The El Rancho Hotel – HauntedHouses.com
Paranormal Overview
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Individual_Haunted_Place_2_of_2 – HauntedHouses.com
ADDRESS:
1000 E Hwy 66,
Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 863-9311 * http://route66hotels.org
LOCATION:
El Rancho Hotel is located off Route 66, about one mile east of downtown Gallup, New Mexico. Route 66 runs right through Gallup.
DESCRIPTION:
“Charm of Yesterday, Convenience of Tomorrow.”
The 1936 El Rancho Hotel is described as “a large, rambling, rustic style building that revolves around a central three-story building containing the main lobby and early rooms. The El Rancho Hotel has a pitched wood shake roof, with several brick and stone chimneys. Below this is a smaller balcony on the flat- roofed entry vestibule portion.”
Walking into the hotel is a real step back in time to another era. The visitor is impressed by the Southern Plantation Style feel. A large portico is over the lobby area and balcony. El Rancho Hotel has a very dark but beautiful interior with vintage furniture. It is a fantastic example of a hotel with rustic, southwest lodge style with a 1940s’ feel. It is built of basket weave brick, random ashlar stone, and roughhewn wood, trimmed with dark wood wainscoting.
At the back of the lobby there is a glorious walk-in fireplace, made of brick and random ashlar stonework. On either side of the fireplace are two stairways made of split logs that lead up to the balcony that encircles the first floor.
Pictures of all the film stars and famous people that stayed here are proudly hanging on all the walls along the lobby balcony, enjoyed by present guests as well as spectral visitors apparently.
HISTORY:
In the 1930s’, Gallup enjoyed an economic boom due to an influx of tourists and the fact that moviemakers had discovered areas around Gallup that were perfect for film making. A well known director, D.W. “Griff” Griffith fell in love with Gallup as a film destination for westerns. Gallup was out in the middle of nowhere. So, to accommodate his stars and other production people, Griff and his brother, R.E. Griffin built The El Rancho Hotel, using the skills of Architect Joe Massaglia to fulfill their dream hotel.
This is how El Rancho Hotel became known as the luxury hotel of the movie stars and film production people who were filming westerns nearby during the thirties and forties, that lasted into the 1960’s. Westerns filmed here include: The Bad Man (1940), Sundown (1941), The Desert Song (1942), Four Faces West & Colorado Territory(1947-1948), Streets of laredo(1948), Rocky Mountain (1950), Raton Pass (1951), Fort Massacre (1957), A Distant Trumpet (1963) and The Hallelujah Trail (1964).
The El Rancho Hotel also benefitted from a large tourist boom. In the 1930s and 1940s through the 1960s’ a healthy amount of tourists as well stayed here because they were interested in the native American events taking place just across the street.
However, two events happened in the mid-sixties that were disastrous for the economic well-being of El Rancho Hotel; The new interstate Hwy and the discovery of other places to film movies. With the opening of Interstate 40, people didn’t use Route 66 much, causing a decline in tourists. Secondly, film makers discovered Colorado, and this state became the favorite place to make films.
El Rancho Hotel lost a lot of business and it’s property became a fixer-upper opportunity. In the 1980s’, The El Rancho Hotel went into bankruptcy and a date with the wrecking ball was being planned. Mover and shaker Armand Ortega came to the rescue JIT, bought this woe-be-gone property for 500,000 dollars. After spending another 500,000 dollars, he restored the property. Ortega was able to reopen The El Rancho Hotel in 1988. It got further protection after being added to The National Register of Haunted Places in January 14, 1988.
Beside restoring the original hotel, a separate motel with regular rooms was built on the property as well, which expanded the appeal to attract new guests looking for a regular room.
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS:
Special items and pictures from the past can draw back their former owners wanting to remember their experiences and memories.
(Custer House * Pittock Mansion * Battle of Little Big Horn Museum * The Rothschild House * Moss Mansion)
The walls on the 2nd floor landing of the original part of El Rancho Hotel have pictures of all the celebrities who stayed here.
Spirits who enjoyed Hotels and Inns while alive, like to check in permanently or for just a visit.
(Menger Hotel * Geiser Grand Hotel * Hotel Colorado * Flanders Hotel * Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel)
Actors, Actresses and crew members who filmed in areas around the hotel stayed here because of the luxuries provided.
Perhaps spirit of former tourists also like to visit.
MANIFESTATIONS:
The Spirit of John Wayne
The room named after him has had a variety of paranormal activity.
He has been seen walking across the front parking lot, dressed in a western outfit. He apparently is still staying and going to work on a film set.
The Other Guest Rooms
Unknown Spirits
Both staff and guests have seen strange, shadowy shapes of spirits that were going down the various hallways.
The Bridal Suite is also a hot spot; considered to be the most active room.
Apparently, a female spirit likes to peruse the Guests clothing, especially women’s.
Women’s clothing has been known to stand up by itself, like a female presence is holding it up to see what it would look like on her.
The door opens and closes at will.
Neighboring rooms of The Bridal Suite
Guests have reported activity that suggests that they are sharing a room with a spirt.
Objects move on their own. Doors have a will of their own.
Perhaps the lights go on and off, and perhaps the TV as well caused by a spectral enthusiast who is fascinated by both.
Some rooms that were once occupied by film crew members or actors, offer an early morning wake up call with the curtains or blinds opening early in the morning.
Room 506 – Spirit of a crew member or movie star:
“Rise and shine! Its 6:00 AM! Get up!” Apparently a spirit in here likes to open the drapes to wake up the guests sleeping here.
Balcony Around the Lobby
The pictures of all the movie star and other notables are also a draw from past spectral guests; perhaps stars remembering all their good times.
Laughing, talking, and footsteps have been heard by both staff and guests.
Lobby
For many years, living guests and staff report hearing sounds of footsteps and laughter in a lobby that was void of humans.
Also paranormal activity includes doors opening and closing, objects flying around and experiencing unexplained cold spots.
PARANORMAL FINDINGS:
Throughout the years, many personal paranormal experiences have been reported.
I was unable to find any hard evidence of activity that has been made public.
STILL HAUNTED?
Yes Indeed! While I couldn’t find any hard evidence made public, there has been plenty of personal experiences over the years. The El Rancho Hotel is considered a haunted place that has made it onto many online publications and in books as well.
The El Rancho Hotel management know who the guest spirits are and don’t want to bother them with annoying ghost hunters.
SOURCES INCLUDE:
The Ghost Hunter’s Field Guide, by Rich Newman, Llewelyn Publications, pg. 227, 2016 second edition.
UTUBE
youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOKaMKpEr0
youtube.com/watch?v=sg8joFIQ-hE * youtube.com/watch?v=fH8VgrrYmbw *
frightfind.com * house-crazy.com
route66hotels.org * hauntedplaces.org/gallup-nm/
wheninyourstate.com/new-mexico
voicesfromthegrave.wordpress.com
feralchatsblog.wordpress.com Jan 12th. 2016