Haunted Hotel San Carlos: Downtown Phoenix’s Most Famous Haunted Hotel

The Hotel San Carlos is one of the most haunted places in Phoenix — and one of the most iconic historic hotels still standing downtown. Built in the heart of Phoenix, the Hotel San Carlos opened in 1928 as one of the city’s most glamorous hotels. It welcomed celebrities, travelers, politicians, and performers during a time when Phoenix was transforming from a desert town into a rising Southwestern city. But behind the vintage charm and old-Hollywood reputation, the hotel has a much darker story.

A Historic Hotel Built Over Phoenix’s Past

Before the Hotel San Carlos stood here, the land was home to Phoenix’s first schoolhouse, Central School. That detail alone gives the building a strange layered feeling — old Phoenix stacked on top of even older Phoenix.

The hotel itself was considered modern and luxurious for its time, with elegant architecture, rooftop views, and a reputation as one of downtown’s premier places to stay. Its celebrity history is still honored today with a star walk recognizing famous guests who stayed there, adding a little old-Hollywood sparkle to the building’s haunted reputation. Then, only weeks after opening, tragedy struck.

The Death of Leone Jensen

One of the hotel’s most famous ghost stories centers around Leone Jensen, a young woman who died after falling from the rooftop in 1928. Over the years, her story has become part of Phoenix ghost lore. Guests and staff have reported seeing a woman in white, unexplained movement, strange sounds, and activity near rooms, hallways, and upper floors. Some believe Leone never left.

Ghost Stories at the Hotel San Carlos

The Hotel San Carlos has been linked to reports of:

• A woman in white seen inside the hotel

• Unexplained footsteps

• Knocking with no one there

• Cold spots

• Flickering lights

• Strange elevator activity

• Children’s voices and laughter

Whether you’re a skeptic, believer, or somewhere in between, the San Carlos has earned its reputation as one of the most haunted hotels in Arizona.

Why the Hotel San Carlos Still Matters

The Hotel San Carlos is more than a haunted hotel. It’s a rare surviving piece of old downtown Phoenix. In a city where historic buildings often disappear, the San Carlos still stands as a reminder of Phoenix’s glamorous, tragic, and ghost-filled past.

Experience the Haunted Side of Downtown Phoenix

Want to see the haunted side of downtown Phoenix for yourself?

Join Central Phoenix Screamix with Get Ghosted Phoenix and explore haunted landmarks like the Hotel San Carlos, the Orpheum Theatre, Westward Ho, and more.Come for the history. Stay for the ghosts.

Book your Central Phoenix Screamix tour here.