America’s Most Haunted Hotel

The Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas has earned the title “America’s Most Haunted Hotel.” Built in 1886, its history as a cancer hospital run by a quack doctor left countless victims whose spirits reportedly remain.

The Location

Eureka Springs:

• Arkansas Ozarks
• Victorian resort town
• Mountain setting
• Historic district
• Tourist destination

Hotel History

Multiple eras:

• 1886: Luxury resort
• 1908: College for women
• 1937: Cancer hospital
• 1946: Hotel resumed
• Present: Historic hotel

Norman Baker

The quack:

• Claimed cancer cure
• No medical training
• Ran “hospital” 1937-1940
• Patients died
• Eventually imprisoned

The Morgue

Basement horror:

• Bodies stored
• Remains found 2019
• Archaeological dig
• Patient victims
• Confirmed history

Michael the Stonemason

Famous ghost:

• Irish worker
• Fell during construction
• Room 218
• Still seen
• Most reported spirit

The Nurse

“Theodora”:

• Third floor
• White uniform
• Makes rounds
• Pushing cart
• Hospital era ghost

Room 218

Most haunted room:

• Michael’s death room
• Hands reaching from mirror
• Bed shaking
• Extreme activity
• Requests are common

Room 419

Also active:

• Cancer patient
• Named Elizabeth
• Calls front desk
• From disconnected phone
• Ongoing phenomenon

Dr. Ellis

Another spirit:

• Wears top hat
• Victorian era
• Garden area
• Distinguished appearance
• Friendly ghost

Ghost Tours

Nightly offerings:

• Professional guides
• Hotel history
• Investigation access
• Consistently active
• Popular attraction

Paranormal Teams

Investigations include:

• TAPS
• Ghost Adventures
• Numerous teams
• Consistent evidence
• High activity

The Evidence

Documented:

• EVP recordings
• Full apparitions
• Temperature drops
• Moving objects
• Photographic evidence

Guest Experiences

Visitors report:

• Seeing ghosts
• Being touched
• Unexplained sounds
• Cold spots
• Strong presences

Significance

Historic hotel with documented tragic past, constant paranormal activity, and thousands of witness accounts.

Legacy

The Crescent Hotel embodies America’s haunted hospitality—luxury accommodations where guests share the halls with victims of a charlatan’s false hope.