Hawthorne Hotel – Haunted Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts

The Hawthorne Hotel stands as one of the most iconic and paranormally active locations in Salem, a city already steeped in dark history. Built in the 1920s, the hotel has long attracted guests eager to experience its vintage charm — but many leave with chilling tales of ghostly encounters.

Named after Nathaniel Hawthorne, the famous author with family ties to the Salem Witch Trials, the hotel’s eerie reputation is deeply rooted in Salem’s supernatural lore. Strange noises, flickering lights, and full-bodied apparitions have made the Hawthorne Hotel a magnet for paranormal enthusiasts from around the world.

Historical Background

• Year Built: 1925
• Original Purpose: Luxury Hotel
• Significant Events:
  The Hawthorne Hotel was constructed on land with a dark past. Prior to the hotel, the property housed the Salem Marine Society’s headquarters and is believed to have been near sites used during the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692.The hotel opened during the roaring 1920s, quickly becoming a popular spot for wealthy visitors. Over the decades, it has witnessed a fair share of tragic incidents, including sudden deaths, suicides, and unexplained accidents. Many believe the land itself carries the lingering energy of Salem’s tragic past, feeding into the supernatural occurrences reported within the hotel’s walls.

Paranormal Activity Summary

• Guests and staff frequently report phantom touches, disembodied whispers, and mysterious cold drafts in otherwise warm hallways.
• Electrical disturbances are common, including lights flickering and radios turning on by themselves.
• Guests have reported unseen hands tugging at their clothing and furniture moving on its own in the dead of night.
• Room 612 and Room 325 are considered paranormal hot spots, with numerous reports of spectral sightings.
• Ghostly figures dressed in period clothing have been seen roaming the hallways — some vanishing into thin air.

Ghost Stories & Reports

• Who are the ghosts?
  Several ghostly entities are said to haunt the Hawthorne Hotel, including a woman in white, a spectral sailor, and the spirit of a crying child. Some believe these are the restless souls of those accused and executed during the Witch Trials, while others suggest they are former guests who met tragic ends within the hotel.
• What do visitors report?
  Guests have reported waking up to the sensation of someone sitting at the foot of their bed, only to find the room empty. Others hear knocking sounds from inside the walls, soft crying from empty hallways, and the scent of old perfume drifting through the air with no apparent source.
• Any local folklore associated with these spirits?
  A persistent legend claims that the hotel’s foundation was laid over a site where witches were once held prisoner before their execution, forever cursing the land. Though no historical record confirms this, the belief continues to thrive among locals and visitors alike.
• Urban Legends:
  Some say that if you speak aloud the name of a wrongfully executed witch in Room 612 at midnight, you will hear her whispering directly into your ear — a chilling encounter only the bravest seek out.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

Room 325 is widely regarded as the hotel’s most haunted room. Guests staying here report intense cold spots, objects moving on their own, and the unnerving sensation of being watched from the corner of the room. Some claim to have seen a ghostly woman standing by the window, gazing out onto Salem’s historic streets.

Can You Visit?

• Open to the Public? Yes
• Entry Fee: No (Standard room rates apply)
• Tour Availability: Occasional ghost tours are offered by local paranormal groups, especially during the Halloween season. Private tours can sometimes be arranged with hotel management.
• Photography Allowed? Yes
• Visiting Hours: Open 24/7 for hotel guests; public access to the lobby and restaurant is available during standard business hours.

Best Time to Visit

• October is the most atmospheric time to visit, aligning with Salem’s Haunted Happenings festival, but paranormal activity is reported year-round. Many ghost sightings are said to occur late at night between 2 AM and 4 AM.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

• A 2021 Travel Channel segment featured interviews with guests who experienced unexplained temperature drops and shadow figures in their rooms.
• Paranormal investigators have captured EVP recordings of disembodied voices calling out names and strange knocking sounds when no one else was present.
• One guest, staying in Room 612, claimed to feel ice-cold fingers brush against their face while they slept — leaving them so terrified, they left the hotel before dawn.
• Online reviews from guests frequently mention hearing footsteps in the hallway at night, only to find the corridor completely empty.

Local Legends & Myths

• Local legend insists the hotel was built on cursed ground, tied to Salem’s tragic witchcraft history.
• Some say a ghostly sailor walks the halls, eternally seeking his lost love, who may have died on the same site centuries ago.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

• The Hawthorne Hotel has been featured on paranormal TV shows, including Ghost Hunters and Most Terrifying Places in America.
• Investigators have reported high EMF readings, unexplained equipment malfunctions, and even thermal images capturing shadowy figures moving through empty rooms.
• EVP sessions conducted in Room 325 have captured faint voices saying “help me” and “get out.”

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

• No trespassing issues, as the hotel welcomes guests and visitors, but guests are advised not to explore staff-only areas.
• Due to the building’s age, some areas like the basement and older utility rooms are off-limits for safety reasons.