Haunted Commercial Hotel

Haunted Commercial Hotel: A Deep Dive into Spooky Stays and Business Opportunities

Introduction:

Ever wondered about the intersection of chilling tales and lucrative business ventures? This blog post delves into the fascinating world of haunted commercial hotels – establishments that blend the allure of ghostly encounters with the practicality of a thriving hospitality business. We’ll explore the marketing strategies behind attracting ghost hunters and thrill-seekers, the legal and logistical considerations of running such a unique hotel, and the potential rewards (and risks) involved. Whether you’re a seasoned hotelier considering a unique niche or a ghost enthusiast fascinated by the paranormal, this comprehensive guide will provide valuable insights.


I. The Allure of the Haunted Hotel: Marketing Your Spooky Selling Point

The success of a haunted commercial hotel hinges on effectively leveraging its spectral reputation. This requires more than just whispering rumors; it demands a strategic marketing campaign that caters to a specific audience:

Targeted Advertising: Forget generic travel ads. Target paranormal enthusiasts through specialized online forums, ghost hunting groups on social media (Facebook groups, Instagram hashtags), and partnerships with paranormal investigation teams.
Content Marketing: Create compelling content – blog posts, videos, podcasts – showcasing guest testimonials, documented paranormal activity (with responsible disclosure), and behind-the-scenes looks at the hotel's history and alleged hauntings. High-quality photography and videography are crucial. Consider using 360° virtual tours to allow potential guests to explore the hotel virtually, heightening the sense of anticipation.
SEO Optimization: Implement strong SEO strategies focusing on keywords like "haunted hotel," "paranormal hotel," "ghost hunting vacation," and location-specific keywords (e.g., "haunted hotel in Salem, Massachusetts"). Utilize long-tail keywords like "best haunted hotels for couples" or "family-friendly haunted hotel experiences" to broaden your reach.
Review Management: Encourage guests to share their experiences (both spooky and otherwise) through online reviews on platforms like TripAdvisor and Google My Business. Respond to both positive and negative reviews professionally and promptly.
Partnerships: Collaborate with local ghost tour operators, paranormal investigators, and related businesses to cross-promote your hotel and create unique packages (e.g., a combined ghost tour and overnight stay).


II. Legal and Logistical Considerations: Navigating the Supernatural Business Landscape

Running a haunted hotel isn't just about marketing ghostly encounters; it involves legal and practical aspects:

Insurance: Secure specialized liability insurance that covers potential incidents related to paranormal claims or accidents on the property. Clearly define what's covered and what isn't in your policy.
Disclaimers: Legally protect your business by clearly stating that claims of paranormal activity are based on anecdotal evidence and historical accounts, avoiding any guarantee of supernatural experiences.
Safety and Security: Prioritize guest safety. Ensure the hotel meets all safety codes and regulations. Consider providing security measures, especially if your hotel experiences a high volume of nighttime activity.
Property Maintenance: Old buildings, often the most attractive for haunted hotel operations, require significant maintenance. Regular inspections and repairs are essential to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for your guests.
Staff Training: Train staff to handle guest inquiries about paranormal activity professionally and respectfully, providing accurate information while avoiding sensationalism.


III. Financial Projections and Return on Investment: Is it Worth the Risk?

The financial viability of a haunted commercial hotel depends on several factors:

Market Research: Thoroughly research your target market (paranormal enthusiasts, thrill-seekers, history buffs) and assess the local competition.
Pricing Strategy: Develop a pricing model that reflects the unique experience your hotel offers while remaining competitive. Consider offering seasonal discounts or packages.
Occupancy Rates: Project occupancy rates realistically. Don't rely solely on the "haunted" aspect; consider attracting regular guests as well.
Operational Costs: Factor in all operational costs, including maintenance, staffing, marketing, and insurance.
Profitability Analysis: Conduct a thorough financial analysis to assess the potential profitability of your investment before committing.


IV. Creating a Memorable and Authentic Experience: Beyond the Ghosts

The success of a haunted hotel goes beyond the ghost stories. Guests expect a quality hospitality experience, regardless of the paranormal claims:

Ambiance: Cultivate a unique atmosphere that enhances the spooky feel without resorting to cheap gimmicks. Subtle touches, like dimly lit hallways or antique furniture, can create a powerful effect.
Guest Amenities: Provide comfortable accommodations, excellent service, and desirable amenities (e.g., a cozy fireplace, a well-stocked bar).
Storytelling: Integrate the hotel's history and alleged hauntings into the guest experience through informational brochures, staff anecdotes, or even themed events.
Authenticity: Avoid fabricating stories or creating a "fake" haunted experience. Guests are drawn to authenticity and genuine history.
Differentiation: Find a unique selling point that sets your hotel apart from other haunted hotels. This could be a specific type of paranormal activity, a unique historical context, or a particular type of guest experience.


V. Conclusion: Embracing the Supernatural Opportunity

The haunted commercial hotel offers a unique niche in the hospitality industry. By combining a strategic marketing approach with careful planning and a focus on guest experience, you can leverage the allure of the paranormal to create a thriving and memorable business. Remember, responsible operation, transparency, and a focus on providing a quality experience are crucial for long-term success.


Article Outline: Haunted Commercial Hotel

Name: Unlocking the Potential: A Guide to Running a Profitable Haunted Commercial Hotel

Introduction: Hooking the reader with the allure of the haunted hotel market.
Chapter 1: Marketing Your Spooky Selling Point: Strategies for targeting paranormal enthusiasts and building a strong online presence.
Chapter 2: Legal and Logistical Considerations: Navigating insurance, disclaimers, safety, and regulatory requirements.
Chapter 3: Financial Projections and Return on Investment: Analyzing profitability and managing risks.
Chapter 4: Creating a Memorable and Authentic Experience: Focusing on guest satisfaction and building a unique brand.
Conclusion: Recap and final thoughts on the potential of the haunted hotel market.


(The detailed content for each chapter is provided above in the main blog post.)


FAQs:

1. How do I legally operate a haunted hotel? Consult with legal counsel to ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, especially concerning liability and safety.
2. What type of insurance do I need? Specialized liability insurance covering paranormal claims and accidents is essential.
3. How much does it cost to start a haunted hotel? Costs vary widely based on location, property size, renovation needs, and marketing strategies. A thorough business plan is crucial.
4. How can I attract guests to a haunted hotel? Target paranormal enthusiasts through online marketing, partnerships, and compelling content.
5. What if guests have negative experiences? Handle complaints professionally, offering solutions and addressing concerns promptly.
6. How can I create a truly authentic haunted experience? Focus on the hotel's history, local legends, and guest testimonials. Avoid fabricating stories.
7. What are the risks involved in running a haunted hotel? Financial risks, safety concerns, and potential legal challenges need careful consideration.
8. How do I manage staff expectations when dealing with paranormal claims? Train staff to handle inquiries professionally and respectfully.
9. Can I use the term "haunted" without proof? While you can market the hotel based on its reputation, avoid making guarantees or false claims. Use disclaimers to protect yourself legally.


Related Articles:

1. The History of Haunted Hotels: A deep dive into the origins of haunted hotel lore and famous examples.
2. Famous Haunted Hotels Around the World: A list and descriptions of some of the most renowned haunted hotels globally.
3. Ghost Hunting 101: A Beginner's Guide: Tips and techniques for amateur ghost hunters visiting haunted hotels.
4. Paranormal Investigation Techniques Used in Haunted Hotels: An explanation of the methods used by professionals investigating paranormal activity.
5. Haunted Hotel Marketing Strategies: A Case Study: Analysis of successful marketing campaigns used by popular haunted hotels.
6. Legal Aspects of Running a Paranormal Tourism Business: A comprehensive guide to legal compliance for haunted attractions.
7. Building a Thriving Haunted Hotel Brand: Strategies for creating a strong and memorable brand identity.
8. The Psychology of Fear and Attraction to Haunted Hotels: An exploration of the psychological motivations behind visiting haunted locations.
9. Budgeting and Financial Planning for a Haunted Hotel: A detailed guide to creating a realistic financial plan for a haunted hotel venture.


  haunted commercial hotel: The Commercial Hotel John Summers, 2022-08-04 When John Summers moved to a small town in the Wairarapa and began to look closely at the less-celebrated aspects of local life &– our club rooms, freezing works, night trains, hotel pubs, landfills &– he saw something deeper. It was a story about his own life, but mostly about a place and its people. The story was about life and death in New Zealand.Combining reportage and memoir, The Commercial Hotel is a sharp-eyed, poignant yet often hilarious tour of Aotearoa: a place in which Arcoroc mugs and dog-eared political biographies are as much a part of the scenery as the hills we tramp through ill-equipped. We encounter Elvis impersonators, the eccentric French horn player and adventurer Bernard Shapiro, Norman Kirk balancing timber on his handlebars while cycling to his building site, and Summers' s grandmother: the only woman imprisoned in New Zealand for protesting World War Two. And we meet the ghosts who haunt our loneliest spaces.As he follows each of his preoccupations, Summers reveals to us a place we have never quite seen before.&‘ Clever, funny, boundlessly curious, The Commercial Hotel is a dazzling New Zealand opportunity shop, floor to ceiling with lost books and impos
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Nevada Janice Oberding, 2013-08-11 The Silver State's most bizarre and creepy stories of paranormal activity.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted New Orleans Bonnye Stuart, 2012-08-07 Explore the haunted hotels, houses, restaurants,and historic places in the “City That Care Forgot” From Mardi Gras celebrations to the disasters of Hurricane Katrina, the city of New Orleans is filled with ghosts, mysteries, and spooky happenings. Anyone who picks up Haunted New Orleans is sure to get goose bumps. Rather than just a straightforward account of eerie phenomena, this book offers an entertaining storyteller’s twist on the old New Orleans legends and solid historical background. There is also enough information for readers and travelers to visit the sites of these strange occurrences . . . if they dare. Bourbon Orleans: More than seventeen ghosts have been reported to haunt this historic hotel. The most famous is the devastated bride desperately searching for her groom, a Confederate soldier who died in the war. Who would have thought they would still be looking for each other in this beloved landmark after all these years? St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: Considered the most haunted cemetery in the world, this “City of the Dead” teems with paranormal activity. Be on your guard for shadowy orbs and apparitions of those who remain amid the ancient gravestones, reminding visitors of the interdependent nature of life and death.
  haunted commercial hotel: Miss Or Mrs? Wilkie Collins, 1999-01-01 B`..melodrama is perennial and the craving for it is perennial and must be satisfied' T. S. Eliot ('Wilkie Collins and Dickens') Collins's ability to construct a gripping situation and to create an atmosphere of mystery and menace is fully evident in the three novellas reprinted here. All proceed through a series of dramatic scenes to a climax that in one case at least is literally explosive. The fast-paced Miss or Mrs? (1871) opens on a yacht, features a remarkably unconventional heroine, and entails murder attempts, blackmail, clandestine marriage and commercial fraud. Dramatic and psychologically absorbing, the action of The Haunted Hotel (1878) takes place in an ancient Venetian palazzo converted into a modern hotel that houses a grisly secreI. Lastly, set in a beautiful water-mill, The Guilty River (1886) depicts a group of alienated characters, whose relationships threaten to erupt in violence and murder. Varied in setting and tone, these stories demonstrate Collins's plot-making skill at its most succinct and intricate. *Introduction * Textual Note * Bibliography * Chronology * * Explanatory Notes *Appendix: Collins's prefaces
  haunted commercial hotel: The Big Book of Nevada Ghost Stories Janice Oberding, 2023-08-01 Time has all but forgotten the tragic tales of those who have passed through Nevada, but their spirits remain. As arguably the most haunted state in the nation, Nevada has more than its share of ghosts with intriguing stories and historical connections. Among them is the unfortunate gangster, Bugsy Siegel who died in Beverly Hills only to return to his old stomping grounds, the Flamingo Las Vegas; Julia Bulette, the ill-fated prostitute who was slaughtered in her bed on a cold January morning in 1867; and the many haunted houses in Reno, their owners forever tied to their homes, refusing to depart.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Illinois Troy Taylor, 2021-07-15 Hauntings are believed to be created from violence and bloodshed. And from the beginning, the Prairie State was a place where death thrived, and mysteries became commonplace. Illinois was the home of ancient peoples know as Moundbuilders whose only legacy is silent graves and many unsolved mysteries. The French left behind their own ghostly stories after their displacement by the Americans in the 1700s and countless slaughters such as the Dearborn Massacre gave birth to tales of horror that live on in the history of Illinois. Eerie occurrences, spooky events, unsolved mysteries, and terrifying specters haunt Illinois. Tales of headless horsemen, haunted castles and a penitentiary occupied by ghosts chill the spines of visitors. Haunted Illinois explores the Prairie State’s paranormal side and serves as a guide to its haunted places.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Restaurants, Taverns, and Inns of Texas Robert Wlodarski, Anne Powell Wlodarski, 2018-08-01 Loaded with tangy tales of spirits who inhabit places where you can spend a night or have a bite to eat. Listed by city, each haunted locale provides in-depth history about the spirited occupants, current facts and additional references. This book would be fully revised and would not include detailed travel information, just the stories.
  haunted commercial hotel: Investigating Ghosts in Hotels Matilda Snowden, 2020-09-21 There are hundreds of eerie hotels around the country that might hide a skeleton or two. Why is it that so many old hotels are said to be haunted? And do ghosts really exist? There is a devoted group who want to find out. These ghost hunters, also known as paranormal investigators, gather evidence to prove that ghosts are real. Look inside to read all about so-called haunted hotels. And follow paranormal investigators who seek to uncover the truth about ghosts.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Heritage Michele Hanks, 2016-06-16 Haunted Heritage is a fascinating scholarly examination of the dynamics of ghost or paranormal tourism. Michele Hanks explores how this phenomenon allows for the re-articulation and re-configuring of ideas of heritage, epistemic authority, nation, and belonging. Drawing on long-term ethnographic fieldwork, Hanks delves into the anthropological, sociological, political, historical, and cultural factors that drive this burgeoning business. Using York, England, said to be “the most haunted city in the world,” as the base for her research, Hanks focuses on three forms of ghost tourism: ghost walks, commercial ghost hunts, and non-profit ghost hunts and paranormal investigations, comparing the experience of York with other sites of ghost tourism globally. This book will appeal to scholars interested in tourism, heritage, the paranormal, visual cultural, British studies, or popular religion.
  haunted commercial hotel: Dead Lee's Family Friendly Guide To Haunted Chicago John Petz, 2015-07-21 My Haunted Chicago book series turns 10 years old this year (Oct 2015) and as part of that celebration I'm releasing this fan requested special edition ahead of the regular release due out later this year. For years you people have asked for a family friendly entry into this series, so here it is... almost completely devoid of my whit, charming personality, twisted sense of humor and wicked commentary... in short a Dead Lee book without Dead Lee. To achieve this, this book has been aggressively edited down to a rather anemic 88 locations and 317 pages. Outside of a few stray words here and there, this is as close to family friendly as I can get.
  haunted commercial hotel: Dead Lee's 2015 Guide To Haunted Chicago John Petz, 2015-09-05 My Haunted Chicago book series turns 10 years old this year (Oct 2015) and to celebrate I'm releasing this special anniversary edition packed full of wicked goodies. All of the classics and favorites are back, completely updated as well as multiple brand new locations. I'm also giving you a super special treat... for the very first time I give to you the complete, unedited version of Pop Rocks, Myths and Madmen, featuring all 6 stories... how cool is that? Be warned this special edition has all of my whit, charming personality, twisted sense of humor and wicked commentary... turned up to eleven. If you are easily offended may I suggest the Family Friendly Edition.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Alabama Alan Brown, 2021-09-15 Alabama has a historic and haunted side. This book highlights the most interesting sites and stories, from Auburn and Birmingham to Tuscaloosa and Mobile.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Wisconsin Michael Norman, 2011-10-15 Grab a cozy blanket, light a few flickering candles, and enjoy the unnerving tales of Haunted Wisconsin. Gathered from personal interviews with credible eyewitnesses, on-site explorations, historical archives, newspaper reports, and other sources, these scores of reports date from Wisconsin’s early settlement days to recent inexplicable events. You’ll read about Wisconsin’s most famous haunted house, Summerwind; three Milwaukee men who encountered the beautiful ghost of National Avenue; a phantom basketball player; a spectral horse that signaled death in the pioneer era of the Wisconsin Dells; a poltergeist in St. Croix County who attracted a crowd of more than three hundred spectators; the Ridgeway Ghost who haunts the driftless valleys of southwestern Wisconsin; a swinging railroad lantern held by unseen hands; the Ghost Island of the Chippewa Flowage; and many others. Are ghosts real? That’s for you to decide! Now available in a Third Edition with updates and several new accounts, Haunted Wisconsin remains a favorite collection of unexplained midwestern tales, enjoyed by readers of all ages.
  haunted commercial hotel: 100 Tales from Australia's Most Haunted Places Ben Pobjie, 2022-07-26 From the ghostly black horse of Sutton Forest to the butcher of Adelaide Street, a haunted Brisbane lift to the chilling experiments carried out by Doctor Blood of the North Kapunda Hotel, Australia abounds in spooky stories that are all unnervingly based in fact and tied to real places you can visit or avoid. In 100 Tales from Australia's Most Haunted Places, comedy writer and general scaredy-cat Ben Pobjie communes with the spirit world to send a shiver down your spine. A book best read with the light left on.
  haunted commercial hotel: Texas Guide to Haunted Restaurants, Taverns, and Inns Robert Wlodarski, 2001-01-25 Ghosts can be encountered anywhere at any time by any person. Why do some people see ghosts more than others? Who knows? Perhaps as some suggest a few people are more psychic or more tuned in than others.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Southwest Montana Ms. Deb A. Cuyle, 2023-05-22 Phantoms in Paradise! Southwestern Montana boasts a bloody past that produces a persistent paranormal presence. In 1899, drunken Charles Sheppard murdered John Benson with a fence post in Deer Lodge and threw his body into the river. Some still witness the bloody apparition of a man on the water's edge. The spirit of Doctor John Singleton Meade still roams his Hotel Meade in the renowned Ghost Town of Bannack. The old Montana State Prison, now a museum, is tormented with residual energy from multiple executions, riots and violent deaths. Beset by an unsolved murder, a famous ghost town and a haunted bed & breakfast, Gunslinger Gulch attracts thousands each year to Anaconda. Author Deborah Cuyle collects tales of haunted hotels, ghostly residents and gruesome events from Dillion, Philipsburg, Garnet and more.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Everett, Washington Deborah Cuyle, 2019-09-16 The historic mill town of Everett, abutting the deep, dark waters of Puget Sound, has been haunted since its founding. The Rucker family's spirits are said to linger near both their distinctive pyramid-shaped mausoleum and mansion by the bay, and the shadowy figures of former patrons and entertainers are purported to roam inside the Historic Everett Theater. Many believe the angry shades of laborers still riot, demanding freedom of speech just like on that horrible November night in 1916 when several lost their lives. Even the Everett Community College library is rumored to house ghosts reading their favorite books. Author Deborah Cuyle reveals the spooky history of the City of Smokestacks and the spirits that refuse to leave it.
  haunted commercial hotel: A Ghost in New Orleans Jason Medina, 2015-07-24 Ray Durante is a paranormal investigator and would-be writer from New York City, who travels to New Orleans, Louisiana, in search of a good ghost story for his upcoming book. New Orleans certainly has no shortage of ghost stories, considering it is one of the oldest cities in the southern United States. Upon his arrival, Ray wastes no time and begins his research by conducting a paranormal investigation on his first day there. As the days go by, he continues his research and takes a haunted tour that eventually leads to his meeting with a local Creole street musician named Rini. Rini gradually introduces him to a whole new world, which just may turn his own world upside down. Join Ray on his journey through the haunts of the French Quarter in what will surely become the most intense time of his life.
  haunted commercial hotel: Vancouver’s Most Haunted Ian Gibbs, 2021-10-05 In his new collection of ghost stories, Ian Gibbs combs the Terminal City for its spooks and apparitions, from Gastown to Grouse Mountain, West Van to New West. In his new collection of ghost stories, ghost-walk guide and podcaster Ian Gibbs investigates the greater Vancouver area in search of the city’s paranormal. These thirty stories cover more famous hauntings like Waterfront Station and the Orpheum Theatre as well as private houses and the apartments of friends and readers. Gibbs’s research style balances history, personal experience, and input from residents, employees, local mediums, and paranormal experts. Among others, you’ll learn about the footsteps at the Irish Heather the spirited tunnels at Riverview the pranksters of Hycroft Manor the haunted washrooms at the Alibi Room the ghost of Grace Ceperley at Fairacres Mansion the murmurings at the Cannery and “The Tall” and “The Small” of the Royal Crown Castle From Gastown to Grouse Mountain, West Van to New West, Gibbs combs the Terminal City for its apparitions and presents his findings in a conversational style that meets readers where they are, whether history enthusiast, interested skeptic, or supernaturally sensitive.
  haunted commercial hotel: The Big Book of Illinois Ghost Stories Troy Taylor, 2019-07-17 Hauntings lurk and spirits linger in the Prairie State Reader, beware! Turn these pages and enter the world of the paranormal, where ghosts and ghouls alike creep just out of sight. Author Troy Taylor shines a light in the dark corners of Illinois and scares those spirits out of hiding in this thrilling collection. From a gallows tree in Greene County where an apparition can still be seen hanging, to the lingering spirits of warring mobsters at the site of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, these stories of strange occurrences will keep you glued to the edge of your seat. Around the campfire or tucked away on a dark and stormy night, this big book of ghost stories is a hauntingly good read.
  haunted commercial hotel: Ghost Killer Collection Margaret Millmore, 2022-07-14 All three books in 'Ghost Killer', a series by Margaret Millmore, now in one volume! What Haunts Me: George is plagued by strange dreams — nighttime visions of ghosts who wander among the living and infect their victims with deformity and disease. A deeply buried instinct emerges: he can kill these monsters and heal their victims. Haunted by suppressed memories, George’s sanity begins to slip away as he becomes consumed with his new responsibility. This dark and dangerous path will lead to new friends and allies, and enemies George never could have imagined. The Edge of the Cemetery: George works alongside his new friends and assists the Watchers: an international group of ghost killers and supernatural experts who monitor the world for ghostly sightings and demon infestations to maintain the balance between the living and the dead. When San Francisco and the surrounding area are suddenly plagued by rogue groups of ghosts and demons, the Watchers know it isn’t a random occurrence. As George and the Watchers investigate, they discover that a demonic presence is behind the attacks. With the clock ticking against them, they must find the source of the evil and destroy it, or risk extinction of all humankind. What Hunts Me: In the attic of the large Edwardian house in San Francisco owned by the Watchers, a box is discovered. In the box are various documents of ghost killers and a diary that chronicles an epic journey from Pennsylvania to San Francisco, along the route of the newly opened Lincoln Highway. Strange drawings and nonsensical writings in the diary tell of something sinister. The final entry is loud and clear: the writer of the diary is a ghost killer, and he is being hunted. George soon travels to San Francisco to investigate, and the more he learns, the clearer it becomes that something horrible happened in 1915. A monstrous creature has reanimated, and it is searching for something. As supernatural forces come into play, George and his friends are propelled into a fight for their lives.
  haunted commercial hotel: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ghosts & Hauntings, 2nd Edition Tom Ogden, 2004-09-07 A unique guide to the world of the paranormal, The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Ghosts and Hauntings is a perennial favorite. Now updated, revised, and expanded with new information on ghost hunting and observing, this new edition includes new tips on gathering and recording paranormal data, and a new section devoted to faking it - showing readers how to haunt their own houses to amuse and bewilder friends. - Expanded appendixes featuring new Internet sites devoted to the paranormal, as well as modern-day haunted houses open to the public - Additional information on the origin of spiritualism and its followers - Strong seller for Halloween season - Completely reorganized for easier reading and referencing
  haunted commercial hotel: Hotel World Ali Smith, 2015-02-05 SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE and the ORANGE PRIZE FOR FICTION A masterful, exuberant novel from the acclaimed author of How to be both and the ongoing Seasonal quartet 'Ali Smith has got style, ideas and punch. Read her' Jeanette Winterson 'As infectious as a pop song, the story bursts open from the very first page and demands to be read in one sitting' The Times 'Hotel World is essential reading from a major talent' Independent Five people: four are living, three are strangers, two are sisters, one is dead. In her highly acclaimed and most ambitious book to date, the brilliant young Scottish writer Ali Smith brings alive five unforgettable characters and traces their intersecting lives. This is a short novel with big themes (time, chance, money, death) but an eye for tiny detail: the taste of dust, the weight of a few coins in the hand, the pleasurable pain of a stone in one's shoe . . .
  haunted commercial hotel: The Haunted House in Women’s Ghost Stories Emma Liggins, 2020-06-30 This book explores Victorian and modernist haunted houses in female-authored ghost stories as representations of the architectural uncanny. It reconsiders the gendering of the supernatural in terms of unease, denial, disorientation, confinement and claustrophobia within domestic space. Drawing on spatial theory by Gaston Bachelard, Henri Lefebvre and Elizabeth Grosz, it analyses the reoccupation and appropriation of space by ghosts, women and servants as a means of addressing the opposition between the past and modernity. The chapters consider a range of haunted spaces, including ancestral mansions, ghostly gardens, suburban villas, Italian churches and houses subject to demolition and ruin. The ghost stories are read in the light of women’s non-fictional writing on architecture, travel, interior design, sacred space, technology, the ideal home and the servant problem. Women writers discussed include Elizabeth Gaskell, Margaret Oliphant, Vernon Lee, Edith Wharton, May Sinclair and Elizabeth Bowen. This book will appeal to students and researchers in the ghost story, Female Gothic and Victorian and modernist women’s writing, as well as general readers with an interest in the supernatural.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Inside Passage Bjorn Dihle, 2017-05-02 A collection of twenty stories showcasing the supernatural legends and unsolved mysteries of Southeast Alaska, with a focus on the region between Yakutat and Petersburg, where the author has lived his entire life, writing, teaching, guiding, commercial fishing, and investigating ghost stories. Each chapter is rooted in Bjorn’s own adventures and will intertwine fascinating history, interviews, and his reflections. Bjorn’s writing, sometimes poignant and often wickedly funny, brings to mind Hunter S. Thompson and Patrick McManus. Chapters touch on legends such as Alexander Baranov, Soapy Smith, James Wickersham, and the Kóoshdaa Káa (Kushtaka) to lesser known but fascinating characters like “Naked” Joe Knowles and purported serial killer Ed Krause. From duplicitous if not downright diabolical humans to demons of the fjords and deep seas and cryptids of the forest, Bjorn presents a lively cross-section of the haunter and the haunted found in Alaska’s Inside Passage.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Places Dennis William Hauck, 2002-08-27 In almost every town in America there are places where strange things happen. The perfect companion to The International Directory of Haunted Places, this revised and updated edition of Haunted Places is both a fascinating and unusual travel guide as well as an indispensable casebook for those interested in the paranormal. From buildings and parks believed to have resident ghosts and poltergeists to areas where Bigfoot or UFO sightings are most frequently reported, Haunted Places will lead you to more than 2,000 sites of paranormal activity across the United States. Organized alphabetically by state, each entry is referenced to an extensive bibliography of sources-with descriptions, addresses, phone numbers, Web sites, and travel directions provided for all locations.
  haunted commercial hotel: Real Ghost Stories William Thomas Stead, 1897
  haunted commercial hotel: Spirits of the Border V Ken Hudnall, Sharon Hudnall, 2005 This is the fifth volume of the Spirits of the Border Series covering all hauntings and unsolved mysteries in the State of Texas.
  haunted commercial hotel: Paranormal Warwickshire S. C. Skillman, 2020-11-15 Takes the reader into the world of ghosts and spirits in Warwickshire, following their footsteps into the unknown.
  haunted commercial hotel: Ghosts of North-West England Peter Underwood, 1978 'A dwarfish figure that resembled a monk with a gnarled and twisted face, holding out a bleeding arm from which the hand had been cut off at the wrist…’ 'He saw in the clear moonlight a massive male figure standing under a tree, dressed entirely in black…’ The ghostly little monk of Foulridge and the giant apparition from Heaton Norris are just two of the denizens of the North-West you might not care to meet on a dark, stormy evening. You would also be advised to avoid the Old Miser of Altrincham, the Timberbottom Farm Skulls, the Clayton Hall Boggart, and the Man in the Brown Pin-stripe Suit. It's certainly not a good idea to drive along the Hyde-Mottram road when the phantom lorry is about, and you should think twice before taking a taxi in Stockport - you never know who might be in the back seat with you. But for those intrepid sounds whose hearts quicken at the thought of eerie footsteps and muffled groans Peter Underwood - the President of the Ghost Club - has assembled an impressive collection of traditional legends and first-hand sightings of the white ladies, highwaymen, cavaliers, priests and nuns who form the spectral population of haunted Lancashire and Cheshire.
  haunted commercial hotel: Best Tales of Texas Ghosts Docia Schultz Williams, 1998-03-31 Renowned storyteller Docia Williams gathers a medley of some of the best haunting stories from her four previous books-Spirits of San Antonio and South Texas, Phantoms of the Plains, Ghosts Along the Texas Coast, and When Darkness Falls-then she adds a hundred pages of new ghostly tales from the Piney Woods of East Texas and from North Central Texas, including the Dallas area. Once again Mrs. Williams brings to light tangible evidence and eyewitness testimony in Best Tales of Texas Ghosts to validate an illusive world without dimension, one filled with bizarre and disturbing accounts of unexplained presences. After interviewing hundreds of people with firsthand experiences and personally witnessing eerie manifestations, she has concluded, There are things happening all around us that can only be labeled as supernatural.
  haunted commercial hotel: The Big Book of Missouri Ghost Stories Troy Taylor, 2019-07-17 Hauntings lurk and spirits linger in the Show Me State Reader, beware! Turn these pages and enter the world of the paranormal, where ghosts and ghouls alike creep just out of sight. Author Troy Taylor shines a light in the dark corners of Missouri and scares those spirits out of hiding in this thrilling collection. From a headless ghost who stalks the aptly named “Murder Rocks”, to a large hairy monster that roams the banks of the Missouri River, there’s no shortage of bone-chilling tales to keep you up at night. It’s even rumored that the devil himself came to St. Louis in 1949, but nobody knows for sure if he ever left. Around the campfire or tucked away on a dark and stormy night, this big book of ghost stories is a hauntingly good read.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunting Bollywood Meheli Sen, 2017-03-01 Haunting Bollywood is a pioneering, interdisciplinary inquiry into the supernatural in Hindi cinema that draws from literary criticism, postcolonial studies, queer theory, history, and cultural studies. Hindi commercial cinema has been invested in the supernatural since its earliest days, but only a small segment of these films have been adequately explored in scholarly work; this book addresses this gap by focusing on some of Hindi cinema’s least explored genres. From Gothic ghost films of the 1950s to snake films of the 1970s and 1980s to today’s globally influenced zombie and vampire films, Meheli Sen delves into what the supernatural is and the varied modalities through which it raises questions of film form, history, modernity, and gender in South Asian public cultures. Arguing that the supernatural is dispersed among multiple genres and constantly in conversation with global cinematic forms, she demonstrates that it is an especially malleable impulse that routinely pushes Hindi film into new formal and stylistic territories. Sen also argues that gender is a particularly accommodating stage on which the supernatural rehearses its most basic compulsions; thus, the interface between gender and genre provides an exceptionally productive lens into Hindi cinema’s negotiation of the modern and the global. Haunting Bollywood reveals that the supernatural’s unruly energies continually resist containment, even as they partake of and sometimes subvert Hindi cinema’s most enduring pleasures, from songs and stars to myth and melodrama.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Fells Point Mike Carter, Julia Dray, 2017-06-26 Take a trip though the chilling history of one of Baltimore's most interesting neighborhoods and discover the eerie ends of Fell's Points departed souls. The narrow streets and ancient pubs of historic Fells Point are filled with the spirits of the past. Pirates, privateers, sailors, smugglers and a host of others refused to let death change their address. Walk with Edward Fell in the town he founded in 1760 or flirt with the ladies at the Cat's Eye Pub. Climb the stairs at Bertha's Mussels to visit the little girl with no face or let a long-dead nurse take your temperature at the Admiral Fell Inn. Ghost historians and authors Mike Carter and Julia Dray introduce the spiritual residents of Baltimore's iconic waterfront neighborhood.
  haunted commercial hotel: The Ghost Hunter's Field Guide Rich Newman, 2011 If you're one of the fans of ghost hunting TV shows, itching to get off the couch and track some spirits on your own, this book provides everything you need to know to conduct a successful paranormal investigation.
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Homeland Michael Norman, 2007-04-01 Trapped miners from cave-ins long ago still calling for help. Ghostly women lurking in the shadows of city streets. Spectral holy men and outlaws from America's Spanish past making appearances in our modern age. They are all citizens of Haunted America, and this is HAUNTED HOMELAND. From a haunted castle in the wilds of Alaska to phantom clergymen in the Southwest and mysterious bouncing lights on the East Coast, this latest volume covers the places, the people, and the things that belong to the earthbound realm of the fantastic. Michael Norman has gathered together spectral events of all kinds--apparitions of the famous like Mary Surratt, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Mad Anthony Wayne; haunted crime scenes in Chicago and along the Indiana byways; as well as banshees, poltergeists, and even a ghost named George who has become an accepted resident in a house in North Carolina. Some of these tales date back to America's early days, such as the screaming woman of Marblehead, Massachusetts, while others rise from more contemporary sources, like noted mystery writer Mary Robert Rhinehart's encounter with ghost at a house on Long Island. A ghostly Supreme Court Justice, a specter known as The Texan, an abandoned Canadian bride reminiscent of Dickens's Miss Haversham, and many others make an appearance in this latest chronicle of the Haunted American landscape. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
  haunted commercial hotel: The Highway One Travel Companion David Taylor, 2011
  haunted commercial hotel: Haunted Wisconsin Linda S. Godfrey, 2010 There is absolutely no better guide for haunted Wisconsin. Linda S. Godfrey. With her smooth journalistic style and her keen sense of what makes a good ghost story, she has the ability to send chills up and down your spine --Brad Steiger, author of Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places Wisconsin's leading authority on the paranormal presents strange stories from around the state, from witches in the Wisconsin Dells to spirits in the State Capitol. Readers will encounter Kenosha's Headless Nun, the Man Bat of Lacrosse, Rocky the Rock Lake Monster, and John Dillinger's phantom. They will explore Aztalan's ancient mounds, the ghostly bars and taverns of Madison and Milwaukee, and the creepy town of Caryville, one of the most haunted places in America.
  haunted commercial hotel: Ghost Towns of Northern California Susan Drew, Philip Varney, John Drew, A travel guide to northern California's 50 deserted mining towns, plus the ghost prison of Alcatraz and a couple of Chinese fishing villages in the San Francisco Bay area.
  haunted commercial hotel: The Big Book of West Virginia Ghost Stories Visionary Living, Inc., 2019-07-17 Hauntings lurk and spirits linger in the Mountain State Reader, beware! Turn these pages and enter the world of the paranormal, where ghosts and ghouls alike creep just out of sight. Author Rosemary Ellen Guiley shines a light in the dark corners of Virginia and scares those spirits out of hiding in this thrilling collection. From the headless ghosts wandering Droop Mountain to the tortured spirits of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, there’s no shortage of bone-chilling tales to keep you up at night. Around the campfire or tucked away on a dark and stormy night, this big book of ghost stories is a hauntingly good read.