Name: The Claremont Resort & Club - Berkeley, CA
Address: 41 Tunnel Road, Berkeley, California, 94705, United States

Claremont Resort Club Guest Room 768x512

Hotel Categories: California West

Hotel History

The site originally housed a large mansion (described as a “castle”) built around 1870 by William Butler Thornburgh.
After Thornburgh’s death in 1878, the property changed hands. Over time John Ballard acquired it.
On July 14, 1901, a wildfire destroyed the Thornburgh “castle” home.
In 1905, the land was purchased by the Claremont Hotel Company (investors included Louis Titus, Francis “Borax” Smith, Frank Havens, etc.).
Construction of the hotel was delayed by events such as the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and financial issues. It resumed and the hotel officially opened in 1915.
Over the years it had various ownership changes. Claude Gillum and his wife bought it in 1937. Later ownership included Harsh Investment Corporation, etc.
The building is large: currently about 276‑279 guest rooms, extensive gardens (22 acres), tennis courts, spa, etc.
It faced danger during the 1991 Oakland firestorm, but the hotel was spared (fire was stopped before reaching it).
In recent years, the property has gone through renovations, management changes, rebranding (dropping “Fairmont” in some references), etc.

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Haunted Hotspots & Reported Paranormal Activity

The Claremont Hotel is frequently listed among haunted hotels in California. Much of the lore centers on the fourth floor, particular rooms, and apparitions of children. Here are the most common claims:

Location / Room / Area	Reported Phenomena / Legend
4th Floor	Widely considered the most haunted area of the hotel. Multiple reports of flickering lights; TVs turning on by themselves; cold spots; extreme temperature changes.
Room 422 (4th floor)	Probably the single most often‑mentioned room. Guests and staff claim apparitions of a 6‑year‑old girl; they say she may have died in the fire or elsewhere on the property. Smell of smoke in a smoke‑free room is a commonly cited experience here. Also noises (voices, giggling), lights or electronics turning on, etc.
Elevators	Phantom elevator activity: elevators going to floors that were not requested; doors opening to floors even though nobody pressed the button; sometimes they refuse to move until something unseen “allows” it.
Smell of Smoke	Even in smoke‑free rooms, especially on the 4th floor, guests say they smell smoke although there is no fire or any obvious cause. Sometimes disappearing as quickly as it appears.
Children / Ghost of a Little Girl	One story is of a 6‑year‑old girl whose spirit is seen or felt; she is often described as peaceful – perhaps playing, reaching out, giggling, etc. It’s unclear whether she died in the old house that burned, or later in the hotel.
Strange Noises & Sensations	Doors slamming, running footsteps, scratching sounds, feeling of being watched, sometimes physical sensations (like sheet pulled, touches etc.). Some guests report sleep‑paralysis‑like experiences (awake/unaware) combined with strange sounds.
TVs / Electronics Malfunctioning or Turning On	TVs, sometimes lights/electronics, go on by themselves without apparent human interaction. Remote controls not working until something like an acknowledgment.