It’s the perfect time of year to dive into the rich history of Santa Fe – a time to share ghost stories and explore places of significance…that just happen to be haunted. It is the season of Halloween, after all. Here are a few fun ways to learn more about this region’s history while celebrating the season.
La Fonda Historic Hotel
Though La Fonda’s current building was completed in 1922, it was the site of the original inn in the city, dating back to 1607. As such, the hotel has quite a history. Head over there for lunch or dare to book a room and stay for a night and visit the ghosts who have become famous in Santa Fe lore. There’s John P. Slough, Chief Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court, who was shot there. He’s been seen roaming the halls in his trademark long black coat. Then there’s the ghost bride, who has been seen in the elevators and in and around the bridal suite – she met an unsavory end when an ex-lover murdered her before her wedding. Diners in the courtyard restaurant have seen the distraught businessman who threw himself into when he couldn’t pay back his debt.
The Dark Side of Santa Fe
This ghost tour will take you on a fun, yet spooky walk through town. The guide, Stefanie Beninato, has lived in two haunted houses in the city and knows all the local stories. She’ll show you the best locations for ghost sightings and tell you the stories that happened inside the walls of those buildings. It’s known by locals as one of the most fun walking tours in Santa Fe.
La Posada
Like La Fonda, this hotel has a rich history of ghostly occurrences. It was built by Abraham and Julia Staab in 1882. They raised their six children there, but sadly, their seventh child died soon after childbirth. That, and a series of subsequent miscarriages left Julia heartbroken until her death at the age of 52. Though the hotel has changed hands over the years, there have been countless reports of employees and visitors witnessing the apparition of a woman in a gown, presumed to be Julia Staab.
For more information on where to celebrate the seasons in Santa Fe, follow the Olympus Rodeo blog.