The South’s Most Haunted Hotel Rooms
The South is legendary for its hospitality, but at a few historic properties, that hospitality extends well beyond the grave. Pack your bags (and maybe leave the lights on) because these Southern hotels feature haunted rooms you can actually sleep in — if you dare! Image: The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa
If your ideal vacation itinerary includes the possibility of having your toes gently tickled at 3 a.m. by a ghost wearing a 1920s ballgown, you’ve come to the right place. These eight haunted hotel rooms in the South offer comfort, charm, and history — plus a bit of paranormal fun! Best of all, you can do more than just hear the spooky stories; you can actually book the room where they’re said to have happened. So check in, settle under the covers, and see what happens after the lights go out.
The Read House: Room 311 | Chattanooga, TN
More Info: hotels.com
Established in 1872, The Read House has been lovingly restored to Jazz Age opulence, combined with outstanding comfort, premium hospitality, and award-winning cuisine. And as the longest continuously operating hotel in the Southeast, this beauty has stories to tell!
The most legendary guest room in the hotel is undoubtedly Room 311. Local lore has it that young Annalisa Netherly met her tragic death there at the hands of a jealous husband. Guests have reported flickering lights, shadowy figures, and a feeling of being watched. Restored with 1920s-era design elements and details, the room is only available on select dates in October. If you’re interested, act quickly — demand is always high.
Fortunately, you don’t have to book the room to see it. “Even if you do not believe in ghosts or the paranormal, touring Room 311 under the guidance of our tenured Lobby Ambassadors is highly entertaining and informative (and free!),” says General Manager Jim Bambrey.
The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa: Rooms 218 & 419 | Eureka Springs, AR
More Info: hotels.com
Perched in the Ozark Mountains, the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa has welcomed guests for more than 140 years. According to legend, some never quite left! The grand Victorian hotel has lived several lives — it once served as a women’s college and the controversial Baker Cancer Clinic, giving its supernatural reputation plenty of history to work with.
“Guests interested in the hotel’s paranormal history can take a nightly ghost tour or request one of the rooms associated with reported unexplained experiences. Whether you visit for the history, the amenities, or the ghost stories, the Crescent offers a stay that is distinctly Eureka Springs,” says Director of Marketing and Communications Gina Rambo.
The two most well-known rooms are Room 218, said to be home to Michael, an Irish stonemason who allegedly fell to his death during the hotel’s construction, and Room 419, where the spirit of Theodora (a former patient) may linger — and possibly tidy up your belongings. But Gina tells us the hotel has other rooms with reported ghostly activities: the Governor’s Suite (Room 101), the North Penthouse (Room 502), Room 212, and all four suites in the annex, the site of the pain ward during the hotel’s hospital days.
The Omni Grove Park Inn: Room 545 | Asheville, NC
More Info: hotels.com
Opened in 1913, The Omni Grove Park Inn became a legendary sanctuary for high society, hosting everyone from F. Scott Fitzgerald to U.S. presidents. However, the resort’s most permanent resident may be The Pink Lady in Room 545, a gentle phantom rumored to be a 1920s socialite who fell from a fifth-floor balcony.
Guests booking the room have reported a soft pink glow in the bathroom mirror, playfully rearranged toiletries, and a rather odd sensation of having their toes gently tickled while they sleep. Far from terrifying, her legendary presence makes Room 545 so popular that travelers reserve it months in advance just to catch a glimpse of the resort’s favorite apparition.
17Hundred90 Inn & Restaurant: Room 204 | Savannah, GA
More Info: hotels.com
17Hundred90 Inn & Restaurant is one of Savannah’s oldest lodging properties, and stands out as a small gem in a city filled with history. While all guests are sure to enjoy the comfortable Colonial furnishings, beautiful antiques, and fine dining, those seeking a paranormal thrill may want to request Room 204.
The room is home to Anna, the most well-known of the property’s ghosts. A friendly spirit, Anna was in an arranged marriage when she fell in love with a sailor. According to the legend, she fell (or was she pushed?) to her death from the window as her lover’s ship departed the harbor. Since then, she’s amused herself by moving clothes and jewelry, nudging guests, and moving the bed covers.
And you don’t have to take our word for it! In a charming touch, the inn keeps a journal in every room for guests to describe their experiences. You can read for yourself what previous guests of Room 204 have to say.
The Menger Hotel: King Ranch Signature Suite | San Antonio, TX
More Info: hotels.com
At The Menger Hotel, the past doesn’t necessarily stay in the history books. Opened in 1859 and located just steps from the Alamo, this elegant Victorian hotel has welcomed presidents, military leaders, celebrities, and cattle barons — including Captain Richard King, who died at the Menger in 1885.
Today, his former accommodations are known as the King Ranch Signature Suite, a luxury room featuring a canopy bed, spacious living area, private balcony, and perhaps a sighting of Captain King himself, dressed in his signature black hat and bolo tie. The Menger embraces its spirited reputation with a year-round “Room with a Boo” package that includes a San Antonio ghost tour, making it easy to add a little otherworldly fun to your stay.
If sleeping in the same room as a reputed ghost doesn’t appeal, you can still enjoy the famed Menger Bar. Who knows, you may run into the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt, who recruited a few of his Rough Riders there!
The Marshall House: Room 414 | Savannah, GA
More Info: hotels.com
Savannah’s oldest operating hotel, The Marshall House boasts a rich and colorful history. Established in 1851 by businesswoman Mary Marshall, the hotel served as a refuge during multiple yellow fever epidemics and as a Union hospital at the end of the Civil War.
Today, guests will find lovingly restored vintage charm, modern comfort, and a dash of ghostly activity. If you want the ultimate haunted check-in, ask for Room 414. Guests have reported mysterious sights and sounds, including doors closing, water faucets turning on by themselves, sounds of children laughing, and disembodied voices asking for a nurse.
The hotel embraces its spooky side with good fun and open curiosity, and celebrates its vibrant history with a weekly talk from a local historian, a nice non-paranormal activity for those who are more history buff than ghost hunter. (Check at the front desk for current schedules.)
Andrew Jackson Hotel: Room 208 | New Orleans, LA
More Info: hotels.com
Located in the iconic French Quarter, the Andrew Jackson Hotel occupies a site with a very dramatic past. A boarding school and orphanage for boys who lost their parents to yellow fever once stood here, and five of the boys sadly perished when a fire destroyed the building in 1794.
The present hotel dates to 1890, and offers cozy elegance and tranquility. But if you want to spice up your stay, Room 208 is the one to request! The property says the spirit of one of the orphan boys may still reside there, a friendly little prankster named Armand. Guests have reported waking up to their bedsheets being slowly pulled off the bed, sudden chilly drafts, or belongings going missing.
Others say they’ve seen the ghostly caretaker of the orphanage tidying rooms, and the courtyard is also a favorite spot for phantom children playing — you may overhear faint ghostly giggles and footsteps.
If that’s not enough paranormal activity for one evening, the hotel offers a Haunted Tour Package that includes a New Orleans ghost tour.
Thomas House Hotel: Room 37 | Red Boiling Springs, TN
More Info: thomashousehotel.com
Full of character and personality, the Thomas House Hotel traces its roots to 1890, when it was built as part of the town’s mineral-springs resort boom. Today, the historic inn offers old-fashioned Southern hospitality alongside a reputation for paranormal activity.
For a most spirited stay, request Room 37, home to the hotel’s resident ghost, a young girl named Sarah. Guests have reported seeing Sarah at the edge of the bed, hearing children’s laughter, and seeing doors open and close on their own.
Don’t worry if it is not available, however! “While it is the most requested room, it is certainly not the only haunted room in our building,” says Cherry Cole, who owns the property with her husband and brother-in-law. “We have a total of 15 guest rooms and various common areas in our hotel where guests are welcome to investigate. There is activity all over the property.”
The Thomas House takes its ghostly reputation a step further with Ghost Hunt Weekends, which include dinner, a history-and-hauntings presentation, and an all-night paranormal investigation. Weekend stays also offer dinner theatre productions. And while meals are not offered during the week, Cherry tells us that Sunday-through-Thursday night stays are popular with paranormal enthusiasts as the property is much quieter with fewer guests — the perfect time to do a little ghost-hunting on your own.
Pack your bags, book your stay, and remember: leaving the bathroom light on is entirely optional.
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Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.
