Mount Washington Resort

Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

The Mount Washington Resort is a luxury hotel located just west of its namesake peak, Mount Washington, in New Hampshire. Known for its grand design and vintage elegance, the resort blends historic charm with modern comforts. Guests today enjoy high-speed internet, a full-service spa, fine dining, and year-round recreation, all while surrounded by the timeless beauty of the White Mountains.

The resort was the vision of wealthy coal broker Joseph Stickney, who invested $1.7 million in its construction. Work began in 1900 and took two years to complete, with 250 Italian artisans carving the intricate details that still give the hotel its character. The grand opening was held on July 28, 1902. During the celebration, Stickney stood before his guests and declared, “Look at me gentlemen, for I am the poor fool that built all this!” Sadly, he would not enjoy his achievement for long. Joseph Stickney died on December 21, 1903, only a year after the hotel opened.

The Princess

After his death, the hotel passed to his wife, Carolyn Stickney. She adored the property and spent her summers there, overseeing expansions and improvements. Under her direction, the fourth floor was enlarged, the Sun Dining Room was added, and a chapel was built in honor of her late husband.

In 1913, Carolyn remarried Jean Baptiste Aymon de Faucigny-Lucinge, a French aristocrat. Through this marriage she gained the title of “Princess.” When her second husband died in 1922, Carolyn once again became a widow, but her presence at the Mount Washington remained strong.

Carolyn passed away on November 2, 1936, leaving the hotel to her nephew, Foster Reynolds. The decades that followed were difficult for the resort. Income tax, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and World War II all took a toll on business.

The Mount Washington gained international attention in 1944, however, when it hosted the Bretton Woods Conference. More than 700 delegates from Allied nations met there to establish the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, cementing the resort’s place in global history.

A Resort and a Haunting

Today, the Mount Washington Resort is operated year-round by Omni Hotels & Resorts. The property includes two golf courses, a ski area, a spa, multiple restaurants and lounges, indoor and outdoor pools, and a 30,000-square-foot conference center. It is also a renowned destination for paranormal activity.

The most famous ghost is Carolyn herself, remembered by many as the Princess. A large portrait of her overlooks the lobby balcony, where she often stood in life. Guests and staff have reported seeing her spirit in that same spot. She is also said to appear in her former bedroom, Room 314, brushing her hair while seated on the bed she once traveled with.

Other reports of paranormal activity include the unexplained cries of a baby, phantom footsteps, disembodied voices, and mysterious scents of perfume drifting through the halls. Lights are also known to flicker or turn on and off on their own. These accounts have helped secure the Mount Washington Resort’s reputation not only as a luxury destination, but as one of New England’s most haunted hotels.