St. James Hotel – Haunted Hotel in Cimarron, New Mexico
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Full Address: 617 S Collison Ave, Cimarron, NM 87714
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The St. James Hotel stands as a testament to the Wild West’s most violent era. This Victorian-style establishment has welcomed outlaws, lawmen, and desperadoes since opening its doors in 1872.
Built by Henri Lambert, former chef to President Abraham Lincoln, the hotel quickly became notorious. More than 26 men met their deaths within these walls during its early years.
The bullet holes still visible in the pressed tin ceiling of the dining room tell stories of countless gunfights. Today, guests report paranormal encounters that rival any Western ghost story ever told.
The hotel remains operational as both a museum and functioning lodging establishment. Visitors can sleep in the same rooms where notorious outlaws once rested their heads.
Historical Background
Henri Lambert constructed the St. James Hotel in 1872 in the heart of Cimarron. The French chef had served presidents and dignitaries before seeking fortune in New Mexico Territory.
Lambert’s establishment quickly became the premier stopping point along the Santa Fe Trail. Cowboys, miners, gamblers, and gunfighters filled the saloon nightly seeking whiskey and card games.
The hotel’s guest register reads like a who’s who of Wild West legends. Jesse James, Buffalo Bill Cody, Wyatt Earp, and Annie Oakley all signed their names.
Violence erupted regularly in the saloon attached to the hotel’s main floor. The gambling tables became flashpoints where accusations of cheating led to deadly shootouts.
Between 1872 and 1885, at least 26 men died violent deaths on the property. Some historical accounts suggest the actual number may be significantly higher.
Lambert operated the hotel until his death in 1913 at age 82. His widow Mary continued managing the establishment for several more years afterward.
Paranormal Activity Summary
Guests consistently report unexplained cold spots throughout the second and third floor hallways. These temperature drops occur even during sweltering summer months without air conditioning.
Disembodied footsteps echo through empty corridors late at night between 2 and 4 AM. Multiple witnesses describe hearing heavy boots walking across creaky wooden floorboards when no one is present.
The scent of cigar smoke and cheap perfume manifests suddenly in various rooms. Neither substance is permitted anywhere in the building under current hotel policies.
Objects move on their own according to staff and overnight visitors. Personal belongings disappear only to reappear in completely different locations hours later.
Shadow figures dart across doorways and down staircases when glimpsed from peripheral vision. Direct observation causes these apparitions to vanish instantaneously into thin air.
At least three distinct spirits have been identified by name through repeated encounters. Each entity exhibits unique behavioral patterns and appears in specific locations within the hotel.
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Ghost Stories & Reports
Thomas James Wright remains the hotel’s most famous permanent resident from beyond the grave. This professional gambler won the deed to the St. James in a poker game.
Wright was shot dead at his favorite card table in 1881 during a heated dispute. His killer accused him of marking cards and drew faster than Wright could defend himself.
Guests report seeing a well-dressed man in period clothing sitting at the small table near the window. He appears solid and real until approached, then fades away like morning mist.
Wright’s spirit allegedly protects the hotel from harm and negative influences. Staff members claim to feel his reassuring presence during difficult or stressful situations.
The second prominent ghost is identified only as the Imp or Little Demon. This entity manifests as a small dark figure that terrifies guests and staff alike.
The Imp reportedly resided in Room 18 for decades with violent and malevolent tendencies. Guests who stayed in this room reported being touched, scratched, and pushed.
One woman fled the hotel in the middle of the night during the 1980s. She claimed an invisible force held her down on the bed while breathing on her face.
The former owner eventually sealed Room 18 permanently after too many disturbing incidents. The door remains locked to this day, and the room is never rented out.
Mary Lambert, Henri’s widow, is believed to haunt the premises she managed for years. Witnesses describe a matronly woman in Victorian dress walking the second-floor hallway near Room 17.
Mary appears concerned and watchful, as though still performing her managerial duties. Some guests report feeling tucked in at night by invisible maternal hands.
A young boy’s laughter echoes through the building despite no children being present. This playful spirit runs through hallways and plays pranks on unsuspecting guests.
The child ghost allegedly died from illness during the hotel’s early years. His identity remains unknown though his joyful energy brings smiles rather than fear.
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Most Haunted Spot
Room 18 on the second floor holds the distinction of being irredeemably haunted. Management permanently sealed this room after decades of terrifying encounters with the Imp.
The key to Room 18 hangs in the hotel office but is never used. Previous guests reported physical attacks, overwhelming dread, and the sensation of pure evil.
The original Lambert’s Saloon and Dining Room ranks as the second most active location. The pressed tin ceiling still bears 22 bullet holes from fatal shootings.
Patrons dining in the restaurant report seeing ghostly cowboys materialize near the bar. These apparitions appear to be reliving their final violent moments before disappearing.
The third-floor hallway experiences concentrated paranormal activity between midnight and dawn. Guests refuse to walk this corridor alone after dark.
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Can You Visit?
The St. James Hotel welcomes overnight guests and curious visitors year-round. The property functions as both a working hotel and historical museum.
Rooms on the second floor are available for nightly rental at varying rates. Each room features period furnishings and authentic Victorian décor from the 1880s.
Self-guided tours of the public areas are free for hotel guests and restaurant patrons. Organized paranormal investigations can be arranged through advance booking with management.
Photography is enthusiastically encouraged throughout the common areas and guest rooms. Many visitors capture unexplained orbs, shadows, and light anomalies in their pictures.
The hotel operates 24 hours a day for registered guests. Restaurant and bar hours vary seasonally, typically opening from 11 AM until 9 PM.
Best Time to Visit
Paranormal activity intensifies dramatically during late night and early morning hours between 2 and 4 AM. This timeframe corresponds with historical accounts of when many shootings occurred.
The autumn months of October and November produce the highest number of reported encounters. Staff theorizes that thinner veils between worlds during this season increase supernatural manifestations.
Weekend nights generate more activity than weekdays according to long-term staff observations. The increased energy from multiple guests may fuel paranormal phenomena.
Full moon phases correlate with upticks in shadow figure sightings and disembodied voices. Sensitive individuals report feeling watched and experiencing unexplained emotional shifts during these periods.
First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports
A traveling salesman named Robert Frost documented his 1993 encounter in a letter to management. He described waking to find a man in 1880s attire standing at his bedside.
The apparition spoke clearly, saying “This is my room” before vanishing into thin air. Frost was staying in Room 17, which has a long history of similar reports.
Hotel manager Ed Sitzberger collected decades worth of guest testimonials during his tenure. His files contain hundreds of signed statements describing unexplained experiences.
One particularly credible account comes from a retired police officer in 2001. The skeptical veteran witnessed a full-bodied apparition walk through a solid wall near the staircase.
A honeymooning couple reported their luggage being unpacked overnight in 2015. Their clothes were neatly arranged in dresser drawers though everything was locked in suitcases.
Cleaning staff refuse to work alone in certain rooms after repeated encounters. Multiple housekeepers have quit after experiencing unexplained touching and having their names called.
Wedding photographer Maria Gonzales captured an unexplained figure in a 2008 reception photo. The image clearly shows a man in period dress standing behind the wedding party.
No one present during the photograph remembers seeing this individual. The figure appears semi-transparent in the final image despite being sharply focused.
Paranormal Investigations & Findings
The St. James Hotel attracted attention from multiple paranormal investigation teams since the 1990s. Several national television programs have featured the property in documentary episodes.
Ghost Adventures filmed an investigation at the hotel in 2011 for Travel Channel. The crew documented unexplained electronic voice phenomena and dramatic equipment malfunctions.
Lead investigator Zak Bagans reported being physically touched by unseen hands in Room 17. Thermal imaging cameras captured unexplained cold spots moving through locked rooms.
The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated the hotel for their show Ghost Hunters. Their sensitive equipment registered significant electromagnetic field fluctuations near the sealed Room 18.
Local paranormal research group Southwest Ghost Hunters conducted overnight investigations quarterly for five years. Their compiled evidence includes dozens of EVP recordings suggesting intelligent communication.
One particularly clear recording captured a male voice saying “Get out” in Room 12. No living person was present in that room when the recording was made.
Infrared photography sessions have produced numerous anomalies unexplainable by conventional means. Light orbs, shadow masses, and unexplained mists appear frequently in digital images.
Local Legends & Myths
Local folklore claims that Henri Lambert made a deal with dark forces for prosperity. This legend supposedly explains why the hotel survived when other businesses failed during economic downturns.
The sealed Room 18 inspired countless variations of stories throughout Cimarron and surrounding areas. Some versions claim a demon was summoned there during an ill-advised séance.
Old-timers insist that walking past Room 18 at midnight invites the Imp’s attention. Those who mock or challenge the entity allegedly experience bad luck for weeks afterward.
A popular legend states that Jesse James buried stolen gold somewhere on the hotel property. Ghost hunters believe his spirit returns searching for his hidden treasure.
The 22 bullet holes in the dining room ceiling reportedly increase by one each year. This mathematically impossible claim persists despite photographic evidence disproving it.
Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions
Room 18 remains permanently off-limits to all guests and staff members without exception. Management maintains this policy for liability and safety reasons after historical incidents.
The hotel’s third floor contains areas restricted to guests due to ongoing restoration work. Unauthorized exploration of these spaces constitutes trespassing and grounds for immediate removal.
The building’s Victorian construction includes steep staircases and uneven flooring throughout common areas. Guests should exercise caution when walking hallways, especially during nighttime hours.
Management strongly discourages amateur ghost hunting activities without prior approval and supervision. Unsanctioned paranormal investigations interfere with paying guests and create liability issues.
The property’s historical status means certain original features must remain untouched by law. Damaging or removing any architectural elements or furnishings carries severe legal penalties.
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