Well, it's that time of year again, but have you ever asked yourself: well, here it is autumn, with Halloween coming up and I want to stay in a haunted hotel -- but where?

Look no further! Without further ado, here is my list of choice haunted properties. Note that especially haunted rooms in properties appear in parentheses. Questions and comments are appreciated, because there are surely hundreds of others out there! Where have you stayed with the supernatural?

Alabama -- Selma -- Grace Hall

Arizona -- Flagstaff -- Monte Vista Hote (Zane Grey Suite)
Arizona -- Phoenix -- Hotel San Carlos
Arizona -- Tombstone -- Buford House

Arkansas -- Eureka Springs -- Crescent Hotel (Rm 218, Rm 419)

California -- Brookdale -- Brookdale Lodge
California -- Coronado (San Diego) -- Hotel del Coronado (Rm 3327)
California -- Hollywood (Los Angeles) -- Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (Rm 246, Rm 928)
California ? Hollywood (Los Angeles) -- Knickerbocker Hotel
California -- Long Beach (Los Angeles) -- RMS Queen Mary/Hotel Queen Mary
California -- Napa -- Napa River Inn
California -- San Diego -- Horton Grand Hotel
California -- San Francisco -- Queen Anne Hotel (Rm 410)
California -- Santa Monica (Los Angeles) -- Georgian Hotel

Colorado -- Aspen -- Hotel Jerome (Rm 310)
Colorado -- Estes Park -- Stanley Hotel (Rm 418)

Connecticut -- Griswold -- Homespun Farm
Connecticut -- Old Mystic -- Red Brook Inn (North Room)

Florida -- Key West -- La Cancha Hotel
Florida -- Key West -- The Artist House (Turret Room)
Florida -- St. Augustine -- Casa de la Paz Bed and Breakfast

Georgia -- Savannah -- Forsyth Park Inn
Georgia -- Savannah -- Marshall House

Idaho -- Nezperce -- Nezperce Inn (Rm 206)

Illinois -- Springfield -- The Inn at 835

Kansas -- Atchison -- Majestic House

Louisiana -- Lafayette -- T?Frere?s House
Louisiana -- New Orleans -- Delta Queen
Louisiana -- New Orleans -- Hotel Maison de Ville (Cottage No. 4)
Louisiana -- St. Francisville -- The Myrtles Plantation
Louisiana -- Vacherie -- Oak Alley Plantation, Restaurant and Inn

Massachusetts -- Ashland (Boston area) -- John Stone?s Inn
Massachusetts -- Fall River -- Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast

Minnesota -- Annandale -- Thayer?s Historic Bed and Breakfast

Missouri -- St. Louis -- Lemp Mansion Restaurant and Inn

Nevada -- Las Vegas -- Union Plaza Hotel and Casino

New Hampshire -- Bretton Woods -- Mount Washington Hotel
New Hampshire -- Hart?s Location -- The Notchland Inn

New Mexico -- Cimarron -- St. James Hotel

New York -- Garrison -- Bird and Bottle Inn
New York -- Liverpool -- Ancestors Inn at the Bassett House

North Carolina -- Asheville -- Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa (Rm 545)
North Carolina -- Asheville -- Reed House Bed and Breakfast
North Carolina -- Asheville -- WhiteGate Inn and Cottage
North Carolina -- Chapel Hill -- Carolina Inn
North Carolina -- Flat Rock -- Woodfield Inn (Morris Room)
North Carolina -- Glendale Springs -- Glendale Springs Inn and Restaurant
North Carolina -- Hendersonville -- Comfort Inn and Suites
North Carolina -- Hendersonville -- Ramada Limited (Rm 113)
North Carolina -- Rutherfordton -- Green River Plantation Inn
North Carolina -- Weaverville (Asheville area) -- Inn on Main Street

Ontario -- Niagara-on-the-Lake -- The Olde Angel Inn

Pennsylvania -- Gettysburg -- Cashtown Hotel (Rm 4)
Pennsylvania -- Gettysburg -- Farnsworth House
Pennsylvania -- Merion -- The General Wayne Inn

Rhode Island -- Wakefield -- Brookside Manor

South Carolina -- Moncks Corner -- Rice Hope Plantation Inn
South Carolina -- Union -- Inn at Merridun

South Dakota -- Deadwood -- Bullock Hotel

Texas -- Ft. Worth -- Texas White House

Vermont -- Stowe -- Brass Lantern Inn
Vermont -- Wilmington -- White House of Wilmington

Virginia -- Abingdon -- Martha Washington Inn (Rm 403)

Washington -- Lakewood -- Thornewood Castle

Wyoming -- Sheridan -- Historic Sheridan Inn

I copied and pasted this list from a document I have stored on my computer, and it appears that some of the formatting didn't go through. Sorry for any confusion, so if you have a question about where a particular hotel is located or what its name is, please ask!

I have a few REALLY silly questions, forgive me: When someone stays in a haunted hotel, esp. in one of the rooms you mentioned, are they guaranteed to see something? Do people on 'lower vibrations' merely experience or feel stuff, but not see? And is the haunted experience vastly different from one property or state to the next?

I have never stayed in a bona fide haunt but just wanted to be sure in case I accidentally stumble onto one on your list! Yikes!

Are you guaranteed to see something?

No -- it's not like a "haunted" attraction at a theme park, where the ghosts pop out on schedule, caper about, then fade back into the wall. The vast majority of people who stay in an actual haunted hotel will get Christmas Eve rather than Christmas, if you get my drift. But... the anticipation is most of the fun when it comes to something like this!

Now, regarding the "haunted experience," no two ghosts are alike, so you get a different "experience" any time you encounter a ghost. A ghost is the spirit or essence of a dead person, according to those who believe in them, so meeting ghosts is like meeting people, with all that can change from minute to minute and even second to second.

Then again, the study of the paranormal is as complex as any other science, and "ghosts" aren't even the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things you can encounter -- but if you think I'm going to get into that here, you're crazy.

Basically, as a rule of thumb when it comes to ghosts, expect the unexpected, expect it when you least expect it, expect it for only an instant, and never expect the same thing twice.

California -San Diego- Hotel Del Coronado said to be haunted by the ghost of Kate Morgan (3312 mentioned above) & a maid (3502)

BTW my we along w/ my MIL stayed at Farnsworth House and she swears her socks were moved from the foot of the bed to the nightstand next to the bed the following morning!
Also we took a great photo of something wierd at the Jenny Wade house (the only civilian killed in the battle of Gettysburg - a very strange ray of light on the bed in the room she laid to rest) and our video camera broke when we tried to film the house, first spooky experience we've ever had

Thanks, all good advice! I believe in it. All of it!

hauntedheadnc, have you had any ghostly encounters at these or any other places?

Have I ever personally had a run-in with a ghost? Most definitely! In fact, that's a fairly common occurrence in my family.

But to keep things on topic, yes, I've personally had a few experiences at some of the hotels on this list. I have several friends who work at the Ramada in Hendersonville, where Rm 113, the jacuzzi suite, is haunted by the ghost of a woman who committed suicide there a couple of years ago.

From time to time when you enter the room, it feels like you're interrupting someone -- like they're having to look up from their reading or watching TV to acknowledge you. Also, sometimes when walking past the room you get the distinct feeling that you're being followed.

The most interesting phenomenon though occurs only in the dead of winter, and only when it's brutally cold outside. Twice this past winter, according to the night auditor (a retired sheriff's deputy, by the way, and implicitly trustworthy), both times at about 3 in the morning or so, a woman approached the front desk to ask about the continental breakfast served in the lobby each morning. She asked what time it was served and what would be served before fading away.

Meanwhile, at the Grove Park Inn up in Asheville, numerous phantoms, the most famous of which is the "Pink Lady" have been recorded in all corners of the property, from the utility tunnels underneath the building, to the roof, to the golf course, to the restaurants, and in the rooms. People report having been pinched, poked, and tickled by unseen fingers and even occasionally given a warm embrace by someone who isn't there. Others have been sound asleep and have awoken to feel someone crawling into bed with them, when there's no one there. Personally though, my only experiences at the Grove Park Inn have been limited to anomalies appearing in every photgraph I tried to take inside the building.

The Lizzie Borden B&B offers a unique twist to hostelry as well. Located in Fall River MA, this is the home where LB allegedly 'whacked' her parents.

Here's a little squib from the website at lizzie-borden.com:

Since the murders on August 4, 1892 the house has been a private residence. Now for the first time the public is allowed not only to view the murder scene, but is given an opportunity to spend a night (if you dare) in the actual house where the murders took place.

In San Antonio you also have The Menger and Emily Morgan Hotels.

We were staying at the Emily Morgan when a local TV station did a story on it being haunted.

Yeah, like after a night at The Riverwalk you think The Dead could wake up the living dead?

Thanks, Kal! I'm always on the lookout for new additions to my list, so I've snapped up both of the ones you've provided!

By the way, folks... stay tuned for another post sometime soon regarding my favorite haunts in Asheville, the city I happily call home.

Just topping -- don't mind me.

hauntedheadnc, thanks for your candid response. I'm happier having no such encounters, but one never knows what will happen, I suppose.

Looking over a few of the properties listed on the list it appears that some of them have found a new word ("haunted") to describe an all-too-familiar state of affairs ("shabby and run down").

Which ones would you describe as shabby and run down, Intrepid?

hauntedheadnc
Have you ever heard of being alone and smelling someone that has passed?

New Orleans- Le Pavillon, 1891 Castle Inn

"Have you ever heard of being alone and smelling someone that has passed"?

Depends on how long ago they passed.
Once the body starts to decompose it gets pretty ripe. It'll get your attention right away.

Travelis
OK, I deserved that. I mean, like the perfume they always had on...etc