White Eagle Saloon – Haunted Bar in Portland, Oregon

The White Eagle Saloon stands as one of Portland’s oldest and most authentically haunted watering holes. This historic establishment has served drinks since 1905 and harbors dark secrets within its weathered walls. The building’s reputation for paranormal activity draws ghost hunters and curious visitors from across the Pacific Northwest. Its connection to murder, shanghaiing, and underground tunnel systems creates the perfect atmosphere for lingering spirits.

Located in the Mississippi Avenue Historic District, the White Eagle maintains its vintage character remarkably well. The saloon’s Victorian-era architecture and original features provide an authentic glimpse into Portland’s rough-and-tumble past. Patrons who visit today can still sense the weight of history pressing down from the creaking floorboards above. The spirits who call this place home seem reluctant to leave their earthly haunts behind.

Historical Background

The White Eagle Saloon opened its doors in 1905 to serve Portland’s Polish immigrant community. Polish immigrant Barney Soboleski purchased the property and operated it as a boarding house and saloon. The establishment quickly became a popular gathering spot for longshoremen working the nearby Willamette River docks. These hardworking sailors and dockworkers would spend their wages on whiskey and women within these walls.

The building’s basement connected to Portland’s infamous Shanghai Tunnels during the early twentieth century. These underground passages allowed unscrupulous bar owners to kidnap intoxicated patrons and sell them to ship captains. Victims would wake up at sea, forced into indentured servitude aboard vessels heading to Asia. The White Eagle participated in this brutal trade, making it complicit in countless disappearances and ruined lives.

The second floor operated as a brothel throughout much of the building’s early history. Women of ill repute entertained clients in the cramped rooms above the saloon’s main floor. Many of these women faced violence, disease, and early deaths in this dangerous profession. Their suffering seems to have imprinted itself permanently on the building’s spiritual atmosphere.

Soboleski sold the establishment in 1916, but its reputation for vice and violence continued unabated. Prohibition forced the saloon underground, operating as a speakeasy throughout the 1920s and early 1930s. Police raids, gang violence, and bootlegger disputes added more tragic chapters to the building’s dark history. At least three confirmed murders occurred within the White Eagle’s walls during this tumultuous era.

The McMenamin brothers purchased and restored the White Eagle Saloon in 1978, preserving its historical character. They transformed the upstairs brothel rooms into a small hotel with eleven guest rooms available. The restoration work uncovered many original features and seemed to awaken dormant paranormal energy. Workers reported strange occurrences throughout the renovation process that continue to this day.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The White Eagle Saloon experiences consistent paranormal activity across multiple areas of the building. Staff members and guests report supernatural encounters on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. The phenomena range from subtle cold spots to full-bodied apparitions that interact with the living. Activity seems to increase during late night hours when fewer people occupy the premises.

Disembodied footsteps echo through the upstairs hallways at all hours of day and night. These phantom footfalls sound heavy and deliberate, as if someone patrols the old brothel corridors. Witnesses describe hearing the distinctive sound of boots on wooden floors when no one else is present. The footsteps often stop abruptly outside closed doors, as if someone stands listening on the other side.

Objects move without explanation throughout the saloon, particularly in the bar area and kitchen. Glasses slide across tables without being touched by human hands or natural vibration. Bottles rearrange themselves on shelves overnight, despite the bar being locked and empty. Kitchen staff report utensils flying off counters and doors slamming with considerable force.

Cold spots manifest suddenly in specific locations, dropping the temperature by twenty degrees or more. These chilling zones move through rooms as if an invisible presence walks through the space. Sensitive individuals report feeling watched or followed when passing through these cold areas. The temperature changes occur regardless of season, happening even during Portland’s warmest summer months.

Electronic equipment malfunctions regularly within the White Eagle’s walls without any apparent technical explanation. Cell phones drain completely within minutes despite having full batteries upon entry. Security cameras capture strange shadows and light anomalies that investigators cannot explain away. The jukebox occasionally plays music when unplugged, selecting songs that were popular during the early 1900s.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The spirit of Sam Warrick remains the White Eagle’s most famous and frequently encountered ghost. Sam worked as a bouncer at the saloon during the 1930s and died violently there. Historical records indicate he was murdered during a fight in the bar around 1933. His large, imposing figure continues to patrol the establishment as it did during his lifetime.

Witnesses describe Sam as a tall man wearing dark clothing typical of the Depression era. He appears solid and lifelike until he vanishes suddenly before observers’ eyes. Bartenders report seeing Sam’s reflection in the mirror behind the bar, standing in spots where no one physically stands. His presence feels protective rather than threatening, as if he still guards the establishment he loved.

Sam particularly favors Room 2 on the second floor, where he apparently lived during his employment. Hotel guests staying in this room report heavy footsteps pacing outside their door throughout the night. Some have witnessed the door handle turning slowly as if someone attempts to enter. Others describe waking to see a large male figure standing at the foot of the bed, watching them silently.

The ghost of Rose Guards haunts the upstairs hallways and several guest rooms with sorrowful energy. Rose worked as a prostitute in the brothel during the early 1900s and died tragically young. Some accounts claim she was murdered by a violent client, while others suggest she died from disease. Her spirit seems eternally bound to the place where she suffered and died.

Rose appears as a young woman in her twenties wearing a white Victorian-era dress or nightgown. Her face registers sadness or distress, and she seems to be searching for something she cannot find. Guests report hearing a woman crying softly in empty hallways late at night. Others describe feeling an overwhelming sense of grief wash over them in certain rooms without warning.

Room 5 serves as Rose’s primary haunt, where the most intense activity associated with her occurs. Female guests report feeling a gentle hand touching their hair or shoulder while they sleep. The scent of lavender perfume fills the room suddenly, despite no one wearing that fragrance. Some visitors claim to have held brief conversations with Rose before realizing they were speaking to a ghost.

An unidentified child spirit plays in the basement and first-floor areas near the bar. Staff members hear childlike laughter echoing from empty rooms and storage areas. The sound of small running feet patters across the floor above when only one person occupies the building. This young ghost seems playful rather than frightening, engaging in harmless pranks and games.

Witnesses have glimpsed a small figure darting between tables and around corners in peripheral vision. The child appears to be around seven to ten years old, wearing clothing from the early twentieth century. Some speculate this spirit belonged to one of the working women who lived upstairs. Others believe the child died in the boarding house from illness during the 1918 influenza pandemic.

The basement harbors several aggressive and negative entities that feel distinctly different from upstairs spirits. People descending into this space report feeling immediately unwelcome and threatened by an unseen presence. A heavy, oppressive atmosphere makes breathing difficult, and some visitors experience sudden panic attacks. These darker spirits likely connect to the Shanghai Tunnel activities and violence that occurred below ground.

A shadowy male figure lurks in the basement corners, watching visitors with hostile intent. This entity has pushed people on the stairs and grabbed ankles of those venturing into the darkness. Staff members avoid going down alone after several frightening encounters left them genuinely shaken. Psychics and sensitives describe this presence as angry and potentially dangerous to the living.

Most Haunted Spot

Room 2 stands as the most intensely haunted location within the White Eagle Saloon building. This small guest room served as bouncer Sam Warrick’s personal quarters during his lifetime. Nearly every guest who stays overnight in this room reports paranormal activity of some kind.

The door to Room 2 opens and closes by itself throughout the night with audible clicks. Heavy footsteps pace back and forth outside the door from midnight until approximately four in the morning. Guests describe feeling someone sit on the edge of the bed, creating a visible depression in the mattress. The room’s temperature drops dramatically without warning, and shadows move across walls despite no light source to cast them.

The basement area comes in as a close second for paranormal activity intensity. The section connecting to the old Shanghai Tunnels generates the most negative and frightening encounters. Investigators have captured numerous EVP recordings of threatening voices telling people to leave. Full-bodied shadow figures have been photographed moving through the darkness down there.

Can You Visit?

The White Eagle Saloon remains open to the public as a fully functioning bar and restaurant. No admission fee is required to enter the establishment and enjoy its historic atmosphere. The bar serves food and drinks seven days a week, welcoming curious visitors and regulars alike. You can experience the haunted environment while enjoying a meal or beverage in authentic surroundings.

The upstairs hotel offers eleven guest rooms available for overnight stays at reasonable rates. Booking a room provides the best opportunity for extended paranormal encounters and investigation. Many ghost enthusiasts specifically reserve Room 2 or Room 5 hoping for supernatural experiences. The hotel staff are accustomed to paranormal enthusiasts and answer questions about the building’s ghosts freely.

The McMenamin brothers occasionally host special paranormal investigation nights for the public. These events allow amateur ghost hunters to explore the building after hours with proper equipment. Tickets for these special events sell out quickly and must be purchased in advance. Professional paranormal teams have also conducted private investigations with the owners’ permission.

Photography is allowed throughout the public areas of the saloon and in your hotel room. Many visitors capture strange orbs, shadow figures, and light anomalies in their photos. The staff encourages guests to share their paranormal evidence on social media and review sites. However, visitors should respect other guests’ privacy and avoid photographing occupied rooms without permission.

Regular business hours run from noon until two-thirty in the morning most days of the week. The kitchen serves food until late evening, making it convenient for paranormal enthusiasts to settle in. Late night and early morning hours provide the most active paranormal windows for investigation. Hotel guests can explore common areas throughout the night as long as they remain respectful and quiet.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at the White Eagle Saloon occurs consistently throughout the year without significant seasonal variation. However, late night hours between midnight and four in the morning produce the most frequent encounters. This timeframe corresponds with the bar’s closing time when fewer living people occupy the space. The spirits seem more comfortable manifesting when crowds thin and the building grows quiet.

Weeknight visits offer better investigation opportunities than busy weekend nights when crowds fill the bar. Tuesday through Thursday evenings provide the ideal balance of accessibility and quiet observation time. Winter months bring longer periods of darkness, which many paranormal investigators prefer for their work. However, Sam, Rose, and the other spirits make appearances regardless of season or weather conditions.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A bartender named Jennifer worked at the White Eagle for three years before transferring to another McMenamin property. She reported seeing Sam’s full apparition on at least five separate occasions during closing procedures. Jennifer described one particularly vivid encounter where Sam stood at the end of the bar watching her count the register. When she looked up to acknowledge him, he smiled and tipped his hat before fading away completely.

Hotel guest Marcus Chen stayed in Room 2 in October 2019 and documented his experience online. He recorded audio throughout the night and captured clear footsteps pacing outside his door at 2:47 AM. Marcus also photographed a distinct handprint that appeared on the bathroom mirror, though he was alone in the locked room. He described feeling a heavy weight sit on the bed beside him around three o’clock in the morning.

Kitchen manager Robert Santos reported a terrifying incident in the basement during the summer of 2018. While retrieving supplies, he felt strong hands push him from behind toward the stairs. Robert caught himself on the railing, preventing a dangerous fall down the steep steps. When he turned around, no one was there, but he heard angry male voices speaking in a language he couldn’t identify.

Local paranormal investigator Sarah Mitchell has conducted seven investigations at the White Eagle since 2015. Her team captured multiple Class A EVPs, including a voice saying “Get out” in the basement. Sarah photographed a full-bodied shadow figure standing in the doorway of Room 5 during a midnight investigation. Her EMF meters spiked dramatically in the upstairs hallway with no electrical sources present to explain the readings.

A couple celebrating their anniversary in Room 5 checked out early after a frightening night in 2020. The wife reported waking to see a sad woman in white standing by the window. When she gasped, her husband woke up and also witnessed the apparition for several seconds. The ghostly woman turned to look at them before dissolving into the darkness, leaving behind the strong scent of lavender.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The White Eagle Saloon has attracted attention from numerous paranormal investigation teams over the past two decades. The Portland Paranormal Society conducted their first investigation there in 2003 and returned multiple times. Their findings included dozens of EVP recordings, unexplained temperature fluctuations, and compelling photographic evidence. The team concluded that at least four distinct spirits actively haunt the property with regular manifestations.

Ghost Adventures featured the White Eagle Saloon during their Portland episode in season seven. Zak Bagans and his crew experienced significant paranormal activity during their lockdown investigation. They captured footage of objects moving without explanation and recorded aggressive EVPs in the basement. Zak reported feeling physically attacked by the negative entity lurking below ground, experiencing scratches on his back.

The Travel Channel’s Ghost Stories series highlighted the White Eagle in a Pacific Northwest haunted locations episode. Multiple eyewitnesses provided on-camera interviews about their supernatural encounters in the building. The show’s investigation team used thermal cameras to capture cold spots moving through the upstairs hallway. Their infrared equipment recorded a heat signature matching a human form in empty Room 2.

Northwest Paranormal Investigators have documented the White Eagle extensively since 2010 with impressive results. Their research uncovered the historical details about Sam Warrick’s murder and Rose Guards’ tragic life. The team obtained permission for overnight investigations and collected hundreds of hours of evidence. Their case files on the White Eagle Saloon remain some of the most thoroughly documented hauntings in Oregon.

Local Legends & Myths

Local legend claims that at least eleven men were shanghaied through the White Eagle’s basement trapdoor. These victims allegedly haunt the tunnel system below, their anguished spirits trapped in the darkness. Some people report hearing muffled cries and chains rattling when standing above the old tunnel entrance. The number eleven supposedly corresponds to the eleven hotel rooms upstairs, creating an eerie numerical connection.

Another persistent tale suggests that Rose Guards was murdered by a jealous lover in Room 5. The story claims she was strangled and her body hidden for days before discovery. No historical records definitively confirm this account, but the legend persists among staff and regulars. Psychics visiting the room describe sensing a violent death and feeling phantom hands around their throats.

Portland ghost lore includes a story about a secret passage connecting the White Eagle to other buildings. This hidden corridor supposedly allowed people to escape during prohibition raids and police investigations. Some believe spirits use these passages to move between locations, explaining paranormal activity at nearby buildings. However, the McMenamin brothers have never confirmed finding additional hidden tunnels during their renovations.