Kentucky has a wealth of history dating back from the first, Native American inhabitants, to the European settlers in the 18th century. Some historic buildings still stand and are a reminder of events from the past, some traumatic, that have left lasting impressions. A few of these buildings are now very “atmospheric” hotels where death from illness or dark deeds in times past have left ghostly reminders for the living.
Located on Fourth Avenue in Louisville, it is an opulent hotel built in 1869 by Bavarian brothers, Otto and Louis Seelbach. It’s lavishly designed in Baroque style and over the years it was frequented by the rich and famous, by presidents and even by gangsters of the 1920s. One of its reported ghosts is that of a lady from the 1930s, dressed in blue. The story goes that a newly married young man was to meet his bride in the hotel ballroom where she waited, to celebrate their wedding reception. On his way there, he was killed in an accident. The grief-stricken young woman, upon hearing the news, threw herself down an elevator shaft in the hotel. She was found 10 stories below. Since then, a ghostly perfume smell is reported manifesting out of nowhere by guests staying at the hotel.
This hotel is located on West Broadway, Louisville. It’s a large, 16-story building built in the 1920s that provided four-star accommodation for guests. It was open until 1971 when it closed, two years after the death of James Brown, its founder. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the hotel was renovated and reopened. Ghostly activity has been reported by staff in the storage area of the 15th floor. It is here that James Brown and his dog probably lived in one of the suites. The elevator frequently arrives at this floor by itself. Mysterious footprints have appeared on the floor in the dust, and noisy footsteps have been heard. Furniture being moved around has also been heard when nobody was up there.
The Old Talbott dates back to 1779 and many of the original features still stand in the hotel giving the guests a feeling of stepping back in time. It was once a stage coach rest stop where travelers arrived on horseback or by buggy and found food and refreshment in the tavern and a room for the night. Jesse James, among other famous characters, was reported to have stayed at the Inn, and his ghost has been seen wandering around. The ghost of an unknown woman has also been seen from time to time. The Talbott has five rooms, each named after someone famous.
It is never certain that you will experience the paranormal while staying in a spooky hotel, but the sense of nostalgic atmosphere is certainly tangible. It is also possible that some hotels may capitalize on the allure of ghostly phenomenon to attract the curious.
