When
you start thinking about your honeymoon you probably think about a
romantic getaway for two. And, in most cases, that old adage - two's
company, three's a crowd - really does apply. Except, of course, if
you're daring enough to spend your honeymoon in a haunted hotel.
Perhaps
the most famous and well-known of haunted hotels in the United States is
The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. There, in Room 217,
horror king Stephen King wrote much of The Shining. A little
closer to home, however, there are plenty of haunted hotels and inns that
are perfect for a haunted honeymoon, romantic anniversary trip or perhaps
just an intimate long weekend in the country. And, all are within
one day's driving distance of Atlantic City.
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The
Historic Farnsworth House Restaurant and Inn
401 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA Phone: 717-334-8838
Website: www.farnsworthhouseinn.com |
First
on the list, The Farnsworth House. Having spent four years in
Gettysburg (I even lived on Baltimore Street one summer) I can personally
attest to some eerie occurrences in Gettysburg. As the site of the
bloodiest battle of the Civil War, there are more than a few ghost stories
floating around the town. One of the buildings on the campus of
Gettysburg College, in fact, is supposedly haunted by Civil War soldiers.
The building served as a field hospital during the battle, and numerous
ghost sightings and eerie occurrences have been reported there. It
was even featured on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries.
The
Farnsworth House, now a restaurant and bed and breakfast, is another one
of the many places in Gettysburg that is said to be haunted. The
attic of The Farnsworth House was once used by sharpshooters during the
Battle of Gettysburg, and the house is said to be haunted by a few
different ghosts, including a civil war soldier and one of the former
tenants who died there and now haunts The Sarah Black room. (Shown
above at top of page). For additional photos of the rooms and detail on
which rooms of The Farnsworth are haunted visit:
http://gettysburgaddress.com/HTMLS/farn.B&B.html
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White
House Inn of Wilmington
178 Route 9 W., Wilmington, VT
Phone: 802-464-2135 - Website: www.whitehouseinn.com |
Built
in 1915 for a wealthy lumber baron named Martin Brown, The White House of
Wilmington is said to be haunted by the former owner's wife, Mrs. Brown.
The White House of Wilmington has been called "one of the ten most
romantic places in the world" by The Boston Herald & The New York
Times. It also features special Honeymoon Packages - a three night
romantic respite or a five night honeymoon delight. During the
winter ask about the romantic sleigh rides for two or try out their
extreme tubing. Special events during the year include a Halloween
ghost hunt and seance.
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Edgewood Plantation
4800 John Tyler Memorial Highway
Charles City, VA 23030
Phone: 804-829-2962
Website: www.edgewoodplantation.com
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A
national state landmark, circa 1849, The Edgewood Plantation is now an
opulent bed and breakfast just outside Colonial Williamsburg. This
haunted house boasts a rich history as an actual pre-Civil War plantation.
During the war it was used as a lookout post by Confederate generals.
This 7,000 square foot Plantation is also reported to be the home of the
ghost of Lizzie Rowland - a former tenant of the house who died of a
broken heart waiting for her lover to return from the war.
The
Colonial Inn, which dates back to 1716, is said to be haunted by a ghost,
possibly that of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Of particular interest, the
ghost was first reported by a couple on their honeymoon. Visit
Colonial Inn's website to read all about that couple's honeymoon night and
the Room 24 ghost! www.concordscolonialinn.com/page.asp?pID=history_ghost
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Lizzie
Borden Bed & Breakfast
92 Second St., Fall River, MA
Phone: 509-675-7333
Website: www.lizzie-borden.com |
Built
in 1845, The Lizzie Borden House until recently was a private residence.
Now, as a bed and breakfast, you can spend a night in the home where the
infamous axe murders occurred in 1892. You can even indulge in a
delicious breakfast similar to the last meal the Borden's ate the day of
the murders: bananas, johnny cakes, sugar cookies and coffee.
Located
just 50 miles south of Boston, this historic haunt would make an
interesting, if not scary, stopover on the way to Cape Cod. Ask for
Abby Borden's room and beware mysterious fog and strange body impressions
on the bedspreads.
Close
to Foxwoods Casino and Historic Mystic Seaport, The Homespun Farm Bed
& Breakfast in Griswold, Connecticut, is listed on the National
Registry of Historic Places. This 260-year-old home is also said to
be haunted by both Simon Brewster, who purchased the farm in 1740, and his
wife. They are said to be friendly ghosts...more like "guiding
spirits." Sometimes one of them can even be heard walking up
the stairs at night.
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The
Notchland Inn
Route 302, Hart's Location,
New Hampshire
Phone: (800) 866-6131
Website: www.notchland.com |
The
Notchland Inn, in the scenic white mountains of New Hampshire, has been
called one of the "Top Twelve romantic B&Bs in the United
States" by Sandy Soule of BedandBreakfast.com. The 1860's
granite mansion is located on a 100-acre estate, and all twelve guest
rooms feature wood-burning stoves. Nearby activities include hiking,
skiing and outlet shopping.
The
Inn has hosted many guests over the years, including a few spirits.
Some guests have reported that they felt a presence in their rooms.
Perhaps one of them is the ghost of Nancy Barton who died in a snowstorm
in pursuit of her fiance who ran off with her dowry. In the front
parlor of the Inn you'll even find a gravestone dated 1778.
Built
in 1804, The Village Green Inn on Cape Cod offers a romantic retreat amid
the quaint charm of New England. Four different ghosts are said to
haunt this inn, which was renovated in 1894 as a Victorian. All
rooms have air conditioning, private baths and cable TV. Some have
working fireplaces, and perhaps an extra otherworldly guest.
Another
interesting haunted Inn in Stowe, Vermont is now a luxury resort with 100
guest rooms. The Green Mountain Inn, originally built in 1833,
boasts an impressive list of amenities including a year-round
outdoor heated pool, a full service health club, jacuzzi, sauna and steam
bath, a game room and, perhaps, a ghost.
The
Green Mountain Inn is said to be haunted by Boots Berry. In 1902
Boots Berry went up onto the roof of the Inn during a snowstorm to rescue
a little girl on the roof. In so doing, he slipped and fell to his
death. The portion of the roof he was standing on was supposedly the
roof above the room he grew up in, Room 302. Room 302 is now called
The Peter Lovejoy Suite and is now room 244. In
researching this article we even found a recent photograph showing an orb
or ball of spirit energy in the room. You can decide for yourself.
Check out the report and photo from The
Atlantic Paranormal Society website. To read up further on the Boots
story The Green Mountain Inn's website has the full story. They say
sometimes tap dancing can be heard from the third floor of the
inn....during really heavy snowstorms.
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The
Hotel Macomber
727 Beach Drive
Cape May, NJ
Phone:
609-884-3020
Website:
hotelmacomber.com |
Last
on our list and closest to home, about 30 minutes from Atlantic City, is
The Hotel Macomber in Cape May, New Jersey. The hotel, built
sometime between 1911 and 1915, is said to be haunted by two ghosts
according to Al Rauber, a renowned paranormal investigator. The first is a
spirit named Lilly. It is believed she worked at the hotel during
the 1920's and choked to death on a chicken bone in the hotel.
In fact, some customers in the hotel's second floor restaurant, Union
Park, reported seeing a woman dressed in 1920's clothing walking through
the restaurant.
The
second spirit is said to haunt the upper floors of the hotel, particularly
Room #10. Visitors to the room have reported lights going on and
off, dresser drawers opening and closing and many unusual sounds in the
night.
For
more information on the Hotel Macomber ghost story visit the website www.hauntednewjersey.com.
Or check in to the Macomber for a weekend stay, or perhaps just a romantic
dinner for two (or three or four....)!
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