Address: 248 Reuben Memorial Dr, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Website: rocheharbor.com
A Resort with Deep Roots
Standing proudly in Roche Harbor on San Juan Island in Washington, the Hotel de Haro has been a centerpiece of the Pacific Northwest since 1886. Built by John S. McMillin, who founded the Tacoma & Roche Harbor Lime Company, the hotel was constructed around an old Hudson’s Bay Company trading post. Some of those original log walls, nearly a foot thick, can still be seen inside.
In its early years, Roche Harbor was a bustling company town with lime kilns, warehouses, and a close-knit community built around the industry. The Hotel de Haro quickly became both a retreat and a residence for notable visitors, including President Theodore Roosevelt, who once stayed at the property. Over time, it evolved into a luxury getaway and remains part of the Roche Harbor Resort, one of San Juan Island’s premier destinations.
The Spirit of Adah Beeny
Where history runs deep, ghost stories often follow. The most enduring tale tied to the hotel centers on Adah Beeny, the governess and secretary for the McMillin family. Locals and staff say Adah never fully left the resort after her death.
Her presence is felt in multiple parts of the hotel. Guests report hearing rustling clothing when no one is there, doors opening or closing on their own, and lights or appliances turning on and off without explanation. The lobby is said to be especially unsettling, with one visitor claiming her hands went numb upon entering. Employees over the years have described candles mysteriously relighting themselves in the McMillin Dining Room, while others have watched shelves shatter in the gift shop without any obvious cause.
Afterglow Vista and the Mausoleum
The ghostly lore stretches beyond the hotel walls. A short walk away lies the McMillin Mausoleum, also known as Afterglow Vista. Built in 1930, the mausoleum was designed by John S. McMillin himself as a symbolic resting place for his family, complete with a limestone table surrounded by stone chairs that hold the ashes of McMillin family members.
Adah’s ashes were eventually placed here as well, and many believe her spirit grew restless because of how her remains were handled. Some say her exclusion from certain family rituals left her spirit tethered to both the mausoleum and the hotel. Visitors to Afterglow Vista frequently report strange sounds, cold spots, and even fleeting figures moving in the woods nearby.
Sorting Fact from Folklore
Like many ghost legends, the story of Adah Beeny has been reshaped over time. Some versions claim she died tragically—pregnant and abandoned—but family accounts insist that those tales are false. What is consistent, however, are the experiences of guests and staff who feel her presence and witness unusual happenings in the very real historic spaces of Roche Harbor.
Whether the result of restless spirits, the natural creaks of an old wooden hotel, or the power of suggestion, the Hotel de Haro has become firmly established as one of Washington’s most haunted hotels.
Visiting Hotel de Haro Today
The Hotel de Haro is still open to visitors as part of Roche Harbor Resort, offering waterfront views, historic charm, and a chance to step directly into the past. For those who seek the paranormal, it offers an atmosphere where history and legend are intertwined—and where the unexplained often lingers just beyond the corner of your eye.
You should never trespass on property that isn’t yours without permission, and ghost hunting is dangerous, so always use caution.
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