The History Behind This Remote Hotel In Washington Is Both Eerie And Fascinating
By Jessica Wick|Published February 24, 2018
×
Jessica Wick
Author
Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island consists of 28 historic accommodations dating back to the late 1800s, ranging from cottages to classic hotel rooms. The onsite Hotel de Haro is Washington’s only continuously operating hotel, and it has quite a history.
The Hotel De Haro was built in 1886 by John McMillan, promptly becoming a popular hangout.
McMillin was a Mason, so you'll find a lot of Masonic details here. The 3 steps represent the three stages of mankind: Youth, middle age and old age. There's also a broken column that symbolizes the unfinished work we leave behind.
Of course, there's some rumored paranormal activity surrounding the mausoleum, particularly involving a woman named Ada.
Ada was a domestic servant of the McMillin family. In the 1950s, the new property owners found an urn containing Ada's ashes. The ashes were eventually entombed at the McMillan mausoleum, but not under Ada's name. Therefore, she has been spotted wandering the halls of Roche Harbor.
Former governess Ms. Beanning is also said to haunt the hotel, playing pranks on unsuspecting guests.
If you notice a candle is re-lit after it goes out or lights flashing when they shouldn't, it's probably her.
Haunted or not, Hotel De Haro is a beautiful place to stay, mausoleum and all. And our state is certainly no stranger to breathtakingly beautiful hotels.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.