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‘Til Death Do Us Part: Lovers Who Met a Tragic End
These haunted locations tell the story of romance turned deadly, putting Romeo and Juliet to shame. Trust us: once you read about the ill-fated lovers that cemented their tragic legacies in these haunted estates, you may find yourself intrigued to walk in their shadows—whether out of fascination, or as a cautionary tale… Read on to learn more about the locations that are marked with the teardrops, sweet nothings, and dark or forbidden desires of Lovers Who Met a Tragic End.
The Red Coach Inn was a sought-after accommodation option for many honeymooners, the Tudor-style estate offering an enchantment as equally thrilling as its Niagara Falls location. It came to be known as the “honeymoon capital of the world.” But legend says there was one couple who rushed to fulfill their “til death do us part” vow, by taking their lives on their wedding day. (If “it was over before it even began” was a couple, it would’ve been them.) In addition to this haunting tale of star-crossed lovers, other reports of spooky occurrences include jewelry moving across dressers, hearing music playing in the middle of the night, or guests hearing footsteps and dancing from above, though they’re already on the top floor. (We suppose, the makings of a spirited wedding reception?) Dine at the on-site restaurant or book a room at the inn.
Within the immaculate walls and stained windows of the beautiful Van Horn Mansion in Burt, NY, something sinister may have been afoot… In 1836, James Van Horn, Jr. married Malinda Niles—but the nuptials would be brief, as she would mysteriously die within the year. And though the life of this young beauty would be tragically cut short, the activity that has persisted seems to breathe continued (albeit restless) energy into the home: there have been reports of doors closing and slamming on their own, the smell of tobacco emanating from a vacant room, lights flickering without cause, and sightings of shadows, spirits and faces appearing in windows. This historic mansion has been preserved and is open for tours or paranormal investigations, by appointment.
Belhurst Castle in Geneva, NY, offers guests the picturesque and old-world charm of a castle, paired with modern-day amenities that make for an unforgettable experience. It is here where the tale of opera singer Isabella and her forbidden lover, Spanish Don, crescendos and briefly ends, with their hopes of living out life together being, quite literally, crushed. The pair fled to America, and in their attempt to escape authorities, would try to escape through an underground passage to a waiting boat—but the tunnel collapsed on Isabella, leaving their love forever unsung. Isabella has been seen standing on the front lawn in the middle of the night, as an apparition flying in through windows, or somberly walking along the shores of Seneca Lake. Stay overnight, dine at one of the on-site restaurants or enjoy a treatment at the spa named after our tragic heroine: Isabella Spa-Salon.
At the Armour-Stine Octagon House in Irvington, NY, they tell the story of a Lady in White. A beautiful young woman started a forbidden romance with a young man from a neighboring aristocratic family. (Stop us if you’ve heard this one before!) Ignoring disapprovals, the pair would run off to elope, boarding a steamboat that would take them to New York City. But in a cruel twist of fate, the steamboat’s boiler exploded—the young man killed instantly, leaving the girl to drown in the Hudson River. Her widowed, grief-stricken mother would refuse to accept the coffin sent to her home, in denial of this devastating loss, and the young woman would come to be known as the Lady in White, whose spirit is said to wander the property’s grounds. Mansion tours are available year-round, while fall tours include the Myths & Mysteries tour, where visitors learn about the home’s connections to spiritualism, and the Lady in White tour, which brings guests closer to the tragic tale of the doomed young woman.
They say the journey is the destination… But for one ill-fated couple traveling along Cedarvale Road in Syracuse (nicknamed “13 Curves”) it was also their final destination. As the story goes, a newlywed couple were traveling along the winding road on their wedding night, but got into a terrible accident, killing them instantly. Since their untimely death, travelers along the road have reported seeing the apparition of a bride—perhaps trapped in the spot where her and her beloved’s life together came to an abrupt end, and where their future together would never be realized.
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