On December 8th, Ghostly Activities visited the piers along Seattle’s waterfront, and learned the dark history of this stretch along Elliot Bay. Get the eerie scoop after the jump.

Seattle Waterfront Visit

Today, the waterfront is a series of renovated piers with the Seattle Aquarium anchoring the north end. It’s loaded with shops, restaurants, and a couple of oddities.

Our trip focused on visiting the new Seattle Aquarium exhibits, but we had to stop at a shop that sells a lot of ghost and monster stuff, Pirate’s Plunder. I had to shell out for that Mothman plushie.

Seattle Waterfront Gallery

Videos from Aquarium & Piers

… And Now The Dark History At The Waterfront (And A Haunted Hotel)

Of course, we wouldn’t have picked the piers if something horrible hadn’t happened there (or near there). Here are some of the tragedies from Elliot Bay and the waterfront.

Colman Dock Gangplank Collapse

On May 19, 1912, as passengers were boarding the steamer Flyer at Colman Dock, a gangplank collapsed, causing approximately 60 people to fall into the water. Two individuals—a woman and a child—drowned in the incident.

Grand Trunk Pacific Dock Fire

On July 30, 1914, the Grand Trunk Pacific Dock, located near Colman Dock, was destroyed by an explosion and massive fire. The cause remains undetermined, though some speculate it may have been ignited by a spark from a cigarette landing in sawdust. The fire resulted in five deaths and 29 injuries, including 10 firefighters. The flames were intense enough to scorch parts of the adjacent Colman Dock, but firefighters managed to contain the blaze to the one pier.

Discovery of Human Remains at Alki Beach

In June 2020, the dismembered bodies of Jessica Lewis and Austin Wenner were found inside suitcases that washed ashore at Alki Beach, part of Seattle’s waterfront. The remains were discovered by teenagers filming a TikTok video. Michael Dudley, the victims’ landlord, was later convicted of their murders and sentenced to over 46 years in prison.

Note: Alki Beach is across Elliot Bay at the tip of West Seattle, not on the waterfront.

The Edgewater Hotel

Perched atop Pier 67, The Edgewater Hotel has hosted numerous celebrities. Some guests have reported eerie experiences, such as unexplained noises and shadowy figures, leading to its reputation as a haunted location.

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So, the waterfront isn’t known as a highly haunted place, but you can find many haunted places in Pioneer Square, just across the street. If you’ve had a ghostly or monstrous encounter along the waterfront, tell us about it in the comments.

Thanks for reading Ghostly Activities. Much appreciated. Take care!

Sources

The Edgewater Hotel. “Seattle Hotel History.” The Edgewater Hotel, edgewaterhotel.com. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Seattle Magazine. “18 Days of Terror in Seattle.” Seattle Magazine, seattlemag.com. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Wikipedia contributors. “Grand Trunk Pacific Dock.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Trunk_Pacific_Dock. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

FOX 13 Seattle. “Man Sentenced to 46 Years for Killing Tenants, Stuffing Bodies in Suitcases Found on Seattle Beach.” FOX 13 Seattle, https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/man-sentenced-to-46-years-for-killing-tenants-stuffing-bodies-in-suitcases-found-on-seattle-beach. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Wikipedia contributors. “Central Waterfront, Seattle.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Waterfront,_Seattle. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Britannica Editors. “Body Snatching.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/body-snatching. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.