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Horton Hotel
HauntedHouses.com
Haunted
Place - Horton Hotel
ADDRESS:
311 Island Avenue
San Diego, California 92101
Web Link * (619) 544-1886 * (800) 542-1886
LOCATION:
One finds the elegant Horton Grand Hotel a
few blocks west of the heart of the renovated Gaslamp (historical
red-light) District, rebuilt on the same plot of land where Ida
Bailey's original 1880 - 1912 "cat house" once stood, during the
wild booming days of San Diego's rapid growth period.
HISTORY and DESCRIPTION
The Horton Grand Hotel is a 4 story, 110
room, 24 suite Victorian-era Hotel which came to being as a result
of restoring two old historic hotels, The Grand Horton Hotel and
The Brooklyn Kahle Saddlery Hotel, both which were originally built
and open in 1886 in different locations in San Diego. Both were
located in respectable areas, not the wild, decadent Stingaree (
red-light) District, home to such disgraceful entertainment such as
salons, gambling halls, opium dens and of course brothels, whose
main heart was located on I and 3rd Avenue, which is the Horton
Grand's current location.
The 24 suites are located in another 1886
building (once used as a brothel), sitting right next to The Horton
Grand Hotel. Originally known as the Anita and Regal Hotels, this
building became connected to The Horton Grand Hotel during this
1986 Hotel restoration effort at the second - fourth floors. This
building was the site of the 1912 cleanup raid of the brothels by
the police department as a response to public outcry to this
despicable area of the city. The current Mayor and 3 councilmen of
the city of San Diego got the dates mixed up on when the raid would
happen, and were arrested in this raid, being caught using the
facilities! OOPS!!
Needless to say, the brothels on I street
were put out of business, and the working women were given the
opportunity of either taking city jobs or leaving San Diego, which
was a kind offer. Out of the 138 women, only one stayed in San
Diego and worked on the city phone switchboard.
Because the transcontinental railroad was
connected to San Diego in 1885, San Diego experienced a rapid
population growth. The classy, upscale Grand Horton Hotel was built
by a German immigrant to accommodate the people flowing into the
city. Described as being an "elegant, ornate" Victorian structure,
it was modeled after the Innsbruck Inn in Vienna, Austria.
Also in response to this huge population
influx, The Brooklyn Hotel was built in 1886 as well, a more down
to earth hotel described as having a cowboy/Victorian style and
flavor. In 1912, a fine, prominent saddle and harness shop, known
as the Kahle Saddlery Shop moved into the ground floor of the
hotel. The hotel then changed its name to The Brooklyn Kahle
Saddlery Hotel. Wyatt Earp lived in this hotel most of the seven
years he resided in San Diego.
Over the years, both hotels changed hands
many times, slowly sliding into disrepair. It takes a lot of money
to keep old buildings in tip top shape. Finally, in 1970, both
hotels were given a date with the wrecking ball. However, the city
of San Diego has had a hiThe story of respecting and renovating its
historical buildings. When a private party came forward wanting to
buy the parts of the buildings still renewable, offering to
reconstruct the hotels as one at another location, the city jumped
at the chance to sell each building for a dollar. In exchange for
the redwood infrastructures, the hotels were taken apart brick by
brick. Over 10,000 pieces were carefully cataloged and put into
storage, until this reconstruction project began.
The 100 year old grand oak staircase from
The Grand Horton Hotel was carefully dismantled and sent to Austria
where it was carefully repaired and restored to the glorious state
it was in when the The Grand Horton Hotel opened in 1886, at the
cost of over $200,000.
In 1986, skilled workmen with great care,
combined the bricks and structural parts, of these two historic old
hotels, recreating one fine Victorian upscale hotel, and what a
treasure it has become!
As one enters the hotel, the ground area
near the front desk was the Saddle Shop area. The hotel lobby has
on display a life-size paper mache horse, the advertising mascot of
the original saddle shop.
The grand, wide Victorian oak staircase
takes the visitor up from the lobby to the other floors. Each room
is uniquely decorated with antiques, including antique queen bed,
hand-carved armoires, and period decor, including lace curtains.
Many of the rooms have large bay windows (taken from the original
hotels) or balconies which overlook a view of the city or a view of
the New Orleans style open courtyard, which has tree-lined gardens
and a bubbling lion fountain, a favorite place for weddings.
The 24 suites are located in another 1886
building (once used as a Brothel in the 1886-1912 era), sitting
right next to The Horton Grand Hotel. Originally known as the Anita
and Regal Hotels, this building became connected to The Horton
Grand Hotel during this 1986 Hotel restoration effort at the second
- fourth floors. The suites were open to the public in 1990.
HISTORY/MANIFESTATIONS:
-
Roger Whitaker - There are two stories which explain why the
ghost of this man haunt the hotel, especially room 309 and its
hallway.
-
One theory says he died much earlier in 1843, long before any
hotels were built. The father of the love of his life, his would-be
bride, shot Roger and killed him. His body was dumped in a swamp
located somewhere on what would be Ida Bailey's property, near
where the current hotel stands. Spirits often haunt the land, and
when this glorious hotel was built, guess who decided on moving in,
choosing Room 309?
- Another theory tells the sad tale of a gambler down on
his luck caught cheating in a game of cards in a gambling joint
located in the Stingaree District. He barely escaped certain bodily
harm and ran back to his hotel, hiding in the armoire.
Unfortunately, he was shot through the door and died in his room
309. He simply moved with the elements of room 309 to the new
building. Or, perhaps his body was taken from the hotel and dumped
in the swamp mentioned above and he simply moved back to his old
room when the hotel he died in was reconstructed on the same
property.
However he died or however he got inside the hotel, the spirit of
Roger Whitaker haunts room 309 and the hallway where one finds the
room. He isn't nasty like another ghostly gambler haunting the St.
James Hotel, but does let the living know he is present and has
appeared.
Roger Whitaker has made numerous appearances. One guest saw him in
the hallway, and he looked so real, she asked him where the ice
machine was located. Imagine her surprise when he disappeared
before her eyes.
Room 309 - Guests have been awakened in Room 309 in the middle of
the night by the bed being shaken and the armoire's doors being
opened. Lights have been known to have a will of their own, turning
on and off. Objects have been known to move by themselves. The
temperature in the room becomes unexplainably warm, unaffected by
the air conditioning or opening a window. Sounds of someone playing
cards can be heard when the room is locked and vacant. An
indentation of a form can be seen on the bed, sometimes just after
the maids make the bed.
- Several ghosts are known to graciously haunt the Horton Grand,
who are polite and friendly to the living. Often when a building is
renovated, ghosts and spirits who know the place often take up
residence as it is in this case.
Madam Ida Bailey - Some think it is her spirit that makes visitors
welcome. This grand hotel was built on the same site as her
long-ago brothel. She must have been thrilled to have such a
beautiful, grand, classy place built on her property!
Tom and I and our daughters decided to
spend New Year's Eve of 2000 at the Horton Grand. While Tom went
out with our daughter to do a quick errand, I was alone in the room
on the fourth floor during the early part of the evening for about
an hour. For some unexplained reason, the light near the bed, which
had no problem, started to flicker off and on. When I said, hello,
it stopped flickering. I felt someone was just saying hello!
The grand staircase - One
evening, a visitor witnessed a group of spirits dressed in formal
1880s attire floating down the staircase together.
STILL HAUNTED?
Yes Indeed!
SOURCES INCLUDE:
Horton Grand Hotel Web-Site * GoThere.com * Personal Observations & On-Site
Research
The National Directory of Haunted Places
William Dennis Hauk
Penguin Books
1996
Pictures taken by Tom Carr
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