The Ghosts of the Biltmore Hotel

Posted: 07.29.2024 | Updated: 11.26.2024

The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Miami, stands as a beacon of opulence and historical significance. Since its grand opening in 1926, the hotel has played host to an array of celebrities, political figures, and socialites. Yet, beyond its luxurious facade and storied past lies a darker, more mysterious side. The Biltmore Hotel is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in Florida.

Why is the Biltmore Hotel haunted?

The Biltmore Hotel’s rich and tumultuous history has given rise to a plethora of ghost stories and paranormal reports. Guests and staff alike have recounted eerie experiences that defy logical explanation. Keep reading to discover the entities that dwell within the Biltmore Hotel, and to see some of Miami’s most haunted in person, book a ghost tour with Miami Haunts!

The Haunted History of the Biltmore Hotel

The Biltmore Hotel was the brainchild of George Merrick, founder of Coral Gables, and John McEntee Bowman, a New York hotel magnate. Designed by architects Schultze and Weaver, the hotel was inspired by Spanish and Italian architecture, featuring a magnificent tower modeled after the Giralda in Seville, Spain. The Biltmore quickly became a hub for the rich and famous, offering lavish accommodations, a sprawling golf course, and the world’s largest swimming pool.

In January 1926, the hotel debuted with an inaugural that made nationwide headline news. Shops piggie-backed off the hotel’s steam engine; every high-end brand opened up around the Biltmore. Coral Gables exploded in a matter of months.

The Duke and the Duchess of Windsor, Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers, Al Capone, The Vanderbilts, Bing Crosby, and most Presidents from the turn of the 20th century made the Biltmore their vacation home. The posh Biltmore has hosted weddings, world-class golf tournaments, a shelter for hurricane survivors, spa services, and served as the set for various movies and television programs such as Bad Boys, Shock Waves, CSI: Miami, Popi, and Miami Vice. 

During World War II, the Biltmore Hotel was transformed into a military hospital, serving as the Army Air Forces Regional Hospital. The once-glamorous halls now echoed with the sounds of medical equipment and the groans of wounded soldiers. This period marked a significant shift in the hotel’s history, as it became a place of healing and recovery but also of pain and loss.

The Mobster Connection

The Prohibition era brought a darker clientele to the Biltmore. The hotel became a hotspot for illicit activities as it was frequented by gangsters and bootleggers. Among the most infamous was Thomas “Fatty” Walsh, a mobster who used the hotel as his base of operations. Walsh’s reign at the Biltmore ended abruptly when he was murdered in the hotel’s 13th floor suite during a gambling dispute in 1929. His death marked the beginning of numerous ghost stories associated with the hotel.

People have reportedly seen Fatty galivanting around his room. The ghost of Thomas “Fatty” Walsh is perhaps the most famous of the Biltmore’s spectral residents. Many guests have reported seeing a portly man in period clothing roaming the 13th floor, particularly around the suite where he was murdered. Some claim to hear disembodied voices and the sound of laughter, reminiscent of the wild parties Walsh once hosted.

Others, particularly women, have gotten on the elevator and found their ride stopping unexpectedly on the 13th floor, with the elevator doors refusing to shut close and get them to their destination. Other folks have claimed that lights have a bad habit of blinking on and off on Fatty’s floor.

Fatty might be the most prolific and legendary ghost in the Biltmore, but he’s not the one.

More Hauntings at the Biltmore Hotel

Another frequently reported apparition is that of an elevator operator, who is seen dressed in an old-fashioned uniform. Guests have described taking a ride with this spectral figure, only to find the elevator empty upon reaching their destination.

Echoes of the Biltmore’s time as a military hospital lingers in the form of ghostly soldiers. Apparitions of men in World War II uniforms have been sighted in various parts of the hotel, particularly in the area that once housed the hospital wards. Some guests have reported hearing the sounds of marching boots and distant gunfire.

A ghostly woman in a white dress is often seen wandering the halls and grounds of the hotel. Legend has it that she is the spirit of a young bride who took her own life after being jilted at the altar. Her mournful presence is often accompanied by a chill in the air and the scent of gardenias.

Over the years, the Biltmore Hotel has attracted the attention of numerous paranormal investigators. Teams equipped with advanced ghost-hunting technology have conducted investigations, capturing unexplained phenomena such as EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena), cold spots, and anomalous EMF (Electromagnetic Field) readings. These findings add credence to the hotel’s haunted reputation and fuel the curiosity of those seeking to encounter the otherworldly.

Haunted Miami

The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Miami, stands as a monument to both grandeur and mystery. Its history, marked by periods of opulence, war, and illicit activities, has undoubtedly contributed to its reputation as a haunted location. The countless reports of ghostly encounters, from the spirit of Fatty Walsh to the phantom soldiers, weave a compelling narrative that continues to captivate and intrigue.

Check out our blog to uncover more of Miami’s most haunted locations, and to see them in person, book a Miami ghost tour with Miami Haunts!

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