Effie – The Most Fearsome Hotel Chambermaid

Basketball player Lou Williams promptly checks out after encountering Effie – the non-existent yet fearsome chambermaid at the Skirvin Hotel.

Effie – The Most Formidable Hotel Chambermaid

When it opened in 1911, the Skirvin Hotel (now the Skirvin Hilton Hotel) was a proud symbol for the people of Oklahoma City. With two towering 10-story buildings and 224 rooms, the Skirvin was one of the first hotels with individual room air conditioning. At the time, it boasted a ballroom that could accommodate 500 people. The chandeliers in the room were imported from Austria and cost over $100,000 each.

A third tower with 12 floors was added in 1928. Then, in 1929-1930, all three towers of the hotel were raised to 14 floors with 525 rooms. The hotel is named after its founder, William Balser “Bill” Skirvin. His daughter, Perle Mesta, later appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg during the presidency of Harry Truman.

With such an impressive track record, everyone thought the Skirvin Hotel would be the most powerful and successful hotel of all time. However, this hotel has a dark and tumultuous history, quite different from its opulent and luxurious exterior.

As per LegendofAmerica, things took a sinister turn when the hotel owner, Mr. Skirvin, had a secret affair with a chambermaid resulting in her pregnancy. To prevent a notorious scandal, Skirvin is believed to have confined the mistress to the top floor of the hotel. Even after giving birth, she was not allowed to leave the room. In anguish and madness, the young woman embraced her child and threw herself out of the window.

Since then, peculiar phenomena began to occur at the hotel. Many believed everything was connected to the owner's mistress. They named the ghost of the woman Effie. Effie became a haunting figure for anyone who stayed at or knew about the Skirvin Hotel. Many travelers dubbed Effie as the 'most terrifying chambermaid in the world,' although no one dared to confirm the existence of this character.

In late 2015, NBA player Lou Williams, playing for the Toronto Raptors at the time, encountered a ghost during a visit to the Oklahoma City Thunder and stayed at the Skirvin Hotel.

On the first night at the hotel, he received a wake-up call from Effie. Later, Lou's room experienced other bizarre occurrences, such as doors suddenly slamming shut. His belongings mysteriously moved into the hallway, even though the room was locked. The next morning, Lou checked out of the hotel and rented another place for the remaining days in Oklahoma.

Jared Jeffries and Eddie Curry, two professional basketball players from the New York Knicks, also encountered a ghost while staying at Skirvin in 2010. 'This place is haunted, truly frightening,' Jeffries recounted to the NewYork Daily News. He mentioned vowing to Tom Brady (football player, husband to supermodel Gisele Bundchen) about hearing a child crying.

'At that moment, I thought it could be one of my own kids. But when I woke up, I remembered I was in Oklahoma, not at home, and there was no one in the room. I swear I still felt like someone else was in there with me.'

Former basketball player Reggie Miller also has a memory with Effie. 'I remember placing a water bottle on the table next to the bed. But when I woke up, I found it in a different position.'

Meanwhile, Clippers goalkeeper Wesley Johnson once discovered a bathtub filled with water. He is certain he did not use the restroom before going to sleep.

After more than a century, Effie is believed to still wander in the hotel lobby, disturbing guests, staff, and sometimes in the most provocative manner. The 10th floor – where Effie resided – is said to be the place where travelers most often encounter this ghost.

In 1994, a hotel security guard also revealed encountering Effie frequently. Every time this ghost appears, it often brings the scent of lavender. Once, the ghost said she wanted him to accompany her to the other side.

Today, the Skirvin Hotel is one of the most beloved in the city. It also receives praise from travelers on Trip Advisor. Many people mention staying at Skirvin and never experiencing any peculiar phenomena.

Situated in the heart of Oklahoma City, Skirvin is very close to famous landmarks. Today, it is listed among the Historic Hotels of America.

According to Anh Minh/Vnexpress

***

Reference: Travel guide Mytour