For some thrill-seekers, there’s something frighteningly fun about the thought of spending the night in one of the world’s most haunted hotels. Whether it’s the influence of films like The Shining—which was inspired by the real-life Stanley Hotel in Colorado—or the hope of a spooky encounter in a dark hallway, plenty of travelers say that “paranormal activity” is a must-have hotel amenity.
No judgment here. Traveling is all about new experiences, after all. Luckily, for those who crave a spine-tingling chill, plenty of America’s historic hotels have reported ghost sightings and unexplained phenomena. Marilyn Monroe’s apparition has been seen at the Roosevelt in Hollywood; Civil War soldiers have been spotted at the Marshall House in Savannah, Georgia. Overseas, where many hotels are several centuries old, travelers might find themselves sharing a room with the poltergeists of royals or WWII prisoners. Here's a few more.
Omni Parker House, Boston, Massachusetts
Leave it to one of the longest-running hotels in the United States to be home to not one ghost but two. Omni Parker House is a luxury hotel located in Boston, where the spirit of its founder, Harvey Parker, is rumored to roam the halls to make sure guests are enjoying their stay. Others swear that the ghost of Charles Dickens may still linger somewhere on the third floor adjacent to a room where the author briefly lived.
The Hotel Chelsea, New York City, New York
Patti Smith, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, and Madonna are among the many boldface names who once called the Hotel Chelsea home, but two of its famous tenants never left. While the hotel closed its doors in 2011 for renovations—and reopened in 2022—former residents and employees have long noted paranormal activity from the ghosts of Sex Pistols’ bassist Sid Vicious, who was accused of murdering his girlfriend Nancy Spungeon while they lived there, and Dylan Thomas, whose dedicated plaque on the outside of the building reads: “Dylan Thomas lived and wrote at the Chelsea Hotel and from here he sailed out to die.”
The Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge, Massachusetts
The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts has had its share of visits from paranormal investigators and mediums. They say the fourth floor, in particular, has the most activity. And it’s not just the paranormal professionals who make these claims: both cleaning staff and guests have reported seeing a “ghostly young girl carrying flowers” and “a man in a top hat.” Guests have also said they’ve awoken to the feeling of someone standing over them at the foot of the bed. Creepy!
The Cadogan Hotel, London, England
Chelsea’s chic Cadogan Hotel is well-known for being a celebrity haunt. Artists, models, and tastemakers have all stayed at the Belmond-owned property; and perhaps most famously, Oscar Wilde was arrested here in room 118 for “gross indecency” in 1895. The historic hotel is, of course, also well-known for being haunted—though apparently Wilde isn’t the ghost that’s regularly seen. Instead, the tales of hauntings usually revolve around a friend of Wilde, actress and socialite Lillie Langtry, who at one time also owned the property. Though she died in 1929, she’s often spotted in the hotel’s restaurant—especially around Christmas when there are fewer crowds.
Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn, Big Sur, California
According to American Horror Story: Hotel’s set designer, Ellen Brill, this charming old cabin in the woods is haunted by the friendly ghost of its founder, lovingly referred to as “Grandpa Deetjen.” (Brill says she “heard footsteps and a door slam and started to freak out.”) The place certainly looks a little spooky: tucked amidst the lush redwoods of the NorCal coast, the hotel’s rooms have wood paneling and a decidedly grandma-core aesthetic. If that’s not enough creep-factor for you, the nearby Point Sur Lighthouse allegedly houses the spirits of deceased sailors and seamen, and offers moonlight tours and “ghost hunts” throughout October.
The Driskill, Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas, is home to many ghost tours, but the top spot on every ghost-chaser’s list is this popular downtown hotel. President Lyndon B. Johnson is just one of the famous spirits that is said to wander the grounds. He and his wife had their first date here in 1934, and he also watched the results of the 1964 Presidential Elections from the presidential suite; after he won, LBJ celebrated in the grand ballroom. Before that, a four-year-old child toppled down the grand staircase to their death in 1887. Paranormal investigators have reportedly managed to catch the faint sound of a ball ping-ponging against walls while a mischievous voice giggles. However, perhaps the best-known ghosts are the pair of jilted brides, each of whom took their own life while staying in Room 329 a few decades apart.
Emily Morgan Hotel, San Antonio, Texas
The Emily Morgan was built in 1924 and originally operated as a medical facility, with floors 12 and 14 acting as the hospital and surgery areas. Guests have reported sightings on these floors, mainly of a woman in a white dress, and mysterious phone calls in the middle of the night with no one on the other end. The hotel is also situated directly next to The Alamo, a historic gravesite of fallen soldiers that is also rumored to be haunted.
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
The Omni Shoreham Hotel is one of Washington, D.C.'s most historic and allegedly most haunted hotels. In an oft-told tale dating back to the early 20th century, a young girl and a maid both died of mysterious causes in one of the hotel suites. Since then, guests have reported hearing bizarre, unexplained noises coming from the part of the hotel where they passed away that fateful night.
The Don CeSar, St. Petersburg, Florida
With its Gatsby-era pink facade and white sand beachfront, the Don CeSar doesn’t seem very creepy—at first. But the more you get to know this grand coastal hotel, the more intriguing it becomes. It was built in 1928 as a tribute to “Lucinda” the lost love of real estate mogul Thomas Rowe, who died in the lobby in 1940. Apparently, Rowe still searches the grounds looking for his beloved Lucinda—and some guests even say it’s possible he’s found her: reports of a ghostly couple have been spotted on the property as well. No wonder this spot is considered one of the state’s most romantic—if also haunted—hotels.
Hotel del Coronado, San Diego, California
The most famous ghost in San Diego is said to haunt the Hotel del Coronado, a historic hotel that opened in 1888. The ghost is Kate Morgan, who has haunted the hotel since 1892, the year she checked in to (allegedly) await the arrival of her con artist husband—who never showed up. Four days later, a dismal (and pregnant) Kate was found dead at the bottom of an outdoor staircase leading to Coronado Beach, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Her ghost is often seen in a black lace dress on the beach as well as in the now-infamous room she stayed in (Room 3327) where her initials are said to randomly appear on the ceiling.
The Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
It’s impossible not to be drawn to Chicago’s Congress Hotel: its stately presence looms over Michigan Avenue, beckoning with the promise of late 19th-century splendor inside. If you enter, however, you may be surprised: its cavernous ballrooms, dramatic staircases, and grand restaurants are eerily void of guests; even local ghost tour operators describe the interior as “very creepy.” Perhaps that’s because dozens of ghosts—many of whom reportedly died by suicide—are said to haunt this over 100-year-old hotel. Some of the most infamous hauntings include that of a Spanish-American War veteran who shot himself on the eve of his wedding in 1900, and a depressed mother who pushed her two young children and herself out of a 12th-floor window in 1939.
The Place d’Armes Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana
The Place d’Armes was built on the site of a school that burned down during the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788. Though there are several haunted hotels in the city, this is said to be the one with the most activity. Many guests have seen a bearded old man who nods at them and fades away, and recently one woman said that she had actual conversations with him.
The Langham, London, England
In Room 333 at the Langham, there’s apparently a man who likes to hang out in his Victorian eveningwear—though only during the month of October. Other ghost sightings at this famous Marylebone hotel include a man dressed in military garb, a German prince, and former frequent guest Napoleon III, who is said to haunt the basement.
Chateau Marmont, West Hollywood, California
Los Angeles, the birthplace of Hollywood, is said to be one of the most haunted cities in the United States, and plenty of operators offer year-round ghost tours. Fitting then, that West Hollywood’s nearly 100-year-old Chateau Marmont would be one of the city’s most famous haunts. Home to many celebrity guests, including Katharine Hepburn and more recently Lindsay Lohan, the Chateau has almost always drawn an A-list clientele. However, one Saturday Night Live star who is said to have checked in and never left is comedian John Belushi, who died at the hotel from a drug overdose in 1982. Belushi was later discovered dead in Bungalow 3, which remains the site of many strange occurrences. The most notorious incident occurred in 1999, when a family was staying in the bungalow with their two-year-old son. The boy was often found laughing and giggling by himself—and when asked what he was laughing at, he would respond, “The funny man.” When his mother was leafing through a book of celebrity guests of Chateau Marmont, the boy pointed to a photo of John Belushi and exclaimed, “The funny man!”
Crescent Hotel & Spa, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Formerly a cancer-curing hospital in the 1930s, the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa in the Ozark Mountains is widely considered to be one of the most haunted hotels in the world. Visitors are said to have experienced chilling, tingling touches, unusual shadows, and whispers throughout their stay. The hotel even hosts annual conferences on the paranormal, curated by the hotel’s “Director of Ghosts,” with keynote speakers like Larry Flaxman of Arkansas Paranormal & Anomalous Studies Team. Common ghost sightings include Michael, an Irish stonemason who fell to his death (near Room 218) when building the hotel, and Theodora, a patient who fumbles for her keys outside Room 419.
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