Columbia Gorge Hotel – Haunted Hotel in Hood River, Oregon

The Columbia Gorge Hotel stands majestically on a cliff overlooking the Columbia River in Hood River, Oregon. This Spanish-style luxury hotel has welcomed guests since 1921, but not all of them have checked out.

Built during the Roaring Twenties, this elegant establishment has witnessed nearly a century of history. Some of that history refuses to rest in peace.

Guests and staff report numerous unexplained phenomena throughout the property’s halls and rooms. From phantom footsteps to ghostly figures, the hotel maintains its reputation as one of Oregon’s most haunted locations.

The building’s isolation on the cliff edge creates an atmosphere perfect for supernatural activity. The rushing Phelps Creek Falls behind the hotel adds to the eerie ambiance that pervades the property.

Historical Background

Lumber baron Simon Benson constructed the Columbia Gorge Hotel in 1921 as a luxury destination. He envisioned it as the “Waldorf of the West,” sparing no expense on its lavish design.

The hotel cost approximately $250,000 to build, an astronomical sum for that era. Benson imported Italian marble, installed crystal chandeliers, and created meticulously landscaped gardens surrounding the property.

The hotel opened on June 10, 1921, attracting wealthy travelers and celebrities from across the nation. Presidents Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft all stayed within its ornate walls.

During its early years, the hotel served as a glamorous stopover for cross-country travelers. The building featured a grand dining room with panoramic views of the Columbia River Gorge.

The Great Depression severely impacted the hotel’s fortunes in the 1930s. The property changed hands multiple times and fell into disrepair during subsequent decades.

In 1978, new owners began extensive renovations to restore the hotel’s former glory. These renovations may have stirred up supernatural residents who had grown accustomed to the quiet.

The hotel underwent another major restoration in 1993 after sitting abandoned for several years. Workers reported strange occurrences during the renovation period that continue to this day.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Guests frequently report unexplained sounds echoing through the hotel’s corridors late at night. Phantom footsteps walk the hallways when security confirms no living person is present.

Cold spots appear suddenly in various rooms despite the functioning heating system. These frigid pockets of air move through spaces as if an invisible presence is passing by.

Doors open and close on their own with witnesses observing the handles turning by themselves. Elevators travel between floors without anyone pressing the call buttons or being inside the car.

The scent of perfume and cigar smoke manifests in empty rooms and hallways. These phantom aromas disappear as quickly as they arrive, leaving no identifiable source.

Guests report feeling watched, especially in certain guest rooms and the main dining area. Some describe an overwhelming sense of sadness or unease in specific locations throughout the hotel.

Objects move or disappear only to reappear in different locations hours or days later. Housekeeping staff report making beds that become unmade when they return minutes later.

Several ghostly figures have been identified by multiple witnesses over the decades. The most commonly reported spirit is a woman in a 1920s-style dress who appears near the grand staircase.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most famous ghost at the Columbia Gorge Hotel is known simply as “The Lady.” She appears wearing an elegant evening gown from the 1920s with her hair styled in period-appropriate fashion.

Witnesses describe The Lady as a beautiful woman in her thirties with dark hair. She typically appears near the grand staircase or in the second-floor hallways during evening hours.

Legend suggests The Lady was a guest at the hotel during its opening year in 1921. Some believe she fell to her death from the cliffs behind the hotel during a romantic evening walk.

Others claim she died of heartbreak after being abandoned by her lover at the hotel. Her spirit allegedly searches the halls for her lost love who never returned for her.

The Lady has been seen gliding down the main staircase as if heading to dinner. She appears solid and real until she suddenly vanishes before reaching the bottom step.

One guest in 2003 reported following The Lady down the hallway, thinking she was another hotel patron. When he called out to her, she turned, smiled sadly, and walked through a closed door.

A male spirit haunts Room 330, often referred to as the most paranormally active room. Guests staying in this room report waking to see a man standing at the foot of their bed.

The male ghost wears what appears to be 1930s-era clothing and simply stares at sleeping guests. When acknowledged, he fades away like morning mist in sunlight.

Some researchers believe this spirit is a former employee who worked at the hotel during the Depression. Historical records indicate a maintenance worker died on the property in 1934, though details remain scarce.

The third-floor hallways are known for phantom children who giggle and run through the corridors. Staff members report hearing children laughing and playing when no young guests are staying at the hotel.

These child spirits seem playful rather than frightening, often moving small objects or toys left out. One housekeeper reported finding children’s handprints on freshly cleaned windows with no children on that floor.

The hotel kitchen experiences its own unique paranormal activity involving a possible former chef. Pots and pans rearrange themselves overnight, and the smell of cooking food appears when the kitchen is closed.

Kitchen staff have nicknamed this spirit “Chef” and some leave small offerings of food out. They claim the kitchen runs more smoothly when Chef is acknowledged and respected.

Most Haunted Spot

Room 330 holds the distinction as the most intensely haunted location in the entire hotel. Guests specifically request this room for paranormal experiences, while others refuse to stay there after one night.

The room features unexplained temperature drops that can plunge twenty degrees in seconds. Electronic devices malfunction frequently, with cameras draining fully charged batteries within minutes.

The bathroom in Room 330 is particularly active with faucets turning on by themselves. Guests report seeing shadows move across the mirror when standing alone in the space.

The original grand staircase comes in as a close second for supernatural activity. The Lady appears most frequently on or near these stairs during evening hours between eight and midnight.

The basement area, accessible only to staff, reportedly contains intense paranormal energy. Employees avoid going down alone, especially after dark, due to overwhelming feelings of dread.

Can You Visit?

Yes, the Columbia Gorge Hotel operates as a fully functioning luxury hotel open year-round. Guests can book overnight stays in any of the forty rooms, including the famously haunted Room 330.

Room rates vary by season but typically range from $200 to $400 per night. The hotel does not charge extra for rooms with reported paranormal activity.

The hotel does not offer specific ghost tours but welcomes guests interested in the paranormal. Staff members are often willing to share stories and experiences with curious visitors.

Photography is allowed throughout the public areas and guest rooms. Many visitors have captured unexplained anomalies, orbs, and shadow figures in their photographs.

The hotel restaurant and gardens are open to non-guests during regular business hours. Visitors can experience the property’s atmosphere without booking an overnight stay.

No formal paranormal investigation tours are scheduled, but the hotel has hosted numerous ghost hunting groups. Interested parties can contact the management to inquire about arranging private investigation opportunities.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at the Columbia Gorge Hotel seems most intense during the fall and winter months. October through February yields the highest number of reported supernatural encounters.

The hours between 10 PM and 3 AM produce the most frequent sightings and unexplained phenomena. The Lady appears most often around 11 PM near the grand staircase.

Weeknights tend to be quieter with fewer guests, potentially making paranormal experiences more noticeable. Tuesday and Wednesday nights specifically have generated numerous reports over the years.

Some staff members believe the anniversary of the hotel’s opening on June 10th sparks increased activity. Several notable encounters have occurred on or around this date in recent years.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A couple from Seattle documented their 2015 experience in Room 330 on a popular paranormal blog. They reported hearing footsteps pacing outside their door all night despite the hallway remaining empty.

The husband captured a photograph showing a translucent figure standing near the window. When they showed the image to staff, several employees confirmed similar photographs from other guests.

A wedding party staying at the hotel in 2008 had multiple members experience unexplained phenomena. The bride reported seeing The Lady on the staircase, initially thinking she was another wedding guest.

She described the woman’s dress as exquisite and period-appropriate, assuming it was vintage attire. Only when the figure vanished did she realize she had encountered the hotel’s famous ghost.

Hotel staff member Patricia Morrison worked at the property for over fifteen years until her retirement. She gave multiple interviews describing her regular encounters with the spirits, particularly the playful child entities.

Morrison reported that the children seemed to enjoy hiding her cleaning supplies and keys. She learned to speak aloud, asking them to return items, which reportedly worked consistently.

A paranormal investigation team from Portland spent three nights at the hotel in 2012. They captured numerous EVP recordings of voices speaking in empty rooms and hallways.

Their most compelling evidence was a clear female voice saying “Help me” in Room 330. The team also documented unexplained footsteps and door movements on their recording equipment.

Former night auditor James Chen worked the front desk from 2010 to 2013. He documented over thirty separate incidents in a personal journal that he later shared with local reporters.

Chen described watching the elevator travel between floors multiple times each night with no passengers inside. He also regularly heard music playing from the closed dining room with no identifiable source.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Columbia Gorge Hotel has attracted numerous paranormal investigation teams over the past two decades. These groups have documented compelling evidence suggesting genuine supernatural activity on the property.

A team of researchers using EMF detectors recorded consistent spikes in electromagnetic fields in Room 330. These readings corresponded with witnesses reporting cold spots and feelings of being watched.

Digital recording equipment has captured numerous unexplained voices and sounds throughout the hotel. One particularly clear EVP features a woman’s voice asking “Where is he?” near the grand staircase.

Thermal imaging cameras have documented cold spots moving through hallways as if following a walking pattern. These temperature anomalies sometimes appear in human form on the thermal images.

Several psychic mediums have visited the property independently and reported remarkably similar information. Most identify a woman searching for a lost love and a male presence concerned about the building’s maintenance.

The hotel appeared in a 2016 documentary about Pacific Northwest hauntings. The film crew experienced equipment malfunctions and captured unexplained phenomena during their three-day shoot.

Motion-activated cameras placed in empty hallways have triggered repeatedly with no visible cause. Review of the footage sometimes shows shadow figures moving past the camera’s field of view.

Local Legends & Myths

Local folklore tells of a tragic love affair that ended at the hotel in the 1920s. A young woman named Katherine allegedly traveled from San Francisco to meet her fiancé at the hotel.

According to the legend, the man never arrived, having died in an automobile accident en route. Katherine, heartbroken and distraught, supposedly took her own life by jumping from the cliffs behind the property.

Some Hood River residents believe Katherine is The Lady who haunts the grand staircase. However, hotel records from that era remain incomplete, and no documentation confirms this tragic story.

Another local legend involves prohibition-era bootleggers who used the hotel’s basement for illegal activities. Some believe a violent confrontation occurred in the basement, leaving residual negative energy.

This legend might explain the intense feelings of dread reported in the basement area. Staff members describe an oppressive atmosphere that seems inconsistent with the rest of the hotel’s energy.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Guests should exercise caution near the cliff edges surrounding the hotel property. The dramatic drop-offs behind the building present real physical danger, especially in darkness or poor weather.

Access to the basement area is restricted to authorized personnel only for safety reasons. The hotel’s management asks guests to respect these boundaries and not attempt unauthorized exploration.

While paranormal activity can be exciting, guests should remain respectful of other hotel patrons. The property operates as a working hotel, and quiet hours must be observed despite ghost hunting enthusiasm.

Photography is permitted in public areas and guest rooms but should not disturb other guests. Flash photography in the dining room during meal service is discouraged out of courtesy to diners.