The Empress of Little Rock is an elegant bed and breakfast which originally served as a private residence for many years. The Empress of Little Rock is revered as one of the most haunted places in Arkansas and certainly the most haunted bed and breakfast.
Little Rock locals referred to the huge Victorian mansion as the Hornibrook Mansion. The Empress has a rich history and has served as a college for women, a boarding house, a nursing home and even apartments. Newer owners renovated the old home and turned it into one of the most loved inns in the entire state.
Despite its elegance, this bed and breakfast is home to multiple ghosts, including its former owner. Hornibrook himself died while playing a game of cards with friends at the age of just 49. Hornibrook was allegedly so worried that he might die young that he even had a death mask made of himself years before, which now hangs in the hotel. Its current owner believes that the man came to him and pleaded with him to renovate the hotel to its former glory. The owner’s wife also experienced cold spots and felt chills while working in the hotel.
There are a several other ghosts haunting the hotel as well. One ghost is of a former maid who workers sometimes spot standing quietly in rooms on the second floor and disappearing into closets. Others witnessed the ghost of a man in an old-fashioned captain’s outfit standing in the Empress. Guests also hear footsteps coming from empty hallways and the sounds of people talking in rooms that were completely empty for the night. The Empress of Little Rock is a great haunted place for those hoping to catch a glimpse of the paranormal.
Once owned by a wealthy man and used as a private residence, Cedar Grove Inn is now a hotel that is a popular place for weddings. Many of the couples who married there love knowing that the original owner built the home for his wife and that the two raised their children there. The couple had at least three children who died in the former home, which might explain some of the hauntings.
Those owners, John Klein and his wife Elizabeth, both haunt their former home. Guests sometimes see John sitting in his favorite chair and smoking a pipe or smell the lingering scent of pipe smoke hanging in the air. Others see Elizabeth herself in an old-fashioned dress standing at the foot of the stairs or walking down the stairs.
Many believe that the couple’s children haunt the inn as well. One of their children died during infancy, which explains the sounds of a baby crying that many hear when there are no babies staying there. Both workers and guests saw a little girl on the second floor. Though she sometimes looks confused and worried, she’s often in a good mood and seen playing and running in the halls. Some believe this is the same girl whose grave previous owners moved off the property. Other stories surround the ghost of a woman who committed suicide and men in Civil War era uniforms. Cedar Grove Inn has a gorgeous look, offers southern hospitality and seems content with the ghosts living their after lives there.
If you are in the Eureka Springs area in Arkansas, you are probably more than familiar with the Victorian 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa. The tales of the ghosts here are terrifying, yet it happens to still be one of the most popular hotels in the area for tourists. Is it the ghostly forces that attract visitors or is it the accommodations? Let’s find out more about who is haunting the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa and if they are, in fact, friendly.
The Haunted History of the 1886 Crescent Hotel
Known as one of the most Haunted Hotels in America, the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa has had several functions since its construction. At one point, it served as a girls’ college and even was a cancer hospital. It was originally built as a retreat for very wealthy travelers. It quickly became a symbol of elegance. It hasn’t always been a hotel, and there have been periods when it was part of the transformations taking place in the area. It all began when news of how magical the town was began to spread all over the country.
Eureka Springs gained a reputation in the 1800s as a beautiful town in the mountains where travelers went for solace and rejuvenation. The town made great progress to accommodate all of the visitors. Soon, it was booming, and more and more people came to see how magical it was.
It didn’t take long for the town to need more lodging for its guests. In 1886, the Crescent Hotel was opened. The designers wanted it to overlook the mountains and showcase the beauty of the area. The hotel’s service was known to be some of the best in the area. It was a great getaway for wealthier travelers. However, it changed hands shortly after it opened.
In 1902, the Frisco Railroad leased the hotel for five years. It was very slow in the winter, so Crescent College opened for women. The building acted as a college until 1934. The college was known for providing women with an exceptional education, and women from around the country attended classes here. Even though it was short-lived as a college, those who attended gained many life experiences during that time.
The hotel was then purchased by Norman Baker. He was ready to share with others that he had found the cure for cancer. He turned the hotel into the Baker Cancer Clinic and claimed to be a healer. It was clear that he was scamming cancer patients out of money because they trusted that he would cure them. Not only did he pretend to heal cancer patients, but he also broadcast very controversial claims over the radio. He told his listeners that he could heal cancer without surgery and pushed for patients from all over the world to come to Eureka Springs.
Room 419 – 1886 Crescent Hotel
Soon, the American Medical Association would begin to investigate his claims. In 1940, he was arrested and thrown in prison for mail fraud, ending his medical practice for good. However, while he was in the hotel, he made a lot of changes to it. He built hidden staircases and even made himself an escape route if he ever needed it.
In 1946, it was purchased again, and the owners began to make major changes to it. Most of these changes still exist today. In 1967, the hotel suffered some devastation after a fire broke out due to faulty wiring. More changes had to take place to make the hotel what it is today.
The Ghosts and Hauntings of 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa
Theodora – Room 419
Since it reopened, the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa has experienced many paranormal events. There are rumors that some of the ghosts are those of the cancer patients who died there. One spirit often seen in the hotel is Theodora. She is a former cancer patient who was in Dr. Baker’s care. Some guests have seen her trying to find her keys right outside of room 419 and trying to clean up that room.
Michael – Room 218
In room 218, there was a man named Michael who apparently fell to his death. There are a lot of rumors as to what really happened to him in this room. No one knows the exact story, but Michael has been seen hanging out in this room, and his presence is also felt in other parts of the hotel.
Breckie and Morris
There are ghosts of children in this hotel as well. One child, Breckie, who was the son of Richard and Mary Breckenridge Thompson, died at the hotel when he had complications from appendicitis. Guests and staff have seen him going around the hotel and bouncing his ball. Not only is Breckie hanging around, but the hotel cat, Morris, also lingers around. He was called the hotel’s General Manager for 21 years. When he died, he was buried on the property, and guests have seen and heard him around the hotel often. Clearly, he is still devoted to the hotel and making sure it is still taken care of.
Dr. Baker
Paranormal experts continue to visit the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa. It recently emerged that the hotel is connected to a hospital, which could be one of the main reasons that the ghosts continue to linger. Graves have also been found where Dr. Baker buried some of his cancer patients.
Those who have stayed at the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa have seen quite a bit of paranormal activity. The ghosts and hauntings continue as more guests visit the hotel. If you are looking for some haunts during your next hotel stay in Arkansas, be sure to check in at the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa.
