San Diego Haunted Hotels

Hotel Del Coronado

The Hotel Del Coronado has made a name for itself in two regards. It is the grandest hotel in all of San Diego and is claimed to be haunted by the ghost of Kate Morgan. A Victorian, mansion-style resort that sits on 28 acres along the crystalline Southern California coast, Kate Morgan arrived in November of 1892, five years after the hotel's opening. Whether Kate Morgan shot herself as was initially believed or was killed by her husband as later accepted by investigators, many agree that her spirit remains in "The Del." Additionally, Kate's unborn child and a maid she befriended also died in the hotel that November. Rooms 3502 and 3312 (originally rooms 502 and 302) are said to be the site of most ghostly happenings at the resort. Strange noises, unusually cold temperatures, and electrical interferences have been reported by hotel staff, guests and paranormal investigators. The Del remains an epicenter of luxury and grandeur with a rich, sometimes scandalous history despite these ghostly happenings. Just remember when booking that two rooms are already occupied and should not be shared with the skittish.

Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave.
Coronado, California 92118
800-HOTELDEL
hoteldel.com

Horton Grand Hotel

In the Gaslamp District of historic San Diego, the Horton Grand Hotel occupies the space where Ida Bailey's brothel was once located near the former red-light district. In the wilder days of the hotel's history, gambler Roger Whitaker was shot and killed in a room on the third floor. Desperate to meet some unpaid gambling debts, Whitaker cheated at poker and was caught. He tried to escape the angry card players, ran back to his hotel and hid in his armoire. The other gamblers caught up with him and shot him through the doors of the armoire. Many believe Whitaker's spirit remains in Room 309 and the adjoining hallway. The haunting manifests in many ways from shaking beds and the doors of the armoire being thrown open in the middle of the night to visions of Roger Whitaker in the hallway. With fireplaces in the rooms, old-fashioned charm and reasonable prices, many travelers wouldn't mind sharing a night or two with Whitaker's ghost strolling through the halls.

Horton Grand Hotel
311 Island Ave.
San Diego, California 92101
(800) 542-1886
hortongrand.com

Julian Gold Rush Hotel

The Julian Gold Rush Hotel in San Diego County was founded by Albert Robinson and his wife, Margaret. Margaret sold the hotel in 1921, six years after the death of her husband, but many believe he remains at the hotel to this day. Albert Robinson was a former slave who was known for his hospitality, and he opened the hotel during the mining rush in 1897. The Robinsons' reputation grew and the hotel was visited by congressmen, senators and other prominent guests. Despite Albert's commitment to the community and his position as a respected businessman, he was denied burial in the town's white-only cemetery and was buried on the outskirts of the town. Albert's post-mortem anger may have led to his eventual haunting of the hotel. Reports of slamming doors, objects and furniture suddenly moving, glass shattering and other frightening occurrences led to an exorcism being held at the Julian. Albert seems to have calmed down after the exorcism. If you're still worried, avoid Room 10, which was Albert's old room.

Julian Gold Rush Hotel
2032 Main St.
P.O. Box 1856
Julian, California 92036
(800)734-5854
julianhotel.com