Private Captain in the Massachusetts Militia during the War of 1812, had been granted the land for his military service.
“This is the place!” he wrote to his new bride, Rebecca, who had remained at home in Scotland, waiting for his word. Gardner quickly turned the property known for its cold springs, and he called it first, Cold Spring Ranch, into a profitable roadside business, providing refuge for countless emigrants journeying over the Central Sierra Mountains.
The Lady of the Night: Rebecca Dorrington Gardner
Rebecca Dorrington Gardner, the beloved mistress of the hotel, sailed from Scotland to join her husband in the Sierra Gold Country, and the place was soon called Dorrington, her maiden name. She survived her husband by many years, however, legend has it that she met a tragic end that left her spirit bound to the place she once managed.
It is said that Rebecca suffered fatal injuries in 1870 when she fell down the rear staircase of the hotel. Some also claim she went out in a snowstorm and lost her way as she froze to death. Others say she was massacred by the natives. Though historical records indicate she passed away on October 16, 1910, in Altaville, California when she was 83 years old, her ghostly presence remains a fixture at the Dorrington Hotel.
Visitors and staff have frequently reported encountering Rebecca’s spirit, peeking out threw curtains in unopccupied rooms, not really liking how the new owners keeps interfering in her buisness. Her spectral activities include doors mysteriously opening and closing, lights flickering, and furniture inexplicably moving.
The hotel’s dining room is a common spot for sightings, with many claiming to see or feel her presence as she glides through the space. Many guests also claim that they have seen the ghost of her fall down the stairs as a ghostly reenactment of her death.
Rebecca’s ghost also seems to enjoy interacting with modern technology, often triggering the motion detectors installed around the hotel.
One time it was said she warned the owner at the time og a gas leak in the kitchen. According to the stoy, she woke him up in the middle of the night to warn him.
The Christmas Tree Incident
The Christmas season brings an increase in Rebecca’s ghostly activities. One particularly spine-chilling tale involves the annual holiday decorations. One year, the hotel’s owner decided to place an artificial Christmas tree in every room. To everyone’s astonishment, each night Rebecca would go from room to room, knocking the trees down. Every morning, the staff and guests would find the trees toppled over, a clear sign of Rebecca’s nocturnal rounds.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the Christmas Season
In another eerie incident, the owner, Marc Lanthier, experienced something that solidified the hotel’s haunted reputation. One Christmas after this event, Marc took two pictures of the hotel adorned with Christmas lights. When he uploaded the photos to his computer, he discovered something unsettling. One photo was bright and clear, while the other showed a vaporous figure floating over the hotel. Could this be Rebecca Dorrington Gardner, still overseeing her beloved establishment?
Christmas Haunting: Christmas seems to be a season where the haunted occurrences get more frequent. The alleged ghost seems to have a period of adjustments to new owners and new traditions and way of operating the hotel. Could the use of plastic Christmas trees be a trigger this one Christmas?
Other Ghostly Residents at Dorrington Hotel
Rebecca is not the only spirit said to haunt the Dorrington Hotel. Guests have reported hearing the laughter and footsteps of children in the dead of night, despite there being no children present. Could this be some of the four children of the original owners that are haunting the hotel together with their mother?
Many guests visiting the Dorrington Hotel specifically seek out the paranormal, hoping for a glimpse of Rebecca or the other spirits said to reside there. Some overnight visitors have reported finding a single footprint by their beds, believed to be left by Rebecca as she patrols the hotel at night.
A Night In the Gold Rush Country
The Dorrington Hotel remains a captivating blend of history and hauntings, with its rich past and active ghostly presence. And during the Christmas season, the chances of encountering Rebecca Dorrington Gardner increases if we are to believe the stories, not pleased at all about the fake and plastic aspect of the modern Christmas traditions.
In the historic Hotel Bethlehem in Pennsylvania the famous singer and actress May Yohé grew up, singing and dancing to the guests. Her life didn’t end up as glamorous as she lived and it is said that she is still performing in her afterlife where it all started.
In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Hotel Bethlehem stands as a historical monument being Pennsylvania’s oldest hotel, a luxurious retreat, and, intriguingly, a haunted haven.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA
Among its many ghostly legends lingering in the hotel’s 125 guest rooms, none is as captivating or as tragic as the tale of Mary Yohe, known to many as “May.” Her story, marked by stardom, misfortune, and nostalgia, echoes through the hallways and ballrooms of this grand hotel, particularly around Christmastime.
Hotel Bethlehem: The hotel of how it looked around in 1930.
The First House of Betlehem
Before it turned into the hotel of today, it was a place of Moravian missionaries. They named their new town Bethlehem on Christmas Eve in 1741. The original 1741 house was built by Moravian missionary Count Nicholas Von Zinzendorf.
In 1794 they built the Golden Eagle Hotel, still a Moravian building. This is also the building and the time where many of the reported ghosts come from.
The hotel lasted until 1919 when it was destroyed after having been used as a WWI military convalescent home. Then in 1922, Charles M. Schwab, a steel-tycoon, built the luxurious Hotel Bethlehem we know of today.
May Yohé Rise to Fame
Mary “May” Yohe was born in April, 1866 and was the granddaughter to Caleb Yohe, who operated the hotel when it was called The Eagle. Born Mary Augusta Yohe, she grew up there and from a young age, she displayed an extraordinary talent for singing and performing and there are recordings of her singing and dancing for the guests in the lobby when she was young.
The Moravians liked her so much their church got their money out and sent Yohéto Europe for a refined education, studying in Dresden and later at the Convent of the Sacré Coeur in Paris.
May’s abilities quickly garnered attention, propelling her into the limelight. Her voice and charm captivated audiences in Paris and across Europe, where she performed with great acclaim. By 1888 she made headlines in the country as one of the biggest stage stars as well as her love affairs.
Her beauty and talent even caught the eye of a wealthy British lord, who whisked her away into the aristocracy with a lavish marriage. She married Lord Francis Clinton Hope and he gave her the very famous Hope Diamond that she wore many times. The diamond named after him, was thought to be cursed, something she also alluded to in the screenplay she wrote about it.
May Yohe: A famous singer and actress is thought to be haunting the Bethlehem Hotel, the place of her childhood.
The Tragic Downfall of the Singer
They married in November 1894. She had gained fame on the London stage in 1893 and 1894, especially in the burlesque Little Christopher Columbus. He led an extravagant lifestyle, which the two continued together, and was discharged in bankruptcy in 1896. She ended up in the papers with her divorce in 1902 after they had both squandered away his fortune and Hope had to sell off the Hope Diamond to pay his debts.
After this she had a string of marriages and affairs that were unhappy and she was stolen from, gave up a baby for adoption and was left broken and destitute.
She died in poverty in Boston in 1938, having lost all her money and fame. Her husband sprinkled her ashes into the Atlantic Ocean before following her a few months later. Despite the turmoil and heartbreak, May often reminisced about her early years in Bethlehem, calling them the best of her life.
The Ghostly Presence of May Yohé at Hotel Bethlehem
To this day, the spirit of May Yohe is said to linger in Hotel Bethlehem, her ethereal presence felt by guests and staff alike, often appearing as the little girl she was. Visitors have reported seeing a young woman dressed in elegant attire, resembling the glamorous performer May once was, especially on the third floor.
Guests claim to hear her sing and that the piano starts playing when there is no one there. She is often spotted near the piano, where she used to enchant audiences with her singing, or pacing gracefully beside the Christmas tree, as if lost in the memories of happier times.
The most chilling encounters involve hearing her voice—faint, yet unmistakably recognizable—singing one of her favorite songs. These ghostly serenades often occur during the quiet hours of the night, sending shivers down the spines of those who hear them.
Every year, as Christmas approaches, it is said that the sightings of May Yohe become more frequent. It is believed that the holiday season stirs her spirit, bringing her memories of joy and sorrow to the forefront. Guests staying at Hotel Bethlehem during this time often hope for a glimpse of the glamorous ghost, or to hear her melancholic melodies filling the air once more.
Read more: Check out more ghost stories from the Christmas season
Other Paranormal Activity at Hotel Bethlehem
Many staff report hearing their name being called when no one is there. Shadows, apparitions and reflections are almost common when staying at hotel Bethlehem. A tap on the shoulder, things falling from desks and electrical appliances not working as it should.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Hotels
A man known as Frank Smith is wearing a suit and shows up on the third floor and a Moravian settler from the 1700s is said to be moving in the basement. In the basement is also the ghost of one of the former caretakers of the Eagle Hotel who is said to guard things in the basement. Mrs. Hops brought slaves from Virginia and hid them in the basement. She is said to still guard them in her afterlife.
The Ghost of the Town Guide, Francis
Another ghost said to haunt the Hotel Bethlehem is the ghost of Francis “Daddy” Thomas, who was the Bethlehem’s Town Guide for many years. He was born in Wuttemburg, Germany, but moved to the Colonies when he was 6 years old. As many others in the area, he was very much influenced by the Moravian Bishop Spangenberg. He was known as a fearless man, working as a courier, not even almost deaths could stop him from doing his job.
After many years on the horseback, he settled down as a cabinetmaker and town guide, marrying Anna Graeff. After he died on April 4th in 1822 at the age of 90, it is believed he is the one haunting the hotel, especially being seen around the Boiler Room of the hotel.
Mrs. Bring – a ghost without socks
In 1833, the Eagle Hotel as it was known at the time, was still owned by the Moravian Church. They had employed Mr. and Mrs Bong, but had no idea of what kind of people they were. Mr. Bong was an alcoholic who never said no when a guest offered a drink. Many times the bartender had to move him to a nearby bench when he was too drunk.
Mrs. Bong was apparently good at her job as a host, but too much of a rebel for a church owned establishment. She would often show up not wearing shoes or stockings, shocking guests and the rest of the staff.
They were fired after six months, but to this day, kitchen staff and dinner guests claim to see a woman in period clothing, not wearing shoes or socks, most often seen around the kitchen or restaurant area of the Hotel Bethlehem.
Paranormal Activity in Room 932
Inside Room 932, there have been many strange stories that have no name or story attached to it. A couple staying there were awakened by a man in front of their bed. “Why are you in my room?” he asked, but as soon as they turned on the light, he was gone.
There have also been stories about guests seeing a reflection in the mirror that isn’t them, lamps start flashing and paper on the desk comes flying off. One time a guest reported opening the bathroom and saw an entirely different bathroom. There are many pictures from guests where people say orbs appear and is today the most requested room in the Hotel Bethlehem.
The Haunted Hotel Bethlehem
For those brave enough to spend a night at Hotel Bethlehem, the possibility of encountering the ghost of May Yohe, Mrs. Bong without socks or experiencing something strange in Room 932, adds an extra layer of allure to this historic establishment. Whether you believe in ghosts or simply enjoy a good story, the legend of Bethlehem Hotel is sure to leave a lasting impression.
The Crescent Hotel in Arkansas started and ended the 20th century as a luxury hotel among the many healing springs it is known for. In between it was also known as a notorious experimental cancer hospital, women’s college and an abandoned building. This has created a multitude of ghost legends.
A beautiful spring day in the Ozark Mountains, a couple was trying to check into Room 221 at the old and historic Crescent Hotel. They walk out the elevator on the second floor and are greeted by a man wearing an all black Victorian style outfit. He asks if they need any help finding the room and they follow him, believing him to be an employee in uniform. He leads them to their room and unlocks the door, standing outside smiling, tilting his head from side to side. When they entered, they remembered they hadn’t tipped him and turned around, but he had disappeared.
Thinking nothing more of this, they spent the rest of the day in the room, only leaving for dinner in the evening. But when they tried to reenter the room in the evening, their card didn’t work. When they asked about it at the front desk, they told them they had gotten the wrong card, as it was for Room 321. Confused, they told about the employee that had helped them. The front desk told them, perhaps knowing full well what had happened: “We don’t have a staff member like that working here”.
A Cure for Wellness at Crescent Hotel
Near the edge of the Ozark National Forest in northern Arkansas mountain region, the Crescent Hotel used to be famous for its healing springs around the city, now it is notorious for its eerie atmosphere and extensive ghost stories that it has accumulated over the years.
The Native Americans had known about these springs for ages and when bottled water from the springs sold well in the 1800s, people started to flock to the place and by 1881 it was the fourth largest city in Arkansas and a hotel was needed to accommodate the people.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA
Since its grand opening in 1886 with all the famous people of the time, this historic hotel has been a hotbed of paranormal activity, earning its reputation as one of the most haunted hotels in the United States within many of the 78 rooms.
A Haunted Christmas Eve Like No Other
Among its myriad spectral tales, one particular story from Christmastime continues to mystify and intrigue visitors to this day.
It was during one particularly festive Christmas season when an unusual event unfolded within the grand confines of the Crescent Hotel. Guests had gathered to marvel at the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the hotel’s opulent dining room, adorned with sparkling ornaments and surrounded by an array of carefully wrapped gifts. The tree stood as a beacon of holiday cheer, its lights casting a warm glow over the historic hall. The room known as The Crystal Dining was closed off during the night.
However, the serene holiday setting was soon disrupted by a perplexing occurrence. One morning, guests and staff were astounded to discover that the entire Christmas tree, along with all its packages, had been inexplicably moved to the opposite side of the room. The initial reaction was one of confusion and disbelief. Who could have orchestrated such a prank without leaving any trace of their actions?
The next morning again, the tree and packages had moved again with the chairs circling it like a new holiday symbol they were facing.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories set during the Christmas season
As the guests pondered this mysterious relocation, whispers began to spread about sightings of ghostly figures. Several visitors reported seeing apparitions dressed in elegant Victorian attire wandering through the dining room. These spectral figures, seemingly from a bygone era, appeared to be in high spirits, as if engaged in their own Yuletide celebration. Witnesses described the phantoms as playful, with a mischievous gleam in their ghostly eyes, and it was believed that they were responsible for the eerie rearrangement of the room.
The following day, as the Crescent Hotel staff arrived to restore order, they found that everything had mysteriously returned to its original position. The tree and the gifts were once again exactly where they had been before the supernatural intervention. It was as if the ghostly revelers had finished their fun and tidied up before vanishing into the ether.
Year Round Haunting in the Crystal Dining Room
But it wasn’t only this one Christmas day that the Dining room felt like someone was haunting it as dancing and festive people in Victorian clothing can be spotted year round, the golden era of the Crescent Hotel. It is especially here in the room known as the Crystal Dining Room that a lot of the ghost stories come from. Employees could return in the morning and find the menus scattered throughout the room with everything else in place, well knowing that no one else had been inside it.
A story often circulating comes from a waitress that worked in the Crystal Dining Room. Once, as she was tidying plates, taking orders and bringing food, the waitress caught her own reflection in a mirror between the dining room and the kitchen. Looking back was a man and woman wearing Victorian clothing, facing each other like for a wedding. As the groom caught her gaze, they both disappeared. The waitress quit her job right after.
Another thing often seen and heard in the room is when a man wearing Victorian clothing again sits at a table by the windows alone. When asked what he’s doing by the unsuspected staff, he answers: “I saw the most beautiful woman here last night and I am waiting for her to return.”
Many of the stories we know of are told by the cook of the Crescent Hotel, Steve Garrison was just slicing up vegetables in the kitchen of the dining room when he saw a little boy. The little boy was weaning old fashioned clothes and knickers skipping around in the kitchen. Another morning as he was turning on the lights all of the pots and pans flew off the hooks and onto the floor. Garrison also would like to point out that he never drinks at all.
The Many Ghosts of The Crescent Hotel
The ghosts of the Crescent Hotel are numerous and varied, like Clifton “Brecki”, the 4 year old child of Richard and Mary Breckenridge Thompson who died in the hotel because of appendicitis, bouncing his ball throughout the Crescent Hotel, wanting to play with the children in the hotel. In the halls there is a waiter carrying butter, or Dr. John Freemont Ellis, who was the hotel’s in-house doctor in the late 19th century with his cherry tobacco smelling close to his office, now turned into room 212.
In many of the rooms, guests experience strange things as they stay there. A couple said they had been sleeping only with the sheet. The husband woke up and found the comforter having been tucked over them. This happened three more times that night.
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the Haunted Hotels around the world
There are also ghosts and things that happen that people seem unable to explain that have no names or history. Each spirit carries a story, adding to the tapestry of paranormal phenomena that envelops the hotel. Let’s have a closer look at some of them:
Morris the Cat Haunting the Crescent Hotel
Many of the ghosts are said to be old ghosts from the Victorian era to pre war times. One of the youngest ghosts though is said to not be a human though, but a ginger tabby cat. Morris, the cat known as the Hotel General Manager for 21 years, was beloved by guests and staff alike. There have been many cats at the hotel, but no one as famous as Morris who came in 1973. When he died over 300 attended his funeral when he was buried on the property.
Today his picture is in the Crescent Hotel lobby and on the east lawn his headstone can be seen. But it is also said that his ghost can be seen and heard sneaking around the hotel and many guests have reported about a feeling of something feeling like a cat rubbing up against their leg.
Micheal’s Ghost in Room 218
When they built the Crescent Hotel, they brought many stonemasons from Ireland when they started construction in 1884. One of these was a 17-year old, that at least today goes by as Micheal.
There is also said to be an Irish stone mason who fell to his death in the 1880s when they were building the hotel. He was said to have been attractive and flirtatious and died when he tried to get a woman’s attention allegedly. This is also said to have lasted in his afterlife and he is known for tapping women’s shoulders and even pulling back their shower curtain.
Where he died is now room 218 and it is said it is one of the most paranormal active rooms at the Crescent Hotel. It is said the red-haired ghost is the most spotted one and the staff simply refer to the well known entity haunting the place as Michael today.
Guests that have stayed at the place claim to have seen hands coming out of the bathroom mirror, and the screaming of a man in the ceiling falling. The lights and TV go on and off, the door is opening and closing, sometimes even being difficult to even open again.
Guests sleeping say they have been shaken awake, felt dizzy and nauseated staying in the room or even just passing by, and there is banging on the walls. Once, a guest ran screaming out from the room, claiming to have seen blood splatter all over the walls.
Crescent College and the Screaming Student
The Crescent Hotel’s haunted reputation is rooted in a history fraught with tragedy and intrigue. Built in 1886 as a luxury resort for the affluent that enjoyed the healing waters in the day, and the elaborate parties in the evening, it later served various roles, including as a girl’s college and a hospital. When some of the tourism to the healing springs dried up at the turn of the century, they made it into The Crescent College and Conservatory for Young Money in the off season to bring in money in 1908 to 1924.
From the time as a college student, people claim to see a young woman that is haunting from the time. This is a bit vague story, but it is said she was a love-struck student and is said to have either jumped or pushed off the third or fourth floor balcony on the east side where she died.
Those staying close to the balcony report hearing screams as someone is falling, seeing her fall or looking up to the balcony where a shadowy figure is looking back at them.
The Crescent Hotel as the Baker Cancer Clinic
The most infamous chapter in its history occurred in the 1930s, when the Crescent Hotel closed down in 1934 when the Great Depression hit the tourism business in full. But there were still people in need of a cure for wellness, but this time, it was a cure for cancer that was offered.
In 1937 it was transformed into a cancer hospital by a charlatan named Norman Baker that is seen in the hotel lobby at times, wearing his signature lavender tie and purple shirt. Baker had a strange background as a vaudeville actor, inventor and was a self made millionaire, running a radio show in Iowa. He had already fled to Mexico from Iowa for a time after practicing without a medical license, but now he was back in America about to start his most horrifying adventure.
He started to claim he had a cure for cancer through his radio show. All five test patients who took the elixir he had made for cancer ended up dead. It was an injectable with a combination of ground-up watermelon seeds, corn silk, clover, water, glycerin, peppermint, and traces of carbolic acid—which he called “Secret Formula Number 5.”
Baker’s fraudulent treatments and the suffering of his patients are said to have left a lingering aura of despair and unrest.
The Experiments in the Basement and the Morgue
Dr Baker was examining cancer patients in the basement as he was charging their families off all their life savings, making millions of them. A lot of the hotel’s haunted stories come from this time.
At the time on the 3rd floor, they built an annex into the Crescent Hotel that has seen some strange phenomena in later times. Guests seem to have a physical reaction to it, feeling faint and some are even passing out for a moment. It is said to happen very infrequently, sometimes going months and years between each time it happens, sometimes it happens weekly.
Especially in 2019, when archaeologists found hundreds of bottles of Baker’s “secret formula” and jars of bits and pieces he had surgically removed from patients. Dr. Baker wasn’t known to operate on patients though. According to those working there, it looks like something has stirred up some of the paranormal energy that has been lingering and they claim that sightings of ghosts and strange occurrences have become more frequent.
How many died is uncertain, although it is certain he didn’t cure anyone. As many as hundreds of patients died during the time under his care. It wasn’t necessarily the cure that killed them, but it definitely happened because they didn’t do any other treatments. When they did die, Baker would write letters to their families and pretend the patient was still alive.
When they used the old switchboard they used to receive phone calls from the empty basement where the patients agreed to pay for his services. It is also in this basement the ghost of Dr. Baker also has been seen.
Next to the morgue area is the laundry room and a maintenance man saw once all the washers and dryers turn on in the middle of the night. The laundry room still has his autopsy table and walk-in-freezer.
The sound of a gurney being pushed by a nurse wearing all white in what was known as the doctors morgue area in the basement is heard, its squeaking wheels and rattling echoing down the hall. It is only said to happen at 11 in the evening as this is when they used to move the deceased out of the hospital so they could do it discreetly without any of the other patients knowing. The apparition vanishes as soon as they reach the end of the hallway.
The hospital was shut down after a few years though, and he spent a couple of years in prison from 1941 to 1945 before being released. He then lived very comfortably in Florida until he died himself, from cancer in 1958.
The Woman Haunting in Room 3500
One of the rooms that are said to be haunted from this area is the Room 3500 where guests have reported about a lady seemingly wearing what looks like a Victorian nightgown. Today it is one of the hotel’s luxury suites, but back then, it used to be the servants quarter before it was turned into a hospice area for the critically ill cancer patients.
It is said that she is only standing at the foot of your bed and stares at you. Many claim that there are only women that can see her, and if a man is in the room with a woman, he is unaware of her presence.
Theodora’s Room at 419
In room 419, the housekeepers keep seeing the ghost they call Theodora who is constantly seen fumbling with her keys. She introduces herself to them as a cancer patient and vanishes after her greeting.
Those who meet her describe her as a prim and proper older lady. The housekeepers also sometimes happen to find the room tidied up by her before having time to do it themselves, but allegedly only if she enjoys the guests company. She has even been said to have packed the guests’ luggage.
What is the Cause of the Haunting
What makes this particular Crescent Hotel more haunted than others? Over 35 000 Paranormal investigators come by almost every year to find out, but there is no conclusive evidence. So much has been discussed though they even have two weekends “Eureka Springs Paranormal Weekend” to discuss their findings.
The Crescent Hotel certainly has many people passing by and even passing on, and some of its history, like the part of Dr. Baker, is so awful that it almost makes sense to be haunted.
Some point to it being built in limestone that has a particular ability to absorb and release certain electromagnetic and psychic energies. Both the 18 inch thick walls as well as the very hilltop the hotel is built on is of limestone. There are many examples of this, although plenty of brick and wooden houses that are also said to be haunted.
Some point to the mediums that have come and done a reading of the Crescent Hotel. They claim that the hotel acts like a portal to the other side, most likely because of Dr. Baker’s play with life and death.
In the end, who can really tell. The Crescent Hotel remains a captivating destination for those intrigued by the paranormal.
Every year on a death anniversary, the Death Coach is said to pull up at Wilton Castle. The Haunted castle in Ireland is filled with ghosts in the fireplace, headless horsemen and strange lights in the towers.
Wilton Castle in Enniscorthy, Ireland, is a storied 13th-century fortress. This privately owned castle has witnessed the rise and fall of generations, hosting tales of prominent families, arsonist attacks, and ghostly apparitions.
Built in the 13th century by the De Dene family, Wilton Castle has a rich and varied history and went through the hands of several families. For centuries, it served as the proud abode of the Alcock family, who were locally prominent in the 17th century.
Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland
Tragedy struck in 1923 when an arsonist attack left the magnificent house gutted by fire. Yet, hope was not lost for this architectural gem, as careful restoration efforts in recent years have breathed new life into its ancient stones.
Wilton Castle
Today, Wilton Castle opens its doors to guests, offering exclusive hire, weekend occupation on a bed & breakfast basis, or the option to stay and cater for oneself.
The Ghostly Tale of Harry Alcock
Within the hallowed halls of Wilton Castle, the ghostly presence of Harry Alcock lingers, tethered to the realm of the living. As the sun sets on the anniversary of his death each year, he embarks on a spectral journey on the famed death coach. Riding in a horse-drawn carriage, Harry’s apparition drifts away from the castle in a somber procession.
Read More: Check out all of the Haunted Castles from around the world
While no specific date is recorded for this ethereal spectacle, historical records indicate that Harry Alcock passed away on the 3rd of December 1840. Locals once gathered annually in eager anticipation, hoping to catch a glimpse of this melancholic phantom as he embarked on his spectral journey.
The Irish Death Coach
The “Death Coach,” a prominent figure in the folklore of Northwestern Europe, particularly in Ireland, is known as the “cóiste bodhar,” which translates to “silent coach.” This eerie legend can also be found in stories from British and American cultures. The death coach is typically described as a black carriage, driven or led by a headless horseman known as the Dullahan.
The appearance or sound of the death coach is believed to be an ominous sign, foretelling imminent death either for the observer or a close relative. In Irish folklore, it symbolizes the inevitability of death, signifying that once it arrives on Earth, it cannot return empty-handed. This belief emphasizes that once a person’s fate is sealed by a higher power, mortals are powerless to prevent it.
Accompanying the death coach in Irish folklore is the banshee, adding to the sense of foreboding and dread. In Scottish folklore, a similar entity is said to appear on the Royal Mile of Edinburgh, collecting the souls of the deceased. Additionally, there are stories of a “hell wain” that can be spotted in the Scottish night sky, further contributing to the eerie tales of the death coach.
The Ghosts of the Cromwellian War
In the castle’s dark and oppressive past, Oliver Cromwell infamously employed the cells beneath its formidable walls as grim interrogation and prisoner holding areas. Within these gloomy chambers, Cromwell and his followers subjected countless innocent Catholics to unspeakable acts of brutality and mutilation, leaving behind a haunting legacy of pain and suffering.
Legend has it that the anguished spirits of these unfortunate prisoners still wander the surrounding forests and forlorn corridors, forever trapped in a spectral realm between life and death. Torn and bloodied, these restless souls continue to bear the marks of their torment, their restless footsteps echoing through the ancient halls.
The lingering presence of these spectral figures serves as a chilling reminder of the past atrocities that unfolded within those very walls. Their ghostly manifestations carry with them an undeniable aura of sadness, their ethereal forms drifting silently through the centuries, yearning for peace and release from their eternal anguish.
So, should you find yourself drawn to the castle’s eerie allure and wish to delve into its dark secrets, prepare yourself for an encounter with the spectral remnants of Oliver Cromwell’s cruel reign and the unfortunate souls who suffered beneath its merciless grasp.
Archibald Jacob: A Magistrate’s Haunting
Another ghostly tale intertwined with Wilton Castle is that of Archibald Jacob, a local magistrate notorious for his brutal methods and was known to flog and torture people in the parish.
In 1836, tragedy befell Jacob as he fell from his horse and met a fatal end while returning home from a ball at the castle. His restless spirit is said to have lingered, manifesting both at the site of his tragic demise and within the castle itself.
One particular legend recounts a chilling exorcism performed within Wilton Castle. As a Catholic priest made the sign of the cross, the ghost of Archibald Jacob allegedly materialized within the castle’s fireplace, only to vanish in a cloud of eerie smoke. Jacob’s lingering presence serves as a haunting reminder of his controversial reign as a magistrate.
The Mysterious Lights from the Ghost of a Star
Beyond the prominent spirits of Harry Alcock and Archibald Jacob, Wilton Castle is steeped in eerie phenomena. Mysterious lights have been reported in the castle tower, believed to be the manifestation of a former actress who perished in a tragic fire when her dress caught fire as she was carrying an oil lamp. This spectral figure continues to cast her ethereal glow on the castle’s ruins.
It is also believed that it is the ghosts from when the IRA burnt the castle down in 1923. Although this news clip from it doesn’t really mention that anyone died. According to this legend, there were three aspiring actors that burnt with it.
The actress’s ghost stands on the balcony, ready to jump, even though she hesitated to do so the night of the fire, and thus perished. It is as if she relives that decision over and over again.
Additionally, the property echoes with the howls of a phantom dog, its mournful cries echoing through the darkest of nights. These enigmatic occurrences serve as a testament to the enduring mystery and rich tapestry of history that envelopes Wilton Castle.
Tales of Tragedy at Wilton Castle
As the sun sets on each anniversary of Harry Alcock’s death, the Death Coach arrives at Wilton Castle, casting an eerie and melancholic atmosphere over the ancient fortress. The ghostly presence of Harry Alcock, forever tethered to the realm of the living, embarks on his spectral journey in the horse-drawn carriage.
As guests venture through the castle’s hallowed halls, they are not only immersed in its rich tapestry of history but also invited to partake in its ghostly tales. Each creaking floorboard and flickering light whispers the secrets of the past, enticing all who dare to enter into the enigmatic and haunting world of Wilton Castle.
So, if you find yourself drawn to its eerie allure, prepare to immerse yourself in the legends and spirits that dwell within. Wilton Castle stands as a testament to the enduring power of history and the ethereal beauty that can be found within the embrace of the supernatural.
An online magazine about the paranormal, haunted and macabre. We collect the ghost stories from all around the world as well as review horror and gothic media.
