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| Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Since my book Polar Night features a fictional haunted asylum, I thought I would write about a few real haunted places in Alaska for my "H" post. And for the record, I have no idea who or what the woman in the above picture is, but I found the image on Wikimedia and thought it was creepy as can be!
The website theshadowlands.net includes tons of haunted places in Alaska, so I thought I would limit my post to the haunted sites in Fairbanks, which is the main setting of my novel.
Fairbanks' Birch Hill Cemetery is the home of many ghost sightings. There are reports of a girl in a white dress in the fashion of the early 1900s and this "White Lady of Birch Hill Cemetery" is the most famous ghost in Fairbanks. Other ghostly residents include a young boy dressed in the style of the 1930s.
Mile 8-12 of the Chena Hot Springs Road is haunted by ghostly lights and passing cars have been followed by what appear to be headlights (which aren't attached to cars) when driving the road late at night.
A young girl died on the third floor of the Northern Lights Hotel, and the floor was closed off following the death. Now, employees at the front desk claim to receive phone calls from room 303, although no one has access to the third floor. The calls are from a little girl who says she is looking for her mother, then hangs up.
The Westmark Hotel is probably my favorite ghost story. To quote from the site Haunted Alaska:
The Westmark Hotel was built on property where a house had been plagued by the ghosts of some mischievous miners. There are reports of items being moved and even thrown. The activity seems to have subsided over the last several years and now the ghosts only seem to bother the cooks in the restaurant.I wonder why the cooks can't be left in peace. What did they do to tick these old ghost miners off? :D
These are just a few of the haunted tales of Alaska. I admit I love stories like these and I think that, true or not, they are fun to learn about.
My A-Z theme of Alaska is inspired by my debut novel, Polar Night, which is set in the Alaskan Arctic. Click here for all the info on the book.
I like stories like these, too...but usually only in the daylight. :) That one about the unattached headlights is extremely creepy to me for some reason.
ReplyDeleteThe hotel phone calls would be unnerving.
ReplyDeleteThe asylum used to film the movie Session 9 is real - and haunted.
Spooky, Julie! Into your book big time now,superb and intriguing!!
ReplyDeleteCreepy! This is really interesting though, thanks for sharing =).
ReplyDeleteI like reading the stories. When it comes to actually visiting the haunted sites, I'm a big chicken.
ReplyDeleteLove, love love ghost and spook stories. And, just before the A-Z I was doing a spook series on my blog. This is a great story - want to share it on my blog when A-Z is over?
ReplyDeleteOoh can't wait to check out those sites about the haunted places.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fantastic links! The story about the little girl in room 303 gives me the chills! I love it!
ReplyDeleteGreat H. LOL That is a super creepy picture and some how patches your post.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy a good haunting tale- but have to admit they scare me too. even just small ones I know can't be real...Ghosts are terrifying to me.
I'm a little creeped out by the one with the little girl calling from the third floor. If I had caller ID, I don't think I'd answer the phone if it said room 303. *shivers*
ReplyDeleteThose stories gave me goosebumps! :)
ReplyDelete~Bouquet of Books
I've always wanted to stay in a haunted hotel. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado is where the movie The Shining was filmed. They have all kinds of gimmicks set up to attract thrill seekers including 24-hour broadcasting of The Shining. It's on my to-do list.
ReplyDelete@Madeline, I thought the same thing, it gave me the creeps.
ReplyDelete@Alex, oh, I've never seen that movie, I'm curious now.
@Cathrina, thank you!! I'm thrilled you are enjoying it so far, thanks so much.
@Danielle, my pleasure, thanks for your comment. :)
@Brinda, I am the same LOL.
@Susan, oh, I would love that, thanks!
@Regina, hope you enjoy them. :)
@Kate, me too!
@Summer, I know, I feel the same. I love the stories but they also scare me to death.
@LG, I definitely wouldn't LOL.
@Jackie, me too!
@Julie, oh gosh I don't think I could stay there. The Shining absolutely scared me to death LOL.
It's already late and now I can't fall asleep -_- Great post by the way! Great. But creepy >_<
ReplyDeleteSincerely,Miss Uncertain---sidetracked
I don't believe in ghosts. If I went there alone in the middle of the night, I'd probably just be cold.
ReplyDeleteHaunted places, I love! :) yeah until I can't sleep the night and I have to keep nudging the kids awake. :D I've never heard of haunted places here in Vienna. Would be fun if there were.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy those stories, too. I just got to the part where Danny arrives in Coldfoot. Since I finished the other reads on my agenda, I should pick up the pace on yours now. :) Yay.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy these stories but I don't think I would ever stay an night in a haunted hotel, would you?
ReplyDeleteI love a good ghost story, but the one about the girl calling freaks me out for some reason.
ReplyDeleteSounds creepy Julie! *shudders*
ReplyDeleteWriter In Transit
@miss uncertain, oh no, I'm sorry if my post kept you up LOL.
ReplyDelete@Michael, LOL well maybe you would end up surprised. :D
@Cecilia, maybe there are and you just need to find them. Although I like reading about them more than visiting LOL.
@Mary, oh, I hope you will like it, thanks!
@LynnMarie, definitely not, I'd never want to do that LOL.
@Misha, yeah, it's creepy, I think so too.
@Michelle, I'm shuddering with you LOL.
Fascinating ghost stories, Julie. That one about the little girl really grabbed me. Sounds like a bit from a really interesting story.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of ghost stories, so it was a lot of fun to read a post like this! The one about the young girl from the Northern Lights Hotel was especially eerie to me...
ReplyDeleteI'd love to do research (and subsequently write a book) on haunted places. I think it would be way cool.
ReplyDeleteThis post reminds me of your haunted Cincinnati posts from last year.
I love ghost stories! So fascinating. I think the cooks might not have made the best food for the miners!
ReplyDeleteI love these kinds of tales too, tho I rarely believe them. I think the human imagination is scarier than any possible real life ghosts!
ReplyDeletebookmarked! love love love ghost stories! but then, I'm from Romania, we love all things supernatural!
ReplyDeleteMy dad lives in St. Augustine, one of the most haunted cities in the US. I've done all of the supernatural tours. Love it :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe the cooks made stew and the miners wanted fried chicken :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a creepy picture. Do you think Alaska is more haunted than many other states? The house I grew up in used to be haunted, and I did see the ghosts of a father and son in overalls once. Everything happened upstairs. Now, if I were ever to write anything looking like a memoir, it would probably be about that chapter in our lives. :) Writer’s Mark
ReplyDeleteOh gosh that hotel story is freaky! Good stuff :)
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(From Sarah, With Joy)
Nothing like a spooky ghost story to make me sit up and take notice. I'll have to take a look at these haunted sites so I can visit the next time get to Alaska.
ReplyDeleteThe one with the little girl is very creepy and quite sad. I'd be worried about driving on a road with ghost cars - how did they get that way!
ReplyDeleteMaybe the ghosts don't like the food at the restaurant, that's why the just bother the cooks.
ReplyDeleteI don't like ghosts. They used to bother me too.
I'm glad that you brought a bit of your haunted theme back this year, and tied it in with Alaska. It's strange how the ghosts only bothered the cooks. Maybe Al is right about them serving lousy food!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Haunted places give me the herby jeebies!! LOL
ReplyDeleteNorthern Lights Hotel? Just the name alone is creepy! But phone calls from a little girl? No thanks, I'll pass on a stay at that place. Oh, free? Well, um, maybe....
ReplyDeleteElsie
Your book sounds fascinating; a hot girl in a chilly place - what's not to like? -Belinda [A - Z participant.
ReplyDelete@Joy, so glad you liked them.
ReplyDelete@Heather, I agree, very creepy.
@Susan, I would love to do that too! I loved doing those haunted Cincy posts, that was fun.
@Christine, LOL, maybe that's it, they were terrible cooks.
@Pk, that's a good point!
@Samantha, oh, I bet those supernatural tours are fun.
@Carol, LOL that could be it. :D
@Nancy, oh, how interesting! I think that kind of story would be fascinating to read about. Very cool.
@Sarah, I agree!
@Lee, that sounds like fun, although I'd be chicken to go to any of them at night LOL.
@Nick, I know, it seems like the ghost cars could make for a good story too.
@Al, you're probably right about the cooks, maybe the restaurant served terrible food.
@Julie, when I was reading about these stories I thought I should have done a whole theme about ghosts. Maybe next year, that would be fun.
@Aimee, me too LOL.
@Elise, the name reminds me of the hotel in The Shining. I don't know if I'd stay even for free LOL.
@myriteofpassage, thanks! :D
I love to learn the history of haunted places. So many stories. Loving that you are tying your posts to your book- such a great idea. :) And I am loving all the fun information about Alaska. Looking forward to more.
ReplyDeleteA great H. My daughter is obsessed with haunted places. We have done several ghost tours. Enjoyed the post!
ReplyDeleteH = Handy Hyperbole
I love hearing about haunted locations, I'm totally addicted to those haunting documentaries! I think my favourite one is the Myrtle Plantation.
ReplyDeleteI love these kinds of stories, and we have a few in Colorado too, but I never make contact with or even sense a ghost, no matter what haunted place I visit.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that so strange, there's more to this world than we know!
ReplyDeleteRosalind Adam is Writing in the Rain
Interesting stuff. It would be cool to go on a ghost tour in Alaska.
ReplyDeletehaunted places are both interesting and scary at the same time.
ReplyDelete@Rebecca, thanks so much, I appreciate it!
ReplyDelete@Tia, I've never actually gone on a ghost tour but would love to, sounds like fun. Thanks!
@Kellie, oh, I don't know about that one, now I need to check it out.
@Patricia, maybe it's a good thing to never have contact with a ghost LOL. It would be fun but also totally freak me out.
@Rosalind, true enough!
@Medeia, I agree, I'd love to do that.
@Lynda, totally agree.
Oooh, you know I love haunted stuff. Thanks for sharing, Julie!
ReplyDelete@Gwen, you're welcome! You know I love your ghosts. :D
ReplyDeleteIt seems I'll definitely have to read Polar Night.
ReplyDeleteI have a haunted house in my forthcoming release so I love these haunted buildings stories - especially the Northern Lights Hotel haunting.
@Manic, oh, I am looking forward to your upcoming release, that sounds awesome. And thanks so much about my book!
ReplyDeleteEww, this gave me chills, especially the story of the little girl! I wonder how she died?
ReplyDelete@celeste, I know, it's a disturbing story for sure!
ReplyDeleteI discovered that site when doing research for my last NaNo novel which was, needless to say, about a haunted house. It's a good resource for stuff like that.
ReplyDelete@Beverly, oh, I'd love to read that novel, I love haunted house stories. :)
ReplyDelete