Real Haunts

American Horror Story’s Haunted Hotel Cortez is located in Los Angeles, California. The famed hotel was built by architect James Patrick March in the 30’s. Inspired by the golden age of Hollywood, the art deco hotel has a dark past that the city has seemingly forgotten… or should we say ignored?

The Builder

James Patrick March designed and built Hotel Cortez with a single intent, murder.

Born in 1895, March is a man who made his own fortune at an early age, March had an unquenchable thirst that an early drug addiction could not satisfy. He turned his sadistic urges to the only thing that could feed his inner demons, the thrill of murder. “Bolivian marching powder… Too tame for my taste,” March said of cocaine, he lusted for blood. He didn’t just kill his victims, he required a more sadistic and diabolical approach, by hunting and devouring their souls. The Cortez was designed and built by March to fulfill his need kill. The hotel is a 13 story murder weapon filled with hidden passageways, human dumping grounds, inescapable floors, and a one-way elevator to your death.

Beyond March

The builder lives on in the Hotel Cortez. March’s soul permanently resides in the Heart of the Cortez, James March’s horrific device lives on to terrorize the hotel’s occupants. You won’t need a sip of Absinthe to see hallucinogenic visions, the Cortez will play with your mind and bend reality into a hellish living nightmare.

Most Haunted Places in Hotel Cortez:

• Room 64 – Where James Patrick March lived (and still lives?) with his wife Elizabeth.
• The 5th Floor – where you’ll notice a particular rancid taste of Cara when you drink the water.
• Hidden Hallway – A secret hallway where March has locked away his victims to their misfortune.
• Bartholomew’s Room 33 – You’ll hear sweet babyish cries of the devil’s spawn coming from this room.
• The Pool – No swimming here for good reasons.
• Incinerator/Basement – Where March (and others) have disposed of many bodies in the bowels of the hotel.

Finding the AHS Hotel Cortez

Truth be told, the Hotel Cortez was inspired by many stories surrounding a few true haunted hotels, The Cecil Hotel of Los Angeles, California and H. H. Holmes “Murder Castle.” You can catch a glimpse of the AHS Hotel’s exterior at the South Olive Street address, but visitation rights are prohibitive.

The Real House From The Conjuring Movie

In December of 1970, the Perron Family of northwestern Rhode Island was in dire need of a home for their growing family. Roger and Carolyn Perron, together with their five young daughters, found a perfect and quite overly spacious ten-bedroom farm-style house situated in the village of Harrisville that is found within the town of Burrillville. Carolyn refused to move at Christmas and wanted to wait until the first week of January 1971 to move the family so that their new year could start with a new home. Everything seemed so picturesque to the Perrons at that moment that it would be hard to imagine years later when eldest daughter Andrea would be asked just how soon after moving in did the paranormal activity start? Her answer would be chilling in its simplicity, “about five minutes.”

The Perron Family in 1971

Ghostly Beginnings at the Real Conjuring House

Moving day for the Perrons came during a terrible snowstorm in which there was a flurry of snowflakes and tightly packed boxes in constant motion. Amongst the commotion, former owner, Mr. Kenyon, was moving the last of his belongings out of the house as another stiff-looking gentleman observed him. Daughter Andrea was tasked with taking a box to her mother in the kitchen, only to ask who the man was behind Mr. Kenyon. Carolyn sweetly informed her daughter that nobody was there in the immediate area with Mr. Kenyon and she was imagining things. Her other siblings, Nancy, Christine, Cindy, and April followed suit into the kitchen with boxes and pale expressions on their faces. When asked why they all looked troubled, they meekly offered up that, “the man in the living room with Mr. Kenyon just disappeared!”

As if a daytime paranormal activity wasn’t enough, the children began experiencing phenomena at night. Chief among the most terrifying occurred with one of the littlest girls, Cindy. Within the first week, she was awoken to the sound of whispers all over her bedroom. Alone in the dark, she bolted down the hall to her sister Andrea’s room and asked if she could stay in there. When asked what was happening, Cindy explained that there were people whispering all over her room and that she got scared. Feeling safe with Andrea she confided that all whispering voices said the exact same thing, “that there are seven dead soldiers buried in the walls!”

Roger and Carolyn were also becoming slowly exposed to the increasing paranormal activity within the home. Carolyn herself had become subject to a more playful form of activity involving a broom. While tidying up any room adjacent to the kitchen, she would often hear the strong sweeping sound of broom bristles against the tile kitchen floor. She would check the kitchen and find nobody there, just the broom leaning against the wall. Carolyn would disappear only moments later to hear the sound again and check, only the broom would be on the other side of the kitchen! Roger noticed the uptick in chatter among his daughters about the spirits they saw in the house warranting a deeper look into the past of the house.

The house was initially constructed all the way back in 1736, predating the Revolutionary War by forty years, making it a true Colonial-era home. Owned by eight generations of an extended family over many decades, the light history of the home revealed no sinister occult practices or deaths. The Perrons naturally reached a breaking point and in 1973, husband and wife paranormal investigator duo Ed and Lorraine Warren were brought in to help. Lorraine was a self-professed clairvoyant who is reported to have picked up on the name “Bathsheba” in connection with the supernatural activity.

Bathsheba Sherman, the Ghost of the Conjuring House?

Bathsheba Sherman was a local area woman, who despite never living on the property, had developed an ominous reputation during the mid-1800s. Her baby is said to have been found dead with a sewing needle jammed into the base of its skull. The ritualistic overtone and morbidity of the infanticide had her thoroughly questioned by law enforcement but was never charged with the crime. Needless to say, the stories around her lost child seemed to have unfairly tainted her name. The true reason behind the infant’s death was never discovered. However, this name kept appearing to Lorraine in her clairvoyance. Added to this scenario was the twisted demonic appearance of an entity in the form of a woman in blackened clothing, with a foul smell, sharp jagged teeth, and her head cruelly twisted off to the side of her neck that had appeared with frequency to the Perron children.

Ed & Lorraine Warren – The Conjuring House Paranormal Investigators

Some paranormal theorists long believed that Bathsheba Sherman was responsible for the activity on the Perron Family property and was the ghastly figure that the children kept seeing. However, there was never a formal connection at any time tying Bathsheba to the historical Arnold Farm, as it was long called. Ed and Lorraine Warren were able to secure a Catholic priest to come and formally bless the house and Carolyn in particular. She had taken to wearing vintage turn-of-the-century dresses and using archaic language. The Warrens believed her not to be possessed but rather oppressed which is a smaller demonic foothold that can lead to possession. It involves emotionally wrecking a person coupled with slight physical disturbances in an effort to funnel them into possession.

The Story of the Blessing

The story goes that the blessing was for naught as it had quickly turned into a seance in which religious provocation was used to bring out whatever demonic entity lurked in the home so it could then be vanquished from the physical world and sent back to an abyss in Hell.

This seance was performed in the dining room with Carolyn present, before long a spiritual doorway was opened up and whatever entity came through had evil intentions. It had set its sights on Carolyn in particular, and soon she was possessed briefly for a few minutes speaking in an unidentified language as her eyes maliciously rolled around. Without warning her body began to levitate inches off the ground before bending in half and being thrown an estimated twenty feet away into the adjacent parlor. When she was tended, whatever possessed her briefly left, setting its sights on the spirits in the home. The Perron daughters often mentioned the spirits they’d seen and heard speak, but the powerful entity that came through in the seance actually subdued the spirits in the Perron home.

Evil Spirits of The Conjuring House

After the seance, nearly a year passed without any activity inside the home. Then late one evening eldest daughter Andrea found her mother rambling in the parlor area, confessing an unbelievable sight. Carolyn had walked into the dining room to see a large family in late 18th-century clothing seated around the dining room table eating. Their spirits bristled and ate without any odd behavior until a man seated at the table turned his gaze to Carolyn, and nudged the people at the table pointing to her. Their faces expressed total shock and before long they faded away. One of the most unknown aspects of this now modern haunting had been revealed to Carolyn; that their home stood trapped on top of some sort of supernatural portal. She believes she appeared as a spirit to the family she saw, and their presence was vice versa. With that unexpected knowledge, Carolyn began slowly to piece her and her family’s life back together.

People have always wondered, but financial limits are what kept the Perron Family inside the home for nearly ten years before they found the funds to move away to a new farmhouse in Georgia. Close to a year after moving, Lorraine Warren contacted Carolyn Perron about the possibility of telling her full story in a book so as to warn others about the dangers of paranormal activity in a home. Carolyn demurred and insisted that she and her family had moved past this and were starting over, but promised to discuss the issue with her husband and told Lorraine to call her back the next day.

Carolyn then went to do the family’s laundry, when suddenly the laundry room door became unhinged and fell and hit her from behind. She was diagnosed with having not only a concussion but a dislocated shoulder as well. When Lorraine made good on her promise and called Carolyn the next day, she was informed that the Perrons would not be telling their story. To Carolyn, she was fearful that reminiscing about the experience on the farm would somehow bring about the vicious paranormal activity that they had worked so hard to escape. In 2007, it was the eldest daughter Andrea who felt that the world itself had matured and become savvy enough to handle stories about paranormal experiences. Along with occasional input from her mother, she wrote a trilogy of books based on experiences inside the home.

The Perron Family at The Real Conjuring House

Roger and Carolyn eventually separated with each living in different states while the daughters all grew up to lead successful and independent lives. As for the home? It has exchanged ownership over the years and recently was purchased by an area couple who hosted Ghost Adventures lead investigator Zak Bagans to a long summer stay. Bagans was compelled to leave the home after feeling, “like something was drawing the life out of me….my body wasn’t functioning right and it took three weeks to recover.” Demonic entity? Ghosts lingering inside a spiritual ethereal plane? Time portal property with ties to a supernatural force? One thing is for certain, The Conjuring House has officially been added to American haunted house lore joining the ranks of The Amityville Horror House, The Haunting in Connecticut, and The Entity House as classic examples of domestic hauntings.

Where is the Real Conjuring House?

The house that The Conjuring movie was based on is located at 1677 Round Top Road, Burrillville, Rhode Island 02830. The house sits on The Old Brook Farm, circa 1736, which was originally part of a 200-acre farm.

Respect Current Owners’ Privacy

With the fame and success of The Conjuring film, we should remind everyone to respect the owners’ privacy. Several trespassers have been reported and the occupants, both of this world and in-between, should be afforded their well-deserved peace. We stress to individuals to mind the Heinzen’s privacy out of respect for the law and their livelihood.

Is the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Haunted?

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel has played host to celebrities, Presidents, The Academy Awards, and countless icons since its grand opening in 1927. Named after President Teddy Roosevelt, the hotel’s rich history has many haunted stories to tell. Site of the first Academy Awards in 1929, the hotel resides on Hollywood Boulevard with the Hollywood Walk of Fame right outside its front door.

Such rich history often brings stories of the paranormal. Many ghosts of celebrities have been said to lay claim to some of their favorite rooms, mirrors, and more. This haunted hotel has housed the likes of Marilyn Monroe to Charlie Chaplin, Carole Lombard & Clark Gable and many more actors and actresses over the storied years of operation.

The Ghost of Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe stayed here for nearly 2 years during her early success. Her poolside Suite 1200 was where she stayed and where her ghost has often returned. Marilyn’s ghostly image has been seen in a full-length mirror several times. The hotel often puts the mirror on display to the public. Monroe’s ghost has also been seen around the poolside suite as well as around her room. Did the hotel make such a lasting impression on Marilyn in her early career?

Haunted Rooms to Stay In

• Suite 1200 is where Marilyn Monroe stayed for two years during her heyday. Marilyn Monroe’s ghost still resides there to this day and has been reported by many.
• Marilyn’s mirror can be found in Suite 1200 or sometimes on display next to the elevator on the lower level.  Several people have reported seeing her spirit in the mirror.
• Room 928 is said to be haunted by Montgomery Clift who stayed in the Roosevelt’s room 928 during the filming of From Here to Eternity. His role in From Here to Eternity garnered him an Oscar nomination. Montgomery Clift’s ghost is said to walk the hallways of the 9th floor and has been very active just outside his room 928. Inside the room, people have felt things brush past them, a cold stifling air has moved through, and full on apparitions of Clift himself have been witnessed. Considering he had one of his best performances in his time while staying at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, it’s no wonder his spirit would return.
• The Blossom Ballroom has a man dressed to the hilt, in a tuxedo. His ghost is said to be a man who had been nominated for an award. In this ballroom, there can often be found an unexplained chilling air that moves about the room. It has been said to be 10 degrees colder than the rest of the room. Explore a bit and see if you can find this chill.
• Carole Lombard’s Ghost has also been seen on the 12th floor. She and husband Clark Gable had stayed there 30s and 40s.
• The Roosevelt Pool has also been rumored to have sightings.
• Many other rooms. Apparently the ghosts of The Hollywood Roosevelt are famous for their pranks and are storied to roam the hotel. Simply staying in any room of the Roosevelt could bring about a paranormal event. Keep your eyes out or sleep under the covers, whichever suits your fancy.

Want to stay at an inn that George Washington visited? George’s name has been found on a ledger from a nearby tavern. It is likely that he was a guest at the inn. Reportedly built in the 1780’s, it is one of the oldest houses in the country.  It is said to have also housed John Quincy Adams, years later.

It is known as the house with the candles. One story describes a mother who lit a candle as her son headed off to fight in the civil war. She promised to keep it lit until he returned. He did not survive, but his mother kept vigil. They now use candles to advertise vacancies.

Is the Wayside Inn haunted?

A female ghost is said to reside at the inn. Some guests have heard footsteps and doors opening without explanation. Others say they can smell a woman’s perfume in the hallways when no one else is there.

The city of Ellicott is also reportedly haunted. There is everything from haunted schools and houses to a haunted fire station. You can take a ghost tour and visit all the sites.

Elvira is a 1970 Cadillac former Ambulance with a very dark past.  Now owned by Shamrock Limousine, this car was once employed at Norwich State Asylum and served 20 years.  496 documented deaths occurred in this car.  Weird noises, shadows and such are seen and heard.  Many paranormal investigations have been done in Elvira yielding incredible results.  She was even caught on camera interacting with another vehicle in the limo company’s fleet.  You can find evidence at doyouseedeadpeople.org in their investigations under Shamrock Limousine.  The car can be rented on an hourly or daily basis with a driver.  It can also be rented out for paranormal investigations.  Call Shamrock Limousine at 712-352-0539.

Is the St. James Hotel in Alabama Haunted?

One of the most haunted places in Alabama, the St. James Hotel in Selma was abandoned for 100 years before its reopening in 1997. Apparitions walk its halls and ghost dogs can be heard barking around the premises.

In the 19th century, it was a high-society hotel known as the Brantly, and during the Civil War, it housed Union troops. One of the few buildings to survive the burning of the town by Union forces, it was then taken over by the town’s first African American mayor and later the first African American to be elected to Congress, Benjamin Sterling Turner. During that time, the famous outlaw and gunslinger Jesse James and his brother Frank were among the hotel guests.

The Ghost of Jesse James

Jesse James was hosted by the Saint James Hotel in 1881 before the hotel came on hard times in 1892 and closed for 100 years. Jesse James’ ghost has been spotted in several hotel rooms and corridors along with his girlfriend Lucinda. He is often seen on the second and third floor as well as at a table in the bar. Sometimes, the smell of Lucinda’s favorite scent, lavender, accompanies her appearance. Sometimes visitors do not spot her but the scent of lavender is inexplicably in the air. Guests have also reported ghost sightings of other spirits in 19th-century clothing. They appear to be enacting a long-ago party scene in the courtyard.

Paranormal researchers have visited the hotel and reported the presence of supernatural entities. The spirits at the hotel are peaceful and guests are in for a treat if they catch glimpses of the hotel’s history.

Most Haunted Rooms & Places of the St. James Hotel

• Rooms 214, 314, and 315 are where the ghost of Jesse James is most often reported. These were the rooms he frequented.
• The Hallways and throughout the hotel you may catch a glimpse of Lucinda. If you smell lavender, then you’re in luck.
• The courtyard is where many events have been reported, such as visions of ghosts in 1800s garb and a ghost dog that may have been owned by James’ barking all through the night.

Backstory of the Haunted St. James Hotel

@frightfind The St. James hotel in Selma, Alabama. It’s chilling tales & eerie backstory #fyp #frightfind #alabama #scary #spooky ♬ original sound – FrightFind

Lantern led ghost tours through the streets and cemeteries of a 280 year old settlement. 

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor

From the darkest depths of your deepest hidden fears, Dark Harbor is resurrected this October 1st with its cast of sinister spirits ready to deliver another season of blood-curdling terror. Live your nightmares aboard the haunted Queen Mary and join our cast of ghouls, spirits, and undead for an unforgettable, frighteningly authentic haunted experience.

When:

Public Opening: Friday, Sept. 20th.
Dates: Select nights, Sept. 2o through Nov. 2.

Where:

The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802

New Queen Mary Experiences:

Swelter with fear in FEAST Maze, 4th maze onboard the ship, for a terrifying journey into the legend of Chef
Venture into the frozen depths of Chef’s Meat Locker for a unique 7-degree ice bar experience
Stumble upon the secret hidden sidebar inside one of Dark Harbor’s mazes for a one-of-a-kind experience

Newly Intensified-Returning Dark Harbor Mazes:

• Intrepid: Meet the mastermind, the creator and now the protector of the Queen Mary, Iron Master.
• Circus: Step right up as the Ringmaster startles with disorienting illusions, maniacal magic acts, and a cadre of sideshow freaks.
• Deadrise: Captain and the dark vessel’s crew have risen from the deep for a battle against the living.
• Soulmate: Escape the gloves of Graceful Gale as she feverishly searches for her eternal mate.
• B340: Descend into the insidious mind of Samuel the Savage to face his worst nightmares.
• Lullaby: Hush Hush don’t cry; Scary Mary is just looking for her next playmate

Additional Dark Harbor Attractions:

• Sideshow: Step ‘backstage”, rub elbows with resident freaks, take in a show or a drink at the secret bar
• Creepy Cabanas: Host a private soiree, order a freak show, enjoy instant access to Sideshow & Swings
• R.I.P. Lounge: Hover above Dark Harbor at the exclusive ghost-eye-view VIP bar with all-you-can-eat tacos
• Sinister Swings: Take a spin on the infamous Neverland Ranch Ride
• Mainstage: DJ spins between a variety of nightly entertainment shows, plus special guest performances.

Dark Harbor:

General admission tickets start at just $24 online. Fast Fright, VIP and the Ultimate Scream Experience are available. Purchase tickets: http://queenmary.com

Dark Harbor Preview from FrightFind

Parking at the Queen Mary:

$40 for Premium Parking located in the Queen Mary parking lot
$15 for all-new Dark Harbor Express, 6pm – 1:30am

Board the Dark Harbor Express boat service (operated by Aqua Link) at Shoreline Village at the Aquarium of the Pacific for your short boat ride over to the Queen Mary. Round-trip fees on the Dark Harbor Express are $8 per person and the parking structure is located at 248 W. Shoreline Drive in Long Beach. Cash only.

$15 for parking at Long Beach Courthouse, 6 pm – 1:30 am

Board a shuttle bus for your complimentary ride over to the Queen Mary located at 101 Magnolia Avenue in Downtown Long Beach. Cash only.

$20 General Admission (14 and up)

$10 Youth, Under age 14

$15 VIP Upgrade

Halloween Haunt Days:

October 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30th 2015 ( 6:30 pm til 11pm each night. )

October 31st – Halloween ball only, no haunt.

The RMS Queen Mary has been reported haunted ever since it was permanently docked in Long Beach, California on December 9th of 1968. The famously haunted ship sailed the Atlantic Ocean from the mid-30s to late-60s and has many reasons to be haunted.

During war time, the vessel had many servicemen and POWs who died during transport while during its time as a passenger ship, 49 crew and passengers are known to have passed on.

Shortly after the Queen Mary’s docking in Long Beach, the rumors of hauntings began. She would be listed in the top 10 most haunted places in America by Time in 2008.

The ghost ship was opened as a hotel in 1971, where guests have reported many paranormal happenings. From lights going on and off by themselves, water turning on and off, guests are awakened to heavy knocking on their doors in the middle of the night yet find no one in sight. Laughter is attributed to the ghosts of young children who died in the ship’s pool and a “lady in white” is famous for walking the halls of B deck.

There are many rooms reported to be haunted. Cabin B340 is said to be the “most haunted” room on the ship where the ghost of a passenger who died in this room is said to have permanently extended his stay. That ghost is said to be of Walter J Adamson, a 3rd class passenger, and his cause of death was listed as unknown. There are various reports that suggest foul play may have been involved in Walter’s death.

Suggested Haunted Rooms

• Cabin B340 is a must stop, although you cannot stay in this room. This is where a man was found dead is said to visit.
• Many of the Main deck, A, and B deck rooms have many mysterious happenings from items moving by themselves, guests awakening to the sense of being levitated, laughter, and many more.

We suggest booking ahead to get a room in one of these areas.

If staying in this haunted ship’s hotel isn’t enough, during Halloween, the Queen Mary hosts the Dark Harbor Haunted Attraction. It may be hard to determine what is and isn’t part of the attraction.

Is the 1880 Union Hotel haunted?

This haunted 1880 Union Hotel in Los Alamos, CA has reported several paranormal happenings over the years, especially in the tavern. An “Old West” era hotel established in 1880 with 14 rooms to rent, the 1880 Union has quite a history as well as a very unique aura. The old hotel looks and breathes much of what you’d see in an old John Wayne flick. The hotel features a great tavern which has been said to be haunted by many guests. A great creepy stay. Watch the quick video to see some of the unique spooky decor.

The Haunted Basin Park Hotel in Eureka Springs, AR

The Basin Park Hotel has the distinction of being one of America’s most haunted hotels and is featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Located in a quiet and sometimes sleepy part of Arkansas, the owners of the hotel believe so strongly in its resident ghosts that they offer haunted tours for guests interested in learning more about the hotel’s history and its haunted past.

Most believe that the ghosts of the Basin Park Hotel date back to the turn of the 20th century and even earlier. Men and women flocked to the region during the 1880s because of the so-called healing properties of the local waters. They built small boarding houses with rooms that guests could rent while healing themselves. The Basin Park Hotel sits on top of the charred remains of a former private home that belonged to one of the town’s earliest settlers.

The former owner’s wife might be the woman spotted walking inside the building and along the hotel grounds. Described as having pale blonde hair and dark blue eyes, she never seems to bother anyone but clearly isn’t happy. Witnesses rarely describe the woman as smiling, and many find her presence deeply unsettling. Her appearance is in sharp contrast to the little girl also spotted on the grounds. Usually described as a girl between the ages of five and eight, she wears a bright and cheerful yellow dress and always wears her hair pulled back in two pigtails.

Though not everyone believes that orbs indicate the presence of ghosts, the Basin Park Hotel is home to plenty of strange and unusual orbs. Guests sometimes report seeing what looks like tiny and bright lights following them around, and others spotted larger and smaller orbs both inside and outside of the hotel. Photographs taken at the hotel show multiple orbs as well.

Many different paranormal groups came to the Basin Park Hotel to conduct research over the years, and many of those groups picked up voices on recorders, electromagnetic spikes in rooms on the second and third floor and other proof of ghosts. Some believe that a few of its ghosts date back to the 1930s when the hotel operated an illegal gambling parlor and served as a speakeasy. Regardless of where the ghosts come from or who they are, many guests leave knowing without a doubt that the Basin Park Hotel is haunted.