Like many historic buildings in New England, the Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa has developed a reputation for being notoriously haunted. Guests have reported ghost sightings, mysteriously disappearing objects, and strange visions of specters wandering through the historic hotel. However the resort isn’t Mount Washington’s only building with a collection of spooky stories. The Mount Washington Observatory, perched at the 6,288-foot summit of New Hampshire’s tallest mountain, has some unsettling tales of its own.
Founded in 1932, the Mount Washington Observatory has spent decades collecting weather data from one of the most extreme environments in the world. Scientists and observers live and work at the summit for extended periods, enduring some of the planet’s strongest winds, brutal temperatures, and rapidly changing weather conditions. While those conditions are challenging enough during daylight hours, spending the night at the observatory can bring an entirely different experience.
According to several observers, strange occurrences are not unheard of inside the building. During a segment on the Weather Channel’s Jobs Worth Weathering, meteorologists discussed the unsettling experiences reported by staff members, including doors and doorknobs moving without anyone nearby and elevators traveling between floors without being called. Some observers have even suggested that the spirits of mountaineers who lost their lives on the mountain may still be lingering around the summit.
The building itself can also make for an unsettling place to spend the night. When winds climb above 100 miles per hour, the observatory can shake, creak, and produce all sorts of strange noises. One observer described how the building’s movements and sounds can make nighttime particularly uncomfortable, especially when staff members have to venture outside onto the observation towers during the middle of a winter storm.
Mount Washington has a particularly grim history for hikers and climbers. More than 130 people have reportedly lost their lives on the mountain, and a cross near the summit commemorates two people who froze to death there. With such a long history of deadly accidents and extreme weather, it’s perhaps understandable why some observers believe the mountain has a few lingering spirits.
The overnight routine at the observatory is also an interesting one. Staff members have sleeping quarters equipped with bunk beds, and observers who are trying to get some rest can hang a sign outside their rooms letting others know that an observer is sleeping. According to the meteorologists, the staff eventually become accustomed to the constant howling of the wind, although noise from people gathering in the nearby living room can sometimes be more disruptive.
While it’s impossible to verify stories of paranormal activity, Mount Washington certainly has plenty of reasons to make people uneasy after dark. The mountain’s weather history is extraordinary enough without adding ghost stories to the mix.
On April 12, 1934, observatory staff recorded a wind gust of 231 miles per hour, setting a world record that stood for decades. Although that record has since been surpassed, it remains one of the most remarkable weather observations in American history. Between the violent winds, freezing temperatures, dangerous climbing conditions, and stories of unexplained activity, spending a night at the Mount Washington Observatory certainly isn’t an ordinary overnight experience.