Haunted History — Adelphi Hotel, Saratoga Springs, NY

The Adelphi Hotel

Address: 365 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

🏨 Historic Background

1. The current Adelphi Hotel building opened in 1877 as a grand Victorian-era hotel on Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
2. One of its early notable guests and owners was John Morrissey — former boxer, congressman, and co-founder of the Saratoga Race Course and nearby Canfield Casino.
3. Morrissey died at the Adelphi in 1878 and was reportedly laid in state in the hotel’s second-floor parlor.
4. Over the years the hotel fell into disrepair. In 1978, it was purchased by a couple who began a decades-long renovation, preserving key historic features like its mahogany staircase.
5. Today, the hotel has been revitalized and expanded, combining the original Adelphi with a nearby building to offer luxury accommodations and modern amenities.

Because the hotel keeps much of its original 19th-century structure and décor — wood floors, ornate hallways, antique furnishings — many believe it preserves the “spirit” of its past, fueling its ghost legends.

👻 Ghost Stories & Haunted Lore

• The Lady in Blue

1. Guests have claimed to see a mysterious woman dressed in a Victorian-era blue gown wandering the halls of the Adelphi.
2. The apparition appears to glide silently and does not interact aggressively, but repeated sightings have given the hotel a strong haunted reputation.

• Room 205 and the Former Occupant

1. A guest in Room 205 once reported that “there is someone sleeping in the bed next to me,” even though they were alone.
2. Room 205 is rumored to be where John Morrissey died, leading many to speculate that his spirit or spirits tied to him remain in the room and elsewhere in the hotel.

• Hidden Passages and Underground Tunnels

1. During renovations, crews discovered hidden rooms and underground tunnels beneath the hotel, possibly connecting to the old bank across the street and the casino.
2. These secret spaces have fueled theories that the hotel harbors multiple ghosts — possibly business associates, former residents, or victims of unknown tragedies tied to the hotel’s early days.

• “Lazy Ghost” on the Second Floor

1. On the second floor, people have reported seeing the impression of someone’s body on chairs, as if a person briefly sat down, only for the impression to vanish without anyone visible.
2. This phenomenon adds another layer of strangeness: subtle physical traces, not just full apparitions.

🎭 Interpretation — History, Architecture & Memories

The haunted lore around the Adelphi seems to draw strength from a mix of real-life history and the hotel’s well-preserved architecture:

1. The death of a historically prominent figure like Morrissey in a specific room gives a mortal anchor to the ghost stories.
2. The Victorian-era design, antiques, hidden passageways, and the sense of old grandeur evoke atmospheres that feel “ripe” for hauntings.
3. Renovations and restorations often awaken old buildings: workers sometimes report noises, footsteps, or odd sensations. The discovery of tunnels and hidden rooms amplifies imaginations and legends.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the combination of documented history, personal anecdotes, and atmospheric architecture makes the Adelphi a compelling case study in haunted-hotel folklore.

📜 Why People Still Care

1. The stories associated with the Adelphi — from the “lady in blue” sightings to haunted rooms and secret tunnels — continue to attract paranormal enthusiasts, local historians, and curious travelers.
2. The hotel is not just a building; it’s a time capsule — a preserved piece of 19th-century America, layered with tales of wealth, death, mystery, and perhaps restless spirits.
3. Even with modern restorations and expansions, ghost stories remain part of the hotel’s identity and charm, reminding guests that the past is never really gone.