3 Romantic Historic Hotels with Haunted 10th Floors

Romantic historic hotels with haunted 14th floors would’ve been an even better list in time for Valentine’s Day and February 14 and all, right? Yes, I agree with you.

However, I really only know of one with a storied haunted 14th floor: The Hotel Monteleone. That doesn’t mean there aren’t others. That’s just my way of saying that I was too damn lazy to dig deeper in my archives to locate more.

And yes. I keep archives of haunted hotel floors. Some in my head, some in Evernotes, because I’m a numbers girl. Not mathematically speaking, but numbers associated with dates, floors, rooms…they jump out at me, present patterns, and stick in my noggin for some reason.

That’s why I’m aware of these three romantic historic hotels with haunted 10th floors. Two that I’ve been lucky enough to stay in, and one that always pops up during basketball season because some NBA players are superstitious about staying there. Let’s explore all three.

1. The Skirvin Hilton 

Let’s start with the hotel that terrifies some NBA players.

Even though the Skirvin was built in 1911 and is a member of Historic Hotels of America, it has been updated with modern elegance while keeping its historic charm. It’s situated in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, near Bricktown, and is conveniently located near the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Chesapeake Energy Arena, and the Civic Center Music Hall.

Which, yes, during this time of COVID doesn’t weigh as much, but we’ll eventually move back into seeing sporting events and concerts again.

Anyway, it was built by Bill Skirvin who it is said was a lover at heart. Not only did he love his hotel, but also booze and pretty ladies.

Rumor has it he had an affair with one of the maids many call Effie, though her real name is unknown. She ended up getting pregnant, and here’s where the 10th floor comes in: it’s allegedly where Bill kept her locked up in a room to try and hide his secret and avoid shame and embarrassment.

However, is it possible that if this was true there was another explanation? Like maybe he was trying to do right by her and the baby and make sure she had a place to live?

I don’t know. I also don’t know if she went mad from being locked away and that’s why she killed herself and the baby by jumping out of the window, or if maybe she was suffering from postpartum depression. Either way, the story goes that she jumped, killing both herself and the child. And the popular version is of course the sensational one that she went mad. I actually haven’t seen anyone suggest the postpartum theory, but I could see that being a plausible explanation too.

Which, either way, if a new mom killed both herself and her child, it’s both heartbreaking and tragic if true. And could be why these days guests often report strange noises, like the sounds of a disembodied baby crying. Others, mostly men, report a disembodied woman’s voice making sexually suggestive advances at them. Doors slamming shut on their own, footsteps, and odd noises in the hallways are also among the paranormal activity hotel guests have reported.

2. The Drake Hotel

Chicago is not lacking for hotels of any size or style, but one I had always wanted to stay at was The Drake. Which I finally got to do a few years ago.

Construction on the hotel started in 1919. The Drake opened the following year. It was the hotel of choice for the wealthy and famous and for Chicago’s high society who enjoyed daily tea time in what is now known as the hotel’s Palm Court or hosted lavish events in the hotel.

Over the years it has welcomed a who’s who of rich and famous guests that have included everyone from Walt Disney to Princess Diana. As I would be inclined to do if so many well-known people visited my establishment (if I had one), I’d have a section displaying photos and autographs from my famous visitors like The Drake does too.

The ghost story involving The Drake’s 10th floor dates to the New Year’s Eve party that was held the year the hotel opened, 1920. In fact, it originates from the opening gala.

Per the legend, an unnamed woman in red was so distraught after finding her fiancé (or husband in some tellings) dancing with (kissing or in bed with are other versions) another woman that she jumped to her death from the 10th floor (or the roof, depending on the tale).

Woman in Red sightings aren’t confined to the 10th floor, however. Her apparition has also been reported in the Gold Coast Room and the Palm Court. Both of which I also scouted out during our stay, but she didn’t make appearances for me anywhere she’s said to roam.

3. Omni Parker House

Perhaps the romantic historic hotel with the most active haunted 10th floor is the Omni Parker House.

In 1855, Mr. Harvey Parker opened what, at that time, was called the Parker House hotel and restaurant. (Which, by the way, is where the famous Boston cream pie was created and was first served in 1856.) Not only is it Boston’s oldest and most elegant hotel, but it’s also the longest continuously operating hotel in the United States and is a member of Historic Hotels of America.

If you ask the concierge about the hotel’s hauntings, he or she has a “Ghostly Encounters” handout to give you. In some cases, floors are mentioned, in others specific room numbers. Of the eight stories, half of them are about paranormal activity on the 10th floor.

Reports include airline personnel staying on the 10th floor during layovers complaining that the sounds of a rocking chair kept them up all night. However, where was it coming from? There aren’t any rocking chairs in the hotel.

Bellmen have reported orbs floating down 10th floor corridors before disappearing. I went in search of some, but didn’t find any.

Room 1040 might as well be called “The Rowdy Room.” Guests sometimes complain of noise coming from it, but when security goes to check, they find the room empty. Which isn’t all that surprising. They know from the guest registry that the room isn’t unoccupied —at least not by guests of this world.

Then there’s the Mr. Parker sightings. After his death in 1884, people started reported seeing his ghost and one of the floors he’s been spotted on is the 10th. In fact, one of the stories on the “Ghost Encounters” list is about Mr. Parker.

The story goes that a mother and daughter were staying in room 1012. The daughter woke up and saw “a gentleman dressed in period garments of the latter 1800s standing at the end of her bed.”

Oddly, there’s no mention that she was frightened to find a stranger in her room. Instead, when he smiled at her, she felt as if he was asking, “Are you enjoying your stay?”

She smiled back —and that’s when he vanished into thin air.

When she went down to breakfast later that morning, she was stunned to find that same man down there —in a portrait. It was none other than Mr. Harvey Parker himself.

It’s been reported that those who knew him said he was a “perfectionist who kept his hands in every detail of his restaurant and hotel operations.” He relished playing host to all who visited his establishment, whether they were ordinary folks or world-famous wealthy celebrities or dignitaries.

Perhaps he just wanted to keep up his life’s work from beyond the grave. Or did. There hasn’t been any Harvey Parker sightings in over two decades.

Maybe he feels assured his beautiful hotel is running smoothly. Even though our room was small, it was very comfortable and well-appointed, the staff was helpful, it was centrally located and we very much enjoyed our stay and would stay there again the next time we jaunt to Boston.

Check-In

If you could check into a romantic haunted hotel, which one would you pick? It doesn’t have to be one of the above. It can be any that you know of!