Ghosts In Southern Oregons' National Monument!

As part of the Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" program, we visited the Oregon Caves National Monument.

Before we could even begin the cave tour, we became sidetracked by another sighting of an apparition in the Chateau!

Since moving to Grants Pass in 2008, we had heard tales of ghostly apparitions in the Chateau, but casually dismissed them as "tourist attractions."

Then last month, I sold a home to a couple who had experienced it "first hand." The gentleman was in management at the Caves for nine years, and a few years ago before retiring, he and his wife spent a night in the Chateau after it had closed for the season. This is a perk available to select employees prior to closing for winter.

They stayed in room 309, which connects by an internal door with the

"infamous" room 310.

They were awakened in the dead of night by the sounds of someone walking in the hall, and other noises. Knowing they were the only guests that evening, my friends arose to see if someone else had decided to also spend the night; They found no one!

Checking room 310, as the door between was unlocked, everything was in place.

I accused my friend of "repeating a line rehearsed for tourists," but he swore it to be factual. Later on I asked his wife about that night, and she repeated it verbatim. They said they were not frightened, but that the noises repeated often that evening, and they didn't get much sleep! Being professional people, and knowing them quite well, they made me a believer!

Researching the ghost story further, it is rumored that in 1937 a young couple was spending their wedding night in the hotel, and the bride caught her husband with a hotel employee, and took her own life.

Her name was Elizabeth, and employees tell of strange occurrences in room 310. Sometimes all of the room's furniture will be rearranged, or on rare occasions, even placed out in the hall. Guests have reported unpacking, and on returning from dinner, finding their bags have been repacked.

During our visit, we talked to several employees, and they shared what they knew.

This is a snapshot of a photograph they keep in the Chateau's office. It is a photo of the kitchen taken by a professional photographer. He was the only one in the room! This was back in the days when the negatives had to be developed.

If you look closely at the left side of the photo, you will see the reflected image of a woman. They call her Elizabeth!

This is room 310. One rumor is that Elizabeth hung herself from the pipe that is attached to the ceiling.

This is a view out the window of room 310. Another rumor is that Elizabeth dove out this window on that fateful night.

The staff also showed us room 307, where just a week ago, a guest returned to her room to find a ghostly figure of a woman sitting on the bed! They both left!

There have also been sightings in rooms 207 and 208. The staff told us that they have been visited by professional "ghost busters" who set up equipment, and monitored the hotel for a time.

There is also a death said to have occurred within the Cave, but that's another story.

The beautiful Chateau is six stories tall, with some rooms on the road level (4th floor) and, the 300 numbered rooms on the top floor.

This is a "must see" lodge, and if you can take the time, book a room.

Men by themselves should avoid room 310 however; because Elizabeth seems to be more agitated by their presence.

Make sure to walk downstairs late in the evening, because on occasion, the baby grand piano in the lobby has been known to play by itself, and the employees feel it is Elizabeth's way of welcoming her guests!

Please visit the Josephine County Historical Society's website for more information on the Passport To History program.

Below are the links to my earlier Josephine County Historical Society's Passport To History blogs.

Introduction Caveman Schmidt House

Blind George's Newsstand Grants Pass Historic Homes Tour

Historic District Tour Grants Pass Pharmacy Rogue Theatre

Hugo Community Church Haines Apple Tree Ament Dam

Grants Pass Cemeteries Pottsville Sportsman Park

Griffin Park Lake Selmac Granite Hill Cemetery

Pleasant Valley Cemetery Josephine County Bridges

Grants Pass Fire Department Reinhart Volunteer Park Wolf Creek Inn

Applegate Trail Interpretive Center Golden Townsite

Grave Creek Covered Bridge Robertson Bridge

Wilderville Store and Post Office Wilderville Cemetery

Granite Tombstone Quarry Merlin Park - Veterans Walk of Honor

Gotcher Cemetery Provolt Store Missouri Flat Cemetery

Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside

Rough & Ready Lumber Co. Pacifica, A Garden In The Siskiyous

Riverside Park Daily Courier Daily Courier "Boss" Voorhies

Barnstormers Theatre