Some sights to see:
Affordable Housing Option:
The Baker Hotel:
Source of hauntings? Douglas Gerald Moore, 16, Bellhop. Date of death: 1/17/1948. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-waco-news-tribune-douglas-gerald-moo/7656753/
Nazareth Hospital
I did absolutely no background research before staying overnight at The Historic Occidental Hotel. The 1880 hotel boasts distinguished and infamous guests such as: Buffalo Bill Cody, Teddy Roosevelt, and Calamity Jane. Is it haunted? I was drawn to two areas: the back staircase and the library. I later learned that the apparition of Teddy Roosevelt has been spotted in the library, and that the back staircase is another area notorious for ghost sightings.
A Tale from “Echoes of the Past:”
In the heart of downtown Buffalo, Wyoming, there stood a historic hotel with a secret. The locals whispered about its haunted halls and the cursed library that resided within. No one dared to venture into that part of the hotel after sundown, for fear of encountering the spirits that were said to roam freely among the books.
One chilly evening, a young traveler named Emily arrived in town, seeking refuge from the relentless winter winds. She was drawn to the old hotel by its rustic charm and the promise of a warm bed for the night. Unfazed by the ominous tales whispered by the townsfolk, Emily checked into a room on the second floor of The Historic Occidental Hotel, just down the hall from the infamous library.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the hotel’s creaking corridors, Emily’s curiosity got the better of her. Armed with nothing but a lantern and her courage, she slowly made her way down the hall to the haunted library. The air grew colder with each step, and the wood floors groaned under her feet.
Pushing open the heavy oak door, Emily found herself in a room straight out of another era. Dusty tomes lined the shelves, their leather bindings cracked with age. The air was thick with the scent of paper and something more elusive—a hint of lavender and pipe tobacco, as if the ghosts of long-gone readers still lingered among the stacks.
Emily wandered the shelves, running her fingers over the spines of the books. She paused at a particularly weathered volume bound in faded black leather. As she reached out to touch it, a chill ran down her spine, and she heard a whisper—a soft voice, barely audible, calling her name.
Startled, Emily spun around, but the library was empty save for her. She shook off the sensation and continued exploring, drawn deeper into the archives and forgotten stories. Every so often, she thought she caught glimpses of movement out of the corner of her eye—a fleeting shadow, a flicker of movement among the books.
Just as Emily was about to leave, she stumbled upon a desk tucked away in a secluded corner of the library. On it lay an open book, its pages yellowed with age. The title was “Echoes of the Past”. Intrigued, Emily began to read, losing herself in tales of love and loss, of triumph and tragedy, all set against the backdrop of the Old West.
As she turned the final page, a soft light began to glow from within the book. The room seemed to shimmer, and suddenly, Emily found herself surrounded by the characters from the stories she had just read—ghostly figures in old-fashioned attire, smiling and nodding as if they had been expecting her.
They spoke to her in hushed tones, recounting their tales and sharing their wisdom. Emily listened intently, captivated by their stories of life in the Old West, of hardships endured and dreams pursued. She lost track of time as the night wore on, the spirits fading back into the pages of the book as the first light of dawn crept through the library windows.
As Emily emerged from the library, her heart was filled with wonder and awe. She knew that she had experienced something extraordinary—a glimpse into the past, brought to life by the magic that lingered within the haunted library of The Historic Occidental Hotel.
A trip to Oatman, AZ via Route 66 out of Kingman, AZ. I realized I had almost no photos of the trip, and in particular, was largely missing images of the donkeys.
My first attempts (without reading the instructions first) at AI generation via descriptive text instructions:
I quite enjoy the “not quite right” images of the Oman Oten and the glassy-eyed evil donkeys. They are certainly creepier than the real thing, and perfect for a ghost story setting.
The prompt I entered into ChatGPT: “Write a blog post about a ghost story at the Oatman Hotel in Oatman, AZ.” The resulting story, verbatim, without edits:
Introduction: Nestled in the heart of the historic mining town of Oatman, Arizona, stands a legendary establishment that has witnessed its fair share of ghostly encounters. The Oatman Hotel, dating back to 1902, has a rich history and a haunting tale that has intrigued visitors from near and far. Join us as we delve into the chilling ghost story that surrounds this iconic Old West hotel.
The History of Oatman Hotel: Oatman Hotel was originally built to accommodate the influx of miners during the gold rush era. Its walls have witnessed the booms and busts of the mining industry and have welcomed famous personalities, including Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who spent their honeymoon there in the 1930s. Today, the hotel retains its authentic Wild West charm and has become a popular tourist attraction.
The Ghostly Legend: Legend has it that the ghost of a former Oatman Hotel owner, known as “Oatie,” still lingers within its walls. According to local lore, Oatie was a charismatic and hospitable figure who loved the hotel dearly. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when he was murdered during a poker game in one of the hotel’s rooms. Since then, guests and staff have reported numerous paranormal occurrences, cementing the hotel’s reputation as a haunted destination.
Eerie Encounters: Visitors have shared spine-chilling tales of unexplained footsteps, disembodied voices, and inexplicable cold spots throughout the hotel. Some have claimed to see the ghostly figure of Oatie himself, dressed in period clothing, roaming the halls or peering out from a second-story window. Others have reported flickering lights, doors opening and closing on their own, and objects mysteriously moving from their original positions.
The Haunted Room: Among the hotel’s most haunted spots is Room 15, where Oatie’s untimely demise is said to have taken place. Guests who have stayed in this room have experienced strange phenomena, including unexplained knocking on the walls, furniture rearrangement, and an overwhelming feeling of being watched. Some even claim to have encountered the ghostly apparition of Oatie sitting at the edge of their bed.
Oatman’s Ghostly Appeal: Despite its eerie reputation, the ghostly encounters at Oatman Hotel have only heightened its appeal to brave visitors and paranormal enthusiasts. Ghost tours are offered, allowing guests to explore the haunted history of the hotel and perhaps catch a glimpse of the supernatural themselves. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, the stories surrounding Oatman Hotel continue to fascinate and intrigue all who venture into its ghostly realm.
Conclusion: The Oatman Hotel in Oatman, Arizona, is not just a historic landmark but a place steeped in ghostly tales and unexplained phenomena. From the mysterious footsteps echoing through the halls to the apparition of the beloved former owner, Oatie, this haunted destination attracts those seeking a spine-tingling experience. Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, a visit to the Oatman Hotel promises an intriguing journey into the haunted history of the Old West.
So, if you dare to delve into the mysteries of the past and explore the realms of the supernatural, Oatman Hotel awaits your presence. Brace yourself for an unforgettable encounter with the ghostly inhabitants that reside within its timeworn walls.
Watch out writers. ChatGPT is playing at a theatre near you.
The Ghost Hunter’s Journal is a softcover ruled, indexed notebook journal that contains 200 pages to help keep you organized when documenting all of your ghost adventures. You can purchase your copy for just $12.99 on Amazon!
The indexing system aids in reflection and planning throughout the year. The pages contain sections for the Who / What / When & Where details of your ghost hunts; followed by sections for: hotspots of the area and building that you are investigating; legends & lore; equipment used; and weather. The following page contains a full section for your notes.
The last few pages of the indexed book journal come with marked pages that have been indexed for you. Sample topics include: Best of (every month); Most Overrated; Equipment to Buy; Places to Visit – Bucket List (with one page completed as a suggested travel list based on my own travel research from my first two books).
Make sure to check out P. 197 for a recommended beginning bucket list of paranormal places to explore! I included places investigated for America’s Most Haunted Hotels and Haunted Asylums, Prisons, and Sanatoriums.
Each indexed book journal features 200 ruled pages that are numbered for your ease of use. The numbered pages with an index will help keep you organized and make it easy to find your important entries. To really make your brain sing, we recommend that you use tabs and update your book journal’s index as necessary immediately after you have completed your journaling.
Specs: black and white interior ink, 200 ruled, indexed, and numbered pages.
“Never built to last.” Yet last it did.
A short look into MT’s most intact ghost town. Gold ore boomtown circa 1898 – population 1,000. By 1905, only 150 remained.
And yes, I think it is haunted!
As always, we were sure to update our analog travel journal. We use “Play” by Stealth Journals. “Play” is an indexed book journal that should be used to record all of your good times!
Nothing kicks off a holiday weekend like giving Amazon more of my money, so I placed my $1.99 orders and saddled up to the old computer to catch up on what I’ve been missing on the paranormal show front in this year’s Season 3 episodes of “Ghost Adventures, Aftershocks.”
I love to watch the shows that cover places I’ve been to myself. The Jerome Grand Hotel episode had me wanting more footage of the actual hotel. Chris Altherr gave a very heartfelt recounting of his saving Bagans from the descending elevator (the same one where Claude Harvey died). Lonnie Anderson, and his wife, Renee, were fun to catch up with through the show, and I liked that they actually gave a positive story of an additional encounter that Lonnie experienced in his shop (located inside the Clubhouse). Kim Brasher, I can’t even talk to you right now, but I will be sending you a signed author’s copy of “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” here in the next few weeks to thank you for the interview you gave us.
As to Rolling Hills, there were two new photos that I had not seen before that I found quite compelling. One was said to be of Roy, and the image showed a man’s torso, but not his legs. He was “standing” in front of a desk. If the photo were of a visitor, the legs of the desk would not have shown through! The other was a “scary” white face image outside the window of Emma’s room (45 feet off the ground). This was compelling to me because it reminded me of the photo I took at The Kehoe House in Savannah. I too, took a series of photos of the same window, just like this set that came out of Rolling Hills, and the face captured in both photos at these different locations shared very similar qualities. I have seen photos such as these one other time, and they were taken in the upstairs window at St. Albans in Radford, VA. I am no lighting expert, but of these three photos and three locations, the subject windows are all too high (seemingly) off the ground to be subject to any streetlight or headlights of passing cars.
Normally, I don’t get excited about other people’s “evidence,” but when you see something that matches what you’ve taken yourself, it makes you wonder.
Mostly, it makes me wonder why they are on the outside looking in, and if there can be any implications drawn by their positions. Are they not “allowed” in the building?
http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7387-4800-9
I could not be happier right now. I have no idea who reviewed the book, but THANK YOU, whoever you are. Wherever you are.
“Juwan said he thinks he closed the portal, and now I’ve got to go sleep in there.” — Marcus
Many years ago, Sam Queen and I conducted a mini-investigation at The Fitzpatrick Hotel in Washington, Georgia. I remember investigating the ballroom late at night, and although we did not believe the investigation turned up any “evidence,” we were both impressed by the beauty and the feel of the old hotel, as well as the history of the restoration as evidenced in the book that was shared at the registration desk.
The Fitzpatrick Hotel, and the small town of Washington, Georgia, itself, is a special place, and I remember the hotel and town fondly. It’s funny, because I couldn’t even tell you what drew me to the place. A feeling, I guess. A rogue hunch. I needed to get into that tower room, and Sam and I needed local places to practice before ultimately researching and traveling for the book we worked on in 2012 (Haunted Asylums, Prisons, and Sanatoriums – released in 2013 by Llewellyn Worldwide).
The whole town is full of history, and old buildings that beg to be investigated.
It pleased me to watch this new paranormal team feature and investigate The Fitzpatrick Hotel. It was educational to learn more of the history of the land and building, because we did not know any of this when we visited. For instance, these interesting little points from the show:
- Built on top of a cemetery from the late 1700s. They moved the headstones away, but not the bodies. Polly Barclay, hung for killing her husband, may be buried in this cemetery.
- Woman pushed out of window (Room 307) by lover’s wife in the 1930s. Guests report strange energy in that room. You will see that I took a picture in May 2011 of the keys to Room 307. I had no knowledge of the hotel’s history, but was drawn to specially selecting this room for our investigation. Interesting.
- Robert Geiger, Owner of Talk of the Town (the attached restaurant), gave a story that he’s had a basket thrown out of his hands and smashed into a wall.
- Co-owner, Jim, believes Room 200 is haunted by the Fitzpatrick family.
I thought the show was hilarious! Seeing the guys reluctantly participate in some of the paranormal investigations was a refreshing take on the typical “[Insert mysterious loud noise] Did you hear that?” schtick that unfortunately gets overplayed a bit for the paranormal television genre. The Bloody Mary experiment is something that I have never done, and never will do. I can’t look at myself in the mirror for that long of a time in the dark. It’s just not right.
The guys had flashlights lighting up seemingly in response to questions (you know I love that method!) and batteries were drained in combination with an EVP of a mysterious breath. I thought the Spirit Circle experiment that they conducted in the ballroom was interesting, with the alphabet represented on pieces of paper. It was as though they were participating in a life-size human Ouija Board. Marcus declined to participate in that one, because he didn’t want to “open anything up.”
Strangely, despite voicing that opinion, Marcus was the one who was woken up in the middle of the night because something touched him. He was not having it at all, and woke his team up. It was time to go. Active dreaming, hallucination, or real unexplainable touch? Who can say.
They had a lot of interesting things happen to them that they captured on camera, and they were entertaining to watch. My takeaway from the show? Me, slamming my fist in the mattress while I watched, exclaiming: “Man, I knew that place was haunted!”
If you ask me, that whole town is haunted. Particularly, that white columned Vampire House that smells old. Trust me on that one.
Well, no one told Maine that it was summer, because I just left and it was about 60 degrees up there. Refreshing, though! And it smells sweet. You can use your pretty words to trick the tourists into seeing Savannah in the summer, but we all know what it is if we are being honest with ourselves: stinky, sweltering, and buggy. Yeah, I said it. But I digress.
Also, even though Tybee Island and Savannah are obviously right on THE WATER, our seafood has never tasted as good as the lobster roll that came out of this shack here.
Kennebunkport is a touristy little spot with plenty of shops/restaurants/galleries, and I imagine it gets very crowded, very fast. We killed a few hours there when the beach got too cold. Check out the locks of love bridge. I guess you two crazy kids are supposed to write your names on the lock, and then throw the key into the ocean. What a bunch of assholes.
Luckily, if you like to hunt ghosts at night in historic properties, and lounge on blue blood beaches by day, Kennebunkport may be just the spot to spend a long weekend. Don’t tell them I sent you, because some of these places are straight up lips sealed about their ghosties. Pictured below is the Tides by the Sea, which sits on Goose Rocks Beach. The cat is officially out of the bag on this one, since Frances Kermeen wrote about her stay in 2002’s “Ghostly Encounters.” At the time, the building was known/operated as the Tides Inn-by-the-Sea.
Emma, the former owner of the 1899 hotel (known back then as The New Belvidere), is said to haunt the building, particularly Room 25. In her time, she hosted such guests as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Theodore Roosevelt. According to Kermeen’s interview with the former owners, Emma notoriously had a habit of causing trouble for ill-tempered men who checked into “her” Room (No. 25).
The Captain Lord Mansion has claims associated with it that involve a female apparition walking through the Lincoln bedroom.
The Breakwater Inn is situated right off the river (flowing from the ocean) into the port. The hotel is in an interesting position to watch for ghost ships.
The Captain Fairfield Inn is one that may have a spirit or two, but as of 2013, the owners were NOT open to exploring or encouraging that line of questioning. Still, reports persist. I have several books in my library that cover this house. The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
As always, our travels are kept in an analog version as well. We use “Play,” by Stealth Journals. Play is an indexed book journal that should be used to record all of your good times!
Jamie Davis Writes 