History Meets Horror: 10 Iconic Hotels With Strange Backstories

From ghostly legends to unsolved mysteries, some hotels around the world hold stories that go far beyond luxury stays. These iconic properties blend eerie history with real-life hauntings — perfect for thrill-seekers who love a good chill.

1. The Stanley Hotel – Colorado, USA

Famed as the inspiration behind Stephen King’s The Shining, this grand hotel in Estes Park is believed to be haunted by its founders, F.O. and Flora Stanley. Guests have reported hearing unseen pianos playing and children laughing in empty corridors.

2. The Langham Hotel – London, England

Opened in 1865, The Langham is one of London’s oldest luxury hotels — and also one of its most haunted. Room 333 is the site of countless ghost sightings, including a Victorian doctor who allegedly killed his wife before taking his own life.

3. Hotel del Coronado – California, USA

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this iconic resort near San Diego is home to the spirit of Kate Morgan, a young woman who mysteriously died there in 1892. Guests still report cold spots, flickering lights, and a female apparition in vintage clothing.

4. Fairmont Banff Springs – Alberta, Canada

Nicknamed The Castle in the Rockies, the Fairmont Banff Springs is known for its ghostly bride — said to have fallen down the staircase on her wedding day. There’s also a friendly bellhop spirit named Sam who’s known to help guests long after his death.

5. Ballygally Castle Hotel – Northern Ireland

This 17th-century castle on the Antrim Coast is a mix of beauty and tragedy. Lady Isobel Shaw’s ghost reportedly knocks on doors and drifts through hallways after being locked in a tower by her husband centuries ago.

6. The Crescent Hotel – Arkansas, USA

Built in 1886, this grand Victorian building once operated as a hospital under a fake doctor, Norman Baker, who claimed he could cure cancer. Paranormal teams still investigate the property, where guests report ghostly figures and voices from the morgue.

7. The Savoy Hotel – Mussoorie, India

Opened in 1902, The Savoy’s mysterious past inspired Agatha Christie’s first novel. Lady Garnet Orme, who was poisoned in her room, is said to still haunt the corridors. The hotel’s old colonial charm makes the haunting even more chilling.

8. Queen Mary Hotel – California, USA

Once a luxury ocean liner, the Queen Mary is now permanently docked in Long Beach and serves as a floating hotel. It’s infamous for its haunted engine room, ghostly sailors, and mysterious cabin doors that open and close by themselves.

9. Château de Brissac – Loire Valley, France

This French castle-turned-hotel is known for “The Green Lady,” the ghost of Charlotte de Brézé, who was murdered by her husband centuries ago. Her moans are said to echo through the halls, and her spirit appears with hollow eye sockets.

10. The Hollywood Roosevelt – Los Angeles, USA

Since opening in 1927, this glamorous hotel has hosted countless celebrities — and a few spirits. Guests claim to see Marilyn Monroe’s reflection in a mirror that once hung in her suite, and hear mysterious whispers in the Blossom Ballroom.

Final Thoughts

These 10 hotels prove that beauty and darkness often coexist. Whether haunted by lost souls or shaped by strange history, each one promises more than a comfortable stay — it offers a story you’ll never forget.