How To Cope With Staying In A Haunted Hotel — My Experience Of The Eldridge, Kansas

Have you ever stayed somewhere that felt haunted, before you even knew it was? Here’s my firsthand experience at the Eldridge Hotel in Lawrence, Kansas, a stay that turned out to be far more spirited than expected.

“Haunted Hotel?” Isn’t That a Cliché?

I’ve always been able to sense atmospheres in places: old houses, historic sites, hotels, though for a long time, I assumed everyone could do this – and they just didn’t talk about it.

That misconception lasted until I began working with a spiritual medium who confirmed what I’d always felt: sensing energy and presence is a gift, not an overactive imagination.

The House in Lewes, East Sussex — A Hint of What Was to Come

Years ago, I attended a business meeting in a medieval house in Lewes, Sussex, UK.
While chatting with the owner, I kept hearing — quite insistently — that a woman had died on the narrow back staircase.

The owner went visibly pale when I asked about it.
He confirmed that, yes, a woman had been pushed down those very stairs by her husband in the 1800s.

That experience taught me something important: buildings have memories.

They hold what we might call Akashic Records — energetic imprints of what’s happened within their walls.

Houses have Akashic Records, too.

Mediumship as Part of Spiritual Awakening

As my spiritual journey continued, unusual experiences such as this became more frequent.

The last thing I ever expected was to be called a “medium,” but time and again, these encounters found me.

The Eldridge Hotel was one of those moments — a reminder that, whether or not we believe in ghosts, we live within a vast system of energy and consciousness.

When we begin to accept that, fear softens.

It’s understandable to be afraid at first — after all, we’re taught to fear death from a young age in Western culture.

But the more we understand energy, the more we can meet these moments with calm curiosity rather than dread.

The Cold Spot in the Corridor

In the Spring of 2011, to celebrate our wedding anniversary, my then-husband and I took our girls on a little road trip through Kansas.

We ended up in Lawrence for a couple of nights, booking dinner at a lovely Italian restaurant and a room at the Eldridge Hotel, unaware of its haunted reputation.

We were given a suite on the fifth floor, right at the end of a long corridor. As we walked down it, I suddenly stopped.\

Halfway along, I felt an unmistakable cold patch — warm on one side, warm on the other, icy in the middle.

“There’s a cold spot here,” I said to my husband. “Can you feel it?”

He laughed, shook his head, and kept walking, very much a “logic first” kind of man.

That’s when the voice began.

The Gentleman’s Voice

A genteel, polite voice — distinctly southern, distinctly military — began speaking in my left ear.

He told me there were many entities in the hotel and suggested I take care, especially with the children.

He spoke with such courtesy that I listened, though admittedly, it was unsettling.

I mentioned it again to my husband, who humored me by opening his laptop. “Let’s see what Google says,” he said.

While he typed, I became psychically aware of a figure in flames, running, screaming, moving up and down the corridor outside our door. Another presence felt darker still, though I couldn’t discern exactly what it was.

Moments later, my husband read aloud the words:

“The Haunted 5th Floor of the Eldridge Hotel, Lawrence, Kansas.”

Haunting Confirmed

Well. That explained the cold spot.

According to multiple websites, the presence of Colonel Eldridge is often felt, particularly in Room 506 (thankfully not ours).

Guests have reported:

• A water bottle cracking open in the night
• Air conditioners switch on by themselves
• Luggage shaking without explanation
• The Colonel’s breath steams up mirrors.

The hotel is apparently famous enough to have been featured on A&E’s My Ghost Story.

Clearing the Space

Luckily, I travel prepared.

I had packed some frankincense oil and a crystal, so I performed a quick energy clearing in our room.

Whoever had spoken to me — perhaps Colonel Eldridge himself — assured me he would guard the room that night and “watch over the little ones.”

Still, I found it hard to sleep. Much to my husband’s dismay, the bedside lamp stayed on all night.

Despite the clearing, I could still sense energy moving through the hallway. Words and fragments of songs seemed to drift in from under the balcony door with the wind — echoes from another time.

Not quite the romantic anniversary we had planned.

Another Hotel, Another Haunting

Later that same year, we drove to Charleston, South Carolina, to visit family.

Along the way, we stayed at a bright, modern Holiday Inn near Nashville, the last place you’d expect a haunting.

That night, I dreamed vividly of a young man entering the room with a bloody knife, desperate to tell me he’d been murdered. The dream replayed several times, as if he needed me to hear him.

The next morning, uneasy, I approached the front desk. “Has anyone ever reported hauntings here?” I asked. The clerk leaned forward, eyes wide.

“They’re here,” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder at her manager.

If You Ever Find Yourself in a Haunted Hotel

If you ever end up in a hotel that feels… different, here are a few things that might help:

1. Stay calm. Fear feeds chaotic energy; curiosity diffuses it.
2. Protect your space. Light a candle, say a prayer, or use cleansing tools like incense or essential oils.
3. Acknowledge the energy. Sometimes, all a spirit wants is to be recognized.
4. Rest if you can. Keep a light on if it comforts you. Sleep will come when your energy settles.

Haunted or not, every experience like this is an invitation, not to fear what we don’t understand, but to expand our awareness of what’s possible.

Have you ever stayed in a haunted hotel? I’d love to hear your story.

Learn More About The Akashic Records Readings I Offer

One way to grow your psychic ability is to begin to work with your Akashic Records. This expands the connection to your Soul through your Higher Self (aka your intuition).

If you are interested in an Akashic Records Reading, I always recommend starting with the Soul Star Reading.

This reading gives you 3 different immersive experiences of the Akashic Records: –

1. Connecting with your Divine Soul Blueprint (Soul-level gifts, talents, abilities).
2. Hearing about a Past Life that contains a karmic pattern ready for clearing (you’ll recognize this pattern in your present life).
3. Recognizing and clearing present life blocks and restrictions.

If you’d like to know about the different readings I offer on this site, start here>>

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