Spirits of Portland: Haunted Bars & Ghostly Legends

Spirits of Portland: Haunted Bars & Ghostly Legends

Halloween in Portland isn’t just about the costumes, candy, or inevitable drizzle — it’s a night when the veil thins, and the city’s restless spirits come out to play. Sure, you could host a séance, but why not keep things casual and let the spirits come to you... over a round of drinks?

The Portland skyline after dark — where the city’s lights and legends both come alive. Photo via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain).

Old Town Pizza & Brewing – Nina’s Last Call

226 NW Davis St.

This beloved brewpub sits right on top of Portland’s infamous Shanghai Tunnels — those shadowy underground passages where unsuspecting sailors once found themselves “recruited” for long voyages they never signed up for. The aroma of hops might hit first, but don’t be surprised if a floral scent follows. Locals say that’s Nina, a young woman who met a tragic end in the basement and never checked out. If your pint glass suddenly empties, maybe pour one out for her.

McMenamins White Eagle Saloon & Hotel – The Screaming Eagle

836 N Russell St.

The White Eagle’s been dishing out booze — and ghost stories — since 1905. Guests report beds shaking, whispers through the vents, and the occasional spectral sob in the corner booth. Then there’s Sam, the resident prankster ghost who apparently has a thing for messing with the plumbing. Nothing says “Portland hospitality” quite like a haunted flush.

The Benson Hotel – High Spirits in High Society

309 SW Broadway

If you prefer your hauntings a little more upscale, the Benson delivers. Guests have spotted the ghost of Simon Benson himself — still impeccably dressed, still judging your bar order. Rumor has it, he’s been known to knock drinks right out of patrons’ hands. (Apparently ghosts have opinions about cocktails, too.)

🧙‍♀️ The Legend of the Witch’s Castle

Tucked in the mossy folds of Forest Park sits a graffiti-covered ruin with a name straight out of a spooky storybook: The Witch’s Castle. Once a humble park ranger station in the 1930s, a storm left it gutted and forgotten. Teenagers gave it a second life as a party spot, but its history runs darker — the land once belonged to Danford Balch, who murdered his daughter’s husband and became the first man publicly hanged in Portland. Whether you believe in curses or just appreciate an aesthetic ruin, it’s worth a visit. Just… maybe don’t light any mysterious black candles while you’re there.

🎥 Reel Nightmares: Oregon on the Big (and Bloody) Screen

• The Shining filmed its iconic exteriors at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood — and if you’ve ever stayed there off-season, you know how easily cabin fever could set in.
• Green Room (2015) drenched Portland in punk-rock panic.
• The Rental (2020) proved Bandon’s beach houses can be just as terrifying as any cabin in the woods.
• Just Before Dawn (1981) took viewers deep into Oregon’s backwoods, where waterfalls and machetes coexist.
• And for the Lovecraft lovers, Cthulhu (2007) brought the creeping dread to Astoria’s misty shores.

Final Toast 🥂

From haunted hotels to cursed castles, Portland has no shortage of spirits to sip with — just make sure you leave room for the ghost at the bar. After all, in the City of Roses… even the afterlife needs a good drink. 👻