A Ghost Story: The Most Famous Hotel in San Diego
I’ve often discussed my experience with San Diego. My first visit there and how surreal each sequential visit has been, I’ve had a history with San Diego even though my home is near Washington, D.C.
One of my most memorable moments was visiting the Hotel Del Coronado with a lady who was staying there. I had no idea at the time, but I was being invited into a bit of history. Hotel Del Coronado has been visited by Kings and Queens, Hollywood Celebrities and even one of America’s most famous ghosts.
In 1892, Kate Morgan checked into room 302 while awaiting her husband’s arrival to San Diego. It was thought for years that she killed herself while still a guest of the hotel. Her body was found at the bottom of a row of steps, gun in hand. The Legend of Kate Morgan by Alan May disputes this claim with very influential findings that include the fact that the caliber of the bullet does not match the gun she was found holding. The room is now numbered 3312 after renovations. But, Kate still roams around the hallway and makes “special” appearances in the room.
It’s legends similar to that one that excite me about a place. It doesn’t have to be a ghost story per se. It can simply be a story about a famous event that happened in the place where I am standing at the moment. I feel an instant bond. It may have happened in a different era altogether, but because of my presence I now have a connection.
Standing approximately five massive stores at the Hotel Del Coronado’s original Victorian Building, the expansive grounds include a California Cabanas and an Ocean Towers that sport a more contemporary feel. A most distinctive feature of the Del Coronado is the Ice-Skating by the Sea. An Ice Rink overlooking the ocean, a spectacular sight.
Hotel Del Coronado has the proud distinction of bearing the crest.
And I am proud to ever have visited its grounds.
Breaking tradition to observe 9/11 tomorrow, I’m writing this blog a day early. The next one will be back on track. That gives us a day to observe the tragedy that took place in 2001.
This entry was posted on Monday, September 10th, 2007 at 6:57 pm and is filed under The Most Famous Hotels in the World, Coronado, Hotel Del Coronado, Kate Morgan, San Diego.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.