Alexandria Hotel – Haunted Los Angeles
The Alexandria hotel is situated in downtown Los Angeles. Opened in 1906, it was one of the most socially active restaurant and hotel in it’s time.
Serving the hollywood, political and social elite like Winston Churchill, Enrico Caruso, King Edward VIII and American presidents like Taft, Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt. Charlie Chaplin used to frequent the spot as well. After a few decades from it’s opening day, the Alexandria became a more desolate building.
Construction and expansion of the city was moving westward. Textile companies flourished in the city and little by little the nightlife and cultural mecca that was known to have existed in downtown slowly gave way to factories and runaways. It was evident that downtown Los Angeles started to become a wasteland. 102 years into the future, the Alexandria hotel is slowly rising from the ashes. Now, the downstairs has become a comedy club and bar, while the upstair units have been turned into lofts. Needless to say with all it’s history, the reconstruction and remodeling of the building has invited new activity to the building; but not of the social or political elite, more like poltergeist activity.
I was able to get a first hand report from one of the building’s tenants. They describe in a chilling inside as to the feeling inside the building and strange apparitions going on. What follows is a first hand account of the ghostly activity that goes on.
“…I have been living here for a while now and always sensed and felt a weird vibe in this bulding . It’s hard to explian but things just didn’t seem right here. This building has alot of definite negative energy as well as a long and vicious and troubled past . I looked it up and found out some pretty unsettling things that have happened here . So it is easy to see why extra spirts and guest would be hanging around. Alot of the rooms have been converted to lofts and apartment units. I currently reside in a unit which has since been converted to a small studio apartment . But before it was a unit occupied by James Cagney the actor … There are alot of units here converted that once belonged to actors and actress of the early days.
From what I have learned and know this was where the elite of the elite came back in the day to entertain and hang out so to speak. When I first moved here in early 2005 I had alot of weird and un explianable things that happened in my unit and throughout the building. I always wrote it off to an over active imagination and my mind playing tricks on me because of me learning the history of the bulding. But some things that have happened I have yet to find and anwser to or explian. I stll have a hard time sleeping at night and at times I feel like there is someone unseen to me still hanging around in my unit. I can just sense someone here. There was another time a while ago when I first moved in. Me and a good friend who didn’t like the idea I was staying here was checking out the ballrooms and other places in the building I had heard of. We went to a few since there are more than one in here. And I was totally mesmerized with the beauty of some of them. It was when we went to the ball room on the second floor something weird happened. I was walking through just checking it out with my friend we must have been in there about five or ten minutes. When I noticed my friend takeing off out the door and around the corner. I didn’t know who or what he was after but I do know what ever he thought he saw shook him up pretty bad. I asked him what he had saw and he swore up and down he saw a women in a 20’s type like dress standing there watching us and then when he went toward her she walked down the hallway around the corner and disappered. He said he called after her but she just kept walking. I never seen my friend look that shaken before to this day he won’t go near that ball room or in this bulding unless I am with him . The elevators in the building is another interesting story. The elevators have always been every since I have lived here rumored to be haunted. And ,sometimes whatever enity or spirts likes to ride to the ballroom on the third floor. I have been on there on more than one occasion trying to get to my floor. and without notice and out of no where the elevator will just go to that floor open and sit there like it is waiting on something or someone to get on. Sometimes it will just sit and sometimes it will open and shut and continue on it’s way to whatever floor you have chosen to get off on. It also likes to go to the legendary 9th floor which everyone that has ever lived here knows is haunted .It is titled the ghost wing and had that name way before I ever moved in here.Part of the nineth floor has been sealed off and noone can access it. For obivious reasons no one brings it up and talks about it because of all the weird and unexplianable things that people witnessed and happened when the wing was open.
I have heard alot of different stories but the wing is defitnley sealed off for a reason. There’s Rudolph Valentinos old unit which to this day is rumored to be haunted and alot of weird things to have happen in there. I have never been inside but a friend who lived across the hallway said he heard and expierienced alot of weird things living across the way from that unit and room. There’s also a weird vibe you get when you are up there. And, last but not least There’s the tunnels and dugeon underneath the bulding and the bar room which has since been turned into a comedy club. Those two places are defitnley, defitnley haunted you can just feel something there. And ,I never go into either for any reason or alone. I could go on all day about all the weird vibes and energys in the bulding I have expieriencd since living here…”
As the downtown Los Angeles renaissance continues, there is a feeling that Los Angles’ old phantom tenants are being displaced. Buildings and locations that have been condemned for nearly a century are now being inhabited. Ghosts, hauntings and such reports are on the rise in downtown Los Angeles.
Written by Javier Ortega - javier@ghosttheory.com
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Ive always wanted to check this place out. Sounds awesome.
Bryon,
The place is now some “micro lofts”. It used to be a hotel up until early this year.
I live about 2 blocks away from it and have a friend that lives there. It’s a creepy building
I REMEMBER IT WHEN IT WAS CLUB CARNAVAL A ALL AGES CLUB IN THE LATE 90S
I REMEBER WHEN THE DOWN STAIRS LOBBY WAS THE MAIN DANCE FLOOR AND THE SECOUND FLOOR WAS THE DJ BBOTH I HAD A FRIEND WHO USE TO DJ THERE AND ONE NGHT WHEN I WAS GOING UP STAIRS TO THE DJ BOOTH TO SAY WHATS UP TO THE DJS I NOTICED A LIL GIRL IN A OLD STYLE DRESS PLAYING HAND BALL ON THE HALL WAY I DIDNT THINK ANY THING OFF IT CUZ I NEW THERE WERE TENANTS THERE BUT WHEN I ASKED MY FRIEND WHAT THAT LIL GIRL IS DOING PLAYING UP STAIRS HE SAID WHERE NO ONE LIVES ON THIS FLOOR AND THERE ARE NO KIDS THAT LIVE IN THIS BUILDING I FREAKED OT AND TOLD THE SECURTY GUY WHAT I SAW HE SAYS ALSO U THINK THATS CRAXY TRY GOING TO THE NINTH FLOOR HE SAID HE WENT UP THERE ACCIDENTLY AND A OLD MAN WS UP THERE TALKING TO HIMSELF HE ASKED HIM HOW DOES HE GET DOWNSTAIRS CUZ THE ELAVATER IS MESSING UP HE GOT NO ANSWER SO HE WALKED UP TOWARDS HIM THINKIN MAYBE HE IS DEAF AND HE WALKED RIGHT TROUGH A DOOR HE SAID HE FREAKED OUT AND WENT BACK IN THE ELEVATOR AND IT WORKED AND AS IT CLOSED AND WENT DOWN STAIRS HE HEARD DONT COME BACK IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU AND A GIGGLE I TRIPPED OUT AND WAS A LIL MORE OPEN MINDED NOW BECAUSE I DONT BELEIVE IN GHOST THATS WHAT I THOUGHT
Paul,
I have a friend that currently resides there, since most of the building was turned into new lofts.
She has not experienced anything out of the ordinary, but I’ve heard of the infamous ‘lady in black’ that haunts the place.
I’ve been there multiple times, and I have to admit that the place feels creepy.
Thanks for the story!
I live in a building a block over, The Rosslyn Lofts, once known at the Million Dollar Rosslyn Hotel (not the regular Rosslyn Hotel, still across the street from it). The Alexandria is managed by the same company as my building and I actually got to park in it’s underground parking garage the other day. It was bizarre, not the first level, but the 2nd level that requires the use of a car elevator to get to. Interesting old contraption!
The place felt like some dingy cave! I’d love to explore the tunnels below the Rosslyn Lofts, apart of the old lost tunnels used during the prohibition days, I’ll have to ask my manager some day. He might take me down, cos he’s quite a cool guy and tells me all this great stuff about the apartments.
I have had a hard time finding out any details about the Rosslyn Lofts, I know it used to be managed like the current Rosslyn Hotel, available to anyone, run-down, full of poverty, drug use and prostitution. The inside construction is nearing completion and then they’ll be cleaning down the facade, which will be great to see it really come back to life.
Thanks for the article!
Michael,
Thanks for the compliment.
If you do get access to the underground tunnels. Would you invite us as well?
Joe and I have been trying to gain access to these tunnels for awhile now. No one seems interested in letting us explore.
Thanks!
-Javer
Sure! I’ll try to ask my apartment manager and see what his thoughts are. I’ve heard him talk about them (when I first moved in 3 months ago). I don’t know if there’s really anything ‘haunted’ down there, but it’s still incredible history of the old downtown Los Angeles, much like the OLD subway/train station underground, I believe around Broadway & 4th? I saw a program and the locale looked like the Metro417 lofts there (I think that’s what they’re called). It’s been awhile though!
Give me a couple weeks to see what I can do. Here’s some pictures I took of the apartment before I moved in (after cleaning it). http://www.flickr.com/photos/25397270@N07/sets/72157614090162191/
The top 3 floors were renovated to medium sized apartments, 700-1100 square feet, I think. Floors 3-9 are all micro-lofts, no bigger than, I think 3-400 square feet. They finish construction on them, most likely, within a month or so – I think they’re just tying up electrical and the finishing touches. The 2nd floor is the big mystery, there’s at least one large ballroom that is pretty cool, tho seemingly dilapidated. Lots of areas are sealed up and I’ve overheard lots of plans, such as an actual restaurant utilizing the 2nd floor space. We also have our laundry room up there. It’s an interesting building, and if you can dig up any history on it, I’d love to read it!
Michael,
Nice lofts. I moved from the PE lofts and into the NCT lofts.
I’m sure the tunnels are not haunted, but the history behind it is awesome. Getting a chance to explore would be ideal.
Keep us posted!
I just looked at their website and those micro lofts seem really affordable. Cool building Michael.
I lived at the Alexandria Hotel’s penthouse back in ‘05. And I was more scared of the dope fiends than ghosts. I do admit that there was something very creepy about walking down its long hallways (beyond the fly traps that hung from the ceiling).
Jay
I used to work at the ALexandria from 1974 to 1980, it was beatifull most of the rooms where decorated with the original pieces in furniture, huracane lamps painted by hand, chairs and sofas decorated with carved roses or lion heads, also lots of marble top tables desk and dressers. Each room had lots of pictures of movie stars from the silence movies also from the 50’s all this pictures where signed by
man i worked in that bldg when it was under construction and that was a shitty place the thing abot the elevator is tru that thinghas a mind of its own i didnt see no ghost i was in the club area also and it wasnt that bad i for sure would live in that place it run down i set up swing stages around that place for those that live near by if u remember seeing dudes in a stage on the sie of the bldg every body talked about that we set up some stuff on the roof and it took forever to get the elevator to get there i want to know what kind of stuff went down on the ninth floor if anybody knows what happened hit me i dontwant to hear no bs but i do want to know hit me up paulosr626@yahoo.com
Hello,
I am Interested in more sightings of the Lady in Black. I knew there was a little girl who haunted the Hotel, she was part of our Haunted House theme in The Palm Court Ballroom when I worked as an old dead man in the Haunted House back in 2006.
I remember when the first up date of the hotel happened in 1968. It was magnificent to see the old dining rooms with their Tiffany skylights.
Old LA has a lot of secret places.
Wow great story. . Javier Ortega you actuLly used to live at the PE Lofts? My security company is there. CHASE Protective. I’m now posted at the El Dorado Bldg soon to be lofts. It’s still under construction.
Okay, who ELSE used to work at the Alexandria in the late 70’s to 1980? I sure did and it was such a great place to work and live. Yep, the history behind the rooms is true. Many great stars stayed there. Many newer stars at the time stayed there also. I worked at the front desk, in the disco and in the restaurant. If any of you worked there when I did it sure would be nice to hear from you. The elevator always had a mind of it’s own and to some people the whole place seemed eerie. I thought it was great though! I was young at the time and made good friends. Some I wish I were still in contact with. The red staircase was actually the bottom part of the staircase in the movie Gone With The Wind. I wouldn’t doubt that some spirits still hang around there but I think it’s because there were so many personal things that went on “behind closed doors” as it were. I would be afraid to live there if I still lived in L.A. I got to meet lots of singers and stars. Everyone was so nice. Used to send down for things and then give me copies of their newest records. I actually had personally signed records but unfortunately lost them over the years.
If anyone remembers me (used to go by the name of Anali)let me know. That place was wonderful all those years ago then it went downhill and now it’s rennovated. Glad to see it’s being preserved in some way.
Merry Christmas to all!
@Nando
yea, I used to live at the P.E. Lofts. I moved down the street to Spring. Thanks for the comment.
@ Marilee (Anali) Gonzalez,
I think during the 90’s it was just a deteriorating building. I think they are done with the remodeling now. It looks good from the outside.
-Javier
Yes, I’m glad I didn’t live or work there during the 90’s. Sure would be nice to find some people who worked there when I did though. Ah well, life goes on and we pay the price for not keeping better track of each other.
Marilee
casper393@comcast.net
Oh, and by the way. I went in the tunnels once years ago. It was cool! I’m all about allowing ghosts in to whereever I am. Maybe that’s why I don’t get visited? They know I’d accept them right away. LOL!
@Pharoah, from what I heard (when I worked there) the little girl who haunted the hotel was the one who got stuck in the elevator. Now, I never heard that she did in it or even in the hotel, just that she got stuck in that old elevator and she is the one who gives it “a mind of it’s own”. LOL! I think some ghosts just like having fun!
Marilee
Hey Javier..
Went to the Alexandria last night to meet a few people and ended up wandering all over the hotel. Went to the top floor, 9th floor and both ballrooms. I didn’t really know the history of the hotel. When you go into the ballrooms, they definitely have a weird feel. After talking to the security guard, he said the Palm Court ballroom has been claimed to have “cold spots” and someone said they saw a man looking back at them in one of the many wall mirrors.
The other story he told me was about the ballroom on the second floor under the theater. Something about a lady being yelled at from behind an old locked door that is in the small hallway adjacent to the ballroom.
You’re right. It is a pretty spooky place. The hallways look like something out of The Shining. I haven’t been to the other hotel/motel/lofts that are in that area but I’d suspect that have the same type of feel with their own stories.
I plan on visiting the others as well now.
Bobby,
Thanks for the report.
The allure of the Alexandria is its history and creepy look. I’ve walked around the floors a couple of times during the Los Angeles “Art Walk”. Mainly because the architecture from the inside is really pretty. The ballrooms and basement is hauntingly beautiful. I’ve been in all ballrooms and did not experience any cold spots. Although I can see why someone would say that. That place is old, with a lot of drafts and windows.
-Javier
…lllaaaAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!
i really want 2 go there seems like a kool place for a ghost 2 b in
I had an experience in the main ballroom. I could feel something when I walk into it, So I told the security to turn off the lights and it was like something was drawn to me immediately. I felt a cold spot and my friend was siting next to me and he couldn’t feel anything, but I had goosebumps on my arms. I asked the security if they had an vents in that room he said No., so I know the place is very active with ghosts.There was a girl in there too and she went over to the spot I was and she didn’t feel anything.I guess what ever it was it wanted to communicate with me. I wasn’t afraid not at all. I might do that again. It was pretty cool.
I too used to go to the Alexandria Hotel back in the late 90s when it was an all ages club (Carnival). I can’t say I ever got a creepy feeling in the building but I do remember that we never took the elevator. Everyone took the stairs to get to the upstairs club. The club was held in two different rooms. The first one was very bright. As I recall it was a large white “ballroom” with large windows and high ceilings. It would get rather stuffy in there. The second room was dark and old. There were pipes visible on the ceilings and the room was quite large. I will admit that I am glad that I was not aware of its hauntings. I’m intrigued by ghost stories but a chicken when thinking of ever experiencing something myself.
I supposedly heard that one of the ballrooms had a kitchen/bar where one of the dedicated chefs was last seen there (i.e. disappeared and died there). I would like to know if that’s true and also the history of the man in black, lady there also?
Ahh, ok im kinda creeped out now…lol im from oregon and i was looking at this micro-loft unit….should i move in or not? LOL