California is known for its breathtaking scenery and dynamic towns, but it also has some terrifying secrets. These haunted hotel rooms provide an extraordinary Halloween experience, combining grim history with ghostly encounters.
From the spectral apparitions that prowl the hallways to the unnerving murmurs heard at night, these venues guarantee a thrill unlike any other.
Whether you’re a seasoned ghost hunter or simply seeking an exciting weekend, these frightening lodgings will immerse you in the otherworldly while you celebrate Halloween. Prepare to have a hauntingly good time!
1. Queen Anne Hotel, Room 410
The Queen Anne Hotel, located in San Francisco, was previously a girls’ boarding school in the 1890s and is now said to be haunted by its former headmistress, Miss Mary Lake.
According to reports, Lake is a kind ghost that sings throughout the night, unpacks guests’ belongings, and assists them in getting settled in. Room 410, which was Miss Mary Lake’s office, is reported to be the most haunted. One guest reported waking up on the floor with their bedding wrapped around them.
Lake did not die in the infamous room 410, as common myth would suggest. Perhaps she’s merely checking on the hotel’s cleanliness. Whatever the reason for the ghost sightings, there is no doubt that room 410 is haunted by the unfathomable.
2. Chateau Marmont, Bungalow 3
The Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard rose to prominence as a hangout for 20th-century celebrities. A-list celebrities can still be spotted at the hotel/acclaimed Hollywood restaurant today, as can reported apparitions.
In 1982, American actor and Saturday Night Live comic John Belushi was discovered dead in the hotel’s Bungalow 3 due to a heroin overdose. Since his death, numerous families who remained in the same room have reported their children conversing with an imaginary “funny man.”
Rooms 43 and 79 at the Chateau are also said to be haunted, with guests reporting windows opening on their own, furniture shifting, creepy whispers throughout the night, and ghost sightings.
3. 1859 Historic National Hotel
Flo, the now-friendly ghost, witnessed her husband’s murder at the 1859 Historic National Hotel in Jamestown, California, near Yosemite National Park.
After discovering her husband’s death in a pool of blood, Flo sobbed in her room for several days until she was discovered dead in her wedding gown by hotel workers. Although there is no information on which room Flo stayed in, it is assumed that she usually stays upstairs in front of the hotel.
Flo leaves an impression on guests by wailing in the corridors after dusk, spilling clothes from suitcases, banging doors, and purposefully dimming lights. Because of Flo’s undeniable presence in the hotel, each room is purportedly outfitted with a notebook to record any odd, esoteric activities.
4. Hotel Del Coronado, Room 302
Following the strange death of hotel visitor Kate Morgan in 1892, Hotel Del Coronado gained a reputation as a haunted place. Up until that point, the Southern California hotel had been a popular hangout for Hollywood stars and political officials, but the numerous sightings of Morgan dressed in black had given “Del” a horror reputation rather than a luxurious one.
During her stay, she was found dead after being shot in the head in room 302 (now 3327). Initially, it was considered suicide, but it was later determined that the bullet in her head did not match the gun found in her hand.
Since then, Morgan’s presence has been felt throughout the hotel, with visitors describing hearing footsteps and seeing her glide down a corridor or standing by the same window as if waiting for someone to return. Morgan’s room is the most popular at the hotel.
5. Hotel Roosevelt, Suite 1200
Hotel Roosevelt, named for President Roosevelt, has entertained superstars such as Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin, as well as the first Academy Awards ceremony during the “golden era.”
However, several Hollywood stars are said to have never checked out.
Marilyn Monroe stayed at the Roosevelt for two years in Suite 1200 during the early stages of her career, and it is said that her ghost still haunts the hotel. Some visitors have claimed to see her ghost in Room 1200’s mirror.
If Suite 1200 is reserved, the spirit of trumpet troubadour Montgomery Clift can be heard tantalizingly from the afterlife in room 928. Guests in this room have reported receiving a pat on the back, only to turn around and find no one there, and hearing trumpet music from the empty corridor.
Conclusion
California’s haunted hotels provide a unique blend of frightening history and spine-tingling experiences for those courageous enough to stay. With eerie encounters and spectral legends, these sites offer an amazing Halloween trip, leaving guests with chills and memories that will last a lifetime.