The Crescent Hotel and Spa: A Haunted Night in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
We have stayed in a lot of old buildings on our trips, but nothing quite like the Crescent Hotel Eureka Springs. This place has been standing on top of a mountain in the Ozarks since 1886, and it has been a luxury resort, a women’s college, and a fake cancer hospital where people actually died. Then it became famous as one of the most haunted hotels in the country. We booked a room across the hall from Room 218, the most talked about haunted room in the building, and figured we would treat the ghost stories as a fun bonus to a pretty resort stay.
That’s not exactly how it went. Between the walking tour, the pizza on the fourth floor, and a midnight investigation in the basement morgue that kept us up until 1:30 in the morning, this turned into one of the more memorable overnight stays we have had as a family. We came away with a full appreciation for the history of the place, a few unexplained camera moments, and sore legs from the trails the next morning.
If you are trying to decide whether to book a room at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs (spoiler: DO IT), here is exactly what our stay looked like, along with the practical details you will want before you go.
What Is the Crescent Hotel?
The Crescent Hotel and Spa is an 1886 stone hotel that sits at the top of West Mountain in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It was built by the Eureka Springs Improvement Company and the Frisco Railroad as a luxury resort for wealthy travelers who came to the area for the natural spring water, and it opened in May of 1886 to a lot of fanfare. Local Irish stonemasons cut and hauled the limestone up the mountain by wagon, and the finished building cost close to $294,000, an enormous sum for the time.
The hotel did not stay a luxury resort forever. In 1902 it became Crescent College, a school for young women that ran through 1934. Then in 1937 came the strangest chapter in its history. A man named Norman Baker bought the building and turned it into a cancer hospital, where he claimed to have a cure made from corn silk and watermelon seeds. He had no medical background and no real cure. Patients died under his care, and he was eventually arrested and imprisoned for mail fraud. In 2019, construction crews found bottles of Baker’s serum and preserved medical specimens buried on the property, which only added to the hotel’s reputation.
The building sat empty and crumbling for stretches of the 20th century before a string of owners tried to bring it back. In 1997, Marty and Elise Roenigk bought the hotel and spent years restoring it room by room, rebuilding the fifth floor that had burned in a 1967 fire and uncovering pieces of the original architecture along the way. Elise still owns the hotel today, and it is now known nationally as America’s Most Haunted Hotel, featured on shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. Walking the halls, you can feel both sides of that history: the elegant Victorian resort and the darker years that followed.
Location and Address
Address: 75 Prospect Avenue, Eureka Springs, AR 72632
Phone: (855) 725-5720
From Chicago: About 590 miles, roughly 9.5 to 10 hours of driving depending on your route through St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri
Nearest town center: The hotel sits above downtown Eureka Springs, close enough to walk down into town but far enough up the mountain that you get views over the whole area
We treated this as a weekend trip rather than a quick day stop, and that is the way to do it. Between the drive, the hotel itself, and the town below, this is not something you rush.
Practical Information
Check-in: 4:00 p.m.
Check-out: 11:00 a.m.
Parking: Free self-parking is available on site, and the lot fills up fast on weekends, so plan to arrive close to check-in time if you can.
Cost: Room rates shift with the season and the room type. Expect somewhere in the $150 to $350 per night range, with rooms tied to ghost stories, like Room 218, sometimes booked out months ahead.
How long to allow: We would build in at least one full day and two nights if your schedule allows it. One night is enough to see the hotel and do a ghost tour, but you will be tired the next day if you also want to hike or explore the town, which we found out firsthand.
Best for: Couples and older kids or teens who can handle a late night and some seriously spooky stories. The Midnight Investigation is not built for young children, though the hotel does run a shorter kids’ ghost tour earlier in the evening for families with younger ones.
Checking In and Settling On the Second Floor
We pulled into the parking lot in the late afternoon and the building does exactly what you hope it will do the moment you see it. The stone exterior, the wraparound porches, and the mountain views make it obvious why this was the fanciest address in Arkansas back in 1886. Walking into the lobby, the original stone fireplace and the wood paneling make it clear the hotel has held onto its Victorian bones even through all the years it spent as a school and a hospital.
Our room was on the second floor, directly across the hall from Room 218. If you know anything about the Crescent, you know that room’s reputation. It is said to be haunted by a young Irish stonemason named Michael, one of the workers who built the hotel in the 1880s. The story goes that he fell from the roof during construction and died in the spot that is now Room 218. Guests over the years have reported flickering lights, doors opening on their own, and a presence that seems to favor women in particular. We did not stay in 218 itself, but being right across the hall meant we walked past that door every single time we came back to our room, which added a little extra edge to an otherwise normal hallway.
Our room itself was comfortable and clearly cared for, with high ceilings and windows that let in a lot of light before the sun went down. We also had one of the balcony rooms, which was nice. We were able to step out at night, and have a cup of coffee in the morning sun.
Nothing about the room felt gimmicky or overly themed. It felt like a real old hotel that has been kept up well, which made the ghost stories land harder later that night.
Dinner at the Top of the Hotel
Once we got settled, we headed up to the fourth floor for dinner at Skybar Gourmet Pizza, the hotel’s rooftop pizza restaurant. The space used to be Dr. Baker’s private apartment and later a bistro before it became Skybar, and it now has an easy, casual feel with both indoor seating and a balcony that looks out over Eureka Springs and the surrounding hills.
We split a couple of specialty pizzas and an order of wings, and everything came out hot and fresh with a crust that held its own against any pizza place we have tried on our travels. The wings were a solid order too, crispy with a good char. If the weather cooperates, ask for a spot on the balcony. Watching the sun go down over the Ozarks while you eat pizza on top of a 19th century hotel is a pretty good way to kick off a night that is about to get considerably stranger.
The Self Guided Walking Tour
After dinner we wandered the halls on our own using the hotel’s self guided historical tour, which starts along the fourth floor hallway and winds through different parts of the building. Small plaques and photos along the way tell the story of the hotel’s different chapters, from the original resort days through the college years and the Baker era.
This part of the evening is easy to underestimate. It is quiet, it is not scheduled, and you can take as long as you want. We found ourselves stopping at old photographs comparing them to what the room or hallway looks like today, and it gave us a much better sense of the building’s layout before our ghost investigation later that night. If you only have time for one free activity at the hotel, this is the one we would point you toward. It costs nothing and it sets up everything else you will do there.
The Midnight Investigation
This was the centerpiece of our trip, and it is different from the standard ghost tour that runs earlier in the evening. Instead of walking through the hotel while a guide tells stories, the Midnight Investigation is led by a paranormal investigator from the Eureka Springs Paranormal Team, and it puts real ghost hunting equipment in your hands.
We met our guide close to midnight and spent the first part of the session hearing the history behind the hotel’s most talked about spirits, including Michael in Room 218 and Theodora, a former cancer patient who is said to still tidy up rooms and search for her keys near Room 419. From there we headed down into the basement, where Norman Baker once ran his fraudulent cancer clinic. The basement still holds the old morgue, complete with the original autopsy table and the walk in cooler that was used to store bodies during the hospital years.
Standing in that room at one in the morning with EMF meters and recording equipment is a different experience than a normal walking tour. Our guide showed us how to use the equipment and let us take turns asking questions into the dark, waiting to see if anything registered. We will not tell you we walked away with undeniable proof of ghosts, because we did not. What we will tell you is that the room is cold in a way that felt different from the rest of the building, the history is heavy once you know what actually happened down there, and by 1:30 a.m. when we finally climbed back up to our room, none of us wanted to be the last one in the hallway.
If you are the kind of family that likes a real scare on a trip rather than a cheesy one, this is worth staying up for.
Breakfast in the Ballroom
We slept later than planned after a 1:30 a.m. finish, but we still made it down for breakfast in the hotel’s dining room, which sits inside what was once the Crystal Ballroom. Sunlight pours in through tall windows and the room still carries the grand feel of the hotel’s original resort days, which made for a nice contrast after a night spent in the basement.
Breakfast covered the classics done well: eggs, biscuits, fresh fruit, and coffee that we needed more than usual that particular morning. After the intensity of the night before, sitting in that bright, elegant room felt like the right way to close out the haunted side of our visit before switching gears to the outdoors.
Hiking the Trails Around the Hotel
The Crescent Hotel sits on 15 acres at the top of the mountain, and there are walking trails right on the property that loop through the wooded grounds. After breakfast we laced up and got out for a hike, which was a good way to shake off the late night and get some fresh Ozark air before heading into town.
The trails are not difficult, more of an easy to moderate walk through trees with some nice overlooks, and they are a good option if you have kids or a dog with you and want to burn off some energy before a long drive home. The hotel also has a dog park on site if you are traveling with a pet.
Exploring Downtown Eureka Springs
We wrapped up our stay with a walk through downtown Eureka Springs, which is an easy stroll down the hill from the hotel. The town itself is worth building extra time for. It is full of Victorian buildings, art galleries, small shops, and winding streets that follow the natural curves of the mountain instead of a normal grid. We poked into a few shops, grabbed coffee, and took in the town before starting the long drive back to Illinois.
If your schedule allows, Eureka Springs alone could fill another full day, so do not feel like you have to rush this part just because checkout is looming.
Tips From Our Visit
- Book Room 218 or a room near it early if you want the haunted history factor. Rooms tied to the ghost stories fill up fast, especially in October.
- The Midnight Investigation runs late, from around midnight to 1:30 a.m., so plan your next day accordingly. We were not exactly sharp the following morning.
- Skybar Gourmet Pizza does not take a lot of reservations, so put your name in early if you are hoping to eat during a busy weekend.
- Bring a light jacket even in warmer months. Both the basement and the hallways can run cooler than you expect, ghosts or no ghosts.
- If you are driving in from the Chicago area like we did, plan for a two day drive with a stop around St. Louis or Springfield, Missouri rather than trying to do it in one push.
- Since we road tripped down, we mapped out gas and food stops using Roadtrippers, which we use for pretty much every long drive at this point. Use code BTR5QTP for $5 off Roadtrippers Plus if you want the upgraded route planning.
Where to Eat
Skybar Gourmet Pizza on the fourth floor is the easiest option since it is inside the hotel, and we would order from there again without hesitation. The hotel’s Crystal Dining Room handles breakfast and is worth planning around, especially if you want to see the old ballroom in daylight. Down in town, Eureka Springs has a good number of small, independent restaurants within walking distance if you want to get off the mountain for a meal.
Before You Go, Grab Our Midwest Hidden Gems Guide
If road trips like this one are your thing, sign up for our newsletter and we will send you our free Casey, Illinois eBook along with our general guide to Midwest hidden gems. It is the same kind of planning we use ourselves before we head out on a trip like this one.
More Adventures
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs really haunted?
The hotel is widely known as America’s Most Haunted Hotel, and it has a long documented history of paranormal reports from guests and staff. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the hotel’s dark history as a fraudulent cancer hospital in the 1930s gives the stories real weight.
What makes Room 218 so haunted?
Room 218 is tied to the story of Michael, an Irish stonemason who is said to have fallen to his death near that spot during the hotel’s construction in the 1880s. Guests have reported flickering lights, doors opening on their own, and an unseen presence in the room ever since.
Can you request to stay in Room 218?
Yes, guests can request Room 218 when booking, though it tends to fill up well ahead of time, especially around Halloween. We stayed across the hall instead, which still put us close enough to feel the history of the space.
What is the Midnight Investigation ghost tour?
It is a late night paranormal event led by a member of the Eureka Springs Paranormal Team. Guests learn the history of the hotel’s ghost stories and then use real investigation equipment in areas like the basement morgue. Ours ran from midnight to 1:30 a.m.
Is the Crescent Hotel good for families with young kids?
It depends on the activity. The hotel itself and the self guided walking tour work fine for families. The regular evening ghost tour and the Midnight Investigation are more intense, and the hotel offers a separate kids’ ghost tour designed for children ages 5 to 12 with an adult.
What is there to eat at the Crescent Hotel?
Skybar Gourmet Pizza on the fourth floor serves pizza, wings, salads, and drinks with a view over Eureka Springs. The hotel’s Crystal Dining Room handles breakfast inside the old ballroom, and downtown Eureka Springs has plenty of restaurants within walking distance.
How far is the Crescent Hotel from Chicago?
It is about 590 miles from the Chicago area, which comes out to roughly 9.5 to 10 hours of driving. We treated it as a two day drive each way with a stop around St. Louis or Springfield, Missouri.
Are there hiking trails at the Crescent Hotel?
Yes, the property sits on 15 acres at the top of West Mountain with walking trails through the grounds. It is a good, easy hike to do the morning after a late night at the hotel.
What is downtown Eureka Springs like?
It is a small Victorian town built into the side of a mountain, with winding streets, art galleries, and shops within an easy walk of the hotel. It is worth setting aside extra time beyond your hotel stay.
What time is check-in and check-out at the Crescent Hotel?
Check-in is at 4:00 p.m. and check-out is at 11:00 a.m. Parking fills up on weekends, so we would recommend arriving close to check-in time if your schedule allows it.
