This 73-room hotel one block off Route 66 is considered one of Arizona’s most haunted hotels. Built with public funds during Flagstaff’s prosperity in 1927, it attracted Hollywood’s elite in the 1930s through 1960s. The hotel’s management not only acknowledges its haunted reputation — they actively encourage guests to try communicating with the ghosts.
The Cast of Ghosts
The Hotel Monte Vista boasts an impressive roster of spirits:
The Phantom Bellboy — John Wayne stayed here while filming in Monument Valley, and reportedly encountered this spirit: a bellboy who knocks on doors announcing “room service” before vanishing completely when the door is opened.
The Lounge Bank Robber — A bank robber bled to death in the lounge after a botched heist. He still haunts it, and staff report unexplained cold spots and the feeling of being watched near the bar.
The Elevator Attendant — An elevator operator who died on duty continues to assist guests, operating the lift between floors with no one visible inside.
The Woman at the Window — Room 305 harbors a woman who stares out the window at the street below. Guests in the room and passersby on the street have both reported seeing her.
The Meat Man and the Two Prostitutes — Room 306 was the scene of a double murder. The two women killed there continue to haunt the room, and their killer — known only as “the Meat Man” — also appears in nearby Room 220.
The Celebrity Apparitions — Witnesses report seeing Alan Ladd’s full apparition walk through the closed door of Room 309, which now bears his name. Room 306 is named for the two murdered women.
The Haunting
The rocking chair in one room rocks on its own. The fireplace occasionally lights itself without anyone near it. Hotel staff joke that they have more ghost stories than guest rooms — but the joke only lands because it’s essentially true.
Management’s Approach
The hotel embraces its haunted reputation completely. Management actively encourages guests to try communicating with the ghosts, and housekeeping staff are asked to share their paranormal encounters with the front desk. Attempting to have a ghostly experience here has become a badge of honor.
Historical Context
Flagstaff served as a base for Hollywood productions shot in the surrounding landscape — Monument Valley, Oak Creek Canyon, and the surrounding ponderosa pine forests. The parade of film stars through the Monte Vista in its golden decades left behind more than their signatures in the guest book.