The Haunted Queen Mary (Long Beach, CA)
A Ghostly Maritime Marvel
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Ahoy, fellow fright fiends! I have a bone-chilling tale that's going to knock your socks off, or should I say, rock your boat! Tucked away in the sun-drenched city of Long Beach, California, a beacon of spectral mystery lies in wait: the Queen Mary. A ship turned hotel, this grand dame hides a plethora of ghastly secrets beneath her majestic facade.
Now, don't fret! While this frightfully fun hotspot is currently under renovations, I've got the low-down on all the hair-raising hauntings that will tickle your paranormal fancy. Ready to dip your toes into the icy waters of terror? Let's set sail!
A Hauntingly Historic Voyage
The Queen Mary, christened in 1934 by Her Majesty herself, served as a transatlantic titan for over 30 years. As you wander her hauntingly historic halls, you'll be taken back in time, surrounded by original wood paneling and portholes. But beware, mateys; you might not be alone!
Director of Marketing at the Queen Mary, Chris Wilmoth, confirms that this ship isn’t just any old cruise liner. It’s been known to harbor a supernatural crew that can make your stay, let's say, thrillingly terrifying. Whether you choose a ghost tour, a night in the infamous Stateroom B340, or a spectral investigation, you're sure to experience a chilling slice of the Queen Mary's haunted history.
Meet the Ghostly Guests of the Queen Mary
Our spectral exploration commences with the infamous Stateroom B340. With a history drenched in mystery and the macabre, it was notorious even before the ship opened as a hotel. The ill-fated British passenger Walter J. Adamson breathed his last in this room in 1948 under unknown circumstances. Later, a woman woke to find a spectral figure at her bed's foot and bed covers mysteriously removed. Eerie nocturnal knocks, lights flickering unbidden, and an unwelcome spectral presence has given this room an undeniable chill. Although the room was sealed off for a time, it has since reopened, luring the brave and the curious for a truly terror-filled stay.
Then there's the Mauretania Room, the scene of an uncanny event in 1989. Two women, sent to clean the room, were left gobsmacked when they found a stoic passenger, who promptly faded into thin air when approached. One moment he was there, the next, poof! As solid as sea fog, yet as ephemeral as a phantom breeze.
We sail onwards to the Mayfair Room, previously the ship's beauty salon, now serving as the hotel's offices. In 2001, an early riser from the accounting staff encountered an unusual coldness, felt an unseen presence brush past her chair, and witnessed a transparent figure in white glide across the room, and disappear through a door. It was a typical office morning—just with a sprinkle of spectral spice.
Spectral Sightings at the Swimming Pool and Beyond
Not even the First Class Swimming Pool, a now-abandoned vestige of luxury, is exempt from paranormal proclivities. Here, multiple apparitions have been sighted: a young woman in a tennis skirt descending the stairs and disappearing behind a pillar, a woman in an old wedding gown with a little boy in a suit, and a puff of steam that materializes into a little girl in a blue and white dress, only to vanish into thin air. Swimming, it appears, remains a favored pastime for these spectral swimmers.
Journey into the bowels of the ship, and you might just run into the specter of a little girl in Boiler Room #4. Sometimes seen with a doll in hand, other times sucking her thumb, she adds an eerie layer to the gloomy, mechanical backdrop of this area.
Finally, we have the macabre tale of Hatch Door #13, an unfortunate site that witnessed the crushing demise of a young crewman. Visitors report hearing phantom footsteps, the sound of running, and distant whistling, while others have encountered a figure of a bearded man in blue coveralls, eerily resembling the crewman who met his untimely end.
So, there you have it, thrill-seekers—a haunted ship filled to the brim with spectral secrets and ghoulish guests. Each creaking door, each flickering light in the Queen Mary hides a tale that's enough to make your skin crawl. If you're craving an otherworldly adventure, remember, the Queen Mary is eagerly awaiting your visit. Or as we say in the business of the bizarre and beyond, "Bone Voyage!"
