The nation is home to numerous haunted hotels, each steeped in tales of ghostly encounters and mysterious happenings. While some thrill-seekers eagerly anticipate a supernatural experience, others, like Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, prefer to avoid such places. As his teammates lodged at Milwaukee’s notorious Pfister Hotel for a game against the Brewers, Betts opted for an Airbnb for the second consecutive year.
Whether you’re intrigued or apprehensive about haunted hotels, here are five of the most notorious ones in the United States, along with the eerie stories behind them:
### Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, CO
The Stanley Hotel, with its stunning exterior, inspired Stephen King’s iconic horror novel “The Shining.” Long before King penned his story in the 1970s, guests and paranormal enthusiasts reported strange occurrences. Rooms 401, 407, 428, and 217 are particularly notorious for ghostly activities, including an unfriendly spirit in 401, an invisible presence in 407, and unsettling noises—and even a cowboy—in 428. King himself stayed in room 217, where he dreamt of his son being chased by a firehose, leading to the novel’s creation. Established in 1909, the Stanley Hotel is one of Estes Park’s oldest establishments and offers ghost tours for those interested in its haunted history.
### The Hotel Chelsea – New York City, NY
Since its opening in 1884, Hotel Chelsea has been a haven for famous artists like Mark Twain, Andy Warhol, and Janis Joplin, whose spirit is rumored to still wander the halls. The hotel’s haunted reputation stems from numerous suicides and murders. For instance, Etelka Graf, after severing her hand, leapt from a fifth-floor window, and Titanic survivor Mary allegedly hanged herself after losing her husband. Visitors also report encounters with a ghost named Larry, who is known to engage in conversation. The hotel remains open to guests today.
### 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa – Eureka Springs, AR
The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa in Arkansas is often dubbed America’s most haunted hotel. It was once a women’s college and later a hospital run by Norman Baker, who falsely claimed to cure cancer. Many patients who died under his care are said to haunt the premises, including Theodora, who reportedly tidies guests’ rooms. Other spirits include Michael, an Irish stonemason who died during construction, and Morris the cat, affectionately remembered as the hotel’s general manager.
### Hotel del Coronado – Coronado, CA
The Hotel del Coronado is reputedly the most haunted hotel in San Diego, largely due to Kate Morgan, who checked in in 1892 and never left. After waiting for a partner who never arrived, Morgan took her own life. Her presence is felt in the room she occupied and the hotel’s gift shop, with reports of flickering lights, self-activating faucets, and mysterious footsteps and voices.
### The Pfister Hotel – Milwaukee, WI
The Pfister Hotel, a four-star establishment, is known for unsettling MLB players since the early 2000s and is said to be haunted by its owner, Charles Pfister. Former Minnesota Twins player Carlos Gomez once fled to the lobby after hearing voices and experiencing technical malfunctions with his iPod. In 2018, St. Louis Cardinals player Carlos Martinez shared an Instagram video claiming to have seen a ghost, prompting him and his teammates to stick together for safety.
These haunted hotels continue to captivate visitors with their chilling histories and ghostly legends.
Source: nbcnewyork.com