Albuquerque’s ‘haunted’ buildings

Editor’s note: If you’re looking for heightened spookiness this Halloween, the Daily Lobo searched long and hard for some of the most haunted buildings in Albuquerque. Some people were glad to talk to us; others weren’t. But because we would do anything for our readers, we persevered, possibly risking our lives or at least our mortal souls. If so, watch out, for the blood is on your hands.

Hotel Parq Central
806 Central Ave. S.E.

According to a KOB news report, before it was remodeled and opened as a hotel in 2010, this 85-year-old building was a tuberculosis sanitarium. When contacted, a hotel receptionist denied the building was haunted and that the hotel was formerly a sanitarium. Fishy? That’s what we thought.

Regardless, if the place is haunted the conflicting stories certainly add intrigue.

Church Street Café
2111 Church St. N.W.

One of the oldest building in Albuquerque, the Church Street Café in Old Town is home to objects that date back 300 years, employee Minika Estrada said. The body of Sarah Ruiz, a member of the Ruiz family who owned the restaurant from approximately 1706 to 1991, is supposedly buried under the “Sarah Room” in the café, she said.
Staff members always says a prayer, hello and goodbye to Ruiz as they pass by to maintain her good will, she said.

Estrada said there is certainly an aura, but nothing especially spooky has happened to her personally.

“It’s what you believe in, too, you know,” she said. “You put good energy out there, she (Sarah) takes care of you. … We believe in it. You got to believe in it, you know? You can imagine all the other, older souls and beings here.”

The Albuquerque Press Club
201 Highland Park Circle S.E.

This building borders Highland Park on Elm Street and Gold Avenue, and was constructed in 1903 from hand-hewn logs. Mrs. M, the supposed haunter of the private bar, died in the stables in the late 1920s or early 30s, general manager Jonathan Wright said.

Wright said the legend is that when the house was first turned into a bar, the bartender would leave a shot glass of gin out for Mrs. M. The gin would be gone by the morning. Wright said he doesn’t believe in the supernatural, let alone a ghost that drinks gin, and chalked it up to a cat living there.

However, he also told the story to a friend of his who was a bartender a few years ago, and had closed and left the building alone one night. As she was driving away she turned around and saw all the lights had been turned back on. This building is certainly one to check out if you’re brave enough.