Walking into the Lafayette Hotel Marietta, you discover a place where history and legend intertwine. Perched on the banks of the Ohio River, the hotel reflects the city’s riverboat past, its resilience in the face of tragedy, and its reputation for whispered hauntings that still draw curious travelers.
Rising from the Ashes
The story begins with the Bellevue Hotel, built in 1892 with 55 rooms, steam heat, and the modern luxuries of its time. That building was devastated by fire in 1916, leaving little behind.
Yet the site did not remain empty for long. According to The Marietta Times, “Rising from the ashes, the Lafayette Hotel that took shape would use part of the original hotel. The heavily damaged top floor was removed and two new ones built. The hotel was named for Marquis de Lafayette, who had visited Marietta in 1825.”
By 1918, the new Lafayette Hotel Marietta stood ready to welcome guests once again. Later expansions, including the Hoag addition in 1936, gave it the size and stature it still holds today.
Architectural Elegance of the Lafayette Hotel, Marietta
The hotel blends history with riverfront style. Immediately, as visitors enter, they are greeted by a lobby adorned with polished wood, chandeliers, and riverboat-themed décor. A massive ship’s wheel and other nautical details honor Marietta’s place in river travel.
Today, the hotel offers 77 guest rooms, each with unique period touches. Additionally, The Gun Room restaurant and Riverfront Bar & Grill carry forward its tradition of hospitality, while ballrooms and meeting spaces make it a hub for community events.
Haunted Stories and Reported Sightings
Over the decades, stories of hauntings have become inseparable from the hotel’s reputation. Guests often report strange experiences, which are always presented as lore or personal testimony rather than proven fact.
- Shadowy Figures: As reported by paranormal investigators and guests, dark shapes have been seen moving in hallways, sometimes vanishing when approached.
- Third Floor Activity: According to Cincinnati Ghosts, the third floor is often called the most active. Accounts of footsteps in empty halls and sudden temperature drops are known.
- Basement Lore: Guides from Hidden Marietta Tours report unexplained events in the basement, such as lights flicking on and off and restroom doors locking by themselves. Some even speak of three spirits said to linger there.
Whether fact or folklore, these stories add to the Lafayette Hotel’s mystique, making it a destination for both skeptics and believers.
The Lafayette’s Place in Marietta
The Lafayette Hotel Marietta stands as a community landmark. It has hosted weddings, banquets, family reunions, and conferences for generations. Its décor, artifacts, and architecture offer guests a chance to experience Marietta’s river heritage firsthand.
The combination of grandeur and ghost stories keeps the Lafayette firmly rooted in the city’s identity. Visitors are invited not only to rest here, but also to enjoy the surrounding area. But also to walk the same halls that have carried whispers of history for more than a century.
Plan Your Stay at the Lafayette Hotel Marietta
For those drawn to history, the Lafayette offers timeless character and a direct link to Marietta’s past. If the supernatural piques your interest, then its stories of haunted halls and shadowy figures are the perfect getaway.
Whether you are a history buff, a lover of grandeur, or hoping to catch a glimpse of a mischievous spirit, the Lafayette Hotel Marietta is the place to be. Where the past never truly fades.
Marietta’s past is shrouded in buried secrets and ghostly river legends. Dare to see it in a whole new light: read more here.
