"Gaslamp Quarter-Horton Grand Hotel" Gaslamp Quarter Tip by Dabs

The Horton Grand Hotel is actually two 1886 hotels that were slated for demolition but fortunately saved, moved here from other sites, renovated and connected by an atrium; the original Grand Horton on the left, the Brooklyn Hotel (aka Kahle Saddlery Hotel) on the right. The Grand Horton building was built by a German immigrant to look like the Innsbruck Inn in Vienna, the Brooklyn Hotel had more of a cowboy flavor, indeed Wyatt Earp resided here for 7 years. This was the only building I went inside while touring the Gaslamp Quarter and it's worth a stop even if you aren't staying here.

In the lobby you'll find a life size papier mache horse named Sunshine which originally stood in front of the Brooklyn Hotel when the ground floor was a saddle shop. The reception desk is a recycled pew from a choir loft, old post-office boxes now hold guests' keys. In the hotel's Palace Bar, there is a portrait of local madam Ida Bailey, her brothel, the Canary Cottage, once stood a couple of blocks away.

And what historic hotel would be complete without their own resident ghost, if you stay here in room 309 you may be visited by Roger Whitaker who seems to be a friendly ghost, the theories are that he was either shot by his future father in law and dumped near where the hotels were relocated or that he was a gambler caught cheating at cards at the hotel, ran back to room 309 and was shot through the door.

There was a sign in the lobby stating that there was a historical tour on Wednesdays at 3:00pm, it didn't specify if you had to be staying there or if there was a charge.

Address: 311 Island Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Website: http://www.hortongrand.com/