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Haunted Hotel: Omni Park House

Halloween is only two days away!

The fifth and final hotel in my series of haunted hotels is Omni Park House in Downtown Boston. Founded by Harvey D. Parker in 1855, this historic gem is longest continuously operating hotel in the United States.

It was here where such 19th century luminaries as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow convened in the Saturday Club. Baseball legends met like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams wined and dined at the historic property. What's more, a slew of respected politicians --from Ulysses S. Grant and Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Deval Patrick -- gathered here for press conferences and meetings.

Here are some other fun facts:

  • John F. Kennedy proposed to Jackie Onassis at Parker's Restaurant, where Malcolm X once worked as a busboy 
  • With its close proximity to Boston's Theater District, the Omni Parker House played an important role in the careers of a wide range of performers, including James Dean, Judy Garland, Yo-Yo Ma, and Ben Affleck
  • It was here that the Boston Cream Pie, now the official state dessert of Massachusetts, was perfected, and where the eponymous Parker House roll was born
Located along Boston's famed Freedom Trail, the hotel's guestrooms marries period decor with modern appointments. Also on-site are the aforementioned Parker's Restaurant, two charming bars, and a fitness center. 

But little do most guests know that Omni Park House is well known for claims of paranormal activity within its walls. Concierge Seamus Murphy -- who’s worked for the hotel for over 30 years -- regales guests with stories of the ghost of a 19th-century whiskey salesman who inhabits the closet of room 303 and plants kisses on sleeping female guests. Guests claim to have seen the owner of the hotel, Harvey Parker, lingering in the halls of the 10th floor. In addition, while some have seen lights flickering, other guests have reported hearing people talking or chairs rocking when no one has been present. 

Would you stay at Omni Parker House? Why or why not?

If you missed any other of my posts on historic hotels, here they are:


I hope you've enjoyed my special feature on haunted hotels. Have a happy Halloween --- remember to stay safe and not eat too much candy!

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