Most of us make the mad dash drive between Las Vegas and Laughlin to Phoenix without taking time to visit the historic town of Kingman, Arizona. Haunted Hotel Brunswick is nestled on Andy Devine Drive just down the road from the old railway station. Built in 1909, this three-story stone hotel was owned by two Irishmen, Mulligan and Thompson. They earned themselves quite a reputation in the Kingman area with the upscale accommodations they provided such as Waterford crystal stemware, solid brass beds, as well as electricity and telephones. 
A rift between the two owners in 1912 resulted in an unusual division of the property. A wall was constructed to divide the thriving hotel into two separate establishments. Mulligan featured a bar and twenty-five hotel rooms, while Thompson boasted a fine restaurant and an additional twenty-five rooms. The two gentlemen apparently understood marketing even though they had a falling out and had to divide up the hotel. The name of the establishment never changed, and business remained good for both men.
In recent years, the barrier between the two halves of the building has been removed. The historic hotel remains a popular resting spot for travelers who explore old Route 66.
A previous innkeeper told the MVD Ghostchasers crew about some of the difficulties he encountered with the Brunswick ghosts after he purchased the hotel. Early on, members of his family came down to breakfast and found they had yellow marks on their necks. They all had a good laugh about it—and the marks easily washed off.
He encountered some plumbing problems within the old building and thought he had the leaky pipes under control. But, one night the owner awakened to a loud hissing sound coming from one of the nearby bathrooms. He found a pin sized hole in one of the pipes that normally would not create such a loud noise. He was able to call a plumber to make the repairs, and credited the ghosts for warning him of the impending plumbing disaster.
Guests have felt someone tugging on their feet or legs in the middle of the night. Women have witnessed a small child in their rooms looking for someone to play with. The previous owner told us that he often found old pennies and coins lined up in stacks along the hallways and near the bar. He felt it was the spirits way of assuring him that prosperous times were on the way.
Recently, the new owner has had a few ghostly encounters of his own. He opened the door to the cellar and glanced down to the bottom of the stairs. He saw an outline of what looked like a man heading up the steps. He stood frozen as the spirit whisked through him and caused goose bumps to rise on his skin. He glanced again to see another ghostly outline heading his way, but quickly retreated back and firmly closed the cellar door.
He witnessed shadows in the dining area while doing his nightly paperwork near the bar. Music and sounds of 1930’s and 1940’s ballroom dancing have been heard in an adjacent room. The music stopped whenever he tried to investigate the source.
An underground tunnel system twists and turns beneath the hotel. The Chinese railroad builders used these catacombs to reach their neighborhoods and homes. The hotel staff said shadows are abundant in the 3am hour. Perhaps that was when the toiling shifts on the railroad construction began and ended. There is no end to the spirit activity one may witness at Hotel Brunswick. You may even find a lucky penny or two.
For more information on Hotel Brunswick
315 E Andy Devine Drive on Historical Route 66
Kingman, AZ 86401
928-718-1800
Read more about the Hotel Brunswick in my book:
SLEEPING WITH GHOSTS--A Ghost Hunter's Guide to AZ's Haunted Hotels and Inns
For more info: www.mvdghostchasers.com
Debe Branning nazanaza@aol.com
Comments
That sounds fantastic and moody. I've always wanted to ride Rt. 66 and this would be a great jumping off point. After a night there, I'd be in the mood to travel a haunted-looking highway...
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