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This week, on the sixth evening, we’re around the fire again talking about haunted hotels. I’ve stayed in many haunted hotel rooms, but one of the creepiest was the Haunted Hotel in New Orleans. (Yes, they simply call it the Haunted Hotel.) It was one of my first haunted excursions, and I probably didn’t do much research. I probably just googled ‘haunted hotels in New Orleans’ and there you have it.
This hotel allegedly used to be the home of the infamous Axeman serial killer of New Orleans. He was the property handyman, and they supposedly found a bloody axe in the hotel attic.
“Largely targeting the Italian population in New Orleans, confirmed reports have verified that The Axeman lived in the Hotel during the murders. Renting one of the back rooms in the slave quarters, The Axeman was the handyman of the property and led a very unassuming life.”
The decor was terrifying and alarming. The bedsheets were decorated with fake blood splatters. Everything felt icky, and I kept seeing shadows in the mirrors, and I swore I felt the bed shaking slightly. (I read later in the visitor’s log that this is a common occurrence.)
I was so afraid of the room that I didn’t even pull out my equipment to investigate, not wanting to know who was there, in case it was the Axeman. I just didn’t want to encourage any communication with him.
The vibe wasn’t great. It felt like I was intruding. Like staying at someone’s home where they feel obligated to host you - but they really don’t want you there. I remember feeling so tense, that I didn’t even put out any protective crystals, fearing it might offend them. I left the TV on all night, and the second night I straight up got high so I could sleep.
I’m not proud of how I handled it, but I definitely bit off more than I could chew with one of my first solo haunted trips. After all of that, most haunted rooms have been a picnic since then.
Would I do it all over again?
You betcha.
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Next week, we continue around the fire with even more haunted lodgings! I’m here for it, and I hope you are too.
Until then, thank you for listening to Spook Lit. I hope you enjoy this chapter—and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Audiobook: Ghosts and Family Legends by Catherine Crowe
Chapter: Round the Fire. Sixth Evening.
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All Spook Lit Audiobooks are public domain.
Hauntingly yours,
dreary dendrophile
