Some hotel guests leave behind a toothbrush, a forgotten charger, or a pair of socks. According to American ghost lore, a few guests never leave at all.
Across the United States, historic hotels have accumulated stories of apparitions, unexplained footsteps, mysterious voices, doors opening by themselves, and long-dead residents who supposedly continue to wander familiar hallways. Some of these legends are more than a century old. Others developed through guest experiences, local storytelling, paranormal investigations, books, television programs, and ghost tours.
Of course, there is no scientific evidence proving that any hotel is haunted. The ranking below is subjective and considers the strength and longevity of each hotel’s supernatural reputation, its documented history, the prominence of its ghost stories, and its importance in American haunted-hotel folklore.
Whether you believe in ghosts or simply enjoy eerie history, these are ten of the most famous allegedly haunted hotels in America.
👻 The Most Haunted Hotels in America at a Glance
| Rank | Hotel | Location | Best-Known Haunting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa | Eureka Springs, Arkansas | Michael, Theodora and the former morgue |
| 2 | The Stanley Hotel | Estes Park, Colorado | Room 217 and The Shining connection |
| 3 | Hotel del Coronado | Coronado, California | Kate Morgan |
| 4 | Hotel Monteleone | New Orleans, Louisiana | Maurice Begere |
| 5 | Omni Parker House | Boston, Massachusetts | Harvey Parker |
| 6 | The Marshall House | Savannah, Georgia | Civil War-era and yellow fever ghost stories |
| 7 | Mizpah Hotel | Tonopah, Nevada | The Lady in Red |
| 8 | The Driskill | Austin, Texas | Jesse Driskill and other hotel legends |
| 9 | The Read House | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Room 311 |
| 10 | Hawthorne Hotel | Salem, Massachusetts | Unexplained guest experiences |
🏨 1. 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa — Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Few American hotels embrace their supernatural reputation as enthusiastically as the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa.
Perched above Eureka Springs in the Ozark Mountains, the Crescent opened in 1886 as an elaborate resort hotel. Its history later took several unusual turns, including periods as a women’s college and, beginning in 1937, a hospital operated by Norman Baker.
Baker presented himself as a cancer expert despite lacking legitimate medical credentials. He promoted supposed cancer treatments at the Crescent until federal authorities eventually prosecuted him for mail fraud connected with his medical claims.
That troubling period has become an important part of the hotel’s modern ghost lore.
One of the Crescent’s best-known spirits, however, supposedly predates Baker.
According to hotel legend, an Irish stonemason known as Michael died during the hotel’s construction after falling in an area that eventually became Room 218. The room is now one of the property’s most famous locations for reported paranormal activity.
Another legendary resident is Theodora, said to be a former patient from the Baker hospital years. Stories also surround the hotel’s basement morgue.
Rather than hiding from its reputation, the Crescent calls itself “America’s Most Haunted Hotel” and currently offers ghost tours and paranormal investigations.
Halloween Haunt has a complete guide to the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa if you want to explore its history and legends in greater detail.
Why it ranks #1: Few American hotels combine such an unusual documented history, so many established ghost stories, and such a strong modern paranormal-tour tradition.
🔑 2. The Stanley Hotel — Estes Park, Colorado
The Stanley Hotel’s place in horror history is difficult to match.
F.O. Stanley, co-founder of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, opened the grand Colorado hotel in 1909. Its elegant white façade and spectacular Rocky Mountain setting eventually attracted one particularly important visitor: Stephen King.
King stayed in Room 217 during a 1974 visit. His experience at the nearly empty hotel helped inspire his 1977 novel The Shining.
The fictional Overlook Hotel is not simply the Stanley under another name, and Stanley Kubrick’s famous 1980 movie adaptation was not filmed there. Nevertheless, the connection transformed the real hotel into a pilgrimage destination for horror fans.
Room 217 remains especially famous. The hotel describes it as a room associated both with King’s stay and with reports of unusual occurrences from later guests.
The property’s supernatural reputation has grown far beyond that single room. Stories about unexplained sounds, apparitions and other strange experiences have circulated for decades, while the hotel now offers both historical ghost tours and paranormal investigations.
The Stanley therefore occupies an unusual place where genuine hotel history, literary history and modern ghost folklore overlap.
Why it ranks #2: It may be the most famous haunted hotel in American popular culture, thanks largely to its extraordinary connection with The Shining.
🌊 3. Hotel del Coronado — Coronado, California
California’s spectacular Hotel del Coronado looks more like a seaside fairy-tale castle than the setting of a ghost story.
Yet one tragic episode from 1892 has followed the resort for more than a century.
Twenty-four-year-old Kate Morgan arrived at the hotel alone on Thanksgiving Day that year. She apparently told hotel employees she was waiting for a man to join her.
He never did.
Five days later, Morgan was found dead from a gunshot wound. The San Diego coroner determined that she had taken her own life.
Newspapers initially called the unidentified woman the “Beautiful Stranger” before authorities established her identity.
Over the decades, Morgan became the Del’s most famous ghost.
Guests and employees have attributed flickering lights, unexplained noises, moving objects, doors opening and closing, temperature changes and mysterious footsteps to her presence—particularly around the third-floor room where she stayed.
The Hotel del Coronado does not shy away from the legend. The resort has researched Morgan’s story, published material about her death and incorporated the tale into guided haunted-history experiences.
Why it ranks #3: Unlike many hotel ghost tales involving unidentified characters, the Kate Morgan legend grew around a documented guest and a well-recorded historical death.
🎠 4. Hotel Monteleone — New Orleans, Louisiana
It would be difficult to make a list of haunted American hotels without including New Orleans.
Hotel Monteleone has stood on Royal Street since the Monteleone family’s hotel story began there in 1886. Today it is one of the French Quarter’s most recognizable historic hotels.
It also proudly acknowledges its supernatural reputation.
The hotel’s most famous ghost is a young boy named Maurice Begere. According to the story preserved by Hotel Monteleone, Maurice died while staying at the hotel. His grieving parents reportedly returned repeatedly afterward, hoping somehow to encounter their son again.
Guests have subsequently reported seeing a young child near the area associated with Maurice.
Hotel Monteleone also says investigators from the International Society of Paranormal Research spent several days examining the property in 2003 and reported contact with more than a dozen supposed entities.
Other stories involve doors opening unexpectedly, elevators behaving strangely and shadowy figures appearing in hallways.
Hotel Monteleone is only one of several supernatural landmarks in the French Quarter. Explore more in our guide to the Top 10 Haunted Places in New Orleans.
Why it ranks #4: Its haunted reputation is deeply embedded in New Orleans folklore, and the hotel itself has preserved the Maurice Begere story for generations of visitors.
🕯️ 5. Omni Parker House — Boston, Massachusetts
Boston’s Omni Parker House opened in 1855 and has welcomed an extraordinary collection of writers, politicians and famous travelers.
According to legend, founder Harvey Parker may still be welcoming guests.
One of the most frequently repeated Parker House stories involves longtime hotel bellman John Brehm, who recalled hearing stories about Parker’s ghost while working at the hotel.
Brehm described an incident from around 1950 in which a woman staying near Room 1078 reportedly encountered the apparition of a heavyset older man with a black mustache. The figure eventually faded away.
The description was said to resemble Harvey Parker.
Other Parker House legends have accumulated over the decades, helped by the hotel’s long history and labyrinth of corridors, staircases and guest rooms.
It is worth noting that even the hotel’s own retelling of the Harvey Parker story acknowledged that such sightings had become less frequent by the time it published the account. That makes the Parker House a good example of how a historical ghost story can become part of a hotel’s identity even when reports change over time.
Why it ranks #5: The combination of nearly two centuries of history and one of America’s classic hotel-founder ghost stories has made the Parker House a staple of haunted Boston.
⚔️ 6. The Marshall House — Savannah, Georgia
Savannah already has a reputation as one of America’s great ghost-story cities, and few hotels embody that atmosphere better than the Marshall House.
Mary Marshall opened the hotel in 1851.
The building subsequently served as a hospital during yellow fever epidemics and as a Union hospital during the closing months of the Civil War.
Those chapters of its documented history provided fertile ground for later ghost stories.
According to Explore Georgia, reported experiences at the Marshall House have included apparitions in hallways and foyers, the sound of children running through otherwise quiet corridors and faucets seemingly turning on without assistance.
The hotel closed in 1957 and remained largely unused on its upper floors for decades before an extensive restoration led to its reopening in 1999.
Today, the Marshall House’s creaking floors, historic staircases, old brick walls and mid-19th-century origins make it an atmospheric place to stay even if nothing supernatural occurs.
Why it ranks #6: Its authentic Civil War and epidemic-era history provides a powerful backdrop for some of Savannah’s most enduring hotel ghost stories.
❤️ 7. Mizpah Hotel — Tonopah, Nevada
Deep in Nevada mining country stands one of the West’s most famous haunted hotels.
The Mizpah Hotel opened in Tonopah in 1907 during the community’s mining boom. At five stories tall, the lavish hotel was a striking symbol of the town’s sudden prosperity.
Its most famous supernatural resident is known simply as the Lady in Red.
Versions of her story differ, which is an important clue that we are dealing with folklore rather than a firmly documented biography.
In the most familiar versions, she was a woman associated with the hotel who died violently after an encounter with a jealous lover. Her ghost supposedly remains near the fifth floor.
Guests have attributed unusual sounds, mysterious touches and other unexplained experiences to her.
The legend has become such an important part of the Mizpah’s identity that the hotel has a Lady in Red Suite, while Nevada’s official tourism organization promotes her as one of the state’s best-known ghosts.
The Mizpah has even received national recognition in reader rankings of haunted hotels.
Why it ranks #7: The Lady in Red has become one of the American West’s most recognizable hotel ghosts, and the restored Mizpah provides an unusually atmospheric setting for the legend.
🤠 8. The Driskill — Austin, Texas
Cattle baron Jesse Driskill opened his elaborate Austin hotel in 1886 with ambitions of creating one of the finest hotels in Texas.
More than a century later, some visitors believe Driskill is still keeping an eye on the place.
Texas folklore associates several spirits with the hotel, including Jesse Driskill himself. Guests have attributed mysterious cigar smoke, flickering lights and unusual sensations to the hotel’s founder.
Other legends involve a young girl and a tragic bride.
Over time, retellings of these stories have accumulated conflicting details, so individual claims should be treated as folklore rather than established history.
One persistent misconception also deserves correcting: Jesse Driskill did not simply lose the hotel in a poker game, as some versions of the story suggest. Financial troubles eventually forced him to relinquish ownership.
Today the Driskill remains a major Austin landmark, and ghost tours of the city frequently incorporate stories connected with the hotel.
Why it ranks #8: Few Texas hotels have generated as many enduring supernatural tales, and Jesse Driskill remains one of the country’s best-known supposed hotel-owner ghosts.
🛁 9. The Read House — Chattanooga, Tennessee
One room has given Chattanooga’s Read House an outsized place in American haunted-hotel folklore:
Room 311.
The legend centers on a woman known as Annalisa Netherly.
Popular versions of the tale claim Netherly died violently in the room during the 1920s after becoming involved in a jealous romantic confrontation. Details of her supposed death vary considerably between retellings.
Importantly, the Read House itself now describes the story as a legend rather than presenting every detail as verified history.
That has not stopped Room 311 from developing a formidable reputation.
Guests have reported unexplained noises, flickering lights, running water, shadowy forms and a feeling that someone else is present.
During a major restoration, Room 311 was returned to a style intended to evoke its 1920s appearance, complete with period-inspired details and a physical key rather than an ordinary modern hotel key card.
Tours of the room may also be offered depending on availability.
Why it ranks #9: Few individual hotel rooms in America have developed a supernatural identity as recognizable as Room 311.
🧙 10. Hawthorne Hotel — Salem, Massachusetts
Sometimes location alone is enough to give a hotel an eerie atmosphere.
The Hawthorne Hotel opened in Salem in 1925 and overlooks Salem Common, placing guests within walking distance of many locations associated with the city’s extraordinary colonial history.
Salem’s worldwide association with the 1692 witch trials naturally makes almost any unexplained hotel experience particularly memorable.
Over the years, some Hawthorne Hotel guests have reported strange encounters and unexplained phenomena.
What makes the Hawthorne especially interesting is the hotel’s refreshingly cautious response.
Asked directly whether the property is haunted, the hotel says the claim has not been confirmed. It acknowledges that some guests have shared haunting experiences while pointing out that most visitors sleep through the night without encountering anything paranormal.
That may be the most responsible ghost-story disclaimer on this entire list.
The Hawthorne nevertheless makes an atmospheric base for exploring Salem during October and has a longstanding relationship with the city’s elaborate Halloween celebrations.
Why it ranks #10: The combination of historic Salem, nearly a century of hotel history and generations of guest stories has made the Hawthorne a natural part of New England’s haunted-hotel tradition.
🧭 What Makes a Hotel “Haunted”?
There is no scientific measurement for determining which hotel is the most haunted.
Instead, reputations usually develop through some combination of:
- documented historical events;
- deaths or tragedies associated with the property;
- repeated stories from guests and employees;
- local folklore;
- ghost tours;
- paranormal investigations;
- books and television programs;
- and decades—or even centuries—of storytelling.
Stories often change as they are retold.
Names appear where earlier versions had none. Ordinary deaths become murders. Historical figures become attached to buildings they may never have visited. A strange noise in one decade can develop into a fully formed ghost story several generations later.
That does not make haunted hotels uninteresting.
Quite the opposite.
Separating documented history from folklore often reveals stories that are far more fascinating than the exaggerated versions.
🎃 Which Haunted Hotel Should You Visit?
For the full paranormal experience, the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Stanley Hotel are difficult to beat. Both actively incorporate their supernatural reputations into visitor experiences.
For historic elegance with a famous ghost story, Hotel del Coronado and Hotel Monteleone are outstanding choices.
For American history, the Omni Parker House and Marshall House offer fascinating backgrounds even without their ghosts.
For an Old West atmosphere, head to Nevada’s Mizpah Hotel.
For a single legendary haunted room, Chattanooga’s Room 311 at the Read House is one of the country’s most famous.
And if your ideal spooky trip involves an entire city filled with Halloween history, the Hawthorne Hotel puts you in the heart of Salem.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered the most haunted hotel in America?
There is no official designation, but the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is one of the strongest candidates. The property actively calls itself “America’s Most Haunted Hotel” and offers ghost tours and paranormal investigations throughout the year.
What haunted hotel inspired The Shining?
Stephen King’s stay at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado—particularly Room 217—helped inspire his novel The Shining. The fictional Overlook Hotel was not a literal portrait of the Stanley, however, and Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 movie was filmed elsewhere.
What is the famous haunted hotel in San Diego?
Hotel del Coronado near San Diego is associated with the ghost of Kate Morgan, a young woman who died at the resort in 1892. Reports of unexplained activity have particularly centered on the area around the room where she stayed.
Can you actually stay in these haunted hotels?
Yes. All ten properties on this list operate as hotels, although access to specific rooms associated with ghost stories may be limited or subject to availability.
Are haunted hotels really haunted?
There is no scientifically established evidence proving that these hotels contain ghosts. Apparitions, strange noises, mysterious smells and other paranormal experiences remain anecdotal. The documented history of the buildings can often be verified; supernatural explanations cannot.
🕸️ More Haunted Places to Explore
If these hotels leave you wanting more ghost stories, continue exploring the darker side of Halloween:
- 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, America’s Most Haunted Hotel
- Top 10 Haunted Places in New Orleans
- The World’s Most Haunted Buildings
- Top 10 Most Haunted Places in Indiana
- Top 10 Haunted Places in Ohio
- Haunted Places and Halloween History
🌙 Final Thoughts
America’s haunted hotels are fascinating precisely because history and folklore become so tightly intertwined.
The Crescent Hotel’s bizarre period as a fraudulent cancer hospital is real. Kate Morgan truly died at the Hotel del Coronado. The Marshall House really served as a Civil War hospital. Stephen King really stayed at the Stanley Hotel and left with the beginnings of one of horror literature’s most famous stories.
Whether the spirits came afterward is another question entirely.
For believers, these hotels offer the tantalizing possibility that a previous guest might still be wandering the hallway.
For skeptics, they provide something equally valuable: remarkable architecture, genuine American history and some wonderfully creepy stories.
Either way, you may want to leave the bathroom light on.
📚 Sources
- 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa — History
- 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa — Haunted Hotel and Ghost Tours
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas — Norman Baker
- The Stanley Hotel — About
- The Stanley Hotel — Room 217
- Hotel del Coronado — Ghostly Goings-On and Kate Morgan
- Hotel Monteleone — Our Story and Haunted History
- Omni Hotels — Haunted Hotels: Boston’s Omni Parker House
- The Marshall House — History
- Explore Georgia — The Marshall House
- Travel Nevada — Meet the Lady in Red
- The Mizpah Hotel
- Texas Highways — The Haunted Driskill
- The Read House — Room 311
- Hawthorne Hotel — Hotel FAQs
