Built in 1872 in Cimarron, New Mexico, the historic St. James Hotel is considered one of the most haunted places in, what was once, the wild west.
Originally called the Lambert Inn, after its founder, Henri Lambert, the St. James Hotel was popular among lawmen and outlaws alike. A stopping point along the Santa Fe Trail, the hotel was frequented by cowboys, miners, and traders. By 1880, the hotel was doing so well, that Lambert added on guest rooms and the hotel quickly became one of the most elegant hotels west off the Mississippi.
This status, and its location brought guests such as Wyatt Earp along with his brother and their wives, Bat Masterson, train robber Black Jack Tom Ketchum, General Sheridan, Doc Holliday, Billy the Kid, Clay Allison, Pat Garret, artist Fredrick Remington, Governor Lew Wallace, and writer Zane Grey. The St. James was also host to Bob Ford, and his nemesis, Jesse James, who was a regular guest, always staying in room 14.
Buffalo Bill Cody met Annie Oakley at the hotel, and that is where they began their plans and rehearsals for their Wild West Show. They even managed to take an entire village of Indians from the Cimarron area on the road with them.
But not everything was beautiful at the St. James. It quickly gained a reputation as a place of violence, where it is believed that at least 26 men were shot and killed within its walls.
With the emergence of railroads, the Santa Fe Trail died. Shortly afterward, gold mining in the area began to dry up. The population of Cimarron dropped dramatically, and the hotel fell into disrepair.
In 1901, when Henri Lambert’s sons replaced the roof, they found more than 400 bullet holes in the ceiling above the bar. Fortunately a double layer of heavy wood prevented any bullets from penetrating through the upstairs floor and killing guests.
Henri Lambert died in 1913, followed by his wife in 1926. Over the years ownership of the hotel changed hands numerous times, until 1985 when the hotel was restored to its former glory. The St. James maintained its historical beauty, including 22 bullet holes in the ceiling of the dining room. Restoring the hotel did not, however, evict the restless spirits that live within its walls.
Several psychics have visited the hotel, and have identified three specific spirits, in addition to numerous others who just seem to pass through. On the second floor, you will find cold spots and the lingering aroma of cigar smoke, despite the hotel being a smoke free building.
Room 18 is said to be haunted by the ghost of Thomas James Wright, a cowboy who won the title to the St. James in a game of poker. He was shot from behind as he was entering his room, where he ultimately bled to death. This spirit is ill-tempered and does not like company. Over the years numerous guests died of mysterious circumstances while staying in room 18. Even a former owner claims to have been pushed down while in the room. Management has since padlocked the room, and no longer allow anyone inside. All the room houses now is a bed frame without a mattress, a coat rack, a rocking chair and bureau which has been made a shrine to the Old West. Sitting atop the bureau is a Jack Daniels bottle, a basin and pitcher, a hand of cards, an Ace Copenhagen tin, and several shot glasses. On the wall is a bad painting of a half-naked woman.
Room 17 is home to Henri Lambert’s second wife, Mary Elizabeth. Many believe she remains at the hotel as a protector, having given birth to her children in the hotel, and having died there herself in 1926. You can smell her rose-scented perfume in her room, and if the window is left open, guests will hear an insistent tapping until it is closed. Some have even reported seeing a transparent woman in the hallway.
A “dwarf-like” old man, nicknamed the “Little Imp” by hotel staff, is a mischievous spirit, often playing tricks on the staff. Objects will mysteriously disappear, then later be found in places they don’t belong. It is believed that other entities roam the halls, knocking items off shelves or walls, and causing electrical equipment to malfunction unexpectedly. Lights turn on or off by themselves, and many times cameras will fail to work inside the hotel, but work just fine once you leave.
Today the hotel features 13 historic rooms, named for the famous and infamous people who once stayed there. An annex with 10 additional rooms was also added to the hotel. With antique chandeliers, velvet drapes, thick carpets covering its old wooden floors, brocade wallpapering, and many of the original furnishings of the hotel, it’s like going back in time to the days of gunslingers and outlaws.
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