X Factor judges -- and former Idol cohorts -- Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul had an encounter of the supernatural kind last week when they unknowingly checked into a haunted hotel in Dallas during their show's audition tour.

Intending to stay at The Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa during their time in town, the judges -- including L.A. Reid -- didn't last long at the luxury digs.

"L.A. didn't even know the story of the ghosts; he just couldn't be inside the hotel," a source close to the trio tells Us Weekly. "He was first to check in and left before the others arrived, saying it had a 'weird feeling about it.' Everyone joked he was being a diva, but when they heard about the hotel really being haunted they just thought he was smart!"

After the Dallas area experienced a thunderstorm -- said to bring out the apparitions -- Abdul was especially spooked and the insider tells Us she experienced her bathroom's faucets turning on and off on their own.

As for Cowell, the source says he quite enjoyed the impromptu haunting.

Word is the judge -- and X Factor's creator -- has become somewhat obsessed with the spirits.

"All the other judges were freaked out and insisted on changing hotels or rooms, but Simon was quite happy with the ghosts," says the source. "He was fascinated by them. It wouldn't surprise anyone if he insists on staying in only haunted hotels in future!"

By Allison Corneau for Us Weekly. For more Channel Surfing, click here.