Haunted Houses and Hotels there’s nothing more adrenaline-pumping than a good unexpected scare. While you may accomplish the same feeling with something like skydiving or bungee jumping, you know what to expect or maybe you don’t like heights. Plus, there’s nothing cooler than the unknown and the supernatural. If you’re up to the challenge, read on and find out where some of America’s most haunted establishments are. We’re looking at two spooky spots today (one on each coast) so you can find one near you, book your stay, and start packing your bags (pro tip: bring an extra pair of underwear or two).
Meet Undead Celebrities at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
Hollywood horror has been one of the most persisting genres of film. With the success of the movie industry and the excess of celebrity drama, there has to be some ghosts and ghouls abound. If you’re a movie buff, then this stop can be your ultimate freaky experience.
This historical 12-floor hotel was built in 1927 and held the first Oscars just two years later. It became a landmark where many stars of Hollywood’s golden era of film stayed. Visitors have noted the ghost of Montgomery Clift playing his bugle from “FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. ” During filming, he stayed in Room 928 and it seems like his soul never checked out. It is said that “(“the brooding spirit of Montgomery Clift turns up the heat and switches on the radio to let guests know he’s around—and still angry about an unfulfilled life.”
Possibly Hollywood’s most famous it girl, Marilyn Monroe, is even more associated with Hollywood Roosevelt. She often stayed on the second floor, overlooking the pool where she took her first print ad for a toothpaste ad. After she died in 1962, she could be seen in the reflection of a full-length mirror that the hotel gifted her. It has since then been removed but she can also be seen in her former suite.
The Hawthorne Hotel Houses Haunted Humans
From the west coast to New England, we head to Salem, Massachusetts. Though Salem has a reputation for witch execution, Hawthorne Hotel mostly doesn’t get its reputation from the obvious choice. Before its 1925 opening, The Hawthorne Hotel was the Franklin Building. The Franklin Building suffered 3 fires in 15 years before calling it quits in 1860. It was reconstructed in 1864 and rebranded in 1921 to the Hawthorne Hotel we have to this day.
The primary theory is that the abundance of fires–six total–created a “fissure of paranormal activity.” Reports of faucets turning on and off, toilets flushing by themselves (no sensor attached), phantom hands disrupting stays during their sleep, and a ghastly woman roaming Room 612. Historically, the Franklin Building housed the Salem Marine Society, whose souls persist on the top floor. Guests have seen their ship’s helm turning and even seen their locked belongings on the floor.
Conclusion
If you’re planning on staying at the Hollywood Roosevelt or the Hawthorne, know that most instances only happen in select rooms so it might be a highly requested ticket. However, if you do get the chance to book one of the coveted rooms, prepare yourself for an interesting night.
