It’s finally spooky season and for some, that means visiting haunted places throughout the Finger Lakes just in time for Halloween.
The Haunted History Trail of New York State highlights over 80 locations throughout the state brimming with paranormal activity. The Finger Lakes region, which in this case stretches east from Rochester to Syracuse all the way down to Owego, has 19 ghostly sites.
“The Finger Lakes Region is home to two kinds of spirits,” the trail’s website says. “Known for its Riesling and other delicious wines, this area is also home to the unknown, paranormal, and downright spooky … Visit a winery, a haunted museum on the banks of the Erie Canal, or an inn known for its friendly goats and less friendly ghosts.”
Here’s which Finger Lakes locations are on the list.
13 Curves on Onondaga Hill
Where: Cedarvale Road in Syracuse
Why it’s haunted: It’s believed to be haunted by two people who died in a car accident on the road over 60 years ago, according to the trail’s website.
Visitor information: Since it’s a public road, visitors are free to drive along it at any time.
1867 Parkview Inn
Where: 145 Front St. in Owego
Why it’s haunted: A small girl is said to have died in a fire there, the trail’s website says.
What to expect during your visit: The owner of the over 150-year-old hotel and restaurant says bells ring and objects move in empty rooms of the restaurant and paranormal investigators and ghost hunters have also experienced evidence of it being haunted.
Visitor information: Offers ghost hunts, guided tours (of 2-25 people) and investigations by appointment.
Belhurst Castle
Where: 4069 West Lake Road in Geneva
Why it’s haunted: The owner is said to have died of blood poisoning after a fall in one of the buildings — Hermitage — and while building the castle, one person died and another started suffering from mental health issues, the trail’s website states. The castle also has a well-known ghost named Isabella, an opera singer often seen dressed in white, who died after an escape tunnel collapsed on her. And an old caretaker, Dick O’Brien, died there as well in 1972.
What to expect during your visit: You may see Isabella walking the shores of Seneca Lake, standing in the middle of the front lawn at night or as an apparition flying in through windows. Dick O’Brien has been seen walking up the stairs or sitting in his favorite chair.
Additionally, you could experience showers turning on and off in guest rooms, bottles and glasses flying around the bar, tablecloths tied to the chandeliers, hear a lullaby sung in the middle of the night or children playing and screaming in the neighboring room or furniture being moved above you.
Visitor information: To experience any of this yourself, you’ll have to book a night or two in one of the castle’s three hotels, dine in one of their restaurants or spend some time in the Isabella Spa & Salon.
Durand Eastman Park
Where: Lake Shore Boulevard & Zoo Road in Rochester
Why it’s haunted: “The White Lady” or Lady in the Lake has been seen along the roadways of the park looking for the body of her daughter, who, depending on which story you hear, was killed by a boyfriend or group of criminals, the Democrat and Chronicle reported in 2017. It’s said the human White Lady either killed herself in grief, or died alone and heartbroken.
What to expect during your visit: The lady has been seen rising from the water, or walking around with two ghostly hound dogs, according to the 2017 article.
Visitor information: The county-owned park is open every day from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. between April 1st and October 31st. And November 1st until March 31st, Monday through Thursday, the park is open 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Friday through Sunday, the park is open until 11:00 p.m.
There are also Lady in White Ghost Walks on Saturdays at 9 p.m. through October 25, hosted by Rochester Candlelight Ghost Walks.
Erie Canal Museum
Where: 318 Erie Blvd. East in Syracuse
What to expect during your visit: You may encounter a group of see-through children playing in the courtyard, a woman who was killed where the model canal boat is or hear a couple of arguing men thumping through the hallways, according to the trail’s website.
Visitor information: The museum is open daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and docent-led history tours are available, which include stories about the ghostly encounters that have occurred on site.
Fainting Goat Island Inn
Where: 1311 West River Road in Nichols
What to expect during your visit: You may be awoken in the night by voices and visions of two women having tea in the Fainting Room, see eyes looking back at you from the mirrors, hear footsteps on a staircase that no longer exists or witness a small chair move in the Nubian Room, the trail’s website states.
Visitor information: You’ll need to book a room for a couple nights to experience the frights yourself but ghost hunts and haunted tours, limited to 20 people, take place frequently. Visit the inn’s website — faintinggoatislandinn.com — or Facebook page to find out more.
Historic Palmyra WM. Phelps General Store & Historic Palmyra Historical Museum
Where: 140 Market St. in Palmyra
Why it’s haunted: A young mother and her six children are said to have died in a fire in what’s now the historical museum when it used to be a hotel, according to the trail’s website.
What to expect during your visit: You may hear the laughter of children running between rooms or footsteps from the Erie Canal Depot and Palmyra Print Shop.
Visitor information: Private ghost investigations are available most weekends by reservation and ghost hunts are available seven days a week with varying prices, times and lengths. For information or to schedule a tour, you can call (315) 597-6981.
Hose 22 Firehouse Grill
Where: 56 Stutson St. in Rochester
What to expect during your visit: You may witness faucets turning on in empty bathrooms, music playing in quiet rooms or bottles falling off the basement wine shelf that have gone untouched, the trail’s website says. And if you take out a camera, you may be able to see figures appear in photos that aren’t there in person.
Visitor information: You can take yourself through the original meeting and bunk rooms of Engine 22 upstairs after grabbing a bite to eat and explore what’s said to be the most haunted part of the site: the Downtime Pub.
ILL Eagle Taphouse
Where: 200 East Church St. in Elmira
What to expect during your visit: The restaurant occupies the historic Federal Building, which was originally built in 1902 as a U.S. Post Office and Courthouse but also spent some time as a police evidence holding area. Visitors report feeling sudden cold spots, eerie sensations and objects moving without explanation, the trail’s website states.
Visitor information: To experience the frights for yourself, you’ll have to dine here — they’re open varying hours Monday through Saturday — but the restaurant also offers ghost hunts and tours during the fall months, which can be found on their website at illeagletaphouse.com.
Museum of Wayne County History
Where: 21 Butternut St. in Lyons
Why it’s haunted: Formerly the 1856 Wayne County Jail and sheriff’s residence, William Fee, who was convicted of murdering an unknown woman, was sentenced to be hung right in the jail in 1860, the trail’s website says.
Visitor information: Guided historical and haunted tours are available Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and paranormal investigations with a maximum of 6 people are available by appointment. Haunted History Walks through the village are also available in the fall months.
Seneca Falls Historical Society
Where: 55 Cayuga St. in Seneca Falls
What to expect during your visit: It’s believed there are three ghosts residing in the historical society, including the original owner, Edward Mynderse, who’s known to play tricks on staff as he doesn’t like any kind of change, the trail’s website states. The footsteps of a former nanny can also be heard walking on the third floor and on the back stairway, a young Irish girl can be heard crying.
Visitor information: One-hour guided ghost tours are available by reservation and every Tuesday night in October, there are two group ghost tours offered by the museum — one from 6-7 p.m. and another from 7:30-8:30 p.m. — and you’ll need to call ahead at 315-568-8412 to reserve your spot.
Split Rock Quarry
Where: Onondaga Boulevard, 10 minutes west of downtown Syracuse
Why it’s haunted: The hazardous munitions plant exploded in 1918, killing over 50 people, the trail’s website says.
What to expect during your visit: You could hear sounds of footsteps, voices in the distance and revving of Crusher’s — an old piece of machinery that hasn’t run since the explosion — engine.
Visitor information: The trail’s website warns visitors that the location is an abandoned spot in the woods so enter at your own risk, don’t go in alone and wear appropriate shoes since it’s a bit of a hike to get there.
The 1890 House Museum
Where: 37 Tompkins St. in Cortland
What to expect during your visit: Footsteps in the empty building, doors opening and closing and knocking and rapping may be heard throughout, according to the trail’s website, and you could see shadows moving through the rooms as well as ghostly silhouettes of human figures in the windows.
Visitor information: You could rent the museum late at night for a self-guided ghost hunt or schedule a private guided ghost hunting experience with Dream Seekers Paranormal during the museum’s closed hours by calling 607-756-7551 or emailing info@the1890house.org.
The Fox Sisters Property/Hydesville Memorial Park
Where: 1510 Hydesville Road in Newark
Why it’s haunted: Two girls-turned-mediums — Katie and Maggie Fox — and their parents moved from Rochester to a cottage in Newark and while there, in March of 1848, communicated with spirit Charles B. Rosna who had been murdered in the house and whose body had been buried in the cellar, the trail’s website says.
Visitor information: Guided tours of the property can be made by contacting the property’s caretaker at 315-879-8804 or foxsisters1848@gmail.com.
The Glen Haven Hotel
Where: 7434 Fair Haven Road in Homer
What to expect during your visit: If you plan a stay at the hotel, you may hear children running in empty rooms, a scream from the “Glen Haven Screamer” coming from the basement at night or feel hands on your shoulders or people sitting on you, the trail’s website says.
The Landmark Theatre
Where: 362 S. Salina St. in Syracuse
Why it’s haunted: A apparition occasionally seen in a white dress is said to be named Clarissa, who fell from the balcony in the theatre in 1930 and died, according to the trail’s website.
Visitor information: You can schedule guided tours and group investigations in the theatre.
The Naples Hotel
Where: 111 South Main St. in Naples
What to expect during your visit: After booking a night in the hotel, you may encounter spirits Topper, Alice and her two children or several other ghosts residing in the building, the trail’s website said. Visitors and staff have heard whispers, seen flickering lights, televisions turning on and off as well as a woman filling a room in the front of the hotel with the smell of lilacs and a Civil War soldier walking down the basement steps.
Union Tavern
Where: 4565 Culver Road in Rochester
What to expect during your visit: An apparition of a woman has been seen standing by the fireplace and the restaurant’s owners have felt cold spots and smelled the scent of cigarette smoke, according to the trail’s website.
Visitor information: Paranormal investigations with the Monroe County Paranormal Investigators take place on select dates and private tours and ghost hunts can be scheduled by emailing info@uniontavernseabreeze.com.
Woodlawn Cemetery
Where: 1200 Walnut St. in Elmira
What to expect during your visit: Mark Twain and his family have been laid to rest here and some say they are enveloped by the smell of cigar smoke near his grave. Others have felt unexplained cold spots, heard phantom footsteps and seen shadowy figures — including a ghost-like woman in period attire.
Visitor information: The cemetery is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at no cost. Ghost walks hosted by the Chemung County Historical Society in October can be booked by visiting chemungvalleymuseum.org.
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 19 haunted spots to explore in the Finger Lakes this Halloween: See the list
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
