Our picks for some of the most haunted hotels in New England — where to (maybe) see, hear, and feel a ghostly encounter while on the road.
The Kennebunk Inn
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Brick Store MuseumDo you believe in ghosts? Haunted New England’s long and storied history makes it home to countless strange and spooky tales, but for those wanting to spend the night with a ghost, a visit to one of New England’s best haunted hotels is an absolute must. While there are too many out there to list them all, we think these are some of the most haunted hotels in New England.
Built in 1799 as the private home of Phineas Cole, the Kennebunk Inn was converted into a tavern in 1928. Since then, owners have come and gone, but the spirit of a former nightwatchman and auditor, Silas Perkins, has stuck around. By playing pranks on inn employees he doesn’t like and causing mischief (especially in room 17), Silas is considered the inn’s longest (and most entertaining) guest. 45 Main Street, Kennebunk, ME. 207-985-3351; thekennebunkinn.com
SEE MORE: The Haunting of the Kennebunk Inn
Originally built as a farmhouse in 1883, the Beal House Inn began welcoming guests in 1933. Its ghostly visitors are rumored to slam doors, tromp up and down the stairs, and carry on conversations in unoccupied rooms, but don’t worry…the owners say they’re friendly visitors. 2 West Main Street, Littleton, NH. 603-444-2661; thebealhouseinn.com
Haunted New England royalty at its finest. It’s hard to imagine a list of the most haunted hotels in New England without mentioning the infamous Lizzie Borden. One of the most horrific homes in New England history is now a unique bed and breakfast, serving up a healthy dose of the house’s spooky history alongside comfy accommodations. Each stay includes a full tour of the house and background on the Borden family murders that happened there in 1892. 230 Second Street, Fall River, MA. 508-675-7333; lizzie-borden.com
This historic 1754 bed and breakfast has a long history, as home to generations of the Grant family, as well as housing Continental soldiers during the Revolutionary War and escaped slaves during the Civil War. Today, the inn’s rooms (the Adelaide room in particular) are rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a woman and her two children, complete with plenty of strange sounds and odd sensations. 109-111 Route 2A, Poquetanuck Village, Preston, CT. 860-887-7589; captaingrants.com
The word that best describes the reported ghosts at the Deerfield Inn is “mischievous” — and who could be afraid of that? Kid-friendly ghost Hershel has been known to make a mess in Room 148 by rearranging the bedclothes and tossing magazines around. 81 Old Main Street, Deerfield, MA. 413-774-5587; deerfieldinn.com
SEE MORE: Historic Deerfield, Massachusetts | Historic Homes and the Deerfield Inn
The Colonial Inn has welcomed guests and weary travelers since 1716, and with a history that long, there are bound to be a few guests that have decided to stay on a more permanent basis. Its most famous spirit, the ghost in Room 24, was first sighted by a newlywed couple on their honeymoon in 1966, and since then the inn has drawn ghost hunters and historians looking to experience their own spooky thrill. 48 Monument Square, Concord, MA. 800-370-9200; concordscolonialinn.com
SEE MORE:
Historic Concord, Massachusetts | Winter Day Trip
Concord, MA | The Perfect Summer Day Trip
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery | Where Concord’s Legends Lie
In the center of historic Stowe, the 1833 Green Mountain Inn is not only a top tourist destination, but also home to Boots Berry, the inn’s infamous ghost. The son of an inn chambermaid and horseman, Boots was born in 1840 in Room 302 (then part of the servants’ quarters) and eventually worked at the inn himself — earning his nickname thanks to his fondness for tap dancing. In 1902, Boots rescued a girl from the roof during a snowstorm, but then slipped and fell to his death. Today, guests claim that during a snowstorm they can still hear Boots’ tap dancing footsteps on the roof. 18 Main Street, Stowe, VT. 800-253-7302; greenmountaininn.com
SEE MORE: A Holiday Visit to Stowe, Vermont
This Cape Cod inn has, to put it briefly, a past. It’s believed to have been a brothel during the 1920’s, where a woman, Hannah, was murdered. Today, guests report opening doors, flickering lights and candles, and mysterious cool breezes that are all attributed to Hannah. She has also appeared as a ghostly apparition in photographs, making her one of the more popular ghosts in New England. 3 Old Country Road, Orleans, MA. 800-863-3039; orleansinn.com
Have you stayed at one of the most haunted hotels in New England or have another haunted New England destination to share? Let us know!
This post was first published in 2012 and has been updated.
As Digital Editor of New England.com, Aimee writes, manages, and promotes content for NewEngland.com and its social media channels. Before this role, she served as assistant, then associate, editor for Yankee Magazine and YankeeMagazine.com, where she was nominated for a City and Regional Magazine Association award for Best Blog. A lifelong New Englander, Aimee loves history, the New Hampshire seacoast, and a good Massachusetts South Shore bar pizza.
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