Entry No. 30 — the Monterey file — filed under: hotel

La Playa Carmel

Built around 1905 as a stone mansion by painter Christian Jorgensen for his bride Angela (of the Ghirardelli family) before becoming a hotel, La Playa's original wing — the 200s and 300s rooms above the front desk — is what staff point to when guests report bathroom lights flipping on at night and running-water or rattling-pill-bottle sounds from an empty room. Whether the resident woman is a relative who drowned in the bay or one of the original mistresses is still argued over.

The move: Book a room in the original 1904 wing (or just a drink on the garden terrace) fresh off the hotel's $20M 2023 renovation, and ask the front desk which room numbers get reported most before heading up for the night.

• 📍 Carmel-by-the-Sea
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: Camino Real at 8th Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Official site · hauntedplaces.org

last checked: 2026-07-20