Underrated Ghost Stories And Mythical Creatures All Over The World
Long Beach, California is really full of water-related activities based on its name. Unlike the busy streets of Beverly Hills, Los, Angeles, San Diego, and more, Long Beach is a bit more laid back and relax because it gives visitors a provincial feel and a small-town vibe.
Just like any other place, however, Long Beach is also known for its haunted Queen Mary Hotel. The hotel was initially an ocean liner and it sailed to the North Atlantic but it was later converted to a hotel. The Queen Mary Hotel has been dubbed as one of the most haunted hotels in the United States because a lot of people and staff have seen something or heard something that is just too spooky.
The Queen Mary Hotel. (Link: https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/the-queen-mary.html)
History Of The Queen Mary Hotel
The construction for the Queen Mary started in 1930 in Clydebank, Scotland but because of many financial problems due to the economic setbacks, the construction has been postponed for a couple of years.
It was supposed to be named Queen Victoria but after asking King George V on what to name the ship. When the Cunard directors went to talk to King George V they said that they decided to name the ship after England’s greatest queen and they were pertaining to the King’s grandmother. However, the king replied, “My wife (Queen Mary) will be delighted that you are naming the ship after her.” Thus, the ship was named after Queen Mary.
Queen Elizabeth tours the Queen Mary. (Link: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3610716/Queen-Mary-celebrates-80th-anniversary-maiden-voyage.html)
Queen Mary was a very extravagant ship as it had five dining areas and lounges, two cocktail bars, swimming pools, a grand ballroom, and a small hospital. The launch of Queen Mary raised the bar for transatlantic travel for the rich and the famous.
A photo of one of the cocktail bars at Queen Mary. (Link: https://www.allposters.com/-sp/_i10545486_.htm?jl_backfill=no&jl_cache_period=2h&jl_ctx=on_site)
The Queen Mary ship sailed for three years since its maiden voyage and became really popular for carrying celebrities from Hollywood, Royalties, and dignitaries.
Actress Elizabeth Taylor photographed at the Queen Mary Hotel. (Link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/articles/fascinating-facts-about-queen-mary-cruise-ship/)
The luxurious days of Queen Mary were over when she docked in New York last September 1939. For many years that followed during World War II, Queen Mary was used as a troopship. It was later dubbed as the “Grey Ghost” because instead of it having a bright, shiny, and classy color, it was painted with a camouflaged grey color. It served its purpose as a troopship because it was able to transport as many as 16,000 troops and was the fastest troopship to sail.
Troops being transported via the Queen Mary during World War II. (Link: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/760123243334493426/?lp=true)
After World War II, Queen Mary underwent retrofitting for 10 months in an attempt to restore it to her original glory. By July 21, 1947, passengers were again transported by the ship until around 1967. Sometime in 1965, because of the increasing popularity of air travel and because they were already operating at a loss, the Queen Mary was sold. On October 31, 1967, the Queen Mary departed on her final cruise and arrived in Long Beach California almost two months later.
Accordingly, on the day that Queen Mary was launched, an English psychic named Lady Mable Fortiscue-Harrison predicted the following, “The Queen Mary will know her greatest fame and popularity when she never sails another mile or carries another fare-paying passenger.” Indeed, the Queen Mary has become a popular floating hotel, an attraction in Long Beach, and a tourist spot.
The Ghosts At The Queen Mary Hotel
The Queen Mary Hotel was not only dubbed as one of the most haunted hotels in the United States but Time Magazine included it in their list of the top 10 most haunted places on Earth. There were reportedly 49 deaths in the ship.
Some of the ghost stories included that of an engineer who reportedly died in the ship’s engine room. An 18-year-old sailor was accidentally crushed in Door No. 13 of its engine room during a routine drill back in 1966 so staff and visitors claimed that they heard the boy screaming in pain.
A photo showing door number 13 at the Queen Mary. (Link: https://www.tripadvisor.com.ve/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g32648-d104802-i105635583-The_Queen_Mary-Long_Beach_California.html)
Another ghost that is frequently seen at the Queen Mary Hotel is a lady in white but it is unknown to whom it possibly belongs to. The lady in white is said to have been spotted at Queen Mary’s Salon. The lady in white is said to be dancing across the room while wearing a long gown. Men wearing suites, which were popular in the 1930s, have also been spotted by others.
A photo showing the Salon at the Queen Mary. (Link: https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g32648-d77621-i230232081-The_Queen_Mary-Long_Beach_California.html)
Also, children are seen in various parts of the ship especially at the 1st Class Pool. It is possible that they drowned at the pool while swimming. Also at the swimming pool are ghosts of two women who reportedly drowned sometime during the 1930s and the 1960s.
A photo showing one of the pools at the Queen Mary no longer used today. (Link: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g32648-d104802-i139221827-The_Queen_Mary-Long_Beach_California.html)
The most haunted place at the Queen Mary Hotel is the Stateroom B340. The room was featured on “Ghost Hunters” and “Most Haunted.” It has been claimed by many that there are a lot of paranormal activities here like there was someone knocking on the door in the middle of the night, bathroom lights turning on by themselves, the faucet turning on and off on its own as well, and covers of the guests’ bed being pulled off while they were asleep.
To those who want to rent B340 for a night, they will get to enjoy their haunting experience because the room has been equipped with a Ouija board, tarot cards, a crystal ball, and other ghost hunting equipment. It is unclear if the room is open for the ghost-hunting experience now but it was opened to the public this April 2018.
Inside Stateroom B340 at the Queen Mary Hotel. (Link: https://www.cleverlycatheryn.com/blog-posts/stateroom-b340-onboard-the-queen-mary)
