(OCEAN CITY, Md.) - For 30 years, people have been drawn to the Dunes Manor Hotel in Ocean City. The 11-story, Victorian-style hotel was a vision founded and operated by Thelma Conner.
"She was the best boss you could ever find," said Iretha Blake, assistant front office manager. "She was a great people-person. She knew each employee and greeted them every day. She was really wonderful to know."
Iretha says she remembers working with Thelma. She described Thelma as very kind-hearted, busy and active.
"She wasn't just an owner, she was hands-on. She did everything," said Iretha.
Although it's been 18 years since Thelma passed away, some believe she never actually left.
"There have been some incidences with our overnight security team... they'll go on their rounds and they'll see the rockers rocking on the porches, but there's no wind," explained Iretha. "There's no person rocking them or anything."
Iretha says it's not unusual, though, for hotel staff to encounter what they believe is Thelma's spirit.
"Our staff is just used to it now. It doesn't frighten them or anything," said Iretha.
According to Kitchen Manager Caffie Ismael, the most recent encounter happened just last month on the 6th floor.
"In early September, I asked one of the employees to go on each floor to make sure there weren't any trays [left] after room service was delivered. When he came back, he came back pale, white, like he saw a ghost," explained Caffie. "He was like, 'I saw her! I saw her!' And I'm like, 'Saw who?' He took myself and another employee and pointed at Mrs. Conner's picture hanging in the lobby."
Caffie says, at the time, the employee had no prior knowledge of previous sightings. She says they don't tell new employees because they don't want to scare them.
"It's better if they themselves have their own experience," said Caffie.
But it's not just employees who experience these ghostly encounters; the guests do, too. One woman even posted about it on TripAdvisor stating her 14-year-old son saw "an old lady walk across the room and go through the balcony door." After showing him Thelma's picture, the young teen confirmed the "old lady" he saw was, in fact, her (source: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g41298-d113148-Reviews-Dunes_Manor_Hotel_Suites-Ocean_City_Maryland.html).
"I'm sure she is still watching over," said Iretha. "She was very, very proud of this place. She was a hardworking woman, and she did a lot of things a lot of women didn't accomplish."
"I believe she's still in charge here," said Caffie. "I was told this is her baby."
To those who believe they've seen Thelma's spirit, Iretha says don't worry; Thelma was always a gentle soul.
"She wouldn't harm anyone, not at all," said Iretha. "When she was living, she never even said a bad word."
Those looking to hear more about the ghost sightings, as well as participate in various family-fun Halloween activities, Dunes Manor will be hosting "OctoBOOfest at the Dunes" on Saturday, Oct.27th and Sunday, Oct. 28th.
"We really incorporated a lot of children's activities. This is a family hotel and Thelma always wanted it to be a family hotel," said Joanne Cunningham, director of sales and marketing.
Joanne says activities include "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" movie night by the pool, fireworks on the beach, a Halloween character breakfast, a kids costume contest, a pumpkin decorating class, a ghost tour, and much more. Joanne says every guest who purchases "The Great Pumpkin Package" this weekend will also receive a trick-or-treat bag for their child.
"A portion of the package proceeds go to Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation, which is a Baltimore-based charity for kids fighting terminal illness," said Joanne. "Believe in Tomorrow also has a house here in Ocean City where those kids can vacation and really not have to worry about anything. Because we're a family hotel, we want to help those kids celebrate family time together."