Bush House Inn - Index, WA

Tucked against the dramatic cliffs and roaring Skykomish River, the Bush House Inn in Index, Washington feels like a place suspended in time — and according to countless guests, not everyone who checked in has checked out. Built during the height of the Great Northern Railway boom, this small mountain inn has become legendary among paranormal enthusiasts for intense ghostly encounters, shadow figures, and restless spirits that seem especially active after nightfall. If you’re looking for one of Washington’s most authentically haunted stays, Bush House Inn is a must.

Brief History of the Bush House Inn

• The Bush House Inn was built in 1898 by Amos and Eliza Bush to serve railroad workers, loggers, and travelers passing through the rugged Skykomish Valley.

• Index was a booming railroad town at the time, and the inn quickly became a central gathering place for meals, lodging, and social life.

• Over the decades, the building functioned as a hotel, boarding house, and private residence before being restored and reopened as a historic inn.

• The inn retains much of its original structure, including steep staircases, narrow hallways, and antique doors — features often cited in paranormal reports.

Its long history of transient guests, hard labor, and frontier hardship is frequently pointed to as a reason for its lingering spiritual activity.

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👻 Haunted Hot Spots & Reported Paranormal Activity

Bush House Inn is widely considered one of the most haunted inns in Washington State, with activity reported by guests, owners, and paranormal investigators.

Most Haunted Rooms

• Room 4 – Often described as the most active room. Guests report:

  • Being watched while trying to sleep

  • Bed shaking or pressure on the mattress

  • Sudden temperature drops

• Room 5 – Reports include:

  • Whispering voices

  • Lights turning on or off

  • Objects being moved overnight

Hallways & Staircase

• Heavy footsteps heard walking the halls when no one is present

• Doors opening and closing on their own

• Shadow figures seen near the stairwell late at night

Apparitions & Voices

• Multiple guests have reported seeing a male apparition, believed to be a former laborer or railroad worker.

• Disembodied voices calling guests by name have been reported, particularly when the inn is quiet.

Paranormal Investigations

• Ghost hunters have captured EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) and unexplained EMF spikes throughout the building.

• Investigators often note heightened activity after midnight, especially in upstairs rooms.

💬 Recent Guest Reviews & Paranormal Experiences

While mainstream booking sites focus on charm and history, many guests openly share ghost experiences in reviews and paranormal forums:

• One guest reported being touched on the shoulder while alone in their room and hearing footsteps outside their door despite no one else staying upstairs.

• Another visitor described waking up to the sound of boots walking across the floor, only to find the hallway empty.

• Multiple reviewers mention the inn “feels watched” and describe an atmosphere that changes noticeably at night.

• Paranormal enthusiasts frequently praise Bush House Inn as one of the few places where something actually happens, not just a spooky vibe.

Even guests who don’t experience a full apparition often say the energy feels intense, especially compared to other historic inns.

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