Overview
The Empress of Little Rock occupies the Hornibrook Mansion, built in 1888 for saloon owner James Hornibrook in what is now the Quapaw Quarter historic district of Little Rock, Arkansas; the National Register describes it among the finest examples of ornate Gothic Queen Anne architecture in the country, with a double staircase, stained glass and a corner tower concealing a secret card room. Restored in the 1990s, it operates as a celebrated bed and breakfast. Its haunted reputation is gentle and tied to the Hornibrooks themselves — James died suddenly not long after the house was finished, and guests and innkeepers have described footsteps on the grand staircase, lights and doors behaving oddly, the sense of a presence in the tower and certain suites, and occasional glimpses of figures in period dress. These accounts should be presented as guest reports and folklore rather than proven phenomena. Current room and booking details should be confirmed from the official site before publishing.