The Haunting of Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa — Hot Springs, Arkansas

Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas

Photo: Wikipedia

Nestled in the heart of Hot Springs National Park, the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa isn’t just a luxury destination — it’s one of the most paranormally active places in Arkansas. With a past stretching back to 1875, this grand hotel has survived fires, hosted presidents, and welcomed infamous figures like Al Capone. And some say it still hosts... guests who never left.

The current building — the third incarnation of the Arlington — opened in 1924, and its elegant 1920s design masks a legacy of tragedy, mystery, and ghostly encounters. From the moment you enter the grand lobby, you can feel it: this is no ordinary hotel.

One of the most talked-about areas is Room 443, famously favored by gangster Al Capone. Guests who stay there report cold drafts, strange shadows, flickering lights, and the sound of muffled voices through the walls — even when no one else is nearby. It’s said Capone even had a private escape route out of the hotel... but perhaps his spirit never took it.

The fourth, seventh, and eighth floors are also rife with supernatural activity. Elevators operate on their own. Doors open and slam shut without explanation. Some guests feel sudden cold spots or the eerie sensation of being watched. Others claim to have seen a woman in white wandering the halls — a spirit whose identity remains unknown to this day.

Hotel employees have told stories of a ghostly former staff member who still performs his duties after death, especially near the laundry and maintenance areas. Whispers in empty corridors, phantom footsteps, and vanishing figures are all part of the Arlington experience for those attuned to the otherworldly.

With its historic mineral springs baths, ties to organized crime, and luxurious facade, the Arlington is both a glamorous getaway and a haunted haven. Visitors come for the charm... but some leave with stories they can’t quite explain.

Are the spirits tied to the land's ancient healing waters? Or do they stem from the hotel’s long and complicated past?

One thing is certain — the Arlington’s ghosts aren’t just part of the legend. To many who visit, they’re still very real.

Address: 239 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901
Phone: (501) 623-7771
Public access: Yes, open to guests.

The Haunting of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel

Jekyll Island Club Hotel – Glynn County, Jekyll Island, Georgia

Photograph ©Jekyll Island Club Hotel

In the annals of history, the illustrious Jekyll Island Club Hotel stands as a testament to opulence, originally gracing the coastal landscape in 1887. Conceived as an exclusive haven and hunting retreat for the elite, this architectural marvel played host to an array of distinguished personalities, weaving together the stories of Joseph Pulitzer, Vincent Astor, J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller, James Stillman, William K. Vanderbilt, George Baker, and a cadre of other influential tycoons and politicians.

Beyond its gilded origins, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel has transcended its temporal constraints, embracing a spectral dimension that adds an ethereal layer to its storied history. The corridors of this grand establishment echo with whispers of paranormal occurrences, captivating those who seek both luxury and a brush with the otherworldly.

The Sans Souci house, a cherished retreat of J.P. Morgan, is not just a haven for the living but also an abode for lingering spirits. Guests have reported encountering the unmistakable aroma of Morgan's infamous cigar smoke, a lingering reminder of the tycoon's presence.

Within the walls of the Aspinwall room, the spectral figure of General Lloyd Aspinwall has been said to materialize. Originally named the Riverfront Veranda, this room was dedicated to Aspinwall due to his affinity for it, serving as his favored sanctuary within the confines of the hotel.

In Spencer's Suite, the ghostly presence of Samuel Spencer, a figure from the past, engages with the present. Guests have recounted instances of Spencer perusing newspapers left by visitors, seamlessly traversing the realms of the living and the spectral.

A former bellhop, eternally bound to the hotel, continues to weave his spectral narrative. This benevolent apparition has been known to knock on the doors of newlywed couples, presenting the groom with a pressed suit before vanishing into the shadows. Clad in an old-fashioned bellhop's cap and suit, this "very real-looking" spirit adds a touch of nostalgia to the hotel's ghostly ensemble.

As the Jekyll Island Club Hotel stands gracefully at the crossroads of history and the supernatural, its halls whisper tales of opulence, intrigue, and spectral encounters, inviting guests to revel in an experience that transcends the boundaries of time and the living.

 
Address:
371 Riverview Drive
Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527
(912) 635-2600
Website

The Haunting of the La Posada Resort

La Posada Resort – Santa Fe County, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Photograph ©Jim

In 1882, Abraham Staab and his wife, Julie, built their home here; this original house is now part of the La Posada Resort. Julie gave birth to seven children during her lifetime, however, the last of these children died at birth. This tragedy devastated Julie and sent her into a downward spiral of depression and isolation. Julie took to her bed and stayed there until her death in 1896. Today, it is believed that the house is still occupied by Julie Staab’s apparition.

In room 256, Julie’s former bedroom, is where most of the activity occurs. Many guests who have stayed in this room have reported that sometime during the night, someone filled the bathtub with water. Julie’s apparition was also spotted by a chimney cleaner while he was outside; he claimed that he looked over at the window and saw a woman in period clothing looking at him through the curtains. This worker recognized the woman from a painting that hangs in the drawing room.

Julie’s apparition has also been seen gliding down the grand staircase, as well as, sitting quietly in the restaurant area. Many who have not seen this gentle spirit have claimed that they felt her presence or experienced fleeting, unexplainable cold spots.

Address:
330 East Palace Avenue
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
(505) 986-0000
(866) 331-ROCK

The Haunting of The Lodge Resort, Spa and Saloon

The Lodge – Otero County, Cloudcroft, New Mexico

Photograph ©Heather Shade

Address:
1 Corona Place
Cloudcroft, New Mexico 88317
(505) 682-2566
Website

Originally, the Lodge Resort was built in 1899 for use of the timber cutters who worked on the Railroad. In 1906, the Lodge was opened to the public and in 1911 it was fully restored after an extremely destructive fire took place. Since those early days, the Lodge has served many guests, including Judy Garland, Clark Gable and every one of New Mexico’s Governors.

Today the Lodge is claimed to be haunted by the spirit of a woman named Rebecca. This young woman worked for the Lodge in the early nineteenth century and did a little work as a prostitute on the side. Rebecca, like the other employees of that time, lived in one of the rooms in the basement of the Lodge. It was in this room where Rebecca was murdered by her lover who caught her in bed with another man (or possibly a client). It was right after Rebecca’s death that the hauntings at the Lodge began and the paranormal activity has occurred there ever since.

Rebecca’s apparition has been reportedly seen by many guests, as well as employees and she is usually described as having long red hair, blue eyes and period clothing. One guest said he heard an odd scratching sound coming from the hallway outside of his room. When the man cracked open his door to investigate, he saw Rebecca rearranging some flowers that were placed in the hallway. Another unsuspecting guest walked into his guest bathroom to shower and found the semi-transparent Rebecca reclining lazily in his bathtub before she quickly disappeared!

In the Saloon, located in the basement of the Lodge, Rebecca has been seen in the mirror at the bar. When the bartender turns around to serve the pretty young woman, she is gone. Also in the bar area, Rebecca is claimed to take beverages that were served to living guests, leave antique poker chips lying on the floor and play loud music that causes complaints from guests who were sleeping upstairs.

The mischievous spirit of Rebecca is also thought to have fun with guests and employees by flushing toilets, shattering glasses, flickering lights, calling the front desk from empty rooms, turning on guests lights in the middle of the night, lying down in the beds beside of guests, moving guests items from their rooms, opening and closing doors, locking doors and playing with electronic gadgets.

The paranormal reports at the Lodge pour in almost every day. Some guests even return to the hotel just to experience the activity there and Rebecca seldom disappoints them. This spirited lady, no pun intended, seems to have made the Lodge her home and doesn’t give any indication of checking out anytime soon.