Hotel Del Coronado is a unique red-turreted building across the bay from San Diego. Located on a beautiful oceanfront peninsula, "The Grand Old Lady by the Sea" has been a fashionable vacation destination since Victorian times.
Legendary Hotel Del Coronado is built.
Hotel Del was built by two businessmen with a dream in 1888. Elisha Babcock and Hampton L. Story wanted a hotel that would be the "talk of the western world." In the late 1800's the peninsula of Coronado in southern California was undeveloped. They purchased the entire peninsula, subdivided the land and sold the lots. They recouped their investment and had oceanfront property to build their dream hotel on.
The Hotel Del was a state of the art property in the Victorian era. New technology at the hotel included telephones, elevators, a fire alarm and fire fighting equipment. The hotel was one of the largest buildings in the country to have electric lights.
Surrounded by water on three sides, Hotel Del Coronado was promoted as a hunting and fishing resort. The hotel's chef was happy to cook the guest's catch of the day. In addition to sports were recreational activities such as swimming, boating, croquet, bowling, bicycling, golf, archery and fine dining. Several rooms were set aside for quieter pleasures, such as reading, smoking, writing, chess and music.
Wealthy travelers came from the east coast. It was a popular alternative to European travel. Rail was the advanced mode of transportation of the day. It took about seven days to travel across country. Wealthy people of the era would spend an entire season at the destination.
Ghost of Hotel Del
Kate Morgan is the most well known ghost of Hotel Del, but experts say that not all paranormal activity can be attributed to her.
Kate's story is a mystery that has never been solved. She had checked into a room, saying that she was meeting her husband. Her estranged husband never showed up.After several days the hotel was beginning to inquire how she would pay her bill. She went into town and purchased a gun. The next morning, her body was found on the hotel steps that led to the ocean. Her death, from a gunshot wound, is believed to be a suicide.
Kate had used an alias, so her identity was a mystery. Newspapers referred to her as "The beautiful stranger", and publicized her tragic story throughout Californian and the rest of the United States. Eventually her grandfather was found in Iowa. Her grandfather paid for her burial in San Diego, CA.
Suspected haunting by Kate Morgan includes tales of odd noises, spirited breezes, strange faces and the vision of a young woman in a black lace dress.
Landmark National Historic Hotel
Hotel Del Coronado is a legendary for it's stunning location and amenities. The hotel features beaches, a health spa, restaurants, lounges and more. Over the years the hotel has been a magnet for celebrities, movie stars, presidents and all manner of prominent people. Hotel Del Coronado in California is registered as a National Historic Hotel.
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