The Haunted Hot Lake Hotel

Posted: 04.02.2025 | Updated: 04.02.2025

When one thinks about the most haunted places in America, the places that usually come to mind are centuries old. Ancient graveyards, perhaps. Or maybe haunted battlefields either from the Revolutionary War or the Civil War. 

However, the haunted place that we’ll be covering in today’s blog post is decidedly less old and, perhaps on the surface, at least, less ominous. 

Of all places, it’s a hot springs hotel located in Union County, Oregon, near Portland. The Hot Lake Hotel has served a variety of purposes over the years. Still, these days, it’s been renovated into a luxurious destination for people who need to get healed by the power of natural spring water. 

Keep reading to learn where this hotel sprang from, how a seemingly innocent place gained such a haunted reputation and more. After you’re done, we’re sure you’ll want to learn even more about haunted Oregon and the best way to do that is by booking an in-person ghost tour with us and our fabulous tour guides at Portland Ghosts.

Is Hot Lake Hotel Haunted?

The lake surrounding the Hot Lake Hotel produces 500,000 gallons of hot (200 degrees Fahrenheit) water daily. These springs, the relaxing atmosphere, and the medical expertise around the area have contributed to its nickname of the “Mayo Clinic of the West” over the years. Despite how many people sought healing and relaxation there, the hotel has also been the site of tragedy and eerie occurrences that have manifested themselves into ghost sightings. 

History of Hot Lake Hotel

The history of the Hot Lake Hotel is detailed, stretching back to before the 20th century. Well before that, really, if one counts the lake itself since the local Native Americans had been using its mineral waters for drinking and healing purposes for centuries. They thought the site sacred and declared it neutral ground, where rival factions could hash out disagreements without fear of being attacked.  

In 1812, a white settler – part of the Hunt-Price expedition towards Oregon – discovered the lake, although it would be decades before a permanent house was built there. A permanent settlement wouldn’t be built until 1864 when a hotel was constructed, housing a practical town’s worth of buildings including a post office, barbershop, bathhouse, blacksmith, and more. 

The lake proved to be a huge draw, and another, somehow even larger, hotel was built after that, featuring over a hundred rooms and making use of the hot springs for its many bathhouses. This hotel would come to be the Hot Lake Hotel that visitors enjoy today, although it bore the name Hot Lake Sanitorium during its early years.

It would soon become a national fixture and even offered state-of-the-art medical treatments. If someone in the 20th century was feeling under the weather, it wasn’t uncommon for doctors to suggest they visit this lake hotel. 

The Hotel’s Decline

However, it suffered a few times during the 20th century as well. A fire in 1934 destroyed over half of the building, beginning a period of decline. World War II saw the area taken over by Army nurses and flight instructors. Eventually, it ceased being a hotel and changed ownership and purposes; it served as a nightclub, restaurant, and even an insane asylum before being abandoned for over 15 years in the 90s. 

However, the decline wouldn’t last forever – in 2003, the property was purchased by David and Lee Manuel, who restored the Hot Lake Hotel to its former glory. 

Hauntings at Hot Lake Hotel

However, there may have been a few things that have been added to the hotel, and not just renovations. Many guests, workers, and even owners have reported mysterious occurrences, mysterious items, and even sightings of ghosts. 

The list of odd things happening at this hotel is many. A gardener who tragically took his own life, in the first few years of the hotel’s operation, is said to still haunt the place. If you walk through the grounds, late at night, you can still see him trimming a hedge or watering one of the plants, still doing his duty even in death. 

There are other tales that are not quite so benign. A nurse, on vacation at the hotel decades ago, fell into the hot lake and was scalded to death. Nowadays, some claim to hear her scream echo across the lake whenever they hop in. 

Odd screams seem to be a pervasive problem for the old hotel. Back when the place was changing hands, one of the former owners reported hearing constant agonizing yells coming from the surgery room. Whenever he’d go and check the source, the room would be empty. 

Many guests staying at the hotel, both during its heyday and today during its revival period, have reported hearing screams and cries coming from what are likely the ghosts of former patients who have taken up roost here in the afterlife. 

Haunted Furniture

But the above is just scratching the tip of the haunted iceberg of the Hot Lake Hotel. There are many other incidents that have been reported by guests and ghosthunters alike. One guest in particular had a harrowing experience during his stay.

At exactly 3:22 am, a guest staying on the third floor woke up with a start because his bed was shaking violently, as though invisible people were moving it back and forth. To this day, a sign on the third floor urges guests to keep the noise down and to be kind to anyone they might encounter during their stay. 

Rocking chairs can be added to the list of furniture that seems to move on its own at the hotel too – many guests have spotted rocking chairs rocking back and forth, even on windless days when nobody has sat in them.

There’s also a piano down a story, on the second floor. The first curious thing about the piano is that it’s said to have been owned by the Lee family. Yes, the very same Lee family that Robert E. Lee and General Lighthorse Lee were a part of. It’s said to have belonged to Robert E. Lee’s wife, Mary Ann Custis Lee. 

Mary Ann’s piano is known for playing haunting tunes…without a piano player nearby. This self-playing instrument contributes to the haunting atmosphere of the hotel and may be a significant factor as to why the Hot Lake Hotel was named one of the scariest places on Earth back in 2001. 

Haunted Portland

Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to catch one of those self-playing, haunting piano tunes if you decide to visit the Hot Lake Hotel on your next visit to Oregon. Whether you want to see it because of its haunted reputation or to get some rest and relaxation, it’s well worth the trip…and so is the rest of haunted Oregon! 

If you liked this story and want to learn similar tales, check out our Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. They spotlight other offbeat ghost stories all over the United States. Checking our blog is another good way to stay up-to-date with all the latest ghost stories and haunted spots in Oregon

If you want to explore Portland ghosts up close, a ghost tour with Portland Ghosts is the best way to do that. Our guides are knowledgeable and enthusiastic and can provide even more information on the area. 

Sources:

• https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/hot-lake-springs-hotel-oregon/
• https://www.union-bulletin.com/local_columnists/etcetera/hot-lake-resort-hotel-has-storied-history/article_ea516329-72c1-5cb7-8c1b-55118a22d0fa.html
• https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-lodge-at-hot-lake-springs