Dinner
Bar and Grill Visit
Visit the Oxford Saloon bar and grill on Snohomish's historic First Street. Staff freely discuss the building's dark history, and a paranormal experience log on the website tracks visitor reports.
- Duration:
- 1.5 hr
Haunted Dining / Bar
Oxford Saloon
Built in 1900 on Snohomish's First Street as a dry goods store, converted to a saloon in 1910 with a documented history of ten killings — including policeman Henry, fatally stabbed breaking up a brawl on the premises.
913 1st St, Snohomish, WA 98290
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3 sources
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$
Bar and grill pricing; private tours available by arrangement.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Main floor accessible; second floor (former brothel) reached via stairs.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1900 · Built 1900 as Blackman's Dry Goods; converted to saloon 1910 · Operated as speakeasy during Prohibition; second-floor brothel documented · Ten killings documented over the building's history · Washington State Ghost Society investigations beginning 2005
The Oxford Saloon occupies a brick commercial building constructed in 1900 on Snohomish's First Street, which was then — as now — the commercial spine of one of western Washington's oldest towns. For the first decade of its existence the building operated as Blackman's Dry Goods store. In 1910 it transitioned to a saloon, which became the Oxford's primary identity.
During Prohibition the saloon operated as a pool room and, covertly, as a speakeasy. The second floor housed a brothel, run by a woman known as Kathleen, who operated her business from offices at the local Eagles Lodge rather than on-site. The Oxford's documented history of violence over the twentieth century encompasses ten killings, a figure cited both on the venue's own website and in King5 and SnohomishTalk coverage.
The Washington State Ghost Society began investigating the property in 2005, conducting multiple sessions over subsequent years. In 2024, SnohomishTalk's reporting on the Oxford Saloon described staff and visitors' current-day experiences, documenting the continuity of paranormal claims from the investigation-era reports into the present.
Sources
- https://oxfordsaloonsnohomish.com/haunted-history/
- https://snohomishtalk.com/2024/02/13/past-patrons-of-the-oxford-saloon-come-alive-at-this-historic-bar-in-snohomish/
- https://www.king5.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/evening/the-haunted-five-star-dive-bar-in-snohomish-the-oxford-saloon/281-571124640
Women reporting being pinched near the basement stairs and ladies' restroomFemale apparition in purple dress reported on upper floorsDisembodied voices recorded by Washington State Ghost SocietySpectral figure photographed on basement stairsObjects moving; keys falling from locks during investigations
The venue's own haunted-history page and multiple independent media accounts describe three primary ghost figures at the Oxford Saloon. Henry was a police officer who regularly patronized the saloon and may have worked informally as a bouncer. During a fight on the premises, he intervened and was fatally stabbed. His spirit is most frequently reported in the basement and near the ladies' restroom, where women have described being pinched by an unseen presence.
Kathleen, described as a businesswoman who ran the second-floor brothel while maintaining an office at the Eagles Lodge, is reported as an older woman in a purple dress with purple bows. Her reported appearances are in the upper floors of the building. Amelia, identified as one of Kathleen's employees who was brought unwillingly into prostitution, was found dead in her room — the circumstances unclear between suicide and murder. Her spirit is associated with what is called Room 6.
A fourth figure — a man in a bowler hat — is reported on the second floor without named identification. Washington State Ghost Society investigators beginning in 2005 captured disembodied voices on recordings, photographed what they described as a spectral figure on the basement stairs, and documented objects moving during sessions, including keys falling from locks. King5's coverage of the building as a 'haunted five-star dive bar' brought the Oxford to a wider regional audience. Staff continue to discuss the history openly and maintain a public log of visitor paranormal experiences on the website.
Notable Entities
Henry — policeman stabbed to death on the premises (approximate date unknown)Kathleen — second-floor brothel madam, reported in purple dressAmelia — Kathleen's employee, found dead in her room under unclear circumstances
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Guided Tour
Private Paranormal Tour
Private guided tours of the building — including the second-floor rooms where Kathleen operated a brothel and where Amelia's body was found — available by arrangement with the general manager.
- Duration:
- 1 hr
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oxford Saloon family-friendly?
Working bar and grill. Dark history is openly discussed and includes violent death and brothel history, not appropriate for very young children. The dining area itself is family-accessible. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Oxford Saloon?
Bar and grill pricing; private tours available by arrangement.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Oxford Saloon wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Oxford Saloon is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Main floor accessible; second floor (former brothel) reached via stairs..