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My Spine-Tingling Stays: Adventures in Haunted Hotels

As someone who’s always had a fascination with the paranormal, I’ve made it a personal mission to seek out the eerie and unexplained. And what better place to do so than in the supposedly haunted hotels and inns scattered across the globe? These historic buildings, steeped in years of memories (and maybe a few lingering spirits), offer a unique type of thrill for those brave enough to book a room. I’ve had my fair share of creepy encounters, and let me tell you, some of these experiences were more than just creaking floorboards and flickering lights.

The Stanley Hotel: A Brush with the Overworld

My journey into the heart of haunted hospitality began at the iconic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. This grand dame of the Rockies, forever immortalized in Stephen King’s “The Shining,” did not disappoint. I distinctly remember the unsettling feeling that washed over me as I stepped into the lobby, a feeling that I was stepping into a place where the veil between our world and the next was thin.

I made sure to book room 217, the very room that inspired King’s chilling tale. The air in the room was thick with anticipation. While I didn’t encounter any malevolent entities or ghostly twins, the oppressive atmosphere was palpable. The silence was broken by unexplained noises ー the distinct sound of a child’s laughter echoing down the empty hallway, the faint tinkling of a piano from the deserted music room. Whether these were figments of my imagination or genuine paranormal activity, I couldn’t say for sure. But one thing was certain ⎯ the Stanley Hotel left an indelible mark on my psyche, fueling my curiosity for more haunted encounters.

The Bourbon Orleans Hotel: Where History Whispers

My next stop was the Bourbon Orleans Hotel in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, a city known for its rich history and association with voodoo and the occult. The Bourbon Orleans, with its grand ballroom and elegant balconies, was once a convent and orphanage. It is said that the spirits of the nuns who dedicated their lives to the building, and the children who sadly perished during a yellow fever epidemic, still roam the halls.

My stay at the Bourbon Orleans was a whirlwind of unexplained occurrences. One evening, while walking down the hushed corridor leading to my room, I felt a distinct cold spot wash over me. A chill ran down my spine, and I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was being watched. Later that night, I woke to the sound of faint giggling coming from the room next door, a room that stood empty according to the front desk. While these incidents could be dismissed as coincidence, the sheer number of unexplained events made me wonder if there were indeed unseen guests sharing the hotel with me.

The Marshall House: Echoes of a Troubled Past

From the atmospheric streets of New Orleans, I traveled to Savannah, Georgia, home to the historic Marshall House. This stately hotel, with its elegant facade and charming courtyard, hides a darker past. Having served as a hospital during the Civil War and yellow fever outbreaks, it has witnessed a great deal of suffering and death.

My room at the Marshall House was on the fourth floor, a floor notorious for paranormal activity. The moment I stepped inside, I felt an oppressive heaviness, as if the very walls were saturated with sorrow. The faucets in the bathroom would turn on and off on their own, and I often woke to the sound of disembodied voices murmuring just beyond the range of my hearing. While unnerving, these experiences also filled me with a sense of sadness, a poignant reminder of the lives touched by tragedy within those very walls.

My Ongoing Quest for the Paranormal

These are just a few of my many encounters in haunted hotels. Each stay has been a unique experience, filled with its own brand of chills and thrills. While some may dismiss these occurrences as tricks of the mind or simply old buildings settling, I prefer to believe that there are things in this world that we cannot fully explain.

My quest for the paranormal continues, and I look forward to sharing my future adventures with you. Perhaps you, too, will be inspired to spend a night in one of these haunted establishments. But be warned ー you may just get more than you bargained for!