Entry No. 7 — the Seattle file — filed under: haunted
Mayflower Park Hotel
Built in 1927, the Mayflower Park is the oldest continuously operated hotel in downtown Seattle, sitting steps from Pike Place and Westlake. Staff and guests describe two resident spirits: an older gentleman tied to room 1120, and a prankster ghost blamed for shifting objects, odd sounds, and a vanishing mop bucket. The vintage Oliver's Lounge on the ground floor pours classic martinis under chandeliers.
The story
Built in 1927 along Olive Way, the Mayflower Park Hotel holds the title of downtown Seattle's oldest continuously operating hotel. From the sidewalk near Westlake, its cream-colored terra cotta facade and vintage brass trim look like standard-issue Roaring Twenties grandeur. Step inside, however, and you are standing on almost a century of unscripted weirdness that the staff doesn't hide, even if it doesn't make the glossy brochures.
The building is famous among local ghost hunters for two distinct long-term residents who never registered at the desk. The primary target is room 1120, where an elderly male spirit is frequently reported lingering by the bed or leaving sudden cold spots in his wake. Then there is the floor-roaming prankster ghost, widely blamed by hotel workers for shifting housecleaning gear out of nowhere—most famously making an entire mop bucket vanish—and rattling fixtures when the corridors go quiet.
If you are not staying the night to test room 1120 yourself, your best entry point is Oliver's Lounge on the ground floor. It was one of the first hotel bars in Seattle to re-emerge after Prohibition, and it still operates as a classic martini den tucked under crystal chandeliers right off the main lobby.
What it's like
Walk through the main lobby off Olive Way, head straight for Oliver's Lounge, and order a classic martini under the chandeliers. The bar looks out through large street-level windows onto downtown foot traffic, making it an ideal place to sit back, sip, and watch for unexplained chill spots or flickering lights. If you want the real insider update, visit the front desk during a quiet weeknight lull and ask if room 1120 is booked—the staff have heard the question a thousand times, but you might still catch a knowing look.
The move: Split a martini in Oliver's Lounge and dare each other to ask the front desk about room 1120.
- 📍 Downtown, Seattle
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 405 Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98101
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Bathtub Gin & Co. — Walk three blocks north into Belltown to keep the 1920s liquor tradition going inside a hidden former boiler room.
- Founders Club — Compare historic hotel ghosts and speakeasy vibes by visiting this hidden 30-seat bookcase bar inside the Fairmont Olympic.
- Tenzing Momo — Head three blocks down toward Pike Place to browse Seattle's oldest herbal apothecary after hunting for hotel spirits.
Good to know
Where is the Mayflower Park Hotel located?
It is located in downtown Seattle at 405 Olive Way, right near Westlake Center and about three blocks from Pike Place Market.
What ghosts are associated with the hotel?
Staff and guests report an older gentleman spirit attached specifically to room 1120, as well as a mischievous spirit known for moving objects, making odd noises, and once vanishing a cleaning bucket.
Can you visit Oliver's Lounge without staying at the hotel?
Yes, Oliver's Lounge is located on the ground floor off the lobby and is open to the public for drinks and classic martinis.
Is the hotel still operating under its original name?
It opened in 1927 and remains the oldest continuously operated hotel in downtown Seattle.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site · seattleterrors.com · frightfind.com
last checked: 2026-06-24