Lurking beyond the picturesque fall foliage, crisp mountain air and crystal-clear lakes, the Adirondack Region harbors its fair share of haunted history and paranormal activity. If ghost sightings and eerie occurrences are your idea of a fun fall weekend, pack your bags – and your courage – and check out these haunted places in the Adirondacks.
Fort William Henry – Lake George, NY
Featured on an episode of the SyFy channel’s “Ghost Hunters” and an official stop on the Haunted History Trails of New York State, the Fort William Henry was marked by bloody battles, disease and death during the French and Indian War. The Fort reports numerous eyewitness accounts of paranormal activity and offers Haunted History Ghost Tours on Fridays and Saturdays in October. Visit the military crypt where several bodies were found, as well as an original well that is believed to have trapped the spirit of a young girl.
Bonus: While in Lake George, be sure to stop by the “Mystery Spot” for more unexplained phenomena.
The Sagamore Resort – Bolton Landing, NY
Built in the 1880s, The Sagamore Resort is listed as one of the top 10 haunted hotels in the U.S. Employees and visitors alike have reported ghost sightings over the years, including the spirit of a mysterious women who enters guest rooms unbidden. Dare to dine alongside the ghost of a middle-aged women in a blue and white polka dot dress who has been seen moving through the hotel restaurant and hallways, or play a game of 18-holes on the prestigious Sagamore Golf Course, which just happens to be haunted by a little boy and giggling children.
The Anvil Inn – Fort Edward, NY
Originally a blacksmith shop from the 1840s, The Anvil Inn is now a restaurant featuring period woodwork, blacksmith décor and a beautiful, large stone fireplace. However, numerous guests have experienced much more than a delicious meal and fireside dining. A mischievous female spirit is said to haunt the premises, randomly turning on and off the lights and music, and dropping bottles on the floor. Of course, you wouldn’t want to get spooked before you’ve had the famous cranberry bread pudding – it truly is to die for.
Bonus: Take a drive by the historic Jane McCrea house. Although it’s currently a private residence, this home has a grisly past. Young Jane McCrea was scalped and killed in July 1777 by hostile Native Americans, and there have been reports of footsteps in the attic and lights turning on and off in the night.
Barkeater Chocolates – North Creek, NY
Located in a centuries-old building on Route 28 in North Creek, NY, this chocolate shop has a not-so-sweet past. The location is featured on the Haunted History Trails of New York State, and is known for unexplained noises, footsteps, and ghosts, including a boy running through the store, a man in the basement, and a women who speaks in a muffled voice. Barkeater Chocolates offers both public and private Haunted Factory Chocolate-Making sessions, as well as Private Paranormal Investigations.
