10 Places to Put on Your List for National
Ghost Hunting Day

10. Winery at Marjim Manor

While this home is now a winery, its past isn’t quite so… cheerful. Schubal Schudder Merritt built the manor in the 1800s, and later went on to accidentally shoot and kill his son Lewis in this very house. It’s not unusual for Lewis to appear, standing in the very same doorway where he took his last breath, or to question visitors, asking “Who’s in my house?”

Opportunity: Book a pre-scheduled ghost hunt.

9. Casey’s Cottage at Mexico Point State Park 

Casey’s Cottage was a project of Dr. William Casey, who worked to turn the former carriage house into what is now, an 11^th century manor house. But when he died, his spirit couldn’t seem to let go of the home – and strange occurrences like organ music, soft cries for help, and moving furniture became commonplace. Some also report the sighting of a young girl standing near a tree – though who she is and why she chooses to appear is still a mystery.

Opportunity: Book a ghost hunt or guided tour by reservation (6-10 participants).

8. Rome Capitol Theatre 

Rome Capitol Theatre was built in 1928, and still houses live performances today. But it is the performances of the dead that may catch your attention – things like the shadow figure of a man appearing, organ music playing with no working organ present, and the sounds of an ongoing show taking place late at night.

Opportunity: Book a ghost hunt by reservation for a small fee.

7. The Shanley Hotel

Known for its paranormal occurrences, The Shanley is no stranger to the strange. You can stay overnight in this haunted hotel, but it may be difficult to make it past the whistling, footsteps, piano music, children’s laughter, mysterious clock chimes, apparitions, and other haunts that pervade the hotel each evening.

Opportunity: Book a paranormal/ghost investigation by reservation. Or, stay the night and investigate the property.

6. The Naples Hotel 

The scenic views of Naples, NY may not be the setting you picture when you think of ghosts. But The Naples Hotel is home to six friendly spirits, including a woman and her children and a gentleman named Topper. They cause minor trouble at The Naples Hotel, including moving pictures and locking doors on unsuspecting guests.

Opportunity: Book a private ghost tour by reservation (minimum of two people per tour).

5. Greater Adirondack Ghost & Tour Company 

In Plattsburgh, NY, a lantern-lit stroll through the city gives you all you need to know about its eerie past. You can choose from four walking tours – Dr. Beaumont’s Tour of Terror, Specters & Soldiers: A Tour of the Old Roman Catholic Burial Ground, The Spirits of SUNY Plattsburgh and The Ghosts of the Old Post – each with a different horror to tell.

Opportunity: Pick your tour and grab your equipment! Ghost hunters are encouraged to bring along digital voice recorders, EMF detectors, night vision lenses, and anything else they wish to document paranormal activity with while on the tour.

4. Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse & Veterans Park Museum 

A large collection of military artifacts from WWI, WWII and the Korean War seem to be the cause of the paranormal activity found at Dunkirk Lighthouse. Or maybe it comes from the former lighthouse keepers who loved their job so much that even death could not convince them to leave. Either way you spin it, the activity is real – people walking around the house, climbing the tower stairs, talking, humming, even reaching out to touch unsuspecting guests.

Opportunity: Public ghost hunts available on select dates and by reservation. Or book a private hunt by reservation for a small fee.

3. Historic Palmyra WM. Phelps General Store & Historic Palmyra Historical Museum 

Historic Palmyra could possibly be “the most haunted place in the Finger Lakes.” It is home to the unspoken and unseen, including the children who still linger after a fire claimed their lives.

Opportunity: Single visitors or small groups welcome to participate in a haunted tour during normal operating hours. Ghost hunts available seven days a week, minimum of four people, for a fee.

2. The Hinsdale House 

The Hinsdale House was the site of an exorcism in the early 1970s – but the ritual did nothing to save the house from the spirits who roamed there. Now, it is the site of research facility for paranormal investigators and popular among visitors who want to explore.

Opportunity: Book a tour or investigation of the house, including overnight stays. Public ghost hunts take place at least once a month.

1. Rolling Hills Asylum

If you’ve made it as far as Rolling Hills Asylum, there is no turning back now. Haunted North America rated it as the second most haunted site in the United States – and it’s no wonder, with over 1,700 documented deaths on property and hundreds that remain unrecorded. There are plenty of ways to explore the old asylum whether you choose to be quarantined, held captive, detained or placed under psych hold.

Opportunity: Public hunts take place weekly and vary in length. See the website for dates and times.

This list is just the beginning when it comes to ghost hunts and haunts around New York State. Check out our full list of properties that offer ghost hunts at: http://hauntedhistorytrail.com/experiences/ghost-hunts.