The haunting of La Posada de Santa Fe is famously attributed to the spirit of Julia Staab, the wife of the original mansion's owner. The 19th-century French-style mansion, built by German merchant Abraham Staab, is now the resort's centerpiece and is considered the hub of the paranormal activity. The ghostly legend begins with the life of Julia Staab, a wealthy socialite who hosted lavish parties in the mansion during Santa Fe's high-society era. According to legend, tragedy struck when she lost her eighth child. Overcome with grief, she became a recluse, retreating to her room and reportedly starving herself. She died at the age of 52 in 1896, and Abraham Staab died in 1913. It is said that her spirit remains in the home she loved so much and continues to haunt the upstairs hallways. Reports from guests and staff describe Julia's spirit as a benevolent presence, often appearing in her black Victorian dress. A janitor was mopping near the main staircase when he saw a woman in a black Victorian dress with her hair pulled back. The woman vanished as suddenly as she appeared. Other staff members have reported similar sightings. Housekeepers have reported sudden, dramatic drops in temperature and feeling a hand touch their back in Julia's former bedroom, now room 256. One guest awoke to see a "solid apparition" of Julia standing in the room before she disappeared. Julia is reportedly most active in her former bedroom, now the notoriously haunted room 256. Stories describe guests being unable to sleep, doors slamming, and an unwelcoming presence. Some visitors have reported smelling roses, her favorite flower, when her spirit is said to be present.