Oct. 9, 2024

137. Haunted Hotels for Halloween or any time!

Show Notes
Transcript

Journey Joe Mitchell takes you on a spine-tingling tour of North America's most haunted hotels! From the ghostly inspiration behind "The Shining" to spectral celebrities in Hollywood, discover six eerie accommodations that blend luxury with the supernatural. Whether you're a skeptic or a true believer, these haunted hotspots offer unforgettable experiences for thrill-seeking travelers. Pack your bags (and maybe a nightlight) for a ghostly getaway you won't soon forget!

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Calaroga Shark Media.

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Hey there, travel enthusiasts, this is Journey Joe Mitchell, and

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you're listening to Travel is Back Today. We're diving into

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a spine tingling topic that's sure to give you goosebumps.

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Haunted hotels in the USA and Canada. So buckle up

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and get ready for a ghostly adventure through some of

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North America's most eerily enchanting accommodations. Now I know what

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you're thinking, Joe. I thought this was a travel show,

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not a ghost hunting expedition. Well, my friends, why not

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combine the two. These haunted hotels offer a unique travel

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experience that blends history, mystery, and maybe even a supernatural

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encounter or two. Perfect for thrill seekers, history buffs, or

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anyone looking to add a little excitement to their next getaway.

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Let's start our ghostly journey in the beautiful Rocky Mountain

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of Colorado at the infamous Stanley Hotel. This grand hotel,

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opened in nineteen oh nine, is known for inspiring Stephen

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King's novel The Shining, but its claim to fame isn't

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just literary. It's said to be one of the most

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haunted places in America. Guests and staff have reported all

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sorts of paranormal activity here. The hotel's original owners, Fo

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and Flora Stanley are said to still roam the halls.

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Fo has been spotted in the billiard room and bar,

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while Flora's piano playing echoes through the music room. But

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the most active area is said to be the fourth floor,

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where children's laughter and running footsteps are often heard. Room

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two hundred and seventeen, where Stephen King stayed, is particularly

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popular among ghost hunting guests. If you're brave enough to

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stay here, you can even book a ghost adventure package,

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which includes a K two meter for ghost detection and

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a glow in the Dark Stanley Hotel Squishy Ghost. Now,

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that's what I call embracing your spooky side. Let's hop

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across the border to the majestic Canadian Rockies and the

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fair Mind baff Springs Hotel. This castle like hotel, built

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in eighteen eighty eight, is not only a stunning example

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of Scottish baronial architecture, but also home to several ghostly residents.

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One of the most famous spirits is the ghost Bride.

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Legend has it that in the nineteen twenties, a young

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bride fell down the marble staircase to her death. Since then,

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guests have reported seeing a veiled figure moving up and

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down the stairs or dancing in the ballroom. Another frequently

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spotted spirit is Sam the Bellman. Sam was a longtime

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employee who often said he'd come back to haunt the place,

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and apparently he kept his word. Guests have reported being

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helped by a friendly older bellman in an old fashioned uniform,

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only to find out later that no such person is

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employed at the hotel. For those looking for a luxurious

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stay with a side of spectral activity, the Fairmont Bamff

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Springs is hard to beat. Just don't be surprised if

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you get some unexpected turndown service from the mountains. Let's

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head to the coast and board the Queen Mary in

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Long Bebeat, California. This retired ocean liner turned floating hotel

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is often called one of the most haunted places in

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the world. The Queen Mary's history includes not just its

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glamorous days as a luxury liner, but also its time

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as a World War II troop ship. With such a

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rich past, it's no wonder the ship has accumulated quite

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a few ghostly tales. One of the most active areas

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is the engine room, where a young sailor is said

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to have died in a tragic accident. Visitors have reported

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seeing his ghost, hearing mysterious knocking sounds, and feeling cold spots.

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The ship's pool area is another hot spot for paranormal activity.

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Though it's been closed for years, people have reported seeing

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the wet footprints of a young girl who supposedly drowned

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there in the nineteen thirties. For the ultimate spooky experience,

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you can book a stateroom for the night or take

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one of the ship's famous ghost tours. Just be prepared

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for some potential midnight visitors. Back on the East coast,

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we have the Grand Omni Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire.

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This beautiful hotel, which opened in nineteen o two, is

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known for its stunning views of the White Mountains and

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its resident ghost, Carolyn Stickney. Caroline was the wife of

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the hotel's original owner. After her husband's death, she remarried

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a European prince and continued to summer at the hotel. Today,

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she's said to still keep an eye on her beloved resort.

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Guests have reported seeing a woman in Victorian dress in

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the hallways and feeling a presence in Room three hundred

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and fourteen, which was Caroline's private dining and living quarters.

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Some have even woken up to find the vision of

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a woman sitting at the end of their bed brushing

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her hair. The hotel embraces its spectral resident, even naming

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its upscale restaurant Stickney's in her honor. So if you're

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looking for a luxurious mountain getaway with a chance of

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a genteel ghost sighting, the Omni Mount Washington resort might

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be just the ticket. Let's head back to Canada for

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our next haunted hotspot. The Fairmont Empress in Victoria, British Columbia.

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This iconic hotel, which has been serving afternoon tea and

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hosting distinguished guests since nineteen oh eight, is said to

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be home to several ghosts. One of the most frequently

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spotted spirits is believed to be the hotel's architect, Francis Rattenberry.

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Guests and staff have reported seeing a mustachioed man in

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period clothing wandering the halls, perhaps checking up on his

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grand creation. Another ghostly resident is said to be an

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elderly woman in pajamas seen knocking on guest room doors.

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When visitors open the door, she disappears. Legend has it

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she's a maid who worked on the sixth floor and

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is still trying to turn down the beds. The hotel's

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elevator is also known for some paranormal activity. It often

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stops on the fourth floor, even when no one has

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pressed the button. Some say it's the work of a

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chambermaid who fell to her death in the elevator shaft

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many years ago. Whether you're there for the famous afternoon

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tea or a brush with the supernatural, the fair Vermont

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Empress offers a royally good time with or without ghostly guests.

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For our final stop, let's head to Tinseltown in the

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glamorous Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. This hotel, which opened in nineteen

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twenty seven, has hosted countless celebrities over the years, and

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some seem to have never checked out. One of the

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most famous spectral residents is none other than Marilyn Monroe.

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She lived at the hotel for two years early in

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her career, and her spirit is said to appear in

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a full length mirror that was once in her suite.

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The mirror is now located near the elevator on the

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lower level, so keep your eyes peeled. Another celebrity ghost

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is Montgomery Clift, who is said to haunt room nine

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hundred and twenty eight, where he stayed while filming From

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Here to Eternity. Guests have reported feeling his presence and

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hearing the sound of a trumpet playing. Clift played the

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instrument in the movie. But it's not just movie stars

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who haunt the Roosevelt. A young girl in a blue

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dress is often seen skipping around the fountain in the lobby,

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and the ghost of a man dressed in white is

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frequently spotted on the hotel's upper floors. For a stay

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that combines old Hollywood glamour with New Hollywood hauntings, the

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Roosevelt is the place to be. Just don't be surprised

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if you run into some a list apparitions well, folks.

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That wraps up our tour of some of the most

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haunted hotels in the USA and Canada. Whether you're a

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skeptic or a true believer, these hotels offer a unique

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blend of history, luxury, and maybe even a supernatural surprise

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or two. Remember when booking your stay at any of

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these ghostly getaways, keep an open mind and your camera ready.

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You never know what or who might show up in

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your vacation photos. As always, if you're planning a trip

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to any of these spooky spots, be sure to check

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out our previous episodes for more travel tips. We've covered

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great destinations like Chicago, Nashville, San Diego, Washington, d C.

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And even Iceland. And Hey, if you'd like to receive

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these episodes without commercials, head over to Calaroga Slash Plus.

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There's a link in the show notes for easy access.

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Until next time, this is journey Joe Mitchell, reminding you

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that whether you're chasing ghosts or chasing sunsets, the journey

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is always the best part of the adventure. Happy Haunted travels, everyone,

137. Haunted Hotels for Halloween or any time!

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