Hotel del Coronado – Haunted Hotel in San Diego, California

The Hotel del Coronado, a stunning Victorian-style beachfront resort in San Diego, has been a symbol of luxury since its grand opening in 1888. But behind its beauty lies a chilling history.

The most famous ghost of the hotel is Kate Morgan, a young woman who checked in but never checked out. Her mysterious death in 1892, coupled with decades of eerie encounters, has cemented the hotel’s reputation as one of the most haunted locations in California.

Historical Background

• Year Built: 1888
• Original Purpose: Luxury beach resort
• Significant Events:
  • In 1892, Kate Morgan checked into the hotel alone under an alias and was found dead five days later on the exterior staircase leading to the beach. The cause? A gunshot wound to the head, ruled as suicide—though some believe otherwise.
  • The mystery of her identity and the circumstances of her death have fueled ghost stories for over a century.
  • The hotel has experienced unexplained fires, flickering lights, and mysterious sounds, adding to its haunted reputation.

Paranormal Activity Summary

• Guests frequently report cold spots, flickering lights, and unexplained noises, particularly near Room 3327, where Kate Morgan stayed.
• Objects mysteriously move on their own in several areas of the hotel, especially in the hallways.
• The ghostly figure of a woman in a black Victorian dress has been spotted wandering near the beach and hotel corridors.
• Some visitors claim to hear soft whispers, weeping, and footsteps, even when no one is around.

Ghost Stories & Reports

• The Ghost of Kate Morgan: Guests in Room 3327 experience strange breezes, flickering lights, and items moving inexplicably. Some have even seen a misty female apparition standing by the window.
• Mysterious Luggage Movement: Bellhops have reported suitcases rolling down the halls on their own, as if being pulled by unseen hands.
• The Lady in Black: A ghostly woman has been seen standing on the hotel’s grand staircase, sometimes vanishing into thin air.
• The Haunted Gift Shop: Employees claim that items fly off shelves and cash registers open and close by themselves.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

• Room 3327 is where Kate Morgan stayed before her death, and it remains the most active paranormal location in the hotel.
• The Staircase to the Beach, where her body was discovered, has a strange, lingering energy that many visitors report feeling.

Can You Visit?

• Open to the Public? Yes
• Entry Fee: None for general visits; hotel stay required for full access
• Tour Availability: Haunted history tours available seasonally
• Photography Allowed? Yes
• Visiting Hours: Open year-round

Best Time to Visit

• Late fall and winter months seem to bring the most ghostly encounters, with many visitors reporting increased paranormal activity around November—the anniversary of Kate Morgan’s death.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

• The Hotel del Coronado has been featured on paranormal TV shows, including Ghost Adventures, where investigators captured strange electronic voice phenomena (EVPs) and unexplained movements.
• Paranormal experts have detected energy fluctuations and shadow figures in the hallways and near Room 3327.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

• The hotel discourages unauthorized ghost hunting in restricted areas. Guests are advised to respect the property and its history while exploring.