Horton Grand Hotel Ghost Tour

Rumored ghost visits abound in the Horton Grand in San Diego. Book a US Ghost Adventures tour and see the spooky stories behind the historic hotel.

San Diego is a vibrant city known for its pristine beaches, family-friendly fun, and Mexi-Cali cuisine. Travelers come from around the world to soak in the southern California sunshine. But few visitors realize that beneath the glitz and cheer, a much darker history lurks.

If you’re equally as interested in history as you are in hauntings, you might find the Horton Grand Hotel to be one of your top priorities when visiting.

One of the best-preserved buildings in historic downtown San Diego, the Horton Grand is on the National Register of Historic Places while still working as a functioning hotel. If you get the chance to stay there and are brave enough to book a room, you may experience the ghostly activity that so many guests have reported over the years.

The Gambler’s Downfall

Back in the mid-1800s, one gambling addict, Roger Whitaker, checked into the Horton Grand. While staying there, he faced pressure from creditors to repay the money he owed, but he couldn’t face the music. He tried to hide inside his hotel room, suffering from one sustained gunshot wound already. With nowhere to run, Whitaker found a hiding spot inside his armoire.

Unlucky for him, the henchmen pursuing the money he owed followed him back to the room. They broke in, found him in his hiding spot, and shot him to death on sight.

This incident happened in room 309, and ever since, guests who have stayed in this room have reported spooky and often terrifying events. Some guests experienced a shaking bed, flickering lights, moving items, and closing doors. The hotel guests and staff believe Roger still lingers inside that room, ensuring his presence is known.

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Pre-Hotel Hauntings

Originally built in 1887, developers rebuilt the original two buildings and reconstructed them into one grand lodging in 1970. But even before this reconstruction, the property itself had its fair share of spooky happenings.

One of those sightings involved Ida Bailey. The madam once owned a brothel on the same site as the hotel. Today, many guests report seeing her form in and around the hotel.

Some guests have seen her floating around like a white mist, while others have felt a chill rush through their bodies. The good news is that most of these interactions have been friendly, not spooky, yet unexplained nevertheless.

Do Your Eyes Deceive You?

With a history dating back to the 1800s, it’s no wonder so many guests have sighted ghosts from centuries past wandering the halls and lobby.

Most reports include ghosts dressed in full 19th-century clothing, descending the staircase, flicking the lights on and off, and creating some otherwise unexplained events.

Haunted San Diego, CA

San Diego is as rich in history as it is hauntings. The Horton Grand Hotel is just one of many locations where you can experience the unexplainable.

If you have the courage, book a US Ghost Adventures tour of San Diego and see firsthand the legends of the Horton Grand Hotel and other reportedly haunted happenings.

About US Ghost Adventures

Since 2013, US Ghost Adventures has offered entertaining, historical, and authentic ghost tours of America’s most haunted cities. We deliver fun yet honest accounts of hauntings across the nation for curious people of all ages. Our ghost stories are based on historical research, but that doesn’t mean they won’t send a chill down your spine.

This video gives you a small taste of what you might experience on your ghost tour — subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more.

US Ghost Adventures also offers virtual tours, a self-guided mobile app, and an Alexa voice app.