PARKERSBURG - A travel Web site has recognized the Blennerhassett Hotel as one of the haunted hotels in America.
Bing Travel in an online photo collage has featured the historic downtown hotel as one of 10 haunted hotels in America. The company said the hotel offers something more than just a cozy bed - it offers a room with a boo.
Cecil Childress, general manager of the Blennerhassett Hotel, said the notoriety came as a complete surprise.
"It was absolutely a surprise," he said. "I can tell you people are becoming familiar with the historic nature and all the stories that have come out of the hotel."
The Bing Travel piece touts the hotel's "red room," which was renovated a few years ago into a meeting space. But Childress said the hotel still has plenty of haunts and ghost stories to share.
"There are easily eight, 10, 12 ghost tales associated with the hotel," he said. "We have several employees who have experienced things and have talked about them with folks. A couple of the stories have been published."
The Blennerhassett Hotel's hauntings and ghost tales have been featured in numerous books, and Childress said the city's ghost tour has continued to grow in popularity. Childress said the ghost tour has allowed the hotel to put together some overnight packages. Guests can still sign up for the haunted tour.
"We promote this info, and the ghost tour is really starting to take off. Guests come to enjoy the experience and pass the stories on," he said. "And when somebody writes about it, it is even better."
