Radisson Lackawanna Train Station Hotel in Scranton, Pennsylvania is Hauntingly Majestic

Story, videos by Cassie Hepler

After I booked a flight to Central Pennsylvania to visit my family, a long-lost Philly friend and photographer reached out randomly to say hello. We decided to meet up on one of the hottest, record-breaking days in June over 100 degrees with humidity which is pure, sweaty Betty hell outside. The best bet place to meet halfway was Scranton, Pennsylvania and I asked him to find somewhere good to go and that he did! I was not expecting such an amazing, dreamy location existed but here we are – and it’s haunted to boot.

And yes, Scranton is the inspiration city where The Office was born but in fact it was actually filmed in California… the more you know – up next. The Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, featured in the TV show “The Office,” is located at 1725 Slough Avenue, Suite 200 in the Scranton Business Park, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. While the show is set in Scranton, most of the filming, including the exterior shots of the office building, took place at a studio. In reality, the Scranton Business Park building is a TV studio now known as Quixote Studios. It’s still fun to go, get selfies and those been there pics and video though – just not when it’s over 100 degrees in the summer ya’ll, wait ’til fall or Spring. It’s less than a mile from this majestic hotel and walkable to all the other TV show legendary haunts too. Oh and it’s haunted!

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, behold the Lackawanna Train Station, now known as the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel which many don’t know about as it looks like a huge concrete building on the outside. But inside, designer Kenneth Murchison really went all out, putting his then very extravagant at the time $600,000 budget to excellent use. Once you see the building’s front entrance, a hint of fancy columns and an eight-foot bronze clock greet you. The exterior is actually faced with Indiana limestone, with decor in the Beaux Arts Style, looking very much like a Renaissance chateau (castle). The entryway to the lobby has stunning soft, yellow-pink Italian marble known as Formosa. Walking into the lobby with its two-and-a-half story, barrel-vaulted Tiffany glass ceiling is as long as a football field. It is a visual feast for the eyes with marble walls and the 36 murals made of decorative floor tiles by Grueby Faience, a New York artisan. The murals depict the scenery encountered by train travelers along the route, known as the Phoebe Snow, the fictional woman who gave glamour to train travel.

The main train, Phoebe Snow, ran from Hoboken, New Jersey, to Buffalo, New York with eleven other stops along the way. In the 1850s, Delaware Lackawanna Western Company trains were used to transport iron and coal through Lakawanna Valley to the East Coast. Textile factories also used the railroad system to deliver their goods and products to market and Scranton flourished from the wealth created by these industries. By the late 1800s, there was a need for passenger trains as well in Scranton because the population had grown in this thriving town and wealthy people were interested in starting ventures here as well. The railroad brought investors in to look for opportunities to invest, which underlined the fact that classy train travel was needed.

In 1905, a stunning five-story passenger train station was designed in only 14 months in the French Renaissance Beaux Arts style. Built with brick, steel, concrete floors and partitions, it was a smart invention to prevent fires. More rooms were needed for office space in 1920, so a sixth floor was added. The prosperous party times lasted through the 1920s, but started to go downhill during the Great Depression years.

In 1960, the Delaware, Lackawanna Western Railroad merged with the Erie Railroad, adding Erie trains to the terminal. Sadly in 1972, the Erie Railroad was going bankrupt. The very last train to leave the Lackawanna Passenger Station Terminal was in 1970. For 1o years, the whole glorious building was boarded up with moth balls, treated as a storage facility, and became a popular place for the homeless. Then in 1980, the council of Scranton and mayor came up with a plan to transform the landmark into a fancy hotel, to draw tourists. Between funds from the city government, donations, contributions and fundraising, $13 million was raised for this revitalization project. It is one of the nicest hotels in Scranton and before it part of the Raddison brand, it was The Hilton at Lackawanna Station in 1993.

Currently inside, there are 146 revamped and freshly renovated modern rooms used by guests and staff. For the best views, most amenities are located on the huge open air first floor, including Carmens Restaurant (and steakhouse), the Traxs Bar/Kitchen, the Station Cafe and the gift shop. But the second floor balcony is where it really shines to look down and soak in all the beauty without craning your neck. Also inside the hotel are meeting rooms, banquet and wedding event spaces, a ballroom and a fitness center.

Let’s not forget about the spooky stuff too! Did you know it’s said to be haunted at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel Scranton? It is rumored that spirits haunt the space from the WWI and WWII basement morgue days because the remains of people who died away from home – both civilians and soldiers – came into the station by rail. Their coffins were stored in the basement, until they were claimed or put on other trains headed for home. Some spirits decided to stay…

The Trax Bar is visited by the spirit of a former transient who died here, right before restoration work started. He seems to enjoy watching people drink… there’s also the sixth floor where the fancy suites are located and most of the paranormal activity too. The spirit of a man, who died in a car accident nearby, moved into the hotel and settled on the sixth floor. He seems to be one rather crabby spirit who has claimed some of the guest rooms. He doesn’t want to share them, and resents living people, as he or she is disappointed that death took his or her life, probably suddenly.

The less scary spirit of a bellhop is described as being an African American man who appears in solid form. This spirit asks guests staying in the glamorous sixth floor suites if they need anything, before he suddenly disappears. He may be the one seen walking or floating down the halls, or it could be another spirit employee still on the job.

There’s also a terrified young spirit boy in the basement and a spirit who resents the living keeping this place active with paranormal activity. It is said spirits who are unhappy with their sudden deaths, sometimes resent the living for intruding into the spirits space or are envious that people are alive and they are not. They can find ways to defend their space, or bully unsuspecting people. Want to learn more? Ask the staff all about it! Or head over to Haunted Houses to learn more about this hauntingly beautiful space in Scranton. Until next time, PA!