Step inside the storied halls of the Hotel Alex Johnson, where nearly a century of elegance meets the unexplained. From the mysterious Lady in White to whispers in the corridors, every creak and shadow carries a story. Stay the night—if you dare—to experience South Dakota’s most legendary haunted hotel.

Hotel History

The Hotel Alex Johnson was built as Rapid City’s “Showplace of the West” by railroad executive Alex Carlton Johnson. Construction began in 1927 and the hotel opened in 1928; its Spanish-Tudor–style lobby and lodge-like stone fireplace remain signature features. Over the decades the hotel has hosted presidents, movie stars (including guests during filming near Mount Rushmore), and generations of travelers — and today it’s listed among Rapid City’s historic landmarks.

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Why it’s famous

The Alex Johnson is repeatedly cited as one of South Dakota’s most haunted hotels. That reputation has brought TV investigators and local reporters, and the hotel itself leans into the lore with a “Ghost Adventure” package and (previously) guest books at the desk where visitors record paranormal experiences.

Reported hauntings & hot spots

• Room 812 — “The Lady in White.” The most famous apparition is a Lady in White said to appear in or near Room 812; this is one of the stories most often retold.

• Alex Johnson himself. Guests and staff report sightings and unexplained activity attributed to the hotel’s founder, Alex Johnson.

• A young girl. Some accounts mention a child’s presence — a “young girl” apparition — reported in various parts of the building.

• Third floor / elevator stories. Reports include elevators stopping unexpectedly and noises or footsteps on upper floors (guests often single out the third floor in anecdotes).

• Lobby / mirrors / moving objects. Other common claims are fleeting figures seen in mirrors, disembodied voices, and items moving of their own accord. The hotel formerly kept (and advertised) guest accounts at the front desk.

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