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Melyssa Glennie-Puckett

Room #314

May 4, 2007 | Comment icon 5 comments
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As I sat alone on the pillow-top bed in my room at The Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff Arizona, I began to slip into a trance-like state. The noise from the late night partying college kids from the street below started to fade away into the cold, December night. A solitary candle lit the Victorian style room, casting eerie shadows from the cherubs that decorated the walls. I was ready. “If there are any spirits here tonight that would like to communicate I am ready and willing to listen. I come to you with the intention of love and peace. Please, show yourself, speak or make any sort of sign to let me know that you’re here…” I waited for 5 minutes. Nothing. With my husband waiting downstairs in the lobby I decided that my efforts could be in vain. Jokingly, I blurted out “Okay, well I’m going to dinner now, so I suppose I’ll see you guys later!” I extinguished the candle and left, with my hopes slightly dashed.

The Hotel Monte Vista opened its doors to the eager public on New Years Day in 1927. The 73-room hotel is listed on the U.S Registrar of Historic Places, and is the longest-lived operational hotel in Flagstaff. Over the years, numerous events have taken place that probably contributed to the hotel’s many reports of paranormal activity.

During the 1940’s two prostitutes were killed and thrown from the window in room 306. There is also a report of a phantom bellboy that goes around knocking on patron’s doors during the wee hours of the morning. Perhaps the most peculiar story is that of the “Meat Man”, a long-term resident who had a strange habit of hanging raw meat from the chandeliers in his room. Employees found his dead body in room 220 after being undiscovered for several days. By far the most popular haunting at the hotel is that of the rocking chair in room 305. Supposedly, this room is the most active with reports of the rocker moving by itself as well as an actual apparition of an elderly woman in the chair.
The hotel has a reputation for being one of the most haunted in Flagstaff. This piqued my interest, and led to what may have been one of the most strange encounters I’ve experienced so far.

Later on that night we returned to our room and settled in for the last of our two-night stay. I’d had 2 glasses of wine with our dinner, so sleep came easily. At around 2am we were awakened to a loud crash from the corner of the room near the dining room table. “What in the heck was that?” my husband asked. I could hear the fear in his voice, despite him being a hardcore skeptic. I’ll admit I was somewhat fearful, this probably being the reason why I was hesitant to get up and investigate. I suggested we just go back to sleep and check things out in the morning, although I had this creepy feeling that we were being “watched”. According to my husband, for the rest of the night strange noises permeated throughout the room. He said he heard what sounded like fingernails scratching along the walls. He thought he heard someone (or something) jiggling the handle to our door. This may have just been his over-active imagination after having the initial experience.

When I awoke the next morning, my first priority was to find out what created this loud crash. I went over to the table and was surprised by what I saw. We had placed two 20-ounce bottles of water in a plastic bag in the middle of the table (in an upright position) the night before. The bottles and the bag were lying in the chair. Also on the floor a few feet from the table lay a lint roller that I knew FOR SURE I had put on the vanity, which was on the other side of the room.

I can’t explain what happened that night, but I know that the experience made me a little bit more of a believer. Could it have been the long dead, permanent residents of the hotel answering my requests for contact? The ghost hunter in me would like to be satisfied with that answer, yet my somewhat skeptical, scientific mind remains unsure. Until I actually see a full-bodied apparition, I must only continue on with my quest… Comments (5)


Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by Varun 1989 17 years ago
great.It would have been a good experience.
Comment icon #2 Posted by Opus Magnus 17 years ago
If that's what happens in the most haunted hotel, then I guess my house is probably the most haunted house lol. That's nothing.
Comment icon #3 Posted by melyssa g.p 17 years ago
If that's what happens in the most haunted hotel, then I guess my house is probably the most haunted house lol. That's nothing. Well, like I wrote at the end of my article, the skeptic in me is still slightly unconvinced. The experience was strange but not earth shattering. I just felt that it was significant given that I had asked aloud for something (or someone) to make it's presence known. I plan on going back to the hotel this summer, and will bring along some equipment conducive to an investigation. I'm sorry if the account was disappointing for you, but I feel the most important aspect i... [More]
Comment icon #4 Posted by MysteryVy 17 years ago
interesting story kept me wanting to read!
Comment icon #5 Posted by melyssa g.p 17 years ago
interesting story kept me wanting to read! Thank you! I can't wait to go back to the hotel this summer. I plan on staying for at least 4 days, and will probably check out 2 different rooms. I'll be prepared with a DVR, 2 cameras, an EMF reader, etc. I feel that this hotel is very special...there was a certain feeling of mystery in the atmoshere. It's a wonderful place to stay at besides the chance at a paranormal encounter!


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