Address: 100 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
Official Website: http://www.hotelmontevista.com/
The Tale Begins
Greetings avid explorers and curious seekers! Welcome to a blog post that goes beyond the veil of the ordinary into the thrilling and tantalizing world of the unknown. Today, we’re checking in at Flagstaff’s crown jewel and the place of enchanting tales – Hotel Monte Vista. This hotel is not just a place that exudes historical charm and timeless grandeur, but it’s also a place that echoes with the whispers of an intriguing and spectral past. An experience that will not only allow you to dwell in its luxurious ambience, but also, if you are lucky, share your room with guests who have checked out long ago, but seem too reluctant to leave! So, fasten your seatbelts, dear readers, as we take you on a saga of the hauntingly beautiful Hotel Monte Vista. History, mystery, and some rattling old bones, this is a tale that you won’t want to put down.
The History of Hotel Monte Vista
Hotel Monte Vista, situated in Flagstaff, Arizona, is a place that blends history, mystery, and hospitality. It was built in 1926 and opened for business on New Year’s Day in 1927. The hotel owes its creation to a group of people called the “Community Hotel Corporation,” a group of Flagstaff’s citizens who pulled together $200,000 for the building costs.
The name “Monte Vista” was chosen following a contest and it means “Mountain View” in Spanish, which symbolizes its location at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks. On its opening day, the hotel had 73 rooms spread over three floors, many of which were rented by boarders for $1 a day.
The hotel has seen a lot of historical events. Route 66 was completed in 1926 and ran through the town of Flagstaff. The hotel, sitting just a block north of this iconic roadway, witnessed the legendary passage become a crucial transport route during World War II. In the 1940s and 1950s, Hollywood stumbled upon Sedona and Flagstaff and produced a significant number of Western movies. During that period, many renowned actors and actresses stayed at the Hotel Monte Vista, further enhancing its reputation. Some famous guests included John Wayne, Bing Crosby, and Harry Truman.
The Monte Vista Lounge expanded into a cocktail lounge in the 1940s and has had a colorful history as well. Known nowadays as “The Monte V,” the lounge was expanded to include a bar in 1960 and it continues to be a popular spot among locals and tourists alike.
In 1970, the Hotel Monte Vista was listed in the National Register of Historic Places and more than 90 years after its creation, it still stands as a timeless landmark in the heart of downtown Flagstaff. Despite its old age, the building’s charm remains, and it serves both guests and history buffs with an appetite for Arizona‘s rich past.
Is it really haunted at Hotel Monte Vista?
The Hotel Monte Vista, located in Flagstaff, Arizona, is reportedly one of the most haunted hotels in the United States. Since its opening in 1927, guests, staff, and locals have reported a myriad of paranormal incidents.
One such example is the room 220, where guests have reported seeing the ghost of a man who is believed to be a long-term boarder in the late 1970s. Housekeepers claim they have heard strange noises and seen the ghost in the mirror while cleaning the room.
A pair of female apparitions is often spotted in the lounge and the lobby. These women, supposedly prostitutes, were thrown from the third floor by an angry client, resulting in their deaths. They reportedly show up in the mirror of an elevator on the floor from where they were thrown.
Then there’s the haunting of room 305. Guests have reported seeing a woman in a rocking chair near the window. Some also claimed to have seen the woman knock on their door. This woman is thought to be the phantom of one elderly boarder who used to stay in the room for long durations and sit by the window in a rocking chair.
In room 306, there are reports of a phantom bellboy, who allegedly knocks on doors and announces room service, but disappears when the door is opened.
And lastly, on the first floor, the sound of an infant crying has been reported numerous times in the middle of the night. According to stories, a woman once stayed in the hotel and left her infant unattended, resulting in the child’s death.
Every room seems to have a story, some frightening, some incredible, making the Hotel Monte Vista a significant point of interest among those who are intrigued by mystery and tales of the supernatural.
Wrapping Up
Hotel Monte Vista, located in Flagstaff, Arizona, has a rich history steeped in lore and reputed hauntings. Built in 1927 during the city’s economic resurgence, it has served as a prominent centerpiece of the community, hosting countless celebrities, artists, and historical figures over the years. The extensive list of guests, along with the hotel’s long-standing history, fuels much of the folklore surrounding its supposed paranormal activity.
Multiple ghost sightings and unexplained occurrences have been reported at the Monte Vista. Among them is Room 220, where a male guest reportedly experienced a vision of a transparent man in an old bellman’s uniform knocking on hotel room doors. Another is the infamous Room 306, known for reports of an unnerving female apparition, believed to be a woman who died there.
The hotel’s eating and entertainment spaces have also been subject to spectral tales. Staff have reported disembodied voices and a phantom talking in the Cocktail Lounge. The basement, once housing a speakeasy during Prohibition, has been filled with unsettling reports of a baby’s laughter without any source.
Throughout its history, the Hotel Monte Vista has been a storied place that seems to merge the line between reality and the paranormal, contributing to its enduring character and intrigue. Whether these tales send shivers down your spine or pique your curiosity, one cannot deny the allure that these stories add to this historic landmark.
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