If you’re looking for a hotel stay that blends historic grandeur, vintage charm, creative cocktails, and a touch of the supernatural, the Elks Temple Hotel (formerly Elks Lodge) in Tacoma is an ideal choice.

🏛️ A Building Steeped in History

  • Built in 1915–16, this magnificent Beaux-Arts structure served as Tacoma Elks Lodge #174, designed by French-trained architect Édouard Frère Champney. Its grand opening in February 1916 marked the arrival of a social hub amidst the Spanish Steps and City Hall—Tacoma’s “Point of Power” at the time. By the mid‑1960s, the lodge had boasted the largest Elks membership in the nation McMenamins Blog+15Wikipedia+15Reddit+15.
  • After the Elks relocated in the 1960s, the building fell into disuse by the 1980s. It remained vacant or underutilized for decades until McMenamins purchased it in 2009. Following restoration delays, the landmark reopened in April 2019 as the McMenamins Elks Temple, featuring a hotel, brewery, music venue, multiple bars, and restaurants. The restoration preserved original murals, medallions, and architectural flourishes while introducing modern charm Eater Seattle.

🍍 Activities & Atmosphere

🍹 Tiki Lounge

This colorful South-Pacific-themed bar is a standout hit. Surrounded by water, lush plants, tropical décor, and ambient lighting, the lounge serves inventive tiki cocktails like Mai Tais and flaming concoctions that feel both retro and upscaleSouthSoundTalkEater Seattle.

🕵️‍♂️ Hidden Bar

Behind a subtle entrance lies a secret speakeasy-style bar—intimate, moody, and conversation-friendly. Often operating on weekends, this hidden gem offers a curated menu of vintage spirits and craft drinks in an atmospheric setting SouthSoundTalkEater SeattleReddit.

🎶 Events & Live Music

The property includes a 700-person ballroom, game rooms, a movie theater, and performance venues where live music, cultural events, and weddings regularly take place. There’s always something happening under its historic roofTacoma Music History+1SouthSoundTalk+1.

👻 Ghostly Undercurrents: The Haunted Side

While our stay was entirely pleasant, the building’s age and legacy invite whispers of the paranormal:

  • Some guests and staff have claimed strange footsteps, flickering lights, and unseen presences in empty corridors.
  • On Reddit, a user recounted a ghost-hunting session in the old building with EMF spikes, spirit box communication attempts, and orb sightings. Others working out in the seldom-used gym reported seeing figures in motion when no one else was present Reddit.

The lore is subtle—not full-blown terror, but just enough mystery to intrigue fans of ghost stories.

Should you go? YES!

The McMenamins Elks Temple is more than a hotel—it’s a living museum of Tacoma history, art, and quirky design. The Tiki Lounge offers playful escapism, the hidden bar gives old-school secret society vibes, and the rich architectural craftsmanship and social legacy elevate the entire experience.

Whether you’re drawn by history, cocktails, live music, or a whisper of the supernatural, this place delivers. It’s charismatic, atmospheric, and just a bit uncanny—without being creepy. You’ll feel like you’ve checked into a cherished local landmark with personality to spare.

We’ll definitely be back—and next time, maybe we’ll stay late enough to meet one of the building’s lingering spirits.