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).
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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. The Colonial Inn's website used to have
an article all
about that couple's honeymoon night and the Room 24 ghost but
since they redid their site, I haven't been able to find
it. Just ask about Room 24.
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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.
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Village
Green Inn
40 Main Street,
Falmouth, MA
Phone: (508) 548-5621
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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. For more info
visit: http://www.inntravels.com/usa/ma/vgi.html
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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