Haunted Lodgings: Don Cesar Beach Resort – St. Petersburg, FL

The Don Cesar

When you see the Don Cesar for the first time, whether from land or sea, the first thought that comes to mind is that this is a fairy castle…an edifice constructed of fantasy.  The towering pink walls meet alabaster sand and turquoise seas while billowing clouds scuttle across an azure sky. It is the ultimate tropical getaway….a place where you could spend many happy hours recumbent on the beach, sipping piña coladas. Could it get any better than that?  Yes! Because not only is this exotic destination perfect for a weekend of pampering, but it also has a mysterious, intriguing side that makes the hotel even more attractive.

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Haunted Lodgings: Colonial Inn – Concord, Mass.

Colonial Inn - Concord, MA

Concord, Massachusetts is a town with many layers. Before the United States was even formed, this heretofore sleepy little town grew to be a hotbed of revolutionary sentiment. Alerted by Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott of the advancing British troops, the local minutemen banded together to confront the soldiers. These stalwart New Englanders actually pushed a contingent of the British Army, the world’s dominant force, back to Boston in retreat. The role Concord played during the American Revolution was a significant one, but even afterwards, this small village was not content to fade away into history.

Haunted Lodgings: Belleview Biltmore Hotel: Clearwater, FL

Belleview Biltmore: Clearwater, FL

In 1897 the beautiful Belleview Biltmore Hotel was erected overlooking Old Clearwater Bay by the famous Florida developer, Henry Plant.  Mr. Plant’s influence is still felt throughout Florida; Plant City was named to honor him, the onion-domed, riverfront University of Tampa was originally built by Henry Plant as another grand hotel, and Morton Plant Hospital (named for Henry’s son) still provides state of the art healthcare for Florida residents. But of all Henry Plant’s contributions to Florida history, the one that holds a special place in my heart is the Belleview Biltmore.

Haunted Lodgings: R.M.S. Queen Mary (History)

The RMS Queen Mary at sunset.

The R.M.S. Queen Mary is a relic of a time when luxury ocean liners ruled the open seas. Now, this ship sits as a silent sentinel on the shores of Long Beach, California. Her permanent address is 1126 Queens Highway. Although she has since retired from sailing the seas, the Queen Mary has a history as rich and proud as her namesake. She was a luxury ocean liner, a troop transport and inspiration for adventurous stories. Now, she serves as a hotel for guests seeking luxurious accommodations and the experience of a lifetime.

Haunted Lodgings: Bisbee Inn/Hotel LaMore

Contrary to the popular movie remake of 3:10 to Yuma, the City of Bisbee is not flat at all. Rather, it’s a mining city built on the side of a mountain chain. The city itself is overrun with stairs, tiers of buildings built at the base of hilltops or on the tops of hills and narrow, winding streets, some of which are not even wide enough for cars to traverse. The Bisbee Inn, also called the Hotel LaMore, is perched atop Chihuahua Hill (also called “B” Hill) at 45 OK Street where it overlooks the Copper Queen Hotel in the district of Old Bisbee. The hotel boasts a lengthy past as a lodging for miners and that past has given the place enough time to build a reputation of hauntings.