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When a little boy appeared at the side of a former Benson Hotel guest’s bed, her first instinct as a mother to a three-year-old son “was to reach out to the boy and pull him into bed.” The results were terrifying. “As I touched his arm it actually felt solid for a moment…He jumped in my face making a scary face and frightened me…I hid under the cover for a second thinking he’s playing around being silly. I actually peeked out again and there he was still standing there. I reached out again and he jumped in my face again. After that I positioned the cover in front of my face to not see him anymore even if I happen to open them.” The ghost of the little boy is said to have taken up residency in the 9th floor of The Benson hotel in Portland, Oregon, along with various other ghosts and apparitions.

One of the ghosts is said to be that of the establishment’s previous owner, Simon Benson. He is often seen roaming through the halls and corridors of the 12th, 9th, and 7th floors. Guests that come in contact may want to keep a firm grip on their cocktails, as it is said that Benson did not advocate drinking in his hotel, and his spirit has been known to knock drinks over. One former employee happened upon a man who was dressed decidedly less formal than the staff and crowd at The Benson’s London Grill. “I saw a man in overalls with a plaid shirt. I thought it was strange, as we wear tuxedos, and so most people are well dressed. I looked up and right when I could say ‘can I help you?’ he was gone…When I described him, someone reminded me that Simon Benson was a lumber baron.”

Two female spirits coined “Lady in White” and “Lady in Blue”, respectively also haunt the hotel. The Lady in White roams the corridors, while the Lady in Blue is said to appear as a reflection in the lobby’s mirror. A particularly friendly ghost is known as the “Helpful Porter”, who is said to have helped a guest with a disability who found himself having difficulty getting into bed. The porter vanished immediately after the man was safely in bed.

Both gorgeous and ghoulish, a stay at The Benson hotel is sure to offer an unforgettable experience.

Suggested Haunted Rooms

• Floors 7, 9, and 12 are said to see the most activity.
• Hotel elevator has been said to make unexpected stops and get very cold all of a sudden.

The Haunted McMenamins White Eagle Hotel

McMenamins White Eagle Saloon and Rock & Roll Hotel has been in business in one form or another since 1905. From an alleged opium den to a brothel to secret tunnels there has been a lot of activity at the White Eagle. This raucous history has paved the way for lots of ghost stories.

Early Years at the White Eagle

The building was constructed in 1899 and opened as the White Eagle Saloon in 1905 by Bronislaw Soboleski and William Hryszko. At that point in time, the area was mostly residential. The owners were both of Polish heritage, and the name White Eagle was a reference to the flag of Poland at the time. Over a relatively short period, the area transitioned to industrial. Portland became a major sea port and railroad hub, and the White Eagle changed from being an ethnic corner bar and meeting place to a hot spot for laborers and sailors passing through.

Separating Fact From Fiction

Some parts of the White Eagle’s history can be confirmed while other parts are based on rumor and speculation. As time passes the rumors and speculation tend to become more embellished. What is known for certain is that shortly after the turn of the last century the White Eagle was a rough place to hang out. There were lots of fights and drunkenness. It was no place for polite society. A brothel operated out of the second floor. There are stories circulating that the brothel business overflowed into the basement, and at one point the basement may have been used as an opium den.

The White Eagle also has a history of kidnappings or shanghais. Essentially, if a ship was short staffed sailors would kidnap fellow bar patrons who were too inebriated to realize what was happening. The next day the newly minted sailor would wake up aboard a ship that had left port and they find themselves on a new career path. Portland did have a serious problem with men being shanghaied. There are no documented cases of White Eagle patrons being taken. Although, it is very likely this did happen there since it was such a popular saloon with sailors. There is a rumor that there was an underground tunnel used to transport shanghai victims from the basement of the White Eagle to the docks. This is a popular story told about many older buildings in the area.

Extended Stay Guests

People report hearing a woman crying. Many believe this is Rose, a prostitute who worked at the White Eagle when the brothel was part of the business plan. The story goes that Rose fell in love with a customer. She rebuked her customer’s marriage proposal out of fear that her boss would retaliate if she tried to leave. Her lover became so enraged he beat her to death.

There is also the case of Sam. Sam was apparently taken in by the owner as a child. He grew up at the White Eagle, taking care of maintenance and janitorial work in exchange for room and board. He lived at the White Eagle his entire life. He even died in his room. People who are familiar with the White Eagle believe Sam never left.

Is the McMenamin’s White Eagle Hotel Haunted?

There are a lot of unexplained goings on throughout the building. For instance, freezer doors in the basement reportedly open and close on their own. On the second floor, all of the doors and windows have mysteriously opened and closed on their own at one point or another. There are reports of toilets flushing on their own and toilet paper flying around the ladies room. Coins have been known to fall from the ceiling of the basement. When there is no music playing employees in the basement claim they can hear faint music. Chairs move unexplainably. People who visit the White Eagle have reported feeling cold hands grab them when there was no one around. In one of the more frightening instances, a waitress was half pushed and half pulled down the stairs leading to the basement.

Many psychics who have visited the establishment report feeling hostile energy and death in the basement. The main floor exudes mischievous, playful energy. The second floor emanates sadness.

Live Music Venue with a Wide Selection of Beers and a Party Atmosphere

In the first several decades of its existence, there were some sordid activities and questionable behaviors that have lent themselves to the myth and legend that surrounds this Portland institution. Starting in the 1970’s live music was added to the lineup and has been a staple of the White Eagle ever since. These days the White Eagle is part of a family-owned chain of brewpubs, McMenamins.

Check It Out For Yourself

The White Eagle is located at 836 North Russell Street in Portland. It is open Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 1 AM. Friday and Saturday, 11 AM to 2:30 AM, and Sunday, 4 PM to 11 PM. There are 11 hotel rooms on the second floor. Check-in is at 4 PM and check-out is at 11 AM. The rooms are described as having a rustic, old world charm. There is a single shared bathroom for all of the rooms. The rooms are located directly above the live music venue, so keep that in mind when booking.

Haunted Heceta Head Lighthouse

There is something gorgeous, majestic and even awe-inspiring about a historic lighthouse. Once common along lakes and oceans across the country, these once beautiful buildings keep disappearing each year. That might be why the Heceta Head Lighthouse is so popular. This former lighthouse is now a bed and breakfast that is open to the public. You can spend hours playing in the on-site interactive center to learn more about the region, and you’ll definitely enjoy the gorgeous views right outside your window. If you’re lucky, you may even encounter a restless spirit or too. Many believe that this historic lighthouse is one of the most haunted places in Oregon.

The most common ghost story told about the lighthouse surrounds a spirit known as the Gray Lady. Also known as Rue, the lady supposedly once lived in the lighthouse during its early years. Local legend says that she had a daughter who died unexpectedly at a young age. Guests claim that they can hear her footsteps walking around on upper floors and hear the sounds of her rattling cabinet doors. A few construction workers tasked with helping renovate the old property even claim that she caused the fire alarms to go off and moved their supplies.

Heceta Head Lighthouse ghost stories

Stories about the Heceta Head Lighthouse first popped up during the 1950s. Former residents claimed that they experienced a host of unusual things while living there. One recalls the smoke detector going off in the middle of the night. Even after they took out the battery, the alarm continued to shriek throughout the night. Guests of the bed and breakfast claimed that they had problems with doors locking for unexplained reasons and closet doors slamming shut when no one else was around.

Rue earned her nickname after one guest spotted a smoky apparition standing in an upstairs minute. The smoke swirled around the window, took the form of a female figure and became a swirl of smoke again in the span of just a few seconds. Others reported seeing similar figures and spotting a female figure swathed in gray in and around the lighthouse. One bridal party even reported seeing a misty gray smoke surround them and gently lift the bride’s veil before disappearing.

Though no one knows the story behind the Gray Lady or where she came from, it’s clear that this female spirit has no plans to go anywhere and that she has a fondness for the Heceta Head Lighthouse.