Category: Blog

A Night at the Historic White Eagle Saloon: Clean, Cozy, and Just a Little Haunted

Our recent stay at the White Eagle Saloon in Portland, Oregon, was nothing short of memorable—and not just because of the rumored ghosts. We stayed in Room 2, which was exceptionally clean and comfortable, offering a cozy retreat with vintage charm. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, adding to the welcoming, laid-back atmosphere that makes the White Eagle such a standout destination. Whether you’re there for a pint, live music, or a night with the spirits (of both the liquid and paranormal kind), this place delivers.

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A Dive Into the White Eagle’s Colorful History

The White Eagle Saloon was established in 1905 by Polish immigrants Bronislaw Soboleski and William Hryszko. It quickly became a beloved gathering place for Portland’s working class, particularly the Polish immigrant community that surrounded the Albina district. The building originally served as a saloon and boarding house, providing food, drink, and shelter to the railroad and dock workers flooding into Portland at the time.

Over the years, the White Eagle evolved into much more than a watering hole. It was rumored to have been a speakeasy during Prohibition, and it survived through decades of change, eventually being purchased and restored by McMenamins in the 1990s. Today, it functions as a bar, live music venue, and boutique hotel, while still maintaining the character and quirks of its early 20th-century roots.

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Paranormal Activity: A Haunted Legacy

But let’s talk about what really sets the White Eagle apart: its ghost stories.

Often dubbed one of the most haunted places in Portland, the White Eagle has been the subject of numerous paranormal investigations and countless firsthand accounts. Guests and staff alike have reported eerie occurrences—disembodied voices, cold drafts, and doors that open and close on their own.

Some of the most frequently mentioned ghostly figures include:

• Sam, a former housekeeper or maintenance worker who is said to roam the halls. His spirit is described as mischievous but harmless.
• A woman in white, often seen drifting up or down the staircase, believed to be a former tenant or perhaps even a tragic figure tied to the building’s past.
• The sound of footsteps in empty hallways, flickering lights, and the faint murmur of conversations when no one else is around have all been logged in the saloon’s spooky archives.

Room 2—where we stayed—had a calm, peaceful energy, though it’s worth noting that some guests have experienced odd dreams or felt like they weren’t quite alone. We didn’t experience anything ourselves, but it’s easy to see why the legends persist. The building practically hums with history, and you get the sense that if the walls could talk, they’d have a lot to say.

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Dinner with a Dark Twist: Raven’s Manor

On our second night in Portland, we had dinner at the incredibly atmospheric Raven’s Manor, a gothic-themed cocktail lounge and restaurant that feels like a scene straight out of a Victorian ghost story—or maybe a Tim Burton film.

Located in a historic downtown building that dates back to 1890, Raven’s Manor occupies the old First National Bank building. The structure retains much of its classic architecture and heavy stonework, but the interior has been transformed into something entirely unique. Think flickering candlelight, gothic portraits, dark velvet, and hidden details that encourage guests to look twice.

The concept is part haunted mansion, part alchemy lab, and part immersive cocktail experience. Themed drinks come with elaborate backstories, dry ice fog, and potion-like ingredients. The food was as flavorful as it was fun—we highly recommend the “Dr. Raven’s Elixirs” cocktail menu for anyone looking to get in the spooky spirit.

It’s not just a place to eat—Raven’s Manor is a full experience, combining performance, setting, and storytelling in a way that felt perfectly in tune with our haunted Portland adventure.

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Descending into the Shanghai Tunnels: History and Hauntings

One of the more intriguing (and infamous) parts of Portland’s past lies beneath the city itself—in the Portland Shanghai Tunnels. Hoping to explore this shadowy slice of history, we joined a tunnel tour during our stay. While our particular experience with the tour left us wanting more (the guide offered minimal detail, and the paranormal elements were noticeably lacking), the history behind these tunnels is undeniably chilling and worth sharing.

The History

Beneath Portland’s Old Town and Chinatown districts lies a labyrinth of interconnected tunnels—once used for moving goods between the waterfront and basement storage areas without congesting the streets above. But over time, the tunnels gained a much darker reputation.

From the mid-1800s to early 1900s, Portland was considered one of the most dangerous port cities in the world, and the practice of “shanghaiing” became a feared reality. Unsuspecting men—often sailors, drunks, or travelers—were allegedly kidnapped, drugged, or knocked unconscious, then dragged through trapdoors in saloons or hotels and transported via tunnel to the riverfront. There, they were sold to sea captains in need of labor, waking up days later on ships headed for Asia, with no memory of how they got there.

The Paranormal Stories

Many believe the spirits of those who were abducted, imprisoned, or even killed in these tunnels remain to this day. Paranormal investigators have reported:

• Whispers and moans echoing through the tunnels when no one else is around
• Sudden temperature drops and feelings of dread in certain underground chambers
• Apparitions of men in period clothing, vanishing around corners
• An especially eerie presence near old holding cells, where victims were once kept before being shipped away

Some have even claimed to see the ghost of a woman in a red dress, thought to be a former prostitute who died tragically in the tunnels. Whether myth or memory, the atmosphere in the tunnels is undeniably heavy with the weight of Portland’s forgotten underbelly.

While the tour itself didn’t fully deliver, the underlying history and ghost stories remain some of the most haunting in the Pacific Northwest.

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A Macabre Must-See: The Skeleton Key Odditorium

Of all the strange and wonderful places we visited in Portland, The Skeleton Key Odditorium stands out as an absolute gem. If you’re into the weird, the macabre, and the curiously beautiful, this is a must-visit.

Located in a cozy storefront that feels like a cabinet of curiosities come to life, The Skeleton Key is part museum, part boutique, and all wonderfully strange. The atmosphere is thick with curiosity—dark walls, antique cases, and shelves brimming with the bizarre. The owners clearly have a passion for the eerie and esoteric, and it shows in every corner of the space.

What You’ll Find Inside:

• An extraordinary collection of vintage Ouija boards, some dating back over a century. The detail and craftsmanship of these boards alone is worth the visit, and the display provides a fascinating look into the spiritualist movement of the Victorian and early 20th centuries.
• A Victorian post-mortem photography exhibit, featuring haunting, respectful images from a time when photography was one of the only ways to preserve a loved one’s memory. It’s somber, beautiful, and deeply human—a sobering reminder of how people in the 1800s and early 1900s faced mortality.
• A wide variety of medical oddities, antique funeral ephemera, preserved specimens, taxidermy, bones, and spiritualist relics. Everything is curated with an eye for history and respect for the macabre. You could spend hours looking over every carefully labeled piece.
• A lovingly arranged oddities shop, where you can purchase everything from ethically sourced bones and handcrafted occult tools to vintage tarot decks, books, and art prints. Whether you’re looking to start your own cabinet of curiosities or just want a unique gift, there’s something here that will speak to your dark little heart.

The staff were incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the collection. They were more than happy to answer questions and even share a few ghost stories of their own. The Skeleton Key Odditorium is the kind of place you want to return to again and again—because you’ll never notice everything on your first visit.

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Final Thoughts

Portland is a city where history, hauntings, and eccentricity thrive, and our trip captured that perfectly. From the warm hospitality of the White Eagle Saloon, to the immersive gothic dining at Raven’s Manor, the chilling stories beneath the Shanghai Tunnels, and the curated creepiness of The Skeleton Key Odditorium, we found ourselves constantly enchanted—and just a little unsettled—in the best possible way.

Whether you’re drawn to Portland for its rich past, its paranormal legends, or its love of the unusual, you’ll find that the city embraces its shadows with style.

We’ll definitely be back—next time, we might even bring a Ouija board of our own.