Spend Spooky Season at These Haunted Hotels
A Suite Stories guide to atmospheric stays with history, character, and a little mischief
Spooky season has a certain charm. Cooler nights, dramatic lighting, and the perfect excuse to lean into stories that make you pause. If you love hotels with personality, history, and a few unexplained moments, these properties deliver an unforgettable October stay. Each one has a past that guests still talk about, along with perks that make the experience even better when you book through The Suite Stories.
Hotel Jerome — Auberge Resorts Collection
Aspen, Colorado
Hotel Jerome has been part of Aspen’s story since the late 1800s, when Jerome B. Wheeler, a former Macy’s executive, brought his vision of a European‑inspired mountain hotel to life. The property has seen decades of colorful characters, including Hunter S. Thompson, who famously used the J‑Bar as his unofficial campaign headquarters during his run for sheriff.
Image courtesy of Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection
The hotel’s most talked‑about legend involves a young boy who drowned in the old swimming pool in the 1930s. Guests still report puddles, footprints, and bathtubs mysteriously filled with water. Whether you experience anything unusual or not, the hotel’s atmosphere is unmatched.
The Hotel’s Most Memorable Unexplained Events
1930s: The drowning incident that sparked decades of reports
1950s to 1970s: Staff accounts of unexplained water in guest rooms
Present day: Guests still mention sudden puddles and phantom splashes
The Suite Stories Perks:
$100 USD hotel or resort credit
$60 USD daily breakfast credit
Upgrade and extended check‑in or check‑out when available
Hôtel Sorrento
Seattle, Washington
Seattle’s historic Hôtel Sorrento has been welcoming guests for more than a century, and some of them never left. The hotel’s most famous spirit is Alice B. Toklas, often seen in vintage clothing with a parasol in hand. Certain floors are known for late‑night activity, including televisions turning on, phantom conversations, and water running in empty rooms.
Image courtesy of Hôtel Sorrento
The Hotel’s Most Memorable Unexplained Events
1910s: Early guest reports of footsteps and voices
1970s: Staff witness objects moving on their own
Present day: Dry footprints appear on rainy days outside the hotel
The Hollywood Roosevelt
Los Angeles, California
The Hollywood Roosevelt opened in 1927 and quickly became a centerpiece of Old Hollywood. Marilyn Monroe lived here for two years, and guests still claim to see her reflection in a mirror that once hung in her suite. Others report cold spots, flickering lights, and the feeling of someone standing behind them.
Image courtesy of The Hollywood Roosevelt
The Hotel’s Most Memorable Unexplained Events
1920s to 1930s: First Academy Awards and early celebrity sightings
1950s: Marilyn Monroe’s residency and the mirror legend
Present day: Ongoing reports of apparitions and unexplained reflections
The Suite Stories Perks
$100 USD hotel or resort credit
Daily breakfast
Welcome amenity
Upgrade and extended check‑in or check‑out when available
Timberline Lodge
Mt. Hood, Oregon
Timberline Lodge opened in 1937 and gained worldwide recognition when its exterior appeared in The Shining. Although room 237 does not exist, guests still request room 217 from the novel. Staff have reported footsteps in empty hallways, objects shifting overnight, and a general sense of unease in quieter wings.
Image courtesy of Timberline Lodge
The Hotel’s Most Memorable Unexplained Events
1940s: First reports of footsteps and movement in empty corridors
1980s: Surge in activity after the release of The Shining
Present day: Regular guest accounts of unexplained sounds and shifting objects
The Driskill
Austin, Texas
The Driskill opened in 1886 and has long been associated with lingering spirits. One of the most well‑known stories involves a young girl named Samantha, who reportedly wanders the halls after a tragic fall on the grand staircase. Guests also mention cigar smoke in non‑smoking areas, believed to be the presence of Colonel Driskill.
Image courtesy of The Driskill
The Hotel’s Most Memorable Unexplained Events
1880s: Samantha’s fall and early guest accounts
1920s: Reports of cigar smoke in empty rooms
Present day: Ongoing sightings near the staircase and lobby
The Suite Stories Perks
$100 USD hotel or resort credit
Daily breakfast
Welcome amenity
Upgrade and early check‑in when available
The Elms Hotel & Spa
Excelsior Springs, Missouri
The Elms Hotel & Spa has been part of Missouri’s story since 1888, surviving fires, Prohibition, and decades of whispered tales. Guests often mention flickering lights, footsteps in empty hallways, and the feeling of someone brushing past them in the basement spa area. The property’s long history gives it an atmosphere that Halloween lovers appreciate, especially those who enjoy a stay with character and a few mysteries woven in.
Image Courtesy of The Elms Hotel & Spa
The Hotel’s Most Memorable Unexplained Events
1920s: Prohibition‑era activity and early reports of basement sightings
1940s: Guests describe footsteps and voices in empty corridors
Present day: Ongoing accounts of flickering lights and sudden cold spots
The Suite Stories Note
While The Elms is not a luxury property, it carries one of the strongest haunted histories in the region and makes a fun, atmospheric addition for travelers who love Halloween season and historic hotels with personality.
Ready to plan your spooky stay?
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