How to Survive a Night in a Haunted Hotel

The Haunted Hotel St. Michael

There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of a haunted hotel stay to get you in the Halloween spirit. While others may be carving jack-o-lanterns or visiting local haunted houses, that’s just not our style at Skillset. We’re all about going the extra mile, especially when the spooky season arrives.

Ghost hunting and paranormal investigation are a thrill that many of us are familiar with. The mainstream popularity of haunted investigations, thanks to TV shows and amateur ghost hunters, has made it an exhilarating experience. The heyday of lockdown-style haunted shows on C-list cable networks was a time of booming business and heavy cash flow into the spirit world, adding to the excitement.

Never one to shy away from things that go bump in the night or a few extra bucks if the TRAVEL channel is watching, I packed up my go bag and hit the road.

These days, it’s not hard to find a haunted place in your area, thanks to the popularity of ghost-hunting shows. But there’s something uniquely intriguing about haunted hotels. They already have the business model of renting rooms, which makes having an accompanying ghost story a no-brainer. It’s a unique experience that’s sure to pique your curiosity.
We didn’t have to travel far in our home state of Arizona to locate a place rich in haunted history. Before long, our credit card was charged, my bags unpacked, and I was ready to do a little ghost-busting of my own.

Haunted History

The Burke was an elegant hotel at the corner of Gurley Street, right at the end of Whiskey Row. Although touted as fireproof, it tragically burned down, along with all the other saloons on Whiskey Row, in July 1900. Following this, the property was acquired by John Duke, who built a new brick hotel in 1901, naming it the Hotel St. Michael. This hotel used some of the original bricks laid by hand from the original fire. Could this contribute to its haunted spiritual energy?

Several people who have visited the hotel throughout the years report strange and uneasy feelings in the elevator. Some even claim to see a ghostly woman walking the halls on the 3rd floor. Room 315 is said to be the most haunted room in the hotel, perhaps due to a tragic lady’s death there.

First-Hand Experience

We could write another 300 words to keep you on this page longer, but I’m sure you are here to watch the video. Pay close attention to the screen, turn up the volume, and listen for sounds. Comment below if you see or hear anything you think I missed. Happy Halloween #skillsetfam!