This summer I got the chance to do something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time…spend the night at the haunted Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs.
The Crescent Hotel and Spa
The Crescent Hotel bills itself as one of the most haunted hotels in the United States. In its current life, the hotel has been in operation since 1997, however the building has a long, and sometimes dark, history that gives it its haunted reputation. With beautifully restored rooms, fabulous views, and an incredible spa, the hotel is a welcome retreat for all tourists, even those not looking for a ghostly encounter. It’s hard not to be reminded of the ghosts, though, as the hotel has been host to a variety of paranomal investigation groups, including Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. There are also ghost tours, fireside ghost stories, and the Eureka Springs Paranormal weekend for guests to take part in if they so desire.
Eureka Springs
Eureka Springs has always been a special place. Over 60 springs bubble up from the ground in the area and their waters have long been said to have healing properties. Those stories attracted settlers to the area before the town even existed. Formally established in 1879, Eureka Springs prospered as a place of rest and healing…mostly for the wealthy. And the Crescent Hotel was built to cater to these tourists, first opening its doors in 1886.
The Crescent Conservatory
Unfortunately, as time went on, the Crescent’s business waned and, during the winter slow season, it was turned into a conservatory for women. The Crescent College and Conservatory for Women was more than just a finishing school. It stressed the importance of academics…in a time when women were often poorly educated.
Baker Cancer Clinic
In 1937, the conservatory closed and the hotel was purchased by a man named Norman Baker. Though not a doctor, Baker claimed that he could cure cancer without surgery…and people flocked to his clinic for treatment. These years are the darkest of the Crescent’s history. Many people died painful and horrid deaths as a result of Baker’s actions. Eventually he was charged and convinced of mail fraud in 1940 and the clinic was shut down.
Back to its roots
Since the mid-1940s, the Crescent returned to its roots and, despite several setbacks, has functioned as a series of hotels. The current owners purchased and renovated the hotel in 1997.
My visit to Eureka Springs
The weather was less than welcoming during my quick trip to Eureka Springs as temperatures soared well over 100 degrees! But it was still an amazing get away!
I arrived in town midmorning and headed straight to the historic downtown. The heat kept the crowd levels low, so parking was thankfully not too much of a problem. Though my beast of an SUV is not made for such narrow, hilly streets! After a quick lunch, I wandered through the selection of boutique shops downtown and hiked up to several of the nearby springs. (Check out this post on great vegetarian restaurant options in downtown Eureka Springs.)
My next stop was to check into my room at the Crescent! The hotel is magnificent. A huge stone building, it sits high on a hill above the town. Parking is free for guests and they run a convenient shuttle to downtown. (Technically, it’s not that far. You could walk. Down. You’d probably regret walking back up the hill though!) The Eureka Springs Trolley also has a handy stop just outside the front door of the hotel.
The lobby set the tone immediately. Dark and rich, the original check in desk is still in use and an imposing marble fireplace dominates the space.
The room was beautifully restored in rich colors and full of antique furniture. I even had a lovely balcony with privacy screen. Mine unfortunately overlooked the parking lot and not the tree filled hillside, but it was nice anyway. The hotel racked up bonus points for not offering single use toiletries…instead providing large multiuse bottles of their spa products.
After a video conference call (seriously…it seems I can’t ever quite get away from work) and a quick nap (unrestful thanks to some incessant rhythmic tapping on repeat outside my door), it was time for dinner.
The Crescent has a restaurant on site…with some of the best views from the hotel and apparently incredible pizza. However, it was closed for a private event and so I headed back downtown for a quick dinner. Quick, because I needed to get back in time for my…
…Ghost Tour!
The Crescent offers ghost tours most nights and I highly recommend going on one (you can buy tickets here). Costumed guides will explain the history of the hotel and surrounding area, then take you on a tour of the building…telling the story of each of the ghosts along the way. It was on this tour that I learned that the ghost of a young boy likes to toss his ball down the hallway where my room was located (remember the failed nap?!?!?!!!) and that I was staying directly across from their most haunted room…with its own resident poltergeist!
The ghost tour also takes you down to the basement to visit the morgue. It is here that the Ghost Hunter’s crew captured their famous apparition on thermal imaging cameras (don’t worry if you haven’t seen the episode, the tour shows the relevant clip before you enter the morgue). Just recently, a large number of specimen jars from the Baker Cancer Clinic were discovered on the grounds and these are now on display as well.
Rest of my stay
The rest of my stay was uneventful and, between a long day and the heat, I slept great…with no further ghostly encounters.
The next morning, I got up early to head to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge before the heat of the day. I’d heard great things about the operation and I was pleased to see that it lived up to all expectations. The animals were happy and well cared for…and the staff was knowledgeable and eager to educate visitors on a variety of topics including the reasons exotic cats do not make good pets, how to identify a true sanctuary (check out this post on identifying a true sanctuary), environmental enrichment programs, and even the effects of palm oil farming on wildlife. The big cats were as unimpressed with the weather as the rest of us and spent their time lounging in the shade.
Before my drive home, I made one last stop at the Blue Springs Heritage Center for a chance to stretch my legs. The blue spring is pretty incredible and I was amazed with the footage shown in the visitor center of cave divers exploring the spring’s depths. However, the gardens were starting to succumb to the hot, dry summer…and I was dismayed by the hundreds of rock cairns that people have built all over the area which definitely detracted from my enjoyment.
