Ghosts of the Fort Garry Hotel: Hauntings at Winnipeg's Grandest Landmark



Rising with Edwardian elegance in downtown Winnipeg, the Fort Garry Hotel is one of Canada's most storied and luxurious historic hotels. Built in 1913 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, the hotel has long stood as a symbol of grandeur, welcoming celebrities, royalty, and dignitaries through its lavish halls. But behind the velvet curtains and gilded walls lies a reputation that chills even the most seasoned travellers the Fort Garry is said to be one of the most haunted buildings in Manitoba. From whispered voices in the night to ghostly figures wandering the halls, the hotel has become nearly as famous for its paranormal activity as for its architectural beauty.

The Ghost of Room 202

The most infamous haunt at the Fort Garry Hotel is Room 202. Legend has it that many years ago, a woman staying in the room received the tragic news that her husband had died in a car accident. Stricken with grief, she allegedly took her own life in the room's bathroom.

Since then, Room 202 has become ground zero for ghostly encounters. Guests and staff have reported:

• Apparitions of a woman in a long gown, weeping at the foot of the bed
• Sudden, unexplained drops in temperature
• The sensation of someone crawling into bed beside them, only to find no one there
• Blood-like stains appearing and disappearing mysteriously on the bed linens (a long-circulated tale, though never officially confirmed)

The room's eerie reputation is so well-known that some guests specifically request it for paranormal thrills, while others insist on staying as far from it as possible.

Hauntings Beyond Room 202

Though Room 202 is the most famous, paranormal activity isn’t confined to just one room. Throughout the hotel, strange phenomena have been reported:

• Disembodied whispers and footsteps in empty hallways
• Ghostly figures, including that of a woman in period dress, seen gliding through corridors before vanishing into walls
• Reports of phantom knocks on doors in the dead of night
• Staff encountering locked doors opening by themselves and lights flickering without cause

Some say the old ballrooms, where countless celebrations took place over the decades, are also home to residual hauntings, the psychic imprint of emotion and energy left behind.

Investigations and Interest

The Fort Garry Hotel has attracted paranormal investigators, psychics, and TV crews from around the world. Many claim to have captured EVPs (electronic voice phenomena), unusual readings on EMF detectors, and inexplicable temperature fluctuations. Despite the ghost stories, the hotel maintains an atmosphere of sophistication, and management embraces its haunted reputation with a respectful nod to its rich past.

A Haunted Heritage

The Fort Garry Hotel stands not just as a place of luxury, but as a living monument to Winnipeg’s history. It has seen the changing tides of time, hosted famous guests from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to members of the British Royal Family and, perhaps, it continues to host those who never checked out. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there's no denying the Fort Garry Hotel has a presence, one that leaves a lasting impression on all who pass through its doors.

Would you dare to spend a night in Room 202? Or are you more curious about the shadows in the ballroom? Either way, the Fort Garry invites you for both history and mystery.