Alton's 1914 Spa Hotel and Paranormal Research Center
301 E Broadway, Alton, IL 62002
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Walking tours depart from the building April-November. Check altonhauntings.com for current pricing. The American Oddities Museum inside the building charges separate admission.
Access
Limited Access
Historic building; mix of paved sidewalk and interior stairs
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1914 · Illinois Mineral Spring History · Alton Heritage · Paranormal Research Center
The Luer Brothers began construction at the 301 E Broadway site in 1914 as an ice warehouse for their meat-packing operation. Workers drilling into the foundation struck a natural spring — a discovery that redirected the project entirely. The early 20th century was the peak era of mineral water health tourism, and Alton, already a Mississippi River town with a documented history of tragedy and violence, presented a commercially viable combination.
The hotel and spa that opened on the site attracted guests seeking the supposed therapeutic benefits of the mineral spring. The building included a basement-level swimming pool, a bar, multiple guest floors, and the mineral spring itself.
Over subsequent decades the property changed hands and functions. Troy Taylor, author of Haunted Alton and one of the most prominent figures in Illinois paranormal documentation, established his American Hauntings operation at the building, using it as the departure point for his award-winning walking tours and as home to the American Oddities Museum.
Sources
The figure known as the Jasmine Lady has been reported by multiple independent witnesses over decades. Visitors and staff detect a strong jasmine fragrance near a specific stairwell — a scent with no identifiable source. A female apparition has been documented in the same area. Troy Taylor's research notes that no murder has been found in historical records to explain this presence, which makes it an unusual case: the phenomenon is consistent and multi-witness, but the historical anchor does not exist.
Clarence Blair was 18 years old, a sheet metal worker from Granite City, when he drowned in the hotel's basement swimming pool during a swimming lesson. Taylor's research identifies this as the only recorded death during the hotel's operational period — a distinction he notes may explain Blair's continued presence. The theory, offered with appropriate qualification, is that Blair remains because guests keep discussing his story.
A third account involves L.M. Harwood, who came to the hotel seeking treatment for alcohol dependence. When the mineral water regimen failed, he shot himself in the chest with a pistol at the bar on his checkout day. His presence in the bar area has been noted by subsequent investigators, though accounts of this figure are less consistent than those involving the Jasmine Lady.
Notable Entities
Award-winning walking tours of Alton's most documented paranormal sites depart from 301 E Broadway, April through November. Troy Taylor's tours are based on his best-selling book Haunted Alton and include the Mineral Springs Hotel and surrounding downtown locations.
The American Oddities Museum, housed inside the Mineral Springs Hotel, features dozens of exhibits relating to Alton history, haunted objects, and supernatural lore. Open Friday through Sunday.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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