Is Grande Colonial a haunted hotel?
We can’t say for certain, but generations of guests and hotel staff have reported unexplained happenings throughout this historic La Jolla hotel.
It’s 2:00 a.m. The only sounds are the waves crashing along La Jolla Cove. The phone rings at the front desk. The staff sees the room number. It’s happening again! The call is coming from a room they know is empty. Welcome to the ghost stories of Grande Colonial Hotel La Jolla, one of San Diego’s most historic hotels and, according to some guests and longtime staff members, one of its most intriguing. For generations, stories of unexplained activity have circulated throughout the hotel. Hallways, stairwells, guest rooms, and even the kitchen have reportedly been the setting for mysterious encounters. Are they ghosts? Coincidence? Imagination? You be the judge. The good news for those intrigued by haunted hotels: most of the stories associated with Grande Colonial are more playful than frightening.
See the Unseen
A woman and her daughters stopped by the front desk during the summer of 2026 to ask if the Grande Colonial was, in fact, haunted. The mother had a few stories of her own to share from previous stays, stories that made the question feel rather fitting.
During one stay in our North Annex wing, an area long rumored to be one of the hotel’s most active, she and her family heard what sounded like people dancing in the room above them. The curious part? No one was staying in the room above.
But that wasn’t the only unsettling experience. The guest shared that both she and her sister, who was also staying at the hotel, had separately felt the unmistakable sensation of a woman watching over them as they slept. The feeling was so vivid that it startled them awake.
And then there was the dress. The guest had brought a dress with her and hung it in the closet, though she never actually wore it during her stay. After returning home, she unpacked her belongings and noticed that the dress had acquired an “extremely unusual” smell, her emphasis on extremely.
Was it simply an old hotel with an old soul? A trick of the imagination? Or perhaps something (or someone) lingering a little longer than expected? We’ll leave that for our guests to decide. But if you happen to hear footsteps overhead, feel someone watching from the shadows, or discover that something in your suitcase smells a little… extremely unusual after a stay at the Grande Colonial, be sure to tell us. We’re always curious to hear what (or who) you encounter.
Goosebumps in La Jolla: The Mysterious Empty Room
One particular private room with a remote entrance has developed a reputation for mystery.
The room has historically been a favorite of actors performing in local plays and guests looking for a little extra solitude. But according to hotel staff, it has also been the source of one of Grande Colonial’s most persistent ghost stories.
Late-night phone calls have reportedly come from the room…even when the room is unoccupied.
When staff investigate, they find the room empty and the telephone off the hook.
Who (or what) is making the calls?
That’s one mystery the hotel has never quite solved.
Ghost Sightings in the Hallways
Some of Grande Colonial’s stories involve unexplained sounds or mysterious phone calls. Others involve something much harder to explain: seeing someone who seemingly isn’t there.
According to one reported encounter, a couple dressed in formal evening attire appeared in a hotel hallway late one night.
The man was dressed in a tuxedo and wore a top hat, scarf, and carried a cane. The woman wore a cream-colored gown.
They appeared to be walking down the hallway when they turned a corner…and disappeared.
There were no nearby doors or windows through which they could have exited.
One moment they were there.
The next, they were gone.
Is the Room Empty? Or Not?
Another reported encounter involved a hotel employee who claimed to see a figure hiding behind a curtain.
When the employee approached to investigate, however, the curtain was lying completely flat against the window.
The window was closed and locked.
So who (or what) was hiding there?
Some have jokingly suggested that the mysterious figure could be the spirit of Groucho Marx, who was known to have stayed at the hotel in the past. If true, perhaps his famously mischievous personality has found a way to linger.
Of course, that’s part of the fun of a good ghost story: there’s always room for another theory.
Abigail & Abraham: Two More Grande Colonial Ghost Stories
Not all of the hotel’s reported paranormal encounters have been frightening.
Guests have described seeing glowing apparitions in their rooms, including one young woman who reported a soft presence with brown hair wearing a light lace dress. She believed the spirit’s name was Abigail.
Then there’s the story of a young boy who reportedly saw several miniature Abraham Lincolns jumping around his room, followed by a woman in white brushing his hair.
Could Abigail have returned for a friendly visit?
Or perhaps history, imagination, and a nighttime hotel stay simply collided.
Either way, these stories have become part of the folklore surrounding Grande Colonial.
Flying Pans and Paranormal Activity in the Kitchen
The guest rooms aren’t the only places where strange things have reportedly happened.
The hotel’s kitchen has also developed its own paranormal reputation.
Staff have reported stoves turning on and off unexpectedly, cabinets opening and closing on their own, and (perhaps most dramatically) a frying pan appearing to float through the air.
According to those familiar with the hotel’s history, the activity seemed particularly frequent during periods of renovation.
Since the opening of NINE-TEN Restaurant, however, reports of paranormal activity in the kitchen have reportedly become less frequent.
Perhaps the spirits simply approve of the food.
The North Annex Hauntings
The rooms above the bakery in the hotel’s North Annex have their own collection of stories.
Guests and staff have reportedly heard loud voices, heavy footsteps, and doors swinging open after the bakery has closed and the area is supposed to be empty.
The history of the space may offer a possible explanation…or perhaps it adds to the mystery.
The rooms were once apartments known for lively gatherings and wild parties. Could some of those spirited revelers have decided never to leave?
Today, the area is quiet and locked after hours.
But according to the stories, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s empty.
Is Grande Colonial Hotel a Haunted Hotel?
So, is Grande Colonial one of the haunted hotels in San Diego? That’s for you to decide.
There is no scientific proof that the hotel is haunted, and the stories you’re reading are based on reported experiences, local lore, and stories passed down through generations of guests and staff.
But there is no denying that a historic hotel with more than a century of stories has an atmosphere all its own.
Built in 1913 and located in the heart of La Jolla Village, Grande Colonial has welcomed generations of travelers, actors, artists, and notable guests. With history comes stories and, sometimes, stories take on a life of their own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grande Colonial
Is Grande Colonial Hotel haunted?
Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla is alleged to be haunted, based on reported experiences from guests and hotel staff. There is no scientific evidence confirming that the hotel is haunted, but numerous ghost stories have become part of the hotel’s history and local lore.
What are the ghost stories at Grande Colonial?
Reported stories include mysterious phone calls from empty rooms, apparitions in the hallways and guest rooms, unexplained activity in the kitchen, footsteps and voices in the North Annex, and sightings of figures including a woman known as Abigail and even miniature Abraham Lincolns.