San Francisco's Haunted Hotels
One of the most curious things about hotels in San Francisco is that a great number of them have been reported to be haunted at one time or another. Some of them actually pride themselves on the haunted activity which takes place there, creating shrines to the famous ghosts said to lurk within the halls and acting as hosts to local ghost tours which take place almost nightly in the city. If you believe in ghosts and don't want to encounter them, there are a few key hotels to stay away from. But if you're a non-believer or merely curious about the activity, you might find that hanging out in a haunted hotel is one of the most unique ways to enjoy your experience in San Francisco.
The majority of the hotels which are said to be haunted today are those hotels which were associated with having underground speakeasies during the Prohibition Era. The Empire Plush Room Cabaret is one of those locations, said to be haunted by the ghost of Lester, the piano player who keeled over and died one night in the secret drinking room of the old York Hotel. Another such haunted hotel is the Hotel Union Square which was practically infamous as hosting a speakeasy during the Prohibition because of the number of famous names in the literary and film worlds who came to enjoy the imbibing which took place "secretly" in the halls there.
Other San Francisco hotels which are reportedly haunted without relation to the Prohibition Era include the Queen Anne, said to be haunted by the spirit of a teacher who worked at the location before it was a hotel, when it was home to a private girls' school. Another is the Hotel Majestic, said to be haunted by the ghost of the daughter of the man who owned the residence which was the first incarnation of the now-hotel building. Similarly, the Mansions Hotel is said to be spooked by the niece of the owner of the once-mansion.
Whether or not these haunted tales are true, they make up an important part of the history of hotel life in San Francisco. People have flocked from all over the world to stay in the rooms where scary things are said to happen. Famous psychics have been brought in to assess the situations taking place within these accommodations. If you care to take your chances on staying at one of these places, you just might go home with a haunted tale of your own to share with the loved ones who didn't join in on your San Francisco adventures.
One of the most curious things about hotels in San Francisco is that a great number of them have been reported to be haunted at one time or another. Some of them actually pride themselves on the haunted activity which takes place there, creating shrines to the famous ghosts said to lurk within the halls and acting as hosts to local ghost tours which take place almost nightly in the city. If you believe in ghosts and don't want to encounter them, there are a few key hotels to stay away from. But if you're a non-believer or merely curious about the activity, you might find that hanging out in a haunted hotel is one of the most unique ways to enjoy your experience in San Francisco.
The majority of the hotels which are said to be haunted today are those hotels which were associated with having underground speakeasies during the Prohibition Era. The Empire Plush Room Cabaret is one of those locations, said to be haunted by the ghost of Lester, the piano player who keeled over and died one night in the secret drinking room of the old York Hotel. Another such haunted hotel is the Hotel Union Square which was practically infamous as hosting a speakeasy during the Prohibition because of the number of famous names in the literary and film worlds who came to enjoy the imbibing which took place "secretly" in the halls there.
Other San Francisco hotels which are reportedly haunted without relation to the Prohibition Era include the Queen Anne, said to be haunted by the spirit of a teacher who worked at the location before it was a hotel, when it was home to a private girls' school. Another is the Hotel Majestic, said to be haunted by the ghost of the daughter of the man who owned the residence which was the first incarnation of the now-hotel building. Similarly, the Mansions Hotel is said to be spooked by the niece of the owner of the once-mansion.
Whether or not these haunted tales are true, they make up an important part of the history of hotel life in San Francisco. People have flocked from all over the world to stay in the rooms where scary things are said to happen. Famous psychics have been brought in to assess the situations taking place within these accommodations. If you care to take your chances on staying at one of these places, you just might go home with a haunted tale of your own to share with the loved ones who didn't join in on your San Francisco adventures.
