Most Haunted Places in America: Hotel Del Coronado

The legend that surrounds the haunting of Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, California, just across the bay from San Diego, was once believed to be 100% truth, but for the past few years, there has been some debate as to who is actually haunting Hotel Del Coronado. Is it Kate Morgan, as so many have believed for over a century, or is it Mrs. Lottie A Bernard/Barnard?

Let’s start with a little history behind the Hotel Del Coronado; then we’ll discuss the theories of who is haunting this exquisite San Diego establishment.

Construction of the hotel began in the mid to late 1880’s, according to a news paper picture of the building before it was completed that reads “Hotel Del Coronado 1887”. The lavish hotel was opened in 1888 and is one of the only all-wooden structures remaining in California to this day.

Over the years, Hotel Del Coronado has opened its rooms to such notable celebrity guests as Thomas Edison, Charlie Chaplin, Vincent Price, Babe Ruth, L. Frank Baum and Reggie White.

Sixteen United States Presidents have stayed at Hotel Del Coronado – Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Regan, George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton, George Bush Jr. and Barrack Obama. That’s every president since Hotel Del Coronado was established except for six.

The Hotel Del Coronado originally housed about 350 luxurious rooms, located right on the beach. Numerous expansions over the years have brought the number of guest rooms to around 1,300, but one room holds a mysterious history in the Hotel Del Coronado – room #3312, also known as “Kate Morgan’s Room”.

According to Coronado legend, a stunning young woman requested a room at Hotel Del Coronado on November 24, 1892 – Thanksgiving Day. She announced herself as Mrs. Lottie A. Bernard – an assumed name for the true Kate Morgan – stating that her husband was en route to the hotel and would be joining her shortly. The story goes that she claimed to have stomach cancer, and that her husband was a doctor bringing her medicine to supposedly cure her ailment. But Mrs. Lottie A. Bernard (Kate Morgan) was actually pregnant.

She and her husband were scammers who ripped off people as they traveled the country.

Another story says she was waiting for a sibling to arrive, and that Kate Morgan was actually a lone swindler who used her indubitably good looks to swindle men out of their money.

Mrs. Lottie A. Bernard (Kate Morgan) traveled into the city after a few days, purchasing a pistol, among other less notable things (like seashells). Her expected guest never arrived, and on the next morning she was found dead near the beach outside of the hotel. It was declared a suicide; shot to the head.

According to the legend, her true name was discovered as Kate Morgan. Apparently her husband did not react favorably to her being pregnant, and this is why he never arrived at Hotel Del Coronado. It is said a bottle of quinine was discovered in her hotel room after she died, likely for the purpose of terminating the pregnancy.

However, a contradicting story has been unveiled, supposedly by the ghost of Lottie A. Bernard herself, actually spelled Lottie A. “Barnard”. According to Bonnie Vent, a research medium in San Diego, Lottie A. Barnard is not an assumed name, but actually the name of Charlotte Barnard (as confirmed by a City Directory Record from Detroit, 1890). The medium says that the ghost of “Mrs. Barnard” did not sign the registry herself, but rather the hotel clerk did, misspelling the name “Bernard”.

It wasn’t until this report came out that the identity of Kate Morgan was ever questioned. There is sufficient evidence to debate the ghost story of Hotel Del Coronado, including an article in the San Diego Union posted Dec. 2nd, 1892, stating that Lottie A. Barnard was witnessed on a train leaving Denver, bound for Coronado.

The witness was one Joseph E. Jones, he same man whose name was signed to the Hotel Del Coronado ledger immediately following that of Lottie A. Bernard. According to Jones, he did not tell the authorities of his account as he did not wish to testify in court; but it seems he had no problem telling the newspaper reporters.

The article also said that Kate Morgan was using the assumed name Kate Logan and was seen leaving her employer’s home in Los Angeles, CA the day before thanksgiving, therefore could not have been on a train from Denver.

Whichever story is true, either Kate Morgan or Lottie Bernard / Barnard is still making her presence well known at Hotel Del Coronado. The drapes in the window of room 3312 are known to move when there is no activity in the room; living being nor substantial air flow. The screens on these windows seem to fall off of their own accord and a mysterious glow is said to come from the room some nights when the room is empty.

In May of 1983, one of George Bush’s Secret Service agents, during the days of his Vice Presidency, is said to have stayed in Hotel Del Coronado’s room 3312 – for a short time anyways. He claimed there was a breeze, and the curtains were billowing out even though the window was completely closed. Later in the night, there was an eerie glow that enveloped the room. He was moved to another room shortly after.

As significant as this haunting of Hotel Del Coronado is, it is not the end of the hotel’s story of paranormal activity. Another room, #3502 (#502 in those days), is said to be haunted as well. Hotel Del Coronado’s own designer, E. S. Babcock, is said to have used this room to woo his mistress. Upon finding out she was pregnant, she also took her own life; much like Kate Morgan / Lottie A. Bernard. The body vanished shortly after, likely to avoid a scandal.

A multitude of Hotel Del Coronado’s guests have felt an icy chill outside the door of room #3502. Employees and guests alike have reported that the lights flicker.

Two women, two unborn children, two suicides… two restless souls who have departed this life, but have yet to depart the Hotel Del Coronado.

A particular staircase within Hotel Del Coronado is haunted as well, giving those who traverse its steps an uneasy feeling of being watched. Staff members typically make arrangements to work alongside one another, traveling the staircase in pairs to ease the uncomfortable sensation.

Moans are heard throughout Hotel Del Coronado, but these could be easily explained by the facts that the structure is entirely built of wood, and stands several stories high along the ocean side.

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3. The Haunting of the St. James Hotel
4. Bullock Hotel and Haunting Stories
5. The Haunting at Otesaga Resort Hotel