About Brookdale
Brookdale is a tiny San Lorenzo Valley town of 1,991 people located on Highway 9 between Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond. The area is quite scenic, but the reason that most visitors spend time in Brookdale is curiosity. Brookdale is home of the famous Brookdale Lodge, now called the Brookdale Inn & Spa. Though the current accommodations are rather rundown and bear the scars of a devastating four alarm 2009 fire, it was once a magnificent place. In its heyday, which lasted from 1920s to the 1940s, Brookdale Lodge hosted the best big band and swing groups in the country and drew famous movie stars and politicians with its unique dining room, accommodations, swimming pools and bar. In the 1940s and ‘50s, the lodge was the stomping grounds for the era’s gangsters.
Now the Brookdale Lodge is mostly known for the ghosts that supposedly walk it rooms. Guests have reported waking to an icy hand on their arm and seeing a little girl crying for her mother. The Brookdale Lodge may not be what it used to, but it’s an intriguing place to stop while traveling in Santa Cruz County.
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95007
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The primary visitors to Brookdale are those interested in seeing the historic and mysterious Brookdale Lodge. A visit here would be most enjoyed by those interested in paranormal activities.Upcoming Events In Brookdale
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Things to do in Ben Lomond
Although surrounded by beautiful landscapes, the nearby state parks are best visited from other Santa Cruz County towns such as Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond or Felton. The thing to do in Brookdale is visit the Brookdale Lodge. It isn’t much to look at these days due to the 2009 fire damage and general run down state of the place, but it can be a fun spooky place to visit.
The Brookdale started out as the headquarters of the Grover Lumber Mill in 1870. H.J. Logan bought it in 1900 and turned it into a campground and hotel. Although it has changed hands many times since then, the lodge had its heyday between 1922 and 1945 when it was owned by Dr. F K Camp. He was the one who built the Brookroom – the famous dining room with a stream flowing through its middle. During this time the Brookdale was the second most popular resort in California – hosting the best big bands of the era and famous guests such as Marilyn Monroe, Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth, Hedy Lamarr, Mae West, Tyrone Power and Herbert Hoover. During the 1940s and ‘50s, the Brookdale became the headquarters to gangsters. To cater to its new cliental, the lodge installed secret passageways and rooms. Rumors claim that numerous bodies are buried under the Brookdale floors.
With a past as checkered as the Brookdale’s, it’s no wonder that now the lodge is the most renowned for being haunted. The ghost that guests most often claim to see is six year old Sarah Logan who drowned in the Brookroom’s creek in the ‘50s. A ghostly woman that leaves the scent of magnolias wafting through the room is thought to be Sarah’s mother. Other guests have reported being awakened at night by an icy hand on their shoulder. Whether these are actual paranormal experiences or overactive imaginations is up for debate, but the real life cast of local characters that now populate the Brookdale’s bar and the place’s fascinating history ensure an interesting visit no matter what.
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