There’s no shortage of stories about hauntings in the Cornhusker State, but one of the most compelling is that of the Argo Hotel in Crofton, Nebraska, in the far northeastern corner of the state. While today it is known as a bed and breakfast rather than a hotel, inside those red brick walls is the kind of history you could only hope to find in a movie…but this is definitely real life. Keep those lights on, because this is one of the most haunted hotels in Nebraska!

The historic Argo Hotel is linked to the very beginnings of the town itself.
The Historic Argo Hotel/Facebook
The burgeoning railroad town was full of amenities in the early 20th century, but it was lacking a modern hotel to house weary traveling businessmen. In 1911, local businessman Nick Michaelis began construction of the new hotel.
In the following century, the building saw many changes and bore witness to countless events.
The Historic Argo Hotel/Facebook
The Argo was operated as a hotel for more than 20 years. In 1923 its name was changed to the New Meridian Hotel, a name it operated under until 1935 when it was sold and became the New Meridian Clinic. The health clinic was successful and helped countless patients, but many died within its walls, as can be expected for the time period.
The clinic was sold in 1962 and turned into a doctor's office.
Management/TripAdvisor
The doctor sealed off the second floor of the hotel and used the first floor for his offices and living space. He operated the business successfully for many years before he closed up shop and the Argo building was left abandoned.

In 1994, Sandra McDonald and Jerry Bogner, brother and sister business partners and natives of Crofton, purchased the building and painstakingly restored it to its original grandeur. They restored the building's rightful name: The Argo Hotel.
Today, this historic building is just as glamorous as it was a hundred years ago - though more modern now, of course.
Management/TripAdvisor
But its many renovations didn't shake loose the spirits which had taken up residence within the hotel's walls. After having been a medical building for such a long time, the building held on to many of its memories. The owners and guests have reported seeing many spirits roaming the hotel, but none of them were described as menacing or scary. They simply wander about as if they are still guests of the fabulous hotel or perhaps waiting for their appointment with the good doctor.
One of the hotel's most famous "residents" is Alice, a young woman said to wander the property looking for her little lost baby.
The Historic Argo Hotel/Facebook
Staff and guests have reported seeing Alice in the basement, eternally searching for the baby she will never find. A portrait found during the hotel renovations is thought to be that of Alice. No image is visible on the portrait, even in the bright light ... but if you shine a flashlight directly onto the portrait, the likeness of Alice will appear.

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During the renovations several years ago, something unusual was found within a wall.
The Historic Argo Hotel/Facebook
A burlap sack of bones was found inside of a wall, and at first, it was thought that these were the bones of a baby who had died in the building when it was a medical clinic. The owner buried the bones in the hopes of giving the little one some peace. The story of the bones, however, is not quite as tragic as it originally seemed. Rather than a baby's remains, the burlap sack actually contained those of an animal.
Still, ghostly experiences and apparitions have been part of the building's identity since its grand reopening as a hotel in the 1990s.
The Historic Argo Hotel/Facebook
Some of the most commonly reported occurrences include unexplained cold spots, doors closing with no apparent cause, pictures that move on their own, and wandering apparitions. No one has reported feeling threatened by the hauntings; they're just part of the building's background. Paranormal researchers have visited the building and concluded that it is, indeed, the site of paranormal activity.
The current owners embrace these stories and experiences.
The Historic Argo Hotel B&B/Facebook
Every year, the Argo Hotel hosts a spooktacular Halloween party, made all the more spine-tingling by the very real happenings and naturally spooky ambiance.
The Historic Argo Hotel B&B/Facebook
But whether you're looking for a comfortable night's stay, a hair-raising experience, or just looking to make a new friend...the Argo in Crofton has plenty to offer.
The Historic Argo Hotel B&B/Facebook

You can visit this bed and breakfast for yourself any time throughout the year, not just Halloween. Visit the Argo Hotel Facebook page for more information on this building’s history, booking a room, and more.

Many people have reported sightings and other experiences, but almost as many have said they experienced nothing out of the ordinary. Have you ever stayed in the Argo Hotel? Did you have any ghostly encounters while there?

If you want more ghostly hotel action, see our list of five haunted Nebraska hotels (including the Argo). Then, for even more (potentially paranormal) Nebraska sights, take a unique history tour.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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The Argo Hotel & Related Info

Courtnie Erickson | August 31, 2022

What are some other haunted places in Nebraska?

You may not know it, but Nebraska is home to all types of haunted, creepy, eerie, and downright scary places. The Alliance Theater is one of these haunted places in Nebraska that you’ll want to visit if you love a good fright. This theater was built in 1903 and was originally known as the Charter Hotel. While nobody really knows when the hauntings began, there are many reports throughout the years of people seeing shadowy figures and hearing footsteps.

Centennial Hall in Valentine is another haunted place in Nebraska that you may want to visit. This is Nebraska’s oldest high school building and it was built in 1897. While now a museum, people have reported seeing the ghost of a teenage girl who died when someone poisoned her clarinet reed. Today, people often hear music coming from the former music room even though no instruments are located inside.

What are some things to do in fall in Nebraska?

If you don’t love visiting haunted hotels in Nebraska or even telling ghost stories, there are still plenty of things to do and places to visit during the autumn months. One activity we highly suggest is to take a beautiful fall foliage road trip throughout the state. This road trip will take you along Heritage Highway, also known as Highway 136. You will begin in Edison and end in Brownville.

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