Spooky surprises may be part of the package for guests of Historic 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa in the scenic Ozark Mountains.

The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, on top of Crescent Mountain, sits like an European chateau overlooking the town named Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The chateau like structure has served as a luxury hotel, all girls school and a cancer hospital run by a snake oil salesman. The 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa is considered by many to be the most haunted hotel in America.

A Grand Hotel Graces Eureka Springs, Arkansas

"The Grand Old Lady of the Ozarks" was was built to be the grandest hotel west of the Mississippi. In the days when railroad travel was the height of sophistication, the new railroad brought thousands of tourists to Eureka Springs for the recuperative health treatments of the mineral rich local hot springs.

Crescent Hotel was palatial, attracting the elite "Carriage Set" of society. Every guest was outfitted with a steed to ride, from a stable of over 100 horses.

The grand hotel fell into disrepair over the years. In 1997 the hotel was purchased by historic preservationists Martin & Elise Roegnik, who invested millions in restoring the palatial chateau.

The "Grand Old Lady of the Ozarks" has now been restored to her Victorian glory. The New Moon Spa provides a combination of ancient and contemporary treatments. The 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa is a National Historic Hotel.

Ghost Stories of Crescent Hotel and Spa

Through the long and varied history of the hotel, the hotel has collected many ghosts and spirits. The hotel may be the most haunted hotel in America. The Crescent Hotel has so many ghost stories that they conduct ghost tours.

The Victorian Inn, 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa in Eureka Strings, Arkansas, is said to be home to a variety of spirits. The Crescent hotel website relates a number of ghost stories. Following are a few examples of ghost stories at the haunted Crescent.

Ghostly Hijinks

Many employees have encountered playful spirits in Victorian dress in the Crystal Dining Room. One Christmas season the packages underneath the Christmas tree had been moved from one end of the room to the other.The room was rearranged overnight.. The Christmas tree and wrapped presents had been moved. Surrounding the Christmas tree was a circle of chairs.

A hotel cook has seen a little boy wearing "pop-bottle" glasses and old fashioned clothing skipping around the kitchen. One morning the cook started the day by turning on the kitchen lights and seeing the pots and pans come flying off their hooks. The cook swears he wasn't drinking.

Romantic Spirits

A man in Victorian clothing sits a a table near the window and says "I saw the most beautiful woman here last night and I am waiting for her to return."

A waitress saw a Victorian couple in a hotel mirror. The couple was facing each other, as if they were getting married. The groom turned and made eye contact with the waitress. The Victorian couple in the mirror faded away. This waitress quit shortly after wards.

Apparitions have been seen, dressed up in Victorian ball attire dancing around the ballroom in the wee hours of the morning, during a time when the room was closed and dark.

Room 218

Room 218 is considered the most spiritually active room at the hotel. An Irish stone mason plunged to his death in this location during construction of the hotel. Television crews have studied the room for sightings of a poltergeist called Michael. Guests have reported seeing hands coming out of the bathroom mirror, cries of falling man and the door opening and then slamming shut.

Hotel as a Cancer Hospital

During the 1930's the hotel was used as an experimental cancer hospital. "Dr." Norman Baker claimed to be a licensed physician and charged families their life savings for treatments. Several apparitions from the hospital visit the hotel today. "Dr." Baker has been seen in the hotel lobby wearing a purple shirt and white linen suit. A nurse pushing a gurney has been seen in the old morgue area.

Sci-Fi Channel recently caught incredible footage of a full sized male apparition on thermo graphic videotape on "Ghost Hunters". The footage was filmed in "the morgue", which was used by "Dr. Baker" when the hospital was a cancer treatment center.

Guests of the historic hotel can experience beautiful scenery, healing waters, spa treatments, and perhaps a serving of spooky ghostly fright.

The 1905 Basin Park Hotel in Eureka Springs is the sister hotel to Crescent Hotel and Spa.

Resources:

Crescent Hotel

Historic Hotels of America