America’s Haunted Hotels: Hilltop House Hotel/Hotel Del Coronado

Hilltop House Hotel

One of the things that I have enjoyed most in my years of paranormal research is how claims of the paranormal have close ties with real historical events and perhaps one of my most favorite periods in the American history are the turbulent years of the Civil War. From 1861-1865 brother took up arms against brother and Americans shed the blood of his fellow American all in the name of freedom. Most American’s believe that the war got it’s start at the Battle of Fort Sumter when the southern states that had seceded from the union fired the first volley of shots that plunged our relatively young country into four years of nightmarish bloodshed. That is only half correct the other half took place in the small West Virginia village of Harpers Ferry when on October 16, 1859 radical abolitionist, John Brown, believed that he was chosen by God Almighty to arm slaves with guns and the spirit of freedom. Unfortunately the radical and his revolt were defeated and John Brown was hung for the crime of sedition. Those who bore witness to Brown’s hanging said that as the fiery gentleman stood on the platform his face shined like Moses and his eyes burned like flame. On that day so long ago did the spirit of John Brown go to be with his God? Or, as some would attest did it stay behind to haunt the establishment known as the Hilltop House Hotel?

The Hilltop House Hotel was built on a bluff overlooking the ocean in 1888 and although John Brown had met his maker almost thirty years earlier and the Civil war was long since over employees and guests of the quiant little hotel have made some amazing claims that they have witnessed not only the apparition of the crazy eyed radical but apparitions of soldiers dressed in civil war uniform within the walls of the hotel but on the streets outside as well.

Perhaps one of the most vivid encounters took place in the early 1980s, when a few employees and a handful of guests watched as the apparition of a young woman dressed in clothing from the era of the civil was appeared infront of their eyes near the front desk and walked into the dining room area. When a few who witnessed the ghostly event ran into the dining room to find the woman it appeared that she had vanished leaving behind only the memory of the encounter.

Around the same time as the apperance of the ghostly woman guests who stayed over the kitchen reported to the front desk that between 2am and 3am they could hear what sound like pots and pans banging in the kitchen they further reported that they could hear what sounded like a woman laughing and yelling. The employee assured the guests that no one was in the kitchen at that hour and she had heard nothing since her post was located near the kitchen. Needless to say, those guests decided to pack their stuff and leave at that moment.

Throughout the years those staying in the hotel and walking near the establishment have reported sightings of the apparitions of groups of civil war soldiers either walking through the halls of the hotel or marching down the street in front of the hotel. The witness claimed that the images seemed to shimmer like a mirage and lasted for mere seconds as they watched them dissipate into nothingness.

Even John Brown, the radical abolitionist who attempted to spark a revolution has been known to make his presence known in and around the Hilltop House. While on tours of the hotel witnesses have claimed to see the image of a wild eyed yet kindly looking man with white hair and a white scruffy beard materialize in the dining room and on the sidewalk just outside of the hotel. Those who are familiar with the history of the civil war and the paintings of Brown have gone on record as saying the wild eyed apparition that appeared and disappeared before their eyes was definately the man who desired that all mankind despite skin color, should be free.

The Hilltop House Hotel is an establishment steeped in the history in a state that played a pivotal role in American history. Although the state was by and large a part of the Confederacy one man kept the spirit of hope and freedom alive, thank you Mr. Brown for your sacrifice so long ago.

Hotel Del Coronado

In 1888, hoteliers Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story paid a visit to the beautiful bluffs of the Pacific Ocean in Coronado, California and decided to build a luxurious hotel that would cater to the rich and famous the world over and the Hotel Del Coronado was born. However it would not be until the autumn of 1892, when a mysterious woman named Kate Morgan checked into the hotel and never checked out putting the lavish hotel on the map as one of the most haunted hotels in the United States.

Those who were there that November evening in 1892, said that the beautiful yet enigmatic, Kate Morgan, checked into the hotel and appeared to be sad and gave off an air of desperation. “The Beautiful Stranger” as she came to be known had no luggage and no belongings just the clothes on her back and the look of sad longing in her lovely blue eyes. Those who had short interactions with Kate said that the young woman claimed to be waiting for her bother who was due any day now. If her claim was true no brother or any man appeared to join the sullen young woman. Whoever this Kate Morgan was she was a mystery piled on top of a mystery.

The mystery of Kate Morgan came to an end when her cold lifeless body was discovered on the back staircase of the hotel with what appeared to be a gun shot wound to the head. Although no gun was ever found on or near the body the authorities who investigated the crime scene determined that the wound was self inflicted and the woman who became known as the mysterious stranger was considered to be just another common suicide possibly due to a broken heart.

A few police officers who were at the scene were not satisfied with the explanation of the young woman’s apparent suicide and went about the business of attempting to discover just who this enigmatic lady might be. After sending numerous fliers around the general area with a sketch of the young woman it was soon discovered that something strange indeed was afoot with Ms. Morgan. It was discovered that a few days earlier Kate Morgan and her husband were traveling on a train when a violent fight between the two broke out. Those who witnessed the event stated that the husband got off the train near San Diego and Kate got off near the hotel where she checked in. The question was later asked if it was possible that Kate’s husband showed up and since a gun was never found is it possible that he murdered his wife? That question has never been answered.

Many researchers, myself included, believe that one of the criteria for a haunting is a life cut short by violence or murder and the haunting of the Del Coronado by the spirit of Kate Morgan appears to fit the bill. Employees and guests alike have witnessed the apparition of the beautiful stranger, Kate Morgan, on or near the staircase where she is said to have ended her own life. They say that her apparition only lasts for a few moments but in it’s presence they feel a sense of deep longing and they claim to smell her perfume. Kate’s ghost has been blamed for such strange phenomenon as televisions and lights turning on and off of their own accord while others have claimed to feel a cold draft rush past them on the back staircase. Perhaps the world may never know who the mysterious young woman was in life however those who have stayed and worked at the Hotel Del Coronado claim the spirit of the enigmatic young woman has stuck around to call the luxury hotel home adding more questions to the mystery.

Rick E. Hale

t_seeker@hotmail.com