Stanley Hotel - Estes Park, CO (The Birth of Redrum)

333 E Wonderview Ave.

Estes Park, CO 80517

www.stanleyhotel.com

I have always had an immense love for horror movies. This love has fortunately been passed down to my daughter, who is equally an aficionado for the sinister cinema. My son, on the other hand, wants no part of anything remotely spooky! Sadly, most of the horror movies of today are not very good and if there happens to be a decent one, it is likely a remake of a classic. Personally, there are no better horror movies than those produced in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Sure, the special effects may not have always been the most realistic but I think that is what makes them so good. Nothing like the neon red blood used in George Romero's Dawn of the Dead or Dario Argento's Suspiria!
What many people may not realize is that there are quite a few fictitious horror movies that are not quite as fictitious as you might think. Many of the classics were at least inspired by some sort of real life events. For instance, Silence of the Lambs was inspired by the true life terror reigned by the Plainfield, Wisconsin serial killer and necrophiliac, Ed Gein. Additionally, while Tobe Hooper's classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was also loosely based on Gein, the whole premise of the character Leatherface is rather comical. During a busy holiday season, Hooper was standing in what seemed like an endless line of shoppers at a department store. As most of us in such a similar situation, Hooper became so aggravated with the crowds, he glanced over to the hardware department and noticed several chainsaws on display. In a moment of hidden rage, Hooper thought, “I bet I could really reduce these crowds with one of those chainsaws!” The rest is history and an instant classic was born for years to come and would ultimately be one of my all time favorites! However, nothing can top my all time favorite movie, the Stanley Kubrick's classic, The Shining.

Haunted Louisiana Honorable Mentions Part 2

(PART 1)  (PART 3)  (PART 4)

The Alibi Bar (New Orleans)

811 Iberville Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 (29.955001,-90.06934)

This popular hangout spot was built sometime around 1830 and was connected to the old D.H. Holmes building. It served as private residences and apartments for most of its tenure. Legends tell that the attic area was used to hide slaves during the days of the Underground Railroad. Stories recount that several young children perished in the attic but there is no verifiable proof of this taking place. Several years ago, an employee was stabbed to death behind the bar. These two incidents are said to fuel the haunted tails at the Alibi Bar. Objects have literally flown off the bar and staff members have seen dark shadows and unexplainable black mist, appearing in the shape of a human figure.

Pontchatrain Hotel - New Orleans, LA

2031 St. Charles Ave.

New Orleans, LA 70130

29.935133,-90.079629

www.thepontchartrainhotel.com  

            In such an upscale part of town as the Garden District, it is only suiting that an equally-refined hotel tower over the area. The fourteen-story Pontchartrain Hotel does just that, as it overlooks the neighborhood, giving its guests a great view of the ancient oak trees with a calm shot of the Mississippi River in the distance. For nearly a century, this grand hotel has been home to numerous celebrities such as Tom Cruise, ZsaZsa Gabor, Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan, and Walt Disney, Sears and Roebuck heiress Edith Stern, and Frankie Besthoff, whose family co-founded the K&B drugstore chain.
            The Pontchartrain Hotel officially opened in March of 1927 and was named after Louis Phélypeaux, comte de Pontchartrain, or Count de Pontchartrain. Some researches claim that prior to this, another hotel stood on the property, dating back to 1825. I have been unable to verify this information and I strongly feel that this may have been confused with another piece of land further north near Lake Pontchartrain, near Bayou St. John. Here, a Spanish Fort, Fort San Juan del Bayou, stood. When Congress first allowed the sale of obsolete military sites in 1823, the land that the fort sat on was sold to Harvey Elkins, who built a hotel there. Here is where the confusion sets, where the name of the hotel was said to have been called either the Bayou St. John Hotel or the Pontchartrain Hotel. Bayou St. John never traveled down far enough to allow the current hotel to be near it and I feel that, over time, people confused the names.

Place d'Armes Hotel - New Orleans, LA (The Spectral Girl)

625 St. Anne St.

New Orleans, LA 70116

29.958753,-90.063406

www.placedarmes.com 

            Walking around the French Quarter, as with any tourist location, you usually cannot walk more than twenty feet without running into a gift shop. As you look around for your Mardi Gras beads, shot glasses and offensive t-shirts, you will probably see a plethora of paintings and postcards showing the iconic Jackson Square. This picturesque view of the Saint Louis Cathedral and the gated square is probably the most photographed area of the city.
            Jackson Square was designed in 1721 and was mimicked after the famous Place des Vosges in Paris, France. When the small village of New Orleans was initially designed, it was built on a grid system. The center block was used for military parades and other public gatherings so this area was called the Place d’Armes or Place of the Arms. As the city expanded, the Place d’Armes continued to remain as the central hub, with all buildings radiating from it. By 1815, the land was renamed Jackson’s Square, after the city’s famed hero, Andrew Jackson. From here, decorative touches would be added to the area by the previously mentioned Baroness Micaela Almonester-Pontalba, such as the ornate shrubbery and wrought-iron fences. Today, Jackson Square is visited by thousands of people a day and is a prime place to catch interesting street performers, buy one-of-a-kind artwork and get your fortune read by many of the individuals claiming to be psychic. For more information regarding that subject, please refer back to the Bottom of the Cup Tearoom blog.

Omni Royal Orleans Hotel - New Orleans, LA (Fifty Shades of Ghosts)

Photo courtesy of www.omnihotels.com

621 St. Louis St.

New Orleans, LA 70140

29.948051,-90.071066

www.omnihotels.com 

             I previously mentioned how it was not uncommon for a place to be haunted due to the possessions that it contains, as opposed to the individuals that died there. Such may be the case with our next location, although there are a few additional spirits thrown in for good measure. We folks in Louisiana love to live in excess. We often eat too much, drink too much and party too much so why would we not haunt too much? The Omni Royal Orleans Hotel is such a place, rumored to be haunted by over fifty spirits, many of which are attached to the hundreds of centuries-old antiques that are spread through the building.
            The property that the hotel currently sits on dates back to the 1830’s, when a small dirt-floor café stood here, allowing locals to trade in real estate, local goods and even slaves. To accommodate to the rise of the growing community, a grand hotel was built here in 1843, named the Saint Louis Hotel, by architect Jacques Nicholas Bussiere De Poilly. The hotel was one of the top places to stay in the area, often offering free lunches to patrons and serving their creation, the American "cocktail", a drink served in an egg cup, or coquetier. This term, easily handled by the Creole patrons, was soon mangled into the word cocktail by the Americans.

Olivier House Hotel - New Orleans, LA

828 Toulouse St.

New Orleans, LA 70112

29.958012,-90.067104

www.olivierhousehotel.com 

            Only steps away from the karaoke spectacular that is Razzoo’s bar where tourists flock to drop all inhibitions by showcasing their horrible vocal skills, sits the Olivier House Hotel. This is a great place to stay if you want that historical feel while still being close to all of the activity. As I’ve said before, proximity is the key when you are stumbling around at four in the morning and you are seeing three of everything!
            The history of the Olivier House Hotel begins with a young woman by the name of Madame Marie Anne Bievenu, who was born in 1772. At the tender age of sixteen, she would marry Nicolas Godefroy Olivier, who was a well-known painter in the community. The Olivier family would grow to be very prominent in the city, becoming one of the wealthiest families in the area. By the 1830’s, Nicolas had passed away, leaving behind a handsome inheritance to Marie and their nine children. With her newly found funds, Marie decided that she would build a grand home on a piece of property she already owned on Toulouse Street.

Le Richelieu Hotel - New Orleans, LA (From Public Executions to Executive Suites)

1234 Chartres St.

New Orleans, LA 70116

29.961888,-90.059717

www.lerichelieuhotel.com 

            At the turn of the nineteenth century, Louisiana was quite a happening place. The fight for the eight hundred and twenty-eight thousand acres that was known as the Louisiana Purchase was underway. France would battle tooth and nail against Spain to retrieve this massive piece of land with the hopes of transforming it into a grand empire. Once acquired, France would face an impending war against Britain, which would interfere with these plans so the decision was made to sell the land to the United States in 1803. 
            During this time, an expanding New Orleans was dealing with their own growing pains, such as riots, revolts and many of the other gruesome acts we have learned about so far in these blogs. The remnants of Spanish soldiers who had committed treason against the French were also an issue in the city as many were captured and executed. Public executions were often held in various parts of the city. One such location where many of these death sentences were carried out was on the land that now is at 1234 Chartres Street.

Le Pavillon Hotel - New Orleans, LA (Peanut Butter Jelly Time!)

Photo courtesy of www.timjoyce.com

833 Poydras St.

New Orleans, LA 70112

29.950262,-90.072809

www.lepavillon.com  

            Today, Poydras Street is one of the busiest areas in New Orleans, hosting many grand hotels and major businesses, not to mention some incredible po-boys from the famous Mother’s Restaurant. Taking a stroll down this bustling street, one could not imagine that in the early 1800’s, this area was simply wooded swampland, bordering a busy French Quarter. This area was considered a “no man’s land”, being home to dangerous swamp critters and a place where really bad people went to do really bad things! By the 1830’s the overgrown canal area was cleared to make way for the oldest railroad in the city, the New Orleans and Carrollton, which extended Baronne Street across the Basin Gravier.
            The growing railway system began to expand the area. In 1867, on the corner of Barrone and Poydras Streets, the National Theatre, frequently called the German Theatre, was built. Not long after being built, a tense legal and financial dispute broke out over the property. In 1889, the theatre was destroyed by a mysterious fire that was believed to be intentionally set. It was decided that a grand hotel now be erected on the property to further boost this newly growing part of the city.

Lafitte Guest House - New Orleans, LA (The Pirated Playa)

1003 Bourbon St.

New Orleans, LA 70116

29.961155,-90.063461

www.lafitteguesthouse.com 

            Believe it or not, there are actually quiet portions of Bourbon Street. After a brisk stroll through the strip clubs and rowdy bars, pass the three hundred pound bearded guy wearing only a leather thong and a feathered boa and beyond the transgender café, things actually become pretty calm and serene! Approximately around the 1000 block, the area opens up into residences and several small inns. Don’t worry, despite the decrease in action from the living, the amount of hauntings are far from affected, such as with our next location, the Lafitte Guest House.
            Records of the land that the home sits on can date back as far as the late 1700’s, when it was donated to Charity Hospital by the King of Spain. A small hospital was built on the property but did not last long, as it was destroyed by a fire in 1809. Several years later, the property would be home to a residence that would give the current property its historical name. As we have learned, and will continue to read, pirate Jean Lafitte was a prominent figure in and around New Orleans. Jean would often work together with his brother, Pierre, as the two were quite a resourceful pair.

Hotel Villa Convento - New Orleans, LA (The Supposed House of the Rising Sun)

616 Ursuline Ave.

New Orleans, LA 70116

29.960796,-90.061305

www.villaconvento.com

One of my favorite songs of all times is The House of the Rising Sun. Originally written as early as the sixteenth century, this folk ballad is said to represent a Soho brothel. There have been many versions of this great classic sang in various genres. The song is most known by the 1964 version recorded by Eric Burton and The Animals, tweaked to incorporate what many feel is a New Orleans brothel. Along with other songs such as St. James Infirmary, every time I hear this song, I instantly have the urge to take a drive to New Orleans. Anytime I am in the city and happen to visit one of the many piano bars in the area, I make it a habit to drop a few bucks on the table and request this quintessential New Orleans song.
For years, there has been a huge debate as to whether or not there was an actual establishment in New Orleans known as the House of the Rising Sun. Many feel the location was imaginary while others feel it was a brothel sometime during the 1800’s. A short lived Conti St. hotel in the 1820’s, a building known as the "Rising Sun Hall" in the Carrollton neighborhood and a saloon on the 100 block of Decatur Street have all been rumored places of this mysterious house of ill repute. Bizarre New Orleans, a guide book on New Orleans, asserts that the real house was at 1614 Esplanade Avenue between 1862 and 1874 and was purportedly named for its madam, Marianne LeSoleil Levant whose name translates from French as the rising sun.

Hotel Monteleone - New Orleans, LA (The Naked Ghost and the Carousel Bar)

214 Royal St.

New Orleans, LA 70130

29.954243,-90.067833

www.hotelmonteleone.com   

            I have received numerous e-mails over the years from people planning to visit New Orleans, wanting to know where the most haunted hotel to stay is. Folks visiting the Crescent City want to absorb as much culture as possible during their trip and what better way to begin their incredible vacation to such a unique city than spending their nights in a haunted hotel. As you have already seen, and will continue to notice, the list of hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts is quite long. Incidentally, the order in which they are placed regarding the severity of paranormal activity has long been disputed. For fear of being tarred and feathered by the rest of the paranormal community, I avoid issuing an official ranking but I can definitely give you the top two. One of which is the previously mentioned Bourbon Orleans, and the other is the Hotel Monteleone.
            The Hotel Monteleone has long been noted as one of the top hotels in the city and is also one of the longest family-operated places to stay. The story begins with a successful Sicilian cobbler by the name of Antonio Monteleone. As with many optimistic foreigners of the time, Antonio had heard of the grand opportunities that were available in the new world. Antonio quickly hopped on his chance at making a new life for himself and his family and moved to New Orleans sometime around 1880 and opened up a small shoe shop on Royal Street.

Hotel Maison De Ville - New Orleans, LA (An Antique Bachelor Pad)

727 Toulouse St.

New Orleans, LA 70130

29.957653,-90.066025

www.maisondeville.com

            If you are looking for a hotel in the French Quarter with a vast amount of history, great food and plenty of haunted tales to keep you awake, look no further than the Hotel Maison De Ville, as it is the total package. The hotel and adjacent buildings are said to be some of the oldest still standing in the city. Surviving raging infernos, powerful hurricanes and more years of abuse than a Bourbon Street walker, the buildings are a testament to the resiliency of New Orleans.
            The main building of the current hotel was built around 1800 by Jean Baptiste Lilie Sarpy. Adjacent to this building are four former slave quarters said to have been built around the 1750’s, making these structures some of the oldest in the city along with the old Ursuline Convent. The slave quarters eventually were used as garconnieres, or antique bachelor pads. Creole dignitaries used these homes for their unmarried sons to do “who knows what” with “who knows who” if you get what I’m hinting at! Today, these cottages are used as private suites and are part of the hotel property.

French Market Inn - New Orleans, LA (The Baroness and the Bloody Handprints)

Photo courtesy of www.frenchmarketinn.com

501 Decatur St.

New Orleans, LA 70130

29.955275,-90.064234

www.frenchmarketinn.com 

            A quick stroll down Decatur Street and you will quickly see this is the busiest street in the French Quarter. With plenty of two-way traffic, street performers, artists and horse carriages, it’s hard to stop and smell the roses; or shall I say the horse manure! In the 1800’s this area was also known as a rough and rugged place, not always housing society’s finest. Located close to the river, this area was a regular hangout for thieves, prostitutes and other unfortunates of the time. Ironically, this area is also home to the picturesque Jackson Square. As you wander down Decatur, amidst the commotion, you may encounter an interesting little inn, rumored to have some very unique paranormal activity.

Inn on St. Anne - New Orleans, LA (The Home of Marie Laveau)

1013 Saint Anne St.

New Orleans, LA 70116

29.960915,-90.066964

http://www.frenchquarterguesthouses.com/stann-en.html

*Photos courtesy of www.frenchquarterguesthouses.com  
           When people think of New Orleans, one of the first things they think of, other than the Saints of course, is Voodoo. For centuries, Voodoo has played a prominent part in the culture that makes up the Crescent City in addition to other parts of the state. The religion originated from the west African Yoruba people who lived in eighteenth and nineteenth century Dahomey. Slaves brought their religion with them when they were forcibly shipped to Haiti and other islands in the West Indies. Hoodoo refers to African traditional folk magic. A rich magical tradition which was indigenous to ancient African cultures, its practice was imported when mainly West Africans were enslaved and brought to the United States. As the practice seemed too taboo, slaves were banned from practicing the religion, so they looked for ways to mask it. As mentioned earlier with Magnolia Plantation, they did so by incorporating large amounts of French and Spanish Catholicism into their worship, which is why many of the Voodoo Lwa, or Gods, are symbolized by Catholic Saints such as St. Peter, St. Michael and St. Christopher.

Cornstalk Hotel - New Orleans, LA (The Mischievous Spirit and the Vegetable Fence)

915 Royal St. 

New Orleans, LA 70116

29.960027,-90.063193

www.cornstalkhotel.com

Anyone who has ever taken a daytime stroll through the French Quarters can agree that the architecture is simply beautiful. It really is a melting pot of multiple building styles all thrown together to make for some pretty interesting locations. On any given block, examples of Moorish, Baroque, Spanish, Creole and Caribbean designs can be easily spotted. Some of these designs may not even follow a tradition style, as they are simply just unique in themselves. One home in particular that is found in the French Quarters not only sticks out due its own structure, but it garners attention due to its one of a kind fence!
Trust me, there are some unique fences in this part of town but that is because they are primarily there to inflict pain, as opposed to pleasure. As a deterrent to vandals, burglars and birds, many of the homes in the area have fences either wrapped in barbed wire or even hold huge shards of glass, protruding from the top edge. This is a hell of a way to keep people from trying to climb their fences. However, putting human torture to the side just for now, I will focus on the intricately ornate fence, and its haunted home, found at 915 Royal Street.

Columns Hotel - New Orleans, LA (Haunted Home or Antiques?)

3811 St. Charles Ave. 

New Orleans, LA 70115

29.927379,-90.096146

www.thecolumns.com

Blocks away from the bustling French Quarter and deep into the Garden District sits Saint Charles Avenue. This area features some of the most beautiful and historical homes in the city, many of which have been owned by celebrities over time such as John Goodman, Anne Rice and Trent Reznor. As the sounds of the streetcars pass you by, looking up into the centuries-old oak trees you can see evidence of past Mardi Gras parades gone by, as the last few years of abandoned beads that are still entangled into the tree limbs. This portion of the city also holds quite a few great hotels if you are truly wanting a vacation filled with peace and quiet.

Castle Inn - New Orleans, LA

Photo courtesy of www.salemcat.deviantart.com 

1539 4th St.

New Orleans, LA 70130

29.930666,-90.084573

Another beautiful home that quietly sits tucked away in the upscale Garden District is the Castle Inn. Although the Inn has been a popular bed and breakfast since 1950, recent research has found that it may now be closed to the general public. Apparently there were some issues amongst the owners and the Garden District Association, who unfortunately revoked the Inn’s license. This is sad to hear, as it’s always a shame to hear such historic homes being shut off from the public due to unnecessary bickering from the powers that be. Fortunately the owners operate another bed and breakfast in the area known as the Creole Gardens, so be sure and pay them a visit.
As one would ask “Who is buried in Grant’s Tomb?” can anyone guess what year the 1891 Castle Inn was built? If you guessed 1927, then maybe it’s time to put your computer down and call it a night! From 1891 until 1950, the Inn was a private residence. There are rumored to be a minimum of at least two spirits that still haunt the home.

Bourbon Orleans Hotel - New Orleans (The City's Most Haunted Hotel)

717 Orleans St.

New Orleans, LA 70116

29.958726,-90.06473

www.bourbonorleans.com   

            Of the near endless number of hotels in the French Quarter, for one to be considered amongst the top three haunted places to stay, it must have quite the resume. The Bourbon Orleans backs up its claims, as its vast history can be held accountable for the many strange events that take place here on nearly a regular basis. I often get e-mails from tourists visiting New Orleans for the first time, wanting to know the best hotel to stay at that will give them a good chance of experiencing something paranormal. I almost always immediately suggest the Bourbon Orleans.
            This historic hotel stands on the grounds that once contained two buildings; an old convent and an orphanage. The first building was built in 1816-1817 and was next to the first district courthouse. The building burnt down shortly thereafter, yet it was rebuilt in 1819. The building was used for Mardi Gras balls as early as 1823 and was also the site of the New Orleans Theater. Rumor is that the building was also used to hold the famous "Quadroon Balls", that I mentioned earlier. Here, wealthy Creole men would meet with their Quadroon mistresses to engage in their secret love affairs without exposing their mischievousness.

Bienville House Hotel - New Orleans, LA (The Old Hag Syndrome)

320 Decatur St.

New Orleans, LA 70130

29.953903,-90.065302

www.bienvillehouse.com

            Located on busy Decatur Street is a cozy hotel only a stone’s throw from the mighty Mississippi River. The Bienville House was built in the early 1800’s and was initially occupied by Planters Rice Mills and served as a large mill complex. The space then became home to Thompson’s Rice Mill and Southern Syrup Manufacturing where this business operated for several years. In 1835, the building was completely remodeled and opened as the North American Hotel. For the era, the hotel was known as an extremely nice place to stay.
            The classy little hotel only operated for two years, when the owners parted ways and sold the building in 1837. The former hotel was split into a small French Quarter hotel for boarders and a fire house. I suppose it was pretty convenient, as when things got a little hot and heavy in the rooms, the fireman were nearby to dowse the flames!

Ashley House/Avenue Plaza Resort - New Orleans, LA (Short But Sweet)

2111 St. Charles Avenue

New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

29.934918,-90.080199

www.avenueplazaresort.com 

            The Garden District of New Orleans has always been my favorite place to visit when in the area. Seeming a lot less “touristy”, the strip of St. Charles has all the great amenities one would want without the obnoxious out-of-towners known to congregate on and around Bourbon Street. Amidst the modern Avenue Plaza Resort, lies a historical hidden gem, many claim is one of the most haunted locations in the Garden District. Adjacent from the main hotel, sits the Ashley House. The home was built sometime in the 1830’s and records indicate that it was owned by Mr. D. R. Carroll. During the Civil War, the home was predominately used as a boarding home for Confederate prisoners of war by the Union army.
            Visitors to the Ashley House claim that most of the home’s activity seems to reside on the second floor. The apparition of a young woman has been seen patrolling through the home as well as disembodied voices and footsteps have been heard when no one is around. Poltergeist-like activity has also been reported such as strange electrical malfunctions and doors opening and closing on their own. Individuals who have conducted paranormal investigations of the home have reported capturing several electronic voice phenomena as well as strange light anomalies. Although the history may be brief with the Ashley House, this is not necessarily proof that the reported hauntings or inaccurate. I definitely plan on adding this location to my “to-do” list. If I don’t capture any evidence, oh well; I will be right down the street from my all-time favorite pub, the Irish House. Damn the bad luck!