Haunted Hotels

Featured on the popular TV show, America’s Most Haunted, the Casablanca Inn in St. Augustine is located in what is often referred to as the “Nation’s Oldest City.” The city itself has a long and rich history, and there are several documented cases of hauntings and paranormal activity throughout St. Augustine. The Casablanca Inn is among the most elegant places in the city to supposedly be haunted.

Paranormal Activity at Casablanca Inn in St Augustine, FL

People traveling the seas or walking nearby are said to have witnessed a light waving back and forth from the second floor of the inn. It is said that the widow who owned the inn would do this to warn bootleggers smuggling alcohol in when it wasn’t safe to enter the harbor. She procured alcohol from the bootleggers because many of her guests wanted it, and she made much money in doing so. In addition to seeing a waving light, others have reported seeing strange, wispy, fog-like apparitions in and around the inn, hearing creaks on the floorboards when no one’s there, sounds of people talking and sounds of children playing.

From Boarding House to Inn

The Casablanca Inn was originally built in 1914, but back then it was known as the “Matanzas Hotel” because it overlooked the beautiful, tropical Matanzas Bay. Later, it became known as the “Bayfront Boarding House,” a name change that the widow who bought the property in the 1920s initiated. A few years later, she again renamed the establishment, this time calling it the “Casablanca Inn,” the name that it still retains today. During its time as a boarding house, many children resided in it, which is perhaps why sounds of children playing have reportedly been heard there.

Is the Jameson Inn in Crestview, Florida Haunted?

No one knows exactly what occurred in room 208 of the Quality Inn (formerly the Jameson Inn) in Crestview, Florida. The only thing that is certain about the room is that it has become a hotbed for paranormal activity and grisly sightings. Years ago, William Blair was enjoying a tranquil slumber in the room when he was suddenly awoken by a stirring around him and an unknown presence “ruffling his hair.” When Blair opened his eyes, he was greeted by the ghastly sight of a decapitated woman. ” I saw this headless woman in a long white nightgown walking towards me. There was blood dripping from her neck and her veins were sticking out,” he stated. “Then all of a sudden, she vanished through the wall and into the attic as inexplicably as she appeared.” A self-proclaimed skeptic when it came to the paranormal, Blair quelled his shock by promptly downing a shot of whiskey. “I have never believed in ghosts,” he said. “But on that particular night, I saw one.”

The headless woman isn’t the only ghostly presence taking up residence in room 208. Throngs of guests have left the room over the years with reports of seeing their luggage and other objects levitate along with the pungent smell of cigarette smoke permeating the walls, even though it is a non-smoking room. Stories of paranormal activity in room 208 are old hat for general manager Teresa Davis, who hears them on a semi-regular basis. She and the staff have even coined one of the ghosts as “Fred”. It is said that the spirit of a man can be seen roaming the second floor hallways and lingering by the elevators. “When the elevator randomly opens, we joke, ‘Oh, Fred’s coming.'” Although Davis herself remains a skeptic about the hauntings, guests continue to experience phenomena. Many guests who choose to vacate room 208 for a night, many have been reported to be so terrified by the experience that they will “change rooms in the middle of the night” and several members of the cleaning staff abstain from ever cleaning the room alone.

Established as recently as 2000, the Quality Inn lives up to its namesake with clean, modern amenities, friendly staff and a truly quality experience. If you’re brave enough to allow a few ghosts to punctuate a top-notch visit, don’t hesitate booking one of the best rooms along the Emerald Coast.

Opened in 1905, El Tovar Hotel grew in popularity over the years due to the number of tourists flocking to the Grand Canyon. Added to the National Register of Historic Places and made a cultural landmark, some of those who book a room at the hotel know little about its haunted past or of the grave located on the historic property.

That grave belongs to a young woman who once worked as a ?Harvey Girl.? Harvey was a popular chain of hotels during the early part of the 20th centuries, and young woman who worked for the company went by that popular nickname. Harvey wanted his girls to wear traditional uniforms with starched white aprons and black dresses to project a sophisticated look. That is why the ghost seen here is so odd. Visitors sometimes see a figure clad in a long black dress with a black cape and black veil over her face standing near the grave or walking nearby. Some think she was a relative of the woman buried there.

Fred Harvey, the former owner of the hotel, also haunts the hotel and seems particularly fond of the third floor. Workers report seeing him most frequently during holiday parties and events. The Fred Harvey Company typically built hotels near railroad lines and near depots to assist those traveling by chain. Though Harvey died years ago, he seems to enjoy sticking around to ensure the hotel still runs smoothly. The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, and while visiting the national park, some guests may stop by the El Tavor Hotel for a quick ghost hunt.