When was the last time you stayed in a hotel?
There’s something thrilling about it; sleeping in a place that’s entirely new, a place where hundreds of other strangers have slept. Not to mention the maid service.
But there are some hotels that have a little something extra included with the continental breakfast.
By virtue of their status as places that people congregate, many hotels have gotten a reputation for paranormal happenings; some even turn this into part of their appeal.
Here are some of the creepiest hotels in the world.
1. Clown Motel – Tonopah, Nevada, USA
Wherever your nightmares are set, they don’t hold a candle to the Clown Motel.
This last stop for truckers, bikers, and others on long-haul journeys through the Nevada desert is decorated entirely with clown imagery.
In it’s check-in office, a life-sized clown figurine sits in a chair, cradling several other, smaller figures like a brightly colored Bond villain. And then there’s the matter of the cemetery, which is situated literal feet from the motel.
Despite this terrifying décor choice and prime real estate location for hauntings, there are no reports of paranormal activity at Clown Motel.
Despite this, it remains in the public consciousness as one of the creepiest places on Earth.
2. Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado, USA
Built in 1909, this palatial hotel looks like the perfect place for a getaway in the mountains.
Unfortunately, their upcoming murder mystery dinner isn’t the only spooky thing that goes on around the property.
The hotel has been host to numerous paranormal reports since the 1970s, and has been the subject of numerous paranormal investigations and TV shows. Most of these reports are of ghosts, with the most prominent being those of F.O. Stanley and his wife, Flora, the hotel’s original owners. They’re most often seen in the Billiards Room or the Music Room, where they like to play around with the piano.
However, the hotel’s long and colorful history may not be the only reason for its haunted status. Some attribute the stories to Stephen King’s influence on the property.
In 1974, King stayed in Room 217 at the Stanley, and used the hotel as inspiration for the setting of his blockbuster novel, The Shining. After the book’s release, there was a notable uptick in ghost reports, but there’s no way of knowing whether or not the publicity is the only cause.
Either way, the Stanley takes its reputation in stride. It offers nightly ghost tours, employs an on-site psychic, and there are TVs in several areas that play the movie adaptation of The Shining on a continuous loop. They’ve even installed a miniature tree maze out front, as a nod to the film.
3. Langham Hotel – London, England
One of London’s most notable hotels, the Langham is a frequent place of lodging for members of the royal family, celebrities…and celebrity ghosts.
There are dozens of separate apparitions that have been reported, including a German prince, a German soldier, and a doctor who murdered his wife and then committed suicide on their honeymoon.
The hotel’s basement is said to be the territory of the ghost of Emperor Napoleon III, who resided at the Langham during his final days in exile.
Despite its spooky reputation, the Langham remains a 5-star hotel, with stays costing anywhere from £450 to £1530 per night. If you’re looking for a particularly haunted stay, Room 333 is supposedly the one with the most occurrences.
4. The Marshall House – Savannah, Georgia, USA
This charming 68 room hotel was built in 1851 – it’s the oldest hotel in Savannah, but it hasn’t been a hotel for the entire time. It functioned as a hospital three separate times during its history: once for soldiers during the Civil War, and twice for victims of yellow fever epidemics.
During renovations, workers once found human remains under the floorboards. It’s presumed that these were from surgeries during winter when the ground would have been frozen and nothing could be buried.
Ghosts have been reported throughout the property, as well as the sounds of children running through the halls, faucets turning on by themselves, and doorknobs rattling even when no one is near them.
5. Banff Springs Hotel – Banff, Alberta, Canada
This beautiful, historic hotel is often referred to as the “Castle of the Rockies” due to its unique architecture and position overlooking the beautiful town of Banff. However, the halls of this picturesque property hold a few secrets. There have been hundreds of reports of paranormal activity, particularly concerning Room 873.
Apparently, there was once a family staying in that room, and the man murdered his wife and daughter before killing himself.
Afterward, the room was still open for booking for a while, but multiple guests reported screaming in the middle of the night, and bloody handprints on the mirrors.
Nowadays, Room 873 is missing; it’s been boarded up and covered with drywall. There are still reports of apparitions outside the door, but no one knows if there are still occurrences inside.
Another common paranormal occurrence in the Banff Springs Hotel is sightings of the burning bride. This apparition is said to be that of a girl whose wedding gown caught fire when it brushed against some candles that lined the hotel’s beautiful staircase. Unable to put out the flames, she fell down the stairs to her death.
Guests have said that they sometimes see her in the ballroom, dancing in her flames.
6. Omni Parker House – Boston, Massachusetts, USA
The Omni Parker House has a host of paranormal lodgers, but the most prominent is that of the original owner, Harvey Parker. He opened the hotel in 1855, and ran it himself until his death in 1884. Many guests have reported seeing him in their rooms; sometimes, he even asks about their stay.
There’s another notorious ghost, that of a businessman who died in Room 303. Guests who have stayed there have reported the sounds of men’s laughter and the smell of whiskey in the evenings.
Stephen King has left his mark on this hotel as well; his short story 1408, which centers on a writer who experiences a haunted stay at a hotel in New York, is reported to have been inspired by the happenings in Room 303 of the Omni Parker House.
Scared Of Hotels Yet?
Hotels are prime locations for hauntings. Many pass through them, and they are occasionally perfect places for suicides, murders, and other illegal activities. These hotels are only a handful of the many haunted places worldwide, so when you’re booking a hotel, perhaps you should make sure that there aren’t ghosts included.
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