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One of the oldest hotels in Idaho has a long and fascinating history. Enders Hotel & Museum is located in Soda Springs, Idaho and has been around for over 100 years. Doubling as a museum, visiting this hotel is truly like taking a look into the past. This historic hotel is one of those places you know is just brimming with stories. Along with being known as one of the oldest hotels in our state, it’s also known for something else. Enders Hotel is regarded as one of the Gem State’s spookiest haunts. Numerous guests have experienced some weird occurrences during their stay. Read on to learn all about this hotel’s fascinating past. You might find yourself wanting to book a stay just to find out what’s lurking there.
The magnificent Enders Building wasn't always a hotel. When it was first constructed in 1917, the building resembled today's malls.
It housed a number of businesses and it wasn't until the 1930s that the building underwent remodeling to become a hotel. The placement of the building in front of the town's famous geyser made it one of the most popular places in Soda Springs.
Located in the small town of Soda Springs, the Enders Buildings was quite the showcase.
The impressive building cost a total of $75,000 which was considered to be quite a lot a century ago. Not only was the building a place for businesses and restaurants, but it was also a social gathering place. Parties, balls, receptions, and weddings were all held at this grand building.
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The building has seen numerous owners over the years. It was in the 1970s that the hotel was turned over to new owners who began closing the stately hotel during the winter months.
During this time period, the hotel was considered a "no frills" place for working men to have a place to spend the night. The hotel was in desperate need of renovation, but there simply wasn't money to put into rejuvenating the once splendid building.
For awhile, the second and third floors were totally unlivable. This forced the owner to shut down the hotel portion of the building, keeping just The Enders Cafe and the Office Bar and Lounge open in order to bring in a tiny bit of revenue. In 1997, the building finally underwent renovation which cost a whopping one million dollars. This is the hotel that visitors can see to this day.
The second floor of the building contains the museum portion of the hotel. On display are fascinating antiques from the early 1900s American Frontier era. Photographs, guns, clothing, furniture, and more can be found in this quaint museum.
Looking at all of these artifacts from the past is really something. In fact, it's here on the second floor that many visitors have reported feeling a strange presence. The Enders Hotel is widely believed to be haunted, and it's hard to dispute that knowing that this place has such a long history. People have witnessed some of the museum's artifacts moving by themselves, voices, or even physical manifestations, as if the owners of the museum's items are simply revisiting their beloved things.
Some of the spirits are believed to be old employees, owners, or guests who loved the hotel so much that they decided to linger here in the afterlife. Other spirits are thought to be the manifestations of people who met untimely deaths in the building itself.
According to urban legend, a man was shot and killed in the hotel's bar area. Another legend says that a man died in the hotel when he fell down the stairs. These spirits have stayed in the hotel since it was the location of their demise.
This building has definitely seen a lot of people come and go over the last century, so it makes sense that this place is such a hotspot of paranormal activity. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it's undeniable that this historic hotel has a unique energy to it.
Would you stay a night at this historic hotel? If you love all things paranormal, you should definitely check out this The Most Haunted Restaurant In Idaho.
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