Spooky season is officially upon us and Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide have their fair share of haunted hotels. To kick off the thrilling month of October, we're showcasing their ghost stories! Around the world, October marks the beginning of fall leaves, pumpkins, and, of course, notoriously spooky ghost stories. Many Historic Hotels are indeed haunted with spirits (not just of the alcoholic variety) and to this day, some have never checked out. Venture through the portal (if you dare) and discover haunted historic hotels!
Discover & Explore Haunted Historic Hotels!
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For some hotels, the past is not only present in their historic architecture and authentic character, but also—according to legends—in the souls attached to them. The historic hotels highlighted in the 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Haunted Hotels List are places where generations of staff and guests pass on tales of spectral Revolutionary War soldiers, smoky silhouettes of U.S. Presidents, the melancholy spirits of tragic would-be brides, unexplained footsteps, as well as friendly phantom bellhops and engineers. |
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French Lick, Indiana (1845)
Established in 1845, French Lick Springs Hotel attracted guests from around the world to experience the “miracle waters” of nearby sulfur springs. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, French Lick Springs Hotel is currently one several structures that constitute the French Lick Resort. This wonderful holiday destination has 443 guestrooms and suites, a 105,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Meeting and Event Center, and two championship golf courses designed by renowned architects Donald Ross and Pete Dye. The hotel’s Beaux-Arts architecture and ornate masonry were updated in a $600 million restoration project. The lobby and its gold leafing is the hotel’s showpiece, ushering guests into an era known for its peerless luxury.
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Historic Hotels of America®
with Legendary Lore!
Many Historic Hotels are filled with ghosts and all things spooky that leave guests feeling entertained after experiencing incredible encounters with those from the past that never checked out! Read about some of the ghosts that still haunt the property today.
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(1888) San Diego, California
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Hotel del Coronado’s guests and employees have experienced supernatural occurrences nearly since the day the hotel opened its doors. Many people have attributed their encounters to Kate Morgan, one of The Del’s former guests from 1892. Legend has it, she was burdened with sadness waiting for her estranged husband to meet her in Room 3327. To her dismay, he never showed. Several days later, Kate's body was found on the hotel steps leading to the ocean. Since meeting her doom, guests have reported unexplainable noises and breezes and seeing a ghostly figure of a young lady in a black lace dress.
The legendary Hotel del Coronado was built in 1888. Its visionary founders, Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story, dreamed of creating a seaside resort that would be “the talk of the Western world.” A living legend for well more than a century, Hotel del Coronado celebrates its rich history as a proud host to celebrities, royalty, and beach-loving families through timeless experiences that resonate with modern-day guests. Rated one of the top ten hotels in the world by USA Today, “The Del,” as it's affectionately known. offers a contemporary beachfront experience, ocean-view dining, an award-winning spa, upscale shopping, and a variety of recreational activities.
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(1913) Asheville, North Carolina
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There is a strange, but gentle spirit residing within the granite walls of Asheville's historic Omni Grove Park Inn. Known simply as the “Pink Lady,” she has been seen, felt and experienced by hotel employees and guests for nearly a century. The Pink Lady has been generally described as a dense pinkish smoke, although some report the mist materializing into the shape of a young woman donned in a pink ballgown. The Pink Lady is believed to have met her demise on the Palm Court floor after falling two stories from the fifth floor to the third in the 1920s. Nevertheless, she has been seen and experienced in a number of places throughout the resort.
Omni Grove Park Inn is one of the country’s most celebrated resorts. Built in 1913 with granite stones mined from Sunset Mountain, the Inn overlooks the charming southern community of Asheville. With its distinctive, undulating red-clay tile roof and original Roycroft furnishings and fixtures, Omni Grove Park Inn captures the essence of the Arts and Crafts movement. Ten U.S. presidents and countless luminaries have stayed at this one-of-a-kind destination, due to its understated elegance and Southern charm. Offering sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, innovative restaurants, a Donald Ross-designed golf course, and an award-winning spa, it is no surprise that this AAA Four Diamond property is listed on Condé Nast’s “Top Resort Spas in the U.S.”
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(1887) Jekyll Island, Georgia
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At Jekyll Island Club Resort, guests were startled to find their coffee partially drank and the day's newspaper mysteriously rifled through even though no one else was around. However, this isn't due to some renegade housekeeper. Rather, it's thought to be the ghost of Samuel Spencer, a railroad magnate and former club member who once had an apartment in the Clubhouse Annex. He would often start his day with a cup of coffee and the latest edition of the Wall Street Journal, and, if guest accounts are any indication, it seems as though he still carries on his morning ritual to this day.
Nestled on a barrier island off the Georgia coast, the Jekyll Island Club Resort opened in 1887 as a hunting retreat for America’s wealthiest families. Here, millionaires wintered in scenic seclusion until the onset of World War II when the property was abandoned. Restoration in 1986 revealed the club’s original beauty and elegance, qualities that exude in abundance from the leaded art glass, ornate woodwork, and Rumford fireplaces. From the lofty tower to the encircling verandas and original heart pine floors, Victorian charm still permeates the public areas and rooms once occupied by the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, and Morgans. In 2003, Jekyll Island Club Resort was named one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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Historic Hotels Worldwide®:
Haunted Castles Around the World
Many restless spirits still haunt the castles that have been around for over 800 years. From hidden chambers and practice of the dark arts to women seen walking down the halls in Victorian attire present day, these haunted castles will sure give guests an experience to never forget.
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(1180) Castledermot, Ireland
Many legends surround Kilkea Castle’s “Wizard Earl,” Gerald FitzGerald, the 11th Earl of Kildare, who watched over the stronghold from 1547 until his death four decades later. There were whispers that he had an affinity for practicing the dark arts in a hidden chamber tucked deep within the bowels of the castle. Using his 'magical powers' to preserve his essence, the Earl would return to the castle on the 7th day of the 7th month of every 7th year. He would arrive at midnight mounted on a silver-shod white horse with glittering hooves. Gerald’s phantom would stay through the night before taking his leave at dawn.
A stunning 12th century castle, Kilkea Castle is one of the oldest inhabited castles in Ireland with history dating back to 1180. Located in Castledermot, situated in the rich and lush countryside of County Kildare, Kilkea Castle is an hour`s drive from Dublin. Today it extends a five-star welcome to travelers from around the globe. Kilkea Castle enchants guests from the moment they drive down the beech lined avenue overlooking the Killeshin Hills. Only minutes from the ancient Mullaghreelan Woods, the Castle is set on 180 acres of its very own wonderful woodland and gardens.
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(1170) Cumbria, United Kingdom
There have been many accounts of visitations and sightings of apparitions at Appleby Castle throughout its long history. Various guests have reported seeing a lady dressed in Elizabethan attire, which has been assumed to be the figure of Lady Anne Clifford, who inherited the castle in the 17th century and one of the most influential members of the Clifford family. One account writes that a member of a family that was staying at the castle was visited by the ghost at night and eerily told to “get out.” The Castle’s ‘morning room,’ (which is said to have been the Castle’s original chapel) is the place where most guests have reported sightings.
Appleby-in-Westmorland is the gateway to the Eden Valley. The Castle’s luxurious accommodation includes 12 classically appointed bedrooms and three self-contained cottages. Appleby Castle has been held by the Kings of England and Scotland and is one of the few remaining intact Norman keeps. Besides functioning as a hotel and event venue, the keep also acts as The Norman Centre, a museum dedicated to Norman history.
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