New York Ghosts

31. Hotel Chelsea

New York, NY

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222 W 23rd Street New York, NY 10011 Hotel Chelsea currently isn't open to guests - only to the 100 permanent residents who live there - due to the renovations that have been taking place since 2011. The place has been a favorite of artsy and creative types for many years, and it has a reputation for being incredibly haunted, especially since a few famous faces were staying or living at Hotel Chelsea during the time of their death. On November 9, 1953, poet and writer, Dylan Thomas, was becoming increasingly ill while staying at the hotel in room 206. That night, he was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital where he fell into a coma and died. He's known to make his presence known to guests with loud footsteps and by showing his ghostly figure. One woman claims to have seen his face in a mirror. Another famous celebrity said to haunt Hotel Chelsea is Sid Vicious, the British bass guitarist for the Sex Pistols. He started with the band in 1977, and not long after joining, he met troubled wild-child American groupie, Nancy Spungen. While they loved each other very much, drug addiction caused the two to become violent toward each other. When he parted ways with the band a year later, Sid and Nancy moved to Hotel Chelsea. In October 1978, Nancy was found dead in their bathroom in room 100 with a stab wound to her abdomen, and while some believe Sid did it, others believe that she was killed by a drug dealer or a businessman who was also staying at the hotel. Not long after her death, on February 2, 1979, Sid died of a heroin overdose. There are those who believe that the pair was reunited after their deaths, and that they haunt Hotel Chelsea to this day. Sid's ghost is typically seen by the elevator. Actor Michael Imperioli claims to be one of the many who have seen a ghost at Hotel Chelsea. While staying at the hotel in 1996, he reportedly saw the ghostly figure of Mary, who appeared to be so real that he said a few words to her. She allegedly stayed on the 8th floor of the hotel, but hanged herself after she found out her husband died on the Titanic. Mary is typically seen on the 5th and 8th floors, and is usually seen looking into a mirror or sitting down and crying. There are numerous reports of ghostly happenings occurring at Hotel Chelsea over the years. In addition to the sightings, guests have heard footsteps or were touched when no one was around, experienced cold spots, heard conversations when no one else was present, saw items fly through the air, and experienced lights and electronics going haywire. A guest who stayed at the hotel talked about the sinks going on and off and hearing a woman scream. Later she saw a ghostly figure that she captured on camera. If you get the chance to step foot in Hotel Chelsea, keep an eye out. With so many ghosts floating around and strange goings on, you're bound to experience something you never have before. Credit George Rypysc III http://www.flickr.com/photos/george3/2915754877/