Queen Anne Hotel Haunted?
San Francisco, known for its rich history and culture, is also home to several mysterious and haunted locations.
The Queen Anne Hotel is a captivating and eerie destination that has intrigued locals and visitors alike.
Nestled in the heart of the historic Pacific Heights neighborhood, this Victorian-era hotel boasts a unique blend of old-world charm and ghostly tales that continue to captivate those who dare to explore its haunted halls.
History and Architecture
The Queen Anne Hotel, originally built in 1890 as a girls’ finishing school, showcases the architectural grandeur of the Victorian era.
The building’s design, characterized by its intricate details, turrets, and ornate decorations, reflects the luxury of the late 19th century.
Over the years, the hotel has undergone various transformations, but its original charm remains intact.
Haunted Legends
Its reputation as a haunted hotspot sets the Queen Anne Hotel apart.
Numerous ghostly legends surround the establishment, one of the most famous of which revolves around the spirit of Mary Lake.
Mary Lake was the headmistress of the finishing school that once occupied the building. According to the legend, she fell in love with a politician and never married.
Heartbroken, she is said to have remained a devoted presence in the hotel, where her spirit allegedly continues to watch over guests.
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Queen Anne Hotel Haunted Guest Experiences
Many guests have reported experiencing paranormal activities during their stays at the Queen Anne Hotel.
Common occurrences include unexplained sounds, footsteps in empty hallways, and the sensation of a presence in rooms long after they were vacated.
Some visitors even claim to have witnessed apparitions, with Mary Lake’s ghost being the most frequently reported.
The Mary Lake Suite
The Mary Lake Suite is a must-visit for those seeking an extra dose of spine-chilling encounters. This room, named after the legendary headmistress, is rumored to be the epicenter of supernatural phenomena.
Guests have reported flickering lights, moving objects, and the feeling of a cold breeze, even when the windows are closed.
The suite has become a focal point for paranormal enthusiasts and thrill-seekers eager to experience the otherworldly energy that permeates the Queen Anne Hotel.
Historical Preservation Meets Haunted Tourism
Despite its haunted reputation, the Queen Anne Hotel has successfully embraced its mysterious allure, attracting visitors worldwide.
The hotel’s management has maintained a delicate balance between historical preservation and catering to the curiosity of those seeking a paranormal experience.
Periodic renovations have upheld the building’s structural integrity while preserving its Victorian charm, making it a unique destination for history buffs and ghost hunters.
Queen Anne Hotel Haunted Tour Review
This is a guest post by Wendy Krueger.
My online friend Wendy Krueger submitted this spooky Halloween post about The Haunted Queen Anne Hotel in San Francisco several years ago for Paranormal October Month.
The Queen Anne Hotel is San Francisco’s most famous haunted hotel, appearing on TV shows and ghost-hunting websites worldwide.
Although guests come seeking Miss Mary Lake, little is known about her beyond her occupation as a school headmistress.
The Haunted Queen Anne Hotel in San Francisco
The Queen Anne Hotel is a hotel in San Francisco, on Sutter Street. The hotel is a historic 1890 Victorian mansion, in the namesake Queen Anne architectural style, and decorated in the painted lady style.
It was originally a girl’s boarding school. It narrowly survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
The hotel is a popular site for ghost hunting. The headmistress of the former finishing school, Mary Lake, is said to haunt her former office in Room 410. The hotel’s paranormal history was explored in an episode of the television show Haunted Hotels.
-Wikipedia
I recently went on the San Francisco Ghost Hunt, an evening tour led by Jim Fassbinder around Pacific Heights’s most haunted places. The Haunted Queen Anne Hotel ghost tour was next to our stop.
Most of the trip is spent at the haunted Queen Anne Hotel, a Victorian Bed & Breakfast.
The building was constructed in 1890 for Senator James Graham Fair, who made his fortune during the Nevada Gold Rush. He paid to construct a boarding school to keep his two daughters close.
Senator Fair hired Mary Lake, one of the city’s most exceptional educators, to run the school. Miss Mary Lake’s School for Girls offered upper-class young women an opportunity to groom themselves for future San Francisco society roles.
Mary took great pride in her work and cared dearly for the girls. She was known to be quite strict; visitors needed to be approved by the school, and no girl was allowed to leave without a chaperone.
Although the school was very successful, it shut down after nine years. It is unclear why the school closed or what happened to Mary Lake after.
The building’s next incarnation was the Cosmos Gentleman’s Club, a well-guarded secret in San Francisco. Little is known about this exclusive club.
After 12 years, the building was sold to the Episcopal Diocese and became the Girls Friendly Society Lodge. In 1980, the run-down building was purchased, and renovations began. It took 50 preservationists to bring it back to its former glory.
It officially opened in 1995 as The Queen Anne Hotel with 48 rooms decorated in Victorian-era style.
Mary Lake
Mary was born in Little Falls, N.Y., in 1849, to Helen and Delos Lake. When Mary was a toddler, the Lakes moved to San Francisco, where Delos became one of the city’s wealthiest lawyers.
Lake built the family mansion on the corner of Leavenworth and Vallejo as befitting a man of his stature. Mary grew up well-educated and refined, a true city belle, and she applied those skills to teaching.
After teaching at a few grammar schools in the city, Mary decided to open her academy. In 1889, she started the Lake Seminary, a private boarding school for girls.
It was a modest affair on Post Street, and Mary dreamed of a luxurious space that would lure the city’s richest daughters to her door.
She wouldn’t have to wait long to realize that dream; the following year, she moved the Lake Seminary to a brand-new, custom-built building on the corner of Sutter and Octavia.
It had 31 private bedrooms, a dining room, and a well-stocked library, all in a grand Queen Anne-style mansion. Although Mary was from a well-to-do family, this was clearly beyond her means.
Legend says that Mary Lake haunts the hotel as she is not ready to let someone else purchase the property.
She is most known to haunt room 410, the Mary Lake Suite. In her time, room 410 was her office and residence. Mary doesn’t just contain herself in room 410.
She wanders the halls and stairwells. People have reported seeing her groom herself in the hallway mirror and playing the piano.
The ghost is reportedly incredibly friendly and often cares for the hotel’s guests as best as possible.
Unpacking suitcases, tucking guests in, and singing to them while they fall asleep. This is a ghost that wants everyone to feel at home here.
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Cold Spots in The Haunted Queen Anne Hotel
Cold spots can be found in her suite and the hallways. Mary is known as a friendly ghost. Like her concern for the girls at her school, she worries about her guests’ comfort.
She has mysteriously unpacked bags, added blankets to beds, replaced fallen pillows, and even tucked covers around guests.
One guest arrived at the hotel late and was so tired that he slept on the bed. To his surprise, when he woke, he found that he was covered with a blanket all around him.
Room 410 at The Haunted Queen Anne Hotel
After our first hotel tour and room 410 (which we were lucky to find unbooked), we were allowed to roam the floors and take photos.
You will see in the pictures below that several white streaks and orbs (orbs are believed by many to be ghosts or spirits in the form of balls of light) were picked up, as well as some green-looking blob under the bench in the Mary Lake Suite.
That was the spookiest thing for me.
Before we left, I asked the hotel concierge if he had ever had any experiences with Mary. He told me the elevator runs by itself at night, with no human guests getting in or out.
The next time you are in San Francisco, book room 410 at the Queen Anne Hotel if you dare!
My family actually stayed in a lovely corner room with a turret. We were impressed the hotel survived the San Francisco earthquake and fires. We knew nothing of the hotel supposedly being haunted.
I half awoke one night to experience a feeling like someone was tucking me in and gently pushing on my collarbone. I thought it was a strangely comforting feeling.
The next day, we found out the hotel was supposedly haunted by the former headmistress, Mary – who ran a boarding school for girls. We were told she likes to tuck people in at night!
I was shocked and a little freaked out by what I’d experienced the night before. It wasn’t a scary experience, it was comforting. I believe it was Mary.
– Queene Anne Guest Review on TripAdvisor
Conclusion: Queen Ann Haunted Hotel
The Queen Anne Hotel in San Francisco is a testament to the city’s rich history and the enduring allure of the supernatural.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a paranormal investigator, or a curious traveler, a stay at the Queen Anne Hotel offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the enigmatic charm of a bygone era and perhaps encounter the ghostly presence of Mary Lake herself.
The hotel’s haunted reputation has only added to its mystique, making it a memorable destination for those who seek a blend of history, architecture, and a touch of the supernatural in the heart of San Francisco.
I hope you enjoyed reading about The Haunted Queen Anne Hotel.
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