The Haunted Hotel Chelsea

Posted: 03.07.2025 | Updated: 03.12.2025

What do Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jack Kerouac and Jackson Pollock all have in common? No, it’s not the fact that all their first names begin with the letter “J.”

It’s because they all were guests of the Hotel Chelsea. 

Like the Big Apple where it stands proudly, Chelsea is a vibrant and colorful part of Manhattan which houses Chelsea Market and the Little Island, both favorite haunts of the many artists who call New York home. And the Chelsea Hotel was a favorite of artists and remains so to this day. 

Among the many famous inhabitants it houses, the hotel is also home to several ghost stories over the years, including the famous Mary the Titanic ghost. 

Keep reading on to learn just which of these ghosts call the Hotel Chelsea home today. After you’re done, we’re sure you’ll want to learn even more about the many haunted locations in New York City. The best way to do that is by booking an in-person ghost tour with our NYC Ghosts ghost tour. Happy ghost hunting!

Is The Hotel Chelsea Haunted? 

Considering the sheer breadth of guests who have stayed at this storied hotel, it’d be more crazy if the answer to this question wasn’t yes. And sure enough, over the years, the Hotel Chelsea has racked up plenty of stories, some of which happen to be ghost stories, too. 

Hotel History

The Hotel Chelsea, at first glance, might escape notice, at least in the city it lies in. One of a seemingly endless cadre of skyscrapers that dot New York’s skyline, this building was actually one of the Big Apple’s earliest skyscrapers. Constructed in 1884, it’s New York’s second oldest extant (still surviving) skyscraper. 

Originally designed as a co-op building, it was swiftly converted into a hotel in 1905, when that venture proved more profitable. Its low rent, Gothic architecture, interesting neighborhood and bohemian atmosphere soon attracted plenty of artists, writers, and celebrities. Artists drew more artists and the place became a cultural touchstone in the city. 

Among the many, many famous guests who have slept under the Hotel Chelsea’s roof over the years include Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, Mark Twain, O. Henry, the Grateful Dead (who played a rooftop concert here), Ethan Hawke, Tennessee Williams, and Stanley Kubrick. 

While it continues to draw a crowd today, some of the guests’ stays were less than pleasant and have become the stuff of notoriety. Nancy Spungen, the girlfriend of Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols, was brutally murdered here. Vicious was arrested for the crime, but died of a heroin overdose before the case could be brought to trial.

Dylan Thomas, the famous poet behind “Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night,” started his famous and fatal 18 whiskey bender here and photographer Billy Maynard was beaten to death at the Chelsea Hotel. Charles Jackson committed suicide here as well.

With so many infamous and bloody incidents having occurred here, it seems almost inevitable that the Hotel Chelsea would garner a haunted reputation over the decades. This reputation continues to this day, although a few ghosts are more commonly sighted than others.

Hauntings at the Hotel Chelsea

One of the most commonly sighted ghosts is known as Larry the Hipster Ghost. A charming name for a lovely fellow, Larry is known to be quite talkative, much to the annoyance of some of the other ghosts. 

He gladly chats with guests about his life, the lives of his fellow ghosts, and the history of the hotel. In fact, he may be the one responsible for the rumors that there is a secret chamber underneath the Hotel Chelsea, as many visitors have reported him telling them about it. 

There is also Nadia the Severed Hand Ghost. Nadia was an artistically inclined daughter of a wealthy silk merchant, whose family lived in the most expensive rooms of the hotel. 

After defying her father’s wishes by marrying a roguishly charming but poor songwriter, Nadia was given a sobering dose of reality when her new husband essentially abandoned her and her children by drinking heavily and shirking his duties. 

Returning to the hotel and her father, Nadia begged him to take her back in after cutting her off and disowning her prior. Her father accepted but under a few strict conditions. The first was that she gave up any dreams of becoming an artist, to be at the beck and call of him and her mother, and to take on work to bring in money for the family. 

Nadia’s Tragic End

The conditions proved too much for Nadia to live with as her daily life quickly became akin to Cinderella’s existence. Eventually, it proved to be too much to bear and, trying to lash out, Nadia sliced her hand off with an industrial pair of scissors. 

What was supposed to be a simple act of rebellion increased her pain a hundred fold and, without thinking, Nadia leapt from the high floor of her apartment, plummeting to her death below. Her ghost, to this day, is often spotted on foggy nights, sadly walking just outside the Hotel Chelsea, trying to come back home again. But, this time, her father is no longer there to open the doors up to her.  

Mary the Titanic Ghost 

Most notably, there’s Mary the Titanic Ghost (the colorful names of the Hotel Chelsea’s ghosts perhaps indicate the creative types it drew). Michael Imperioli, the star of The Sopranos and longtime New Yorker, has claimed to have met her and, to this day, remains horrified at the prospect of repeating such a meeting.

Mary, it’s said, was one of the passengers on the ill-fated cruise liner Titanic on its fateful voyage. According to a few sources, the Chelsea Hotel was one of the hotels that offered to house the survivors when they were rescued. Mary was one of the many passengers who couldn’t be consoled, despite the luxuries of the hotel, because she had lost her beloved husband when the ship went down. 

She went into a depressive state; barely eating, waking up only to fall asleep, and falling into long periods of harsh silence. This continued after the initial sinking of the Titanic and, eventually, it got to be too much for her to bear. She ended up hanging herself in a fifth floor hotel room, determined to reunite with her beloved, if not in life than in death. 

These days, unlike Nadia, Mary can be found in the interior of the hotel. Sometimes, she’s known as “the vain ghost” because she’s often seen looking at her reflection in some of the mirrors scattered around the hotel. 

Some think it’s because she’s trying to look her best the next time she sees her husband. However, if you’re tempted to compliment her, it’s best that you don’t. She’s known to be quite hostile to any strangers engaging her, which might explain why Michael Imperioli is still scared of her today! 

Haunted NYC

There are plenty of ghosts besides the ones we covered who are said to haunt the Hotel Chelsea. From a Great Depression orphan boy who’s said to kick guests’ shins before cackling and running away to a call girl known as “the Betty Boop ghost” because she dresses like the famous cartoon character. The spectral tapestry of the Hotel Chelsea is as vibrant as the many artists who have stayed there over the years. 

If you liked this story and want to learn similar tales, check out our Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. They spotlight other offbeat ghost stories all over the United States. Checking our blog is another good way to stay up-to-date with all the latest ghost stories and haunted spots in New York.

If you want to explore New York ghosts up close, a ghost tour with NYC Ghosts is the best way to do that. Our guides are knowledgeable and enthusiastic and can provide even more information on the area. 

Sources:

• https://hotelchelsea.com/history
• https://www.seegreatart.art/legends-and-lore-from-the-chelsea-hotel-in-new-york/
• https://bookriot.com/haunted-hotel-chelsea/
• https://chelseacommunitynews.com/2020/10/23/ghostly-guests-of-the-chelsea-hotel/