Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island consists of 28 historic accommodations dating back to the late 1800s, ranging from cottages to classic hotel rooms. The onsite Hotel de Haro is Washington’s only continuously operating hotel, and it has quite a history.
The Hotel De Haro was built in 1886 by John McMillan, promptly becoming a popular hangout.
Roche Harbor Facebook Famous guests include Theodore Roosevelt.
Inside you’ll find 19 cozy guest rooms that have been kept up to date.
Roche Harbor Facebook
But when McMillan had the hotel built, he also built a nearby mausoleum in the woods for his family.
Roche Harbor Facebook
The mausoleum contains a dining room set-up, and each place has a column that holds the ashes of a family member.
TripAdvisor McMillin was a Mason, so you’ll find a lot of Masonic details here. The 3 steps represent the three stages of mankind: Youth, middle age and old age. There’s also a broken column that symbolizes the unfinished work we leave behind.
Of course, there’s some rumored paranormal activity surrounding the mausoleum, particularly involving a woman named Ada.
Julio P / TripAdvisor Ada was a domestic servant of the McMillin family. In the 1950s, the new property owners found an urn containing Ada’s ashes. The ashes were eventually entombed at the McMillan mausoleum, but not under Ada’s name. Therefore, she has been spotted wandering the halls of Roche Harbor.
Former governess Ms. Beanning is also said to haunt the hotel, playing pranks on unsuspecting guests.
management / TripAdvisor If you notice a candle is re-lit after it goes out or lights flashing when they shouldn’t, it’s probably her.
Haunted or not, Hotel De Haro is a beautiful place to stay, mausoleum and all. And our state is certainly no stranger to breathtakingly beautiful hotels.
Roche Harbor Facebook
Famous guests include Theodore Roosevelt.
TripAdvisor
McMillin was a Mason, so you’ll find a lot of Masonic details here. The 3 steps represent the three stages of mankind: Youth, middle age and old age. There’s also a broken column that symbolizes the unfinished work we leave behind.
Julio P / TripAdvisor
Ada was a domestic servant of the McMillin family. In the 1950s, the new property owners found an urn containing Ada’s ashes. The ashes were eventually entombed at the McMillan mausoleum, but not under Ada’s name. Therefore, she has been spotted wandering the halls of Roche Harbor.
management / TripAdvisor
If you notice a candle is re-lit after it goes out or lights flashing when they shouldn’t, it’s probably her.
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