The city of Guthrie is home to one of the most infamous haunted hotels in Oklahoma – the Stone Lion Inn. Its long history highlights why it is a magnet for paranormal tourism. Originally built in 1907 as a private mansion for wealthy businessman F.E. Houghton and his family, the home was converted into a mortuary for a local undertaker when the original owners faced financial struggles. To reflect this part of the hotel’s history, there is an actual embalming table adjacent to the stairs. In 1986, the home was purchased and converted into a bed-and-breakfast with six suites available. To acknowledge the Stone Lion Inn’s status as an iconic haunted house, owner Becky Luker hosts murder-mystery tours that include a trip to the cemetary.
A skeptic, Luker nonetheless says, “Steps going up and down the stairs, doors opening and closing…I’m a skeptic, but some things are hard to look past.”
The Spirits of the Stone Lion Inn
“I really do hear things in this house. I can hear whispering, people knocking on the door (but) nobody be at the door…When I was laying down for the rest of the night, someone lay next to me.”
~ Michelle Smith, long-time houskeeperr at the Stone Lion Inn
A must-see landmark for all lovers of the arcane and unexplained, the Stone Lion Inn in Guthrie has been featured on Ghost Adventures, as well as several books dealing with the paranormal.
Spirits that may haunt the Stone Lion Inn include:
F.E. Houghton – There have been sightings of a man wearing a large top hat and Victorian-era clothing.
Irene Houghton – In 1907, the 7-year-old daughter of the original owner died after contracting whooping cough and being overmedicated by a maid.
Elmer McCurdy – After train robber McCurdy was killed by law enforcement in 1911, his remains remained unclaimed. The undertaker mummified the body and put it on display in traveling sideshows. Over 60 years later, McCurday was returned to Oklahoma and given a proper burial in Guthrie’s “Boot Hill” section.
If you are a seeker of the unexplained and you are feeling adventurous, are YOU brave enough to book a room at the Stone Lion Inn?
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