It doesn’t have to be Halloween to get spooky around here, so get ready for some eerie ghost stories that will give you a chill. Dim the lights and cue the scary music. Things are about to get creepy as you take a peek at these haunted hotels in Southern California that will keep you up at night. From a haunted ocean liner turned hotel to a legendary Hollywood celebrity hangout allegedly visited by the ghost of Marilyn Monroe, you will be dying to experience a night at these haunted locations.
- Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood
flickr/Tony Hisgett The famous West Hollywood hotel where mega celebrities have stayed and where John Belushi died from an overdose. Supernatural occurrences include faucets turning on and off in the rooms and closed windows opening. There’s even a rumor that there’s a ghost who crawls into bed in the guest rooms.
- Ojai Valley Inn and Spa
flickr/Peter Jackson This place doesn’t look very haunted from the outside, but spooky experiences have been reported by guests who have stayed in Room 5. The guests heard loud banging from inside the closet followed by a foul smell that only occurs once they open the closet door.
- Queen Mary Hotel in Long Beach
Wikimedia Commons A former ocean liner that sailed between 1936 and 1967 is now a floating hotel in Long Beach. The ghost stories abound at this hotel. A mysterious “lady in white” has been spotted on the Queen Mary and ghostly occurrences have been reported in cabin B340 where a person was allegedly murdered.
- Korakia Pensione Villa Bed and Breakfast in Palm Springs
Yelp/Melissa B. Located at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, this 1920s inn is rumored to be haunted by the wife of the former owner. On the anniversary of her death she has been seen walking on the side of the road near the inn.
- The Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles
flickr/jpellgen This historic hotel was the location of the very first Academy Awards ceremony back in 1929. Some pretty famous ghosts supposedly hang out here. The image of Marilyn Monroe has allegedly been spotted in the hotel lobby mirror staring back at guests. The 9th floor might give you a startle as the faint sound of Montgomery Clift playing his bugle in room 928 has been reported.
- Hotel Del Coronado
flickr/SD Dirk Perhaps one of the most well known hotels on this list is also known for having a friendly resident ghost. Accounts of supernatural events started happening after the death of a mysterious young woman who checked into the hotel back in 1892 and never checked out as she took her own life in a room on the third floor. Guests have reported strange happenings in that room from extreme changes in temperature to items randomly being moved around. Good thing she’s a friendly ghost!
- Victorian Rose Bed and Breakfast in Ventura
Yelp/Karen F. There are some spooky ghostly experiences at this bed and breakfast housed in an old gothic church. The spookiest story of all is about a woman who was killed when she fell from the loft in the former choir room. Guests have reported that on occasion they can still hear the woman singing.
- The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa in Riverside
Wikimedia Commons This sprawling hotel is considered to be the most haunted place in all of Riverside. With reports of ghostly apparitions seen in the hallways, sounds of singing heard in empty rooms and guests experiencing the sensation of being pushed by unseen hands, I can see why.
- U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego
Wikimedia Commons Built back in 1910, this hotel allegedly has a male ghost who walks the halls and sometimes enters guest rooms where haunting noises are heard.
- The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica
flickr/Paul Hamilton This upscale oceanfront hotel built in 1933, only a block from the Santa Monica pier, is rumored to be haunted. The spooky happenings include loud sighs and gasps in the dining room when it’s empty and closed. The most startling of the ghostly reports is the sound of an eerie voice uttering the words “good morning” when no one else is around.
How’s that for some scary ghost stories?! Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever stayed at any of these hotels and what sort of spookiness you encountered while you were there.
flickr/Tony Hisgett
The famous West Hollywood hotel where mega celebrities have stayed and where John Belushi died from an overdose. Supernatural occurrences include faucets turning on and off in the rooms and closed windows opening. There’s even a rumor that there’s a ghost who crawls into bed in the guest rooms.
flickr/Peter Jackson
This place doesn’t look very haunted from the outside, but spooky experiences have been reported by guests who have stayed in Room 5. The guests heard loud banging from inside the closet followed by a foul smell that only occurs once they open the closet door.
Wikimedia Commons
A former ocean liner that sailed between 1936 and 1967 is now a floating hotel in Long Beach. The ghost stories abound at this hotel. A mysterious “lady in white” has been spotted on the Queen Mary and ghostly occurrences have been reported in cabin B340 where a person was allegedly murdered.
Yelp/Melissa B.
Located at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, this 1920s inn is rumored to be haunted by the wife of the former owner. On the anniversary of her death she has been seen walking on the side of the road near the inn.
flickr/jpellgen
This historic hotel was the location of the very first Academy Awards ceremony back in 1929. Some pretty famous ghosts supposedly hang out here. The image of Marilyn Monroe has allegedly been spotted in the hotel lobby mirror staring back at guests. The 9th floor might give you a startle as the faint sound of Montgomery Clift playing his bugle in room 928 has been reported.
flickr/SD Dirk
Perhaps one of the most well known hotels on this list is also known for having a friendly resident ghost. Accounts of supernatural events started happening after the death of a mysterious young woman who checked into the hotel back in 1892 and never checked out as she took her own life in a room on the third floor. Guests have reported strange happenings in that room from extreme changes in temperature to items randomly being moved around. Good thing she’s a friendly ghost!
Yelp/Karen F.
There are some spooky ghostly experiences at this bed and breakfast housed in an old gothic church. The spookiest story of all is about a woman who was killed when she fell from the loft in the former choir room. Guests have reported that on occasion they can still hear the woman singing.
This sprawling hotel is considered to be the most haunted place in all of Riverside. With reports of ghostly apparitions seen in the hallways, sounds of singing heard in empty rooms and guests experiencing the sensation of being pushed by unseen hands, I can see why.
Built back in 1910, this hotel allegedly has a male ghost who walks the halls and sometimes enters guest rooms where haunting noises are heard.
flickr/Paul Hamilton
This upscale oceanfront hotel built in 1933, only a block from the Santa Monica pier, is rumored to be haunted. The spooky happenings include loud sighs and gasps in the dining room when it’s empty and closed. The most startling of the ghostly reports is the sound of an eerie voice uttering the words “good morning” when no one else is around.
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