The Most Haunted Hotels in Atlanta

Posted: 01.08.2025 | Updated: 01.08.2025

Atlanta has long been one of the most prominent cities in the South. As its influence grew, many hotels were built in the early 20th century to house the wealthy businesspeople and celebrities who would visit The Big Peach. Today, some of those grand and extravagant accommodations are still around. However, a few are well-known for another reason: being a haunted hotel. 

With a population of half a million people, Atlanta has plenty of haunted hotels to choose from. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites that have the ultimate scary-to-fascinating ratios. 

If you want to check out some of the most haunted hotels and sights in Atlanta, book a ghost tour with Atlanta Ghosts tonight. 

What is the most haunted hotel in Atlanta?

There are three hotels and former inns that stand out from the pack of haunted hotels in Atlanta. First and foremost, there’s the Ellis Hotel, where the disastrous fire of 1946 occurred and took the lives of over 100 people. 

The Highland Inn & Ballroom Lounge also has many souls haunting its halls. Last but not least is the Village Inn Bed and Breakfast, which housed Confederate soldiers as a hospital during the Civil War. 

While each hotel’s spirits are unique, each has its own grim stories of death and catastrophe. 

The Ellis Hotel: The Site of the Deadliest Fire in U.S. History

The Ellis Hotel has been operating for over 100 years, first opening in 1913. The 15-story behemoth of a building was incredibly impressive for the time period and soon became the talk of the town. Before long, it was one of the premier places to stay in Atlanta. 

After a renovation in 2006, the hotel is still going strong, partially because it draws a specific kind of clientele: those wanting to experience otherworldly encounters. These experiences are with the victims of a terrible tragedy that occurred nearly 80 years ago. 

The December 1946 Fire 

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fires were a major concern for cities. Because of this, architects and construction crews started taking special precautions to protect buildings against fires, especially apartment buildings and hotels. 

The Ellis Hotel was one of these buildings, often touting that it was “absolutely fireproof.” This sentiment soothed the minds of the guests, and the hotel was booked to capacity on December 7, 1946. The guests included folks doing Christmas shopping, people wanting to see the latest Disney film, “Song of the South,” and several dozen high school students who were in town for a mock legislative session. 

The fire started at 2:48 a.m. in a third-floor hallway and spread quickly. The single fire escape went up in flames — trapping those above it. While over 400 firefighters responded to the disaster, their ladders could only reach the lower levels of the tall building. 

To avoid succumbing to the flames, many people attempted to jump over the alley to the next building over. Few succeeded. The next morning, fire crews determined that 119 people had died from the fire itself or from trying to jump to escape it. The Ellis Hotel Fire remains the deadliest fire in American history. 

These spirits still haunt the hotel to this day, with guests and staff hearing phantom screams at all times of day and night. People can also smell a sudden and powerful scent of smoke throughout the halls. 

Perhaps most chillingly, the fire alarms will sometimes go off at precisely 2:48 a.m.

The Highland Inn & Ballroom Lounge: Where Ghosts Don’t Respect Personal Boundaries

The original Highland Inn was built in 1927. The hotel and later event space had an eclectic design, combining a mix of speakeasy vibes with Art Nouveau. 

While the inn and lounge used to host everything from weddings to business galas, it was recently bought out and renamed Otto’s Apartment Hotel. Today, tenants are able to rent fully furnished apartments for anywhere between three to 12 months. In addition to renting out apartment spaces, local shops and restaurants also reside in the complex. 

While Otto’s website does not mention the building’s haunted past, locals can’t quite forget the stories they’ve heard of the spirits residing in the inn. 

Who Haunts the Highland Inn & Ballroom Lounge?

The Highland Inn started making a name for itself early on as a spectral hub. Guests who stayed would complain about feeling someone touch them, only to turn around (or wake up) and find no one there. 

This was just the tip of the iceberg, however. Guests also reported that they’d be walking through the hallway and experience a sudden, intense chillness in the air. Other guests would see strange shadowy shapes on the wall or hear disembodied voices and chilling sounds. 

One bar manager recalled when he was cleaning up after an event and had turned the music down to a whisper. As he went to turn off the lights to leave, the music suddenly blared, scaring him half to death. The creepiest part? He was the only one still on the premises. 

Village Inn Bed and Breakfast: Former Civil War Hospital

While the Village Inn Bed and Breakfast is no longer operating as a hotel, its spirits haven’t concluded their vacancy. 

Built in 1820, the hotel happily served guests a bed to sleep in and a warm meal for several decades. Then came the Civil War. Large, sturdy buildings were in short supply and desperately needed for the influx of soldiers. 

So, the Village Inn was converted into a hospital throughout the Civil War to treat Confederate soldiers. Many soldiers died within the walls of the inn, and they’ve been trapped there ever since. 

The spirits make their presence known by flickering the lights on and off and knocking photos off the wall. The original owner of the house, Reverend Jacob Stillwell, is often spotted throughout the property with a cigar in his hand. Even if they couldn’t see him, many of the former guests and staff would often smell his cigar smoke. 

Haunted Atlanta

While Atlanta has plenty of haunted hotels, there are also other landmarks around the city that are equally — if not more — haunted. 

The legendary Fox Theatre was a top destination for the upper class of the past, and today, many of their spirits have chosen to stay and enjoy the entertainment forever. There’s also the Saint Mark United Methodist Church, where spirits can be spotted through the stained glass windows wandering the pews late at night.  

If you’re a fan of that chilling sensation down your spine after spotting something you can’t quite explain, book a tour with Atlanta Ghosts. We’ll take you to the spectral highlights of Atlanta so you can see the sites for yourself. 

Interested in learning about other haunted hotels across the United States? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. If you’re dying to read about other haunted places in Atlanta and Georgia, be sure to check out our blog.

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