If you’ve spent much time in the White Mountains, you’re probably familiar with the iconic red-roofed Omni Mount Washington Resort. Even if you’ve visited or spent the night, though, you might not realize the fascinating — and slightly creepy — history that lies behind this grand hotel.
The hotel now known as the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods was constructed between 1900 and 1902 by Joseph Stickney, who’d made a massive fortune in the coal industry. The hotel cost $1.7 million to build, a fortune that would equal about $50 million today.
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When the hotel opened in 1902, it quickly became a magnet for celebrities like Babe Ruth and the Vanderbilt family, and Stickney and his wife Carolyn threw lavish parties. The fun barely lasted a year though — Stickney died a year after it opened.
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Carolyn went on to marry a French nobleman but continued to summer at the hotel and to work on its expansion until her death in 1936. After some troubles due to the Depression and World War II, the hotel was sold out of the family.
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Rumor has it that Carolyn didn’t let go so easily though — she’s still suspected to haunt the hotel, and Room 314, in particular, is known to play host to spirits. The hotel has been featured on several ghost-hunting programs.
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It was in 1944, though, that the hotel earned a permanent place in history when it hosted the Bretton Woods Conference, where the current international monetary system, including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, was established.
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Much has changed since those days, and the hotel has been updated a number of times. Today it’s modernized and as grand as ever — upholding the legacy of the glory days of the grand hotels. It’s on the National Register of Historical Places, too!
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Prefer a weekend stay that’s a little cozier (and less haunted)? Check out these adorable inns.
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