Is the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem Haunted? What I Found During My Stay

If you’ve ever wandered the cobblestone streets of Salem, Massachusetts, chances are you’ve stood outside the grand and stately Hawthorne Hotel—maybe even heard whispers about its ghostly past. As someone who investigates the paranormal with a healthy dose of skepticism, I couldn’t resist booking a stay and doing my own investigation. And to my surprise... I actually caught something.

Let’s talk about the history of the hotel, what’s been reported over the years, and what happened during my visit that made me raise an eyebrow—or two.

🕯️ The History of the Hawthorne Hotel

The Hawthorne Hotel opened in 1925, built on the site of the old Franklin Building, a commercial structure that once housed shops and community spaces. The hotel was named after Nathaniel Hawthorne, the famous author born in Salem and a descendant of one of the Salem Witch Trials judges—something that definitely adds an eerie little layer of irony.

But even before the hotel existed, the land it sits on was part of downtown Salem Common, a place steeped in centuries of colonial life, maritime trade, revolution, and yes—witch trial history. The hotel itself wasn’t directly tied to the witch trials, but its proximity to major historical sites like the Salem Witch Museum, Old Burying Point Cemetery, and the location of the original witch jail, puts it in the heart of Salem’s haunted geography.

🌿 Is It Built on Bridget Bishop’s Orchard?

This is a claim that pops up a lot on ghost tours and paranormal shows: that the hotel was built on Bridget Bishop’s orchard. While that’s a great spooky story, historians don’t believe it’s true. Her orchard was nearby—possibly behind what’s now the Witch Museum or near Church Street—but not directly beneath the hotel.

Still, being just steps away from where the first woman executed during the Salem Witch Trials once lived, and possibly walked, certainly sets the mood.

👻 Haunted History and Ghost Reports

So what kind of paranormal claims are tied to the Hawthorne Hotel?

• Room 612 is said to be the most haunted. Guests report lights flickering, strange sensations, and a general feeling of unease. Some claim to see shadows or feel watched.

• Room 325 also gets frequent mentions—people have reported faucets turning on by themselves, as well as footsteps in empty hallways.

• A woman in white has been seen wandering the sixth floor.

• Guests and staff alike have reported hearing disembodied voices, furniture moving, and feeling cold spots.

Despite these stories, there are no confirmed deaths in the hotel’s history—at least not in any public record. That doesn’t mean nothing ever happened, but there’s no documented tragedy like a murder or suicide to tie to these hauntings. Some people believe it’s the emotional energy of the surrounding area bleeding into the hotel itself.

🎤 My Paranormal Investigation: What I Found

When I booked my stay, I approached it the same way I always do: curious but cautious. My husband and I set up our usual tools—REM pod, voice recorder, and a couple of apps like Spirit Talker and Ghost Tube. During the night, we didn’t feel anything unusual. In fact, we both walked away thinking the place felt peaceful.

But then… I reviewed the audio.

To my surprise, I captured two clear EVPs—electronic voice phenomena that we didn’t hear in the moment. One sounded like a whisper, the other like a distant voice trying to say something. Outside noise or our own voices can explain neither of them. I was honestly shocked, especially since we thought we’d walked away empty-handed.

I’ll be sharing those EVPs in the video that goes with this blog post—be sure to check it out if you haven’t already!

🧠 Final Thoughts: Haunted or Hyped?

So, is the Hawthorne Hotel truly haunted?

I’ll be honest—I’m still not 100% convinced. There’s no tragic death on record, and a lot of the ghost stories feel more like residual energy than active hauntings. But the two EVPs I captured definitely made me pause. In a city layered with as much intense history as Salem, even places without direct ties to tragedy can carry the weight of what’s happened nearby.

Whether it’s haunted or not, the Hawthorne Hotel is absolutely worth a visit—especially if you're into history, ambiance, or just a really good ghost story. And who knows? You might catch more than just a good night’s sleep.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever stayed at the Hawthorne—or if you’ve caught anything spooky there. And if you want to hear those EVPs for yourself, don’t forget to watch the video linked below. 👻

Stay spooky,
Spooky Cat Lady