Mineral Springs Hotel -Alton, IL

Step into the Mineral Springs Hotel, and you’re crossing a threshold where history, mystery, and the unexplained converge. Once a grand early-20th-century spa-style landmark built atop a natural mineral spring, the building now houses shops and occasional tours — but many still swear that the past never checked out. With tales of floral-scented apparitions, phantom footsteps in the cavernous pool area, and ghostly figures lingering in stairwells, this is a destination as much for ghost hunters as for history lovers.

Brief Hotel History

The Mineral Springs Hotel opened in 1914 at 301 E. Broadway, Alton, IL 62002, built by August and Herman Luer after they discovered a natural mineral spring on the site, believed to have healing properties.

Originally intended as an ice warehouse, the brothers pivoted to build a spa-hotel, bottling and shipping the spring water to 12 states. The hotel boasted over 100 rooms, bathing pools for swimming and lessons, and one of the largest pools in Illinois — reportedly drawing thousands in its heyday.

The hotel thrived through the late 1910s and 1920s, even hosting prominent figures. However, by the 1960s it began to deteriorate, closed by 1971, and later reopened in 1978 as a shopping mall and event space. Today it houses shops, oddities exhibits, the American Oddities Museum, and remains a central stop on Alton’s ghost tours.

👻 Haunted Hot Spots & Paranormal Activity Reported

The Mineral Springs Hotel is widely regarded as one of Alton’s most haunted locations, with many visitor reports and local lore swirling around several specific areas:

The Jasmine Lady

A signature ghost story features a woman known as the “Jasmine Lady,” identified by her distinct floral perfume. Many visitors report smelling jasmine unprompted near the stairwell, along with sightings of her apparition.

Abandoned Swimming Pool

The grand old pool area, once a highlight of the hotel, is among the most notorious paranormal spots. Guests and tour groups have reported cold spots, unexplained noises, and phantom figures near the empty pool basin, sometimes accompanied by taps or touches on the shoulder.

Clarence Blair (Pool Ghost)

One ghost said to haunt the pool region is Clarence Blair, an 18-year-old who drowned while taking swimming lessons. Witnesses over the years have described seeing a man in period attire standing by the pool before vanishing.

Hotel Bar Ghost (L.M. Harwood)

Another spirit folklore involves L.M. Harwood, who reportedly took his own life in the hotel bar after seeking a “cure” from the spring water — and now his presence is tied to the bar area’s lingering sadness and occasional sightings.

Cassandra & Other Legends

Other tales include the ghost of Cassandra, a little girl supposedly drowned in the pool and said to play with marbles around the old hotel corridors — though the historical basis for these stories varies by account.

Most Haunted Rooms or Areas to Request

The building no longer functions strictly as a hotel with overnight rooms, but if you’re planning a ghost tour or investigation, these areas are best known for paranormal activity:

1. Abandoned Swimming Pool / Basement Pool Area – frequent reports of footsteps, figures, and cold spots.

2. Stairwell Near the Jasmine Lady Haunting – the locus for floral perfume sightings and apparitions.

3. Bar & Crystal Room Area – associated with the Harwood ghost and ambient activity.

4. Corridors Around Historic Lobby – where groups on tours often experience odd sensations or sights.

Recent Guest Reviews

TripAdvisor haunted tour reviews:

• Visitors on the Mineral Springs Haunted Tours describe their experiences as “really neat… the pool area was the most active but the whole place was nice,” and recommend it to paranormal fans, reporting experiences “throughout” the tour.

Local tour accounts:

• Paranormal festival and tour events held at the building attract enthusiasts who come to hear ghost stories, participate in investigations, and share sightings — even in broad daylight.

Unofficial exploration reports:

• Ghost hunters and YouTubers document unexplained noises, shadows, and atmosphere in the old pool and lower levels, often pointing to the space as a “hotspot” for lingering paranormal energy.