A group of co-workers went to Sunset Tower (Los Angeles, CA) for happy hour. Then, the close-knit group took a surprising elevator ride with the spirit of a flapper girl.

It had been a grueling week at an advertising agency not far from the Sunset Strip. After the long hours, bitchy clients and tight deadlines, the three friends decided to celebrate the approaching weekend.

“We were going to the Tower Bar to have some of their delicious martinis,” said Cindy*, an executive assigned to a well-known pet food brand. “At the last minute, we decided to go to the Terrace and enjoy the sun and fresh air by the pool.”

The area was unexpectedly quiet. Normally, the Terrace and Tower Bar were packed with patrons for happy hour.

“We had just ordered our martinis when we noticed a young woman in a flapper outfit walking back-and-forth by the elevators,” said Kim*, an analytics director. “That was weird because the (Sunset) Tower usually has signs for events like private parties. She really stood out because the lobby was empty.”

The three friends continued to sip their drinks and gossip about work, but they kept seeing the dishwater blonde in the evergreen and gold-trimmed dress.

“I figured she was lost and too shy to ask for help. She would walk by the elevators, stop, look at her watch, then go around the lobby again. I decided to get up and ask her if she needed help finding her friends,” said James, a digital marketing exec.

Cindy and James got up from the table and approached the lady. She appeared to be in her mid-20s, with curly hair, gray eyes and a ballerina’s build.

“She definitely looked the part for a costume party, or maybe an extra in a movie. It’s LA, so there could have been a TV show or movie filming,” said Cindy.

James asked her if she needed directions or if he could get the concierge to help. She gave very short responses and seemed scared.

“She told me she needed to go to the rooftop, which was odd because it’s just a few suites with balconies,” James said. “I really thought she was actress in a TV show, and she didn’t know where to go for the set.”

The three of them stepped into the elevator and pressed the button to the highest floor. Cindy tried to make small talk with the flapper, but she remained silent and stared at her watch.

The elevator seemed to crawl its way to the top. What should have taken 1 minute seemed to take 10.

James said the elevator groaned and rattled as it climbed the shaft. It never stopped at in-between floors. As they approached the top floor, the young flapper changed.

“She got pale, almost translucent. You could see her veins through her skin. She started to cry and her mascara began to run, but I think her eyes sank into their sockets,” said Cindy. “I was fucking petrified.”

When the elevator stopped on the top floor and the doors opened, Cindy and James expected to see a film crew. However, the lobby was empty and quiet. They turned around to check on the young lady, but she was gone.

Sunset Tower has no history of hauntings. It was built in 1929 and opened as a hotel in 1931. It catered to mobsters, directors, actors and novelists during its most popular period during the late 30s and 40s. It even served as a brothel for the most successful call girls in LA.

*Names changed to protect witness identities

Last Updated on March 21, 2024 by Jacob Rice