Haunted Hotels Appeal: Why We’re Drawn to Them
Every Halloween, haunted hotels appeal to travelers looking for a unique, spine-tingling experience. Despite skepticism, people flock to ghostly places like the Biltmore in Miami and Hotel del Coronado in California. Whether believers or thrill-seekers, these guests are drawn to ghostly tales and the chance to glimpse the supernatural.
What Makes Haunted Hotels So Appealing?
For some, haunted hotels offer a thrilling escape from the everyday. “Some guests genuinely want a spooky encounter,” says Katherine Orr from Historic Hotels of America. For others, it’s the stories that captivate. The legends surrounding these hotels, like ghostly apparitions in ballrooms or lifts that move on their own, add a mysterious charm that draws visitors year after year.
Different Approaches to Haunted Hotel Marketing
Hotels have different ways of managing their haunted reputations. At the Lord Baltimore Hotel, ghostly experiences are embraced, even offering ghost tours led by Vince Wilson, a ghost hunter. Guests report eerie encounters with the child ghost “Molly” and mysterious occurrences in the ballroom. “The tours become more popular, and prices increase as Halloween nears,” says Wilson. By contrast, the Hassayampa Inn in Arizona downplays its hauntings, limiting mentions of its resident ghost to the Halloween season.
The Appeal to Both Skeptics and Believers
Interestingly, haunted hotels appeal to both skeptics and those open to ghostly experiences. According to Lee Johnson-Lowe from the Lord Baltimore Hotel, two kinds of people frequent these hotels: skeptics who are drawn to luxury but uninterested in ghosts, and thrill-seekers eager to stay somewhere haunted. Some guests even enjoy the suspense, wondering whether a haunting might be real.
The Unresolved Mystery: Do Ghosts Really Exist?
While ghostly lore attracts many to haunted hotels, even experts like Wilson, the resident ghost hunter, remain uncertain about the reality of ghosts. He’s visited numerous haunted sites worldwide, where he’s had strange experiences that may be imagined. Regardless, these tales draw guests to haunted hotels each autumn, intrigued by the possibility of an encounter.
A Seasonal Surge in Haunted Hotel Bookings
Whether or not apparitions truly roam the halls, bookings for haunted hotels spike around Halloween. As Johnson-Lowe notes, “People are curious, and many just embrace it.” For those intrigued by haunted hotels, the seasonal surge reflects a collective fascination with ghost stories and the unknown.
Why Haunted Hotels Continue to Draw Guests
With each Halloween, the popularity of haunted hotels endures, captivating those who crave an eerie adventure. For both skeptics and believers, the haunted hotels appeal isn’t just about seeing ghosts – it’s about immersing in legends, exploring unique settings, and experiencing the thrill of the unknown.
