The Atlantic Hotel

Posted: 04.10.2025 | Updated: 04.10.2025

Annapolis is perhaps not the first place one might think of when they think of a haunted city in America. This affluent Maryland town is known as America’s Sailing Capital and is home to the US Naval Academy. 

However, past all of this rich naval tradition lies more than a few fascinating ghost stories. One of them is at the Atlantic Hotel, a historic landmark that has stood steadfast through many of America’s high and low times in Berlin, Maryland – just east of Annapolis.  

It’s a beautiful town in its own right but today’s blog will look past this surface-level beauty and investigate just how it became known as one of Maryland’s most haunted spaces. 

Learn about this haunted hotel, how it came to be, and what it means to the people who live there. After you’re done reading, we’re sure you’ll want to learn even more about haunted Maryland and the best way to do that is by booking an in-person ghost tour with us at Annapolis Ghosts.

Is The Atlantic Hotel Haunted? 

It’s a question that’s often asked about this place, but it’s hard to answer “no” when so many strange events and mysterious phenomena have happened here over the years. And most people point to Catherine the ghost as the reason why. 

History of the Hotel

The Atlantic Hotel remains one of Berlin’s proudest local landmarks. In fact, it’s said by some to be the “heartbeat of Berlin” and given its rich history and old-school charm, it’s difficult to argue with that point.  

The hotel was built all the way back at the turn of the century…the twentieth century, that is. Built in 1895, this hotel had a curious purpose. Instead of accommodating prospectors moving out West or tourists like most hotels constructed during this era, it was built with a different function: serving salesmen.

Those Glengarry Glen Ross type traveling salesmen started coming towards this area of Maryland in droves when the completion of the nearby railroad prompted an increase in travelers to the Eastern Shore. Called “drummers” due to their propensity for “drumming up business,” the salesmen would find themselves flocking towards the Atlantic Hotel, whose central location and copious bar helped it serve as a temporary hub of operations. 

Of course, the boom of traveling salesmen eventually ended, and the hotel grew and changed with the times, proving itself to be quite the resilient building. It almost faced bankruptcy and demolitions in the 1980s before a few local families banded together, pooled their money, and saved the place. Their effort was successful, and they restored it to its former glory despite there being no financial return for them to enjoy.

Unfortunately, this would not be the end of the hotel’s woes. In 2009, it faced closure yet again, and it was locked and shuttered at one point. However, another local restoration effort spearheaded by John Fager helped save the place yet again and, today, it serves as the host site of local events like the New Year ball drop and the Berlin Christmas Parade. 

Hauntings at the Atlantic Hotel

Perhaps, though, it’s not just spirited locals and experienced restoration experts that are responsible for keeping this proud hotel afloat over the years. Some of the ghosts that are said to haunt these halls might also be keeping a watchful eye over the place too. 

However, for those looking to avoid such encounters, you’re in luck because the ghosts mainly confine themselves to just a few rooms in the Atlantic Hotel. The most haunted room, by far, is Room 23. 

One of the most frightening aspects of that room is the fact that whoever is haunting it loves playing a particular prank with the door. Whenever a guest in Room 23 leaves, they often find themselves locked out, even if they didn’t touch the lock or have their key on hand. 

Right next door, Room 24 has also garnered a bit of a reputation over the years. A maintenance man who works there actually refuses to work in that room anymore because one time, he thought his paint scraper had vanished. 

He looked all over the hotel until he saw it reappear standing upright by itself in the dead center of the room. That incident proved too much for the worker and he swore to never visit it again.

The other hotel staffers don’t really blame him, as even the ones who are comfortable working there report feeling a strange sense of dread whenever they enter either of the two rooms. Some even report “cold spots” – parts of the room where the temperature seems to inexplicably drop, no matter what setting the heat or AC is at.

Other Incidents 

But Rooms 23 and 24 aren’t the only haunted rooms that are known to hotel staff. There are also Rooms 16 and 18. 

Both rooms are said to be haunted and plagued by the same mischievous spirit. It (or perhaps they) are also fond of playing with the doors to give guests a fright, similar to the phenomena in Room 24. 

However, this door prank is a little bit different. A housekeeper explained that while she was in there fluffing up the pillows, she had propped the door open for easy access. However, right as she was leaving the room, the open door suddenly kicked out the doorjamb and slammed shut right in her face. 

After she recovered from her fright, she conducted an experiment where she propped open the door. She said it stayed open for a few minutes and, feeling like she had imagined the whole thing, she went to close it, but the thing wouldn’t budge!

According to the hotel staff, that’s pretty typical. That door doesn’t open or close for anyone unless it feels like it. 

There’s also the mysterious matter of the ghost children that many guests have reported seeing. Similar to the creepy twins in the hallway from The Shining, guests have reported seeing a few different children – dressed in the fashion of many different decades – playing together in the hallway. 

However, when they ask about the kids at the front desk, they’re startled to learn that there are no children staying on that floor at the time. Adding to the creepy atmosphere are the framed photographs of founders and friends lining the hallways, casting grim glances upon everyone who walks by. 

Haunted Annapolis 

Hopefully, you won’t let those creepy photographs or those ghostly children dissuade you from visiting the Atlantic Hotel or, at the very least, taking a trip to explore all that haunted Maryland has to offer you. 

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 Maryland

If you want to explore Annapolis ghosts up close, a ghost tour with Annapolis 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://atlantichotel.com/
• https://shorebread.com/2015/01/26/celebrating-120-years-of-the-atlantic-hotel-in-berlin-md/
• https://travelhag.com/ghosts-haunt-victorian-inn-atlantic-hotel-in-berlin-md/
• https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/stays/maryland/atlantic-hotel-allegedly-haunted-md