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Geiser Grand Hotel

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Availability:	Open to the Public
Filed Under:	Historical Locations Lodging/Camping Paranormal Hot Spots > Haunted Bars/Clubs/Restaurants Paranormal Hot Spots > Haunted Hotels Paranormal Hot Spots > Tours/Ghost Walks Personalities > Movies Television Locations
Added By:	TheCabinet
Added On:	November 12, 2010 - 05:53 PM UTC
Last Modified:	November 12, 2010 - 05:53 PM UTC
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Average Rating:	5 (1 ratings)
Visited By:	1 Users

Address
1996 Main St, Baker City, OR 97814, USA (Baker City, Oregon)

Information
Geiser Grand Hotel This hotel is once again reliving its glory days as the crowned jewel of Baker City, Oregon and, according to reports, has a few ghosts from its past lingering as well. Originally opened in 1889 as the Warshauer Hotel after its owners - local merchants Jake and Harry Warshauer - the hotel was in response to the fast-growing city founded on the Oregon Trail. The local mining in the area had been booming over the last decade and the city quickly became a central social center for prospectors. The Warshauers sought to take advantage of the growing population and business opportunities and built the hotel on a lot previously occupied by the first schoolhouse in the county. The Warshauer Hotel was designed by the Czechoslovakian architect, John Bennes, and incorporated the Italianate Victorian architecture style. Early Oregon journalist, Edward Gardner Jones, described the building as "one of the most imposing structures in Eastern Oregon." It stood three stories tall with 70-80 rooms (depending on the source) and a large dining area that seated 200. The establishment featured the third elevator west of the Mississippi, electrical lights, and was lauded as one of the most opulent, yet modern, hotels along the Oregon Trail. The total cost for the hotel was in the range of $65,000-70,000, again depending on the source. One of the most distinctive features of the hotel was the signature cupola and clock tower that loomed 130 feet above what was then Front Street (now Main Street). Shortly after its construction, it became apparent that the locals found the clocks useful for more reasons than it was intended. It is said that after a night of drinking it was not uncommon for the cupola to be used for target practice. One of the lion's heads that replaced the clocks in 1900 (after the owners tired of replacing the bullet-ridden clocks) is still displayed at the hotel today - complete with bullet hole. The change apparently was not enough to dissuade those with itchy trigger fingers. For reasons unknown, the Warshauers sold their hotel only a few short years later. John Geiser and his son, Albert, took up ownership of the building in 1895 and renamed it the Geiser Grand Hotel. The Geisers were major mining investors in the area and had struck it rich at the local Bonanza Mine, as well as various others. Albert would go on to perform some minor renovations to the hotel and is credited as leading the establishment through its glory days between 1899 and 1920. Although many mining communities in the area dried up and turned into ghost towns (see Sumpter Valley Dredge), Baker City continued to prosper, earning it the nickname the "Queen Cities of the Mines." This was due in no small part to its interests in the ranching and timber industries, as well as mining. However, the Great Depression would take its toll on Baker City as well as so many others and its local economy began to slump. The Geiser Grand Hotel felt the impact, which was only worsened by World War II. In 1930, the distinctive cupola (and presumably its signature stained glass ceiling) of the hotel had been removed when new roofing was installed. New owners came and went and business continued to decline. In 1968, the hotel reportedly housed the cast and crew of the Clint Eastwood/Lee Marvin western-musical hybrid, Paint Your Wagon, as the movie was filmed nearby. However, once the production had wrapped filming and the crew left, the hotel wrapped as well and was finally closed. The once-lavish hotel sat abandoned for years and the neglect and lack of maintenance took its toll on the building. By the time that the surrounding Baker Historic District had been added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1978, several portions of the exterior had cracked, other parts had either been removed or fallen apart, the roof had collapsed, and the interior was badly cracked and molded from the resulting water damage. Serious consideration was given to tearing down the hotel altogether and replacing it with a parking lot. An article in the Eugene Register-Guard dated October 20, 1989 credits Eugene developer, John Berg of Westcor Properties, from saving the hotel from demolition. According to the article, Berg bought what was left of the Geiser Grand Hotel for a mere $75,000 and had plans to spend around $1 million to restore it. For whatever reason, Berg's plans never came to fruition but the old hotel found its ultimate saviors only a few short years later. The Rebirth of the Geiser Grand Hotel In 1993, Dwight and Barbara Sidway purchased the Geiser Grand Hotel and decided to try their hand at reviving the once grand structure. The couple had previously helped to restore the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida that undergone similar years of neglect while abandoned. The Sidways had their work cut out for them. Before any restoration work could be started, the building needed serious foundation stabilization and a new roof to stop water (and pigeon droppings) from saturating the interior. The couple submitted their rehabilitation proposal to the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office who approved the seemingly impossible task and the Sidways went to work. The Sidway's vision for the Geiser Grand Hotel was to restore it to its original appearance in celebration of its historic heritage. The cupola that once towered over Main Street was restored, as was the stained glass ceiling. While the cupola could be recreated using original photographs, no such records could be found for the ceiling so it was decided to design the stained glass in keeping with 1889 sensibilities. Similarly, the original small 70-80 guest rooms were enlarged to house the more practical 30 guest rooms. Over 100 crystal chandeliers were brought in to adorn the hotel, including the guest rooms, which boasted ten-foot high windows to overlook the city and the landscape. The hotel was opened in stages in order to fund the restoration, but after five years and several million dollars, the Geiser Grand Hotel was again in service. There are various reports that state that the Geiser Grand Hotel was also used as a bordello, a veteran's hospital, and a casino during its history. However, outside normal gambling during its early years, there appears to be no historical documentation to suggest that the hotel was ever anything other than a hotel. Similarly, other reports state that the hotel was the scene of a couple murders, including one that led to the first murder conviction in Baker County. Again, a search of newspaper archives and other historical data turns up no such cases. In fact, the first murder conviction in Baker County more than probably predated the construction of the hotel, as there were some notorious crimes in the area in the prior decades. That is not to say that the Geiser Grand Hotel did not have some fascinating incidents in its history. Crimes and Notoriety An early press account that appeared in multiple papers reported on a robbery at the then-Warshauer Hotel on November 27, 1894. According to the account, six heavily armed, masked men stormed the hotel at two o'clock in the morning and quickly subdued the employees and bystanders with the threat of rifles, shotguns, and revolvers. Fortunately, it appears no one was hurt in the incident, but the men made off with $1,160 and escaped before authorities could arrive. They apparently fared better than Henry E.G. Cooke who was arrested at the Geiser Grand Hotel, according to a July 16, 1908 report from the New York Times. Cooke was wanted on land fraud charges back in Elmira, New York and had recently come to Baker City. According to the account, he had already gained the trust of several local citizens and filed thirty fraudulent land grants in nearby La Grande before he was caught and transported back to New York. The Geiser Grand Hotel was again the scene of a robbery on December 12, 1959. According to the account reported by the Eugene Register Guard, two men held up hotel clerk, Ethel Annabelle. After securing only $295, they began to tie Annabelle up but she complained that the bonds were aggravating her arthritis. In a humane but costly act, they loosened the bonds and made their escape. Annabelle reportedly had freed herself and was phoning the police before they were even out the door. The two robbers were quickly captured and taken into custody. Although not directly connected to the hotel, it has been reported that rising country star, Presley Wayne gave his last performance at the Geiser Grand Hotel the night before his death of a gunshot wound to the head on January 4, 1998. Wayne, whose real name was Presley Wayne Spriet, was chosen over 60,000 other performers to be named as "Young Performer of the Year" in 1996 by the Academy of Independent Recording Artists for his recording of the Conway Twitty song, "Can't See Me Without You." His body was found a short distance from his family home along nearby Marble Creek. According to county district attorney at the time, the wound "...was either self-inflicted or caused by an accident." An article from the Baker City Herald on April 23, 2006 recounts the story of a former manager of the once proud hotel. According to the article, Martin V. Hart purchased the establishment in 1941. Only five years later, Hart attempted to sell the property but the sale fell through. One year later, on July 28, 1947, the article reports that Hart "...committed suicide in his hotel room." Hart's wife, Sue, would take over the ownership and management of the hotel for several years following his death. While the article does not specifically state that the death occurred at the Geiser Grand Hotel, it does go on to pose the question, "...do you suppose Martin Hart's unhappy spirit is one of the ghosts still haunting these premises?" The Ghosts of the Geiser Grand Hotel Reports that multiple ghosts haunt the building date back years before the Geiser Grand closed its doors in 1968. In fact, the hotel has gained the reputation of being the most haunted building in the city of Baker City, Oregon and the local citizens take pride in their resident ghosts. Perhaps the most repeated tale of paranormal activity centers on the hotel's top floor. The third floor appears to be the site of a never-ending party, as staff and guests have reported hearing the sounds of a loud crowd laughing, drinking, and all around having a good time. For the most part, the accounts come from guests staying on the second and third floors and have even resulted in some of them calling the front desk in the middle of the night to complain about the obnoxious guests. When someone goes to investigate, the sounds will cease and the paranormal party will break up. At other times, people dining in the Geiser Grill will report seeing these party apparitions peering over the balcony, dressed in turn-of-the-age clothing. These sightings describe flapper-style party girls looking down at the restaurant guests though apparently hovering, as their torsos are visible while their legs are either transparent or missing entirely. Probably the most famous apparition said to haunt the Geiser Grand Hotel is that of the Lady in Blue. This ghost is said to walk up and down the grand staircase in the hotel in a long, lavender dress looking very much like the traditional Gibson Girl that personified the early 1900s. Startled guests have reportedly watched as the Lady in Blue climbed the staircase, only to disappear into a wall. The identity of the woman apparition is not known, but there is some speculation that she may be a former owner of the hotel. Yet another legend has it that the woman hung herself after her cowboy boyfriend was shot. Guests that have stayed in the Cupola Suite have reported feeling the presence of a female ghost that has sat next to them on the bed, accompanied by the strong fragrance of perfume. The magnetic lock on the door has also been known to malfunction consistently and has had to be replaced. Perhaps most interesting is the incident reported shortly after the hotel reopened after its restoration. A maid apparently went into the Cupola Suite for a routine check, despite the fact that the room had been unoccupied, only to find that the room was in total disarray. The bedding was pulled away from the bed, the pillows were across the room, and the ten-foot high curtains had been looped and twisted. There are a scattershot of reports of other apparitions including that of a little girl or child in the hall of the third floor that makes its exit by vanishing through a wall and even vague but intriguing accounts of a headless ghost. Yet other claims center on the Bonanza Room in the northwest corner of the hotel where a long-ago card game is reported to be still playing out. Staff members in the kitchen have also reported the presence of an apparently mischievous entity that moves objects around, sometimes before unbelieving eyes. Similar reports come from the 1889 Saloon. There, bartenders have reported seeing the beer tap be pulled down by an unseen hand and sensing a presence around them when no one else is in the bar. Finally, reports of strange orbs have been seen darting down the hallways and disembodied voices are a common report. During the restoration efforts, workers reported having their tools and equipment moved on them when they looked away. All of the ghostly activity did not come as a shock to Dwight and Barbara Sidway, who had similar experiences during the restoration of the famously haunted Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida. However, the Sidways have noted that the Geiser Grand's ghosts seem more joyful and playful than those they encountered at the Biltmore. In Popular Culture Shortly after the official reopening, the ghosts of the Geiser Grand Hotel attracted the attention of the Japanese television show, Unbelievable. In addition to reportedly capturing a glass moving on its own, the crew managed to pick up a ghostly straggler for their trip home. Episode director, Takayoshi Nakayama, returned to Japan and immediately noticed that his three-year-old son began carrying on a conversation and laughing with what might have been an unseen spirit. According to his account, the behavior lasted for about a month and then suddenly stopped. While the child seemed to enjoy his apparent guest, the director's wife was less than enthused. According to the reports, the episode was one of the most popular in Unbelievable's history, which says a lot for a show that attracts around 15 million viewers. It also made an impact on Takayoshi Nakayama who after 13 years of filming for the show, reports that his only personal experience happened at the Geiser Grand Hotel. In fact, it was such a remarkable visit that Nakayama and the show returned in September 2010 to again film at the hotel for a special episode of Unbelievable. The special, which aired on Fuji TV, visited the ten most interesting places in the world and was something of a retrospective of past places the show had visited. Ghost Hunts and Tours The owners and staff alike appear to have embraced their apparently permanent spectral guests and the establishment's haunted reputation. In fact, the hotel holds periodical ghost hunts for curious guests with the aid of some local paranormal investigators. Armed with the latest in ghost hunting technology, guests spend several hours participating in a ghost hunt on the historic property. For those interested in wanting to hear the stories, the hotel also offers the ghost tour, Haunted Historic Baker City. The walking tour takes guests through the paranormal stories of the Geiser Grand Hotel, as well as other reputedly haunted buildings in the historic area of Baker City. Both events are offered on occasion and it is recommended to check the events section of their official Web site (see Related Sites below). The Geiser Grand Hotel Today The signature structure of Baker City, Oregon is once again shining after years of neglect. The Sidway's restoration efforts to the historic structure have resulted in acclaim and even earned them the prestigious National Trust's Honor Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. Today, the Geiser Grand Hotel continues to be enjoyed by the citizens of Baker City, as well as the countless tourists that pass through its doors: whether attracted for its historical significance or because of its haunted reputation.

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Related Sites
Geiser Grand Hotel The official Web site for the reputedly haunted Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City, Oregon. The hotel offers periodic "ghost hunts" of the building, as well as ghost-themed tours of the historic area of the city.

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See Also on TheCabinet.com
There are no other pages on this site associated with this location.

Available from Amazon.com
Historic Baker City (OR) (Images of America)
Ghost Stories of Oregon
Coast To Coast Ghosts: True Stories of Hauntings Across America
Haunts of Western Oregon

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Images

Geiser Grand Hotel: The Signature Cupola

Photo of the cupola of the reputedly haunted Geiser Grand Hotel at dusk in Baker City, OR - 09/10.
From: TheCabinet

Photo of the reportedly haunted balcony at the Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City, OR - 09/10.
From: TheCabinet

Picture of the infamously haunted Geiser Grand Hotel from Main Street at dawn - September 2010.
From: TheCabinet

Picture of one of the Geiser Grand Hotel's Grand Rooms on the reputedly haunted third floor - 09/10
From: TheCabinet

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The above content is for informational purposes only. Before making any travel arrangements, it is highly recommended that you contact those in charge of the property to check for updated availability and hours of operation. While we do our best to keep this information updated, we cannot guarantee that it is completely valid and up to date. Any destination marked "Closed to the Public" is marked that for a reason and we discourage any visits or attempts to gain access to that facility. Similarly, take note of any "Travel Advisory" that may be associated with a destination. Finally, treat any location and its local residents with respect. Any vandalism and/or unruly behavior is completely despicable and only ruins the experience for future visitors.

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Chris Mosteller	Sep 08 2012, 11:08 AM UTC
I had a terrifying experience at this hotel the summer of 1999 when I brought my sales team to Baker City. I woke up on the third night to my legs being held straight up. I prayed "Jesus help" and then my legs lowered revealing a figure at the foot of my bed. It flew over me and through the wall.

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