From ghost hunts and guided tours to haunted inns and spooky dining, New York is a great place to shiver
Behind its gilded glamour, New York City’s towering infrastructure and bustling streets hide a mystique that captivates locals and tourists alike.
And while NYC is a delightful place for thrill-seekers to gather, the rest of the state is also filled with stories of ghostly apparitions, spine-tingling experiences and haunted sites.
Haunted tours and experiences have become famous for groups embracing the darker side of the state. Find a thrilling and unforgettable experience through haunted activities in New York.
The Haunted History Trail in New York has the best spooky experiences
The haunted history trail serves as a guide to the best spooky experiences in New York. The resource offers tours, culinary adventures and more across the state. From Hudson Valley’s haunted houses to the eerie streets of Buffalo, the trail lists various destinations in different areas that guarantee an unforgettable group affair. (hauntedhistorytrail.com)
Terrifying Tours can be found in New York
Uncover the secrets of Saratoga Springs as you wander through its historic streets with Haunted Saratoga Ghost Tours. The 90-minute walking tour takes you in search of ghosts rumored to haunt the city. The Saratoga Springs History Museum/Historic Canfield Casino offers a ghost tour of the casino. This tour relates personal stories of hauntings and paranormal experience that museum staff and visitors have experienced.
Oswego’s haunted tour is perfect for groups eager for a creepy story. Haunted Oswego Tours focuses on places where spirits have made their presence known. Oswego’s proximity to water has been known to keep the spirits active, one of which has made appearances in broad daylight. The town’s spirits often move things, make noise or leave items. The oldest building in Oswego has one mysterious visitor that has communicated with the living world… if you dare to make contact.
The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum features Chittenango Landing, which was built in 1855 to construct and repair cargo boats carrying materials on the Erie Canal. Canal workers in the 19th and 20th centuries were known to have a superstitious nature. The museum uncovers the history of the superstitions, culture of the workers and popular ghost stories told along the canal. From thieves and murderers lurking along the water to the young boy who died jumping into the canal, the tales will leave you shivering. Professional ghost hunters are welcome on the grounds year-round.
Sylvan Beach Amusement Park in Sylvan Beach is a vintage park that is known to be haunted.
The best Haunted hunts
If you and your friends want to take ghostly adventures to the next level, ghost hunts are the perfect activity. The after-dark ghost tours at Sylvan Beach Amusement Park in Sylvan Beach, a vintage park that is known to be haunted, will make your adrenaline spike. The hunt only pursues friendly ghosts. As soon as the park closes, get geared up to turn into the ghost hunters squad because the empty buildings become ghost-hunting grounds. The park has appeared on the TV show “Syfy’s Ghost Hunters.”
Established in 1827, Rolling Hills Asylum in East Bethany, was rated the second most haunted site in the country according to Haunted North America. With more than 1,700 documented deaths and hundreds not recorded, this former Genesee County Poor house is a scary stop. The site offers ghost hunts, guided tours and even horror movie nights.
Savor Spooky Dining in New York
Become captivated by the supernatural charm of New York through haunted dining experiences. Hose 22 Firehouse Grill is a former Rochester firehouse that sat abandoned for 47 years before being turned into a restaurant. Take a self-guided tour of the building’s three floors, which feature an original firehouse bunkroom and memorabilia that are said to be sources of spirit activity. Members of the grill’s staff have reported figures on camera that didn’t appear in person, faucets turning on in empty bathrooms, hearing music in rooms that appear quiet upon entering and bottles falling off the wine shelf in the basement.
Silvio’s Villa, an 18th-century mansion in the Hudson Valley town of Warwick, serves classic Italian dishes and new dishes with creative international twists. The SyFy episode “Haunted Collector” took place at the mansion, where they recorded electronic voice phenomena, glowing orbs and rapidly wilting flowers. Table 24, the location of a suicide, is often surprised with unusual activity. The restaurant staff has witnessed the apparition of a little girl, objects going missing and doors opening on their own. For those eager to explore, paid tours are offered. A host and/or paranormal research team with equipment guide guests through the mansion and conduct ghost hunts.
Burn Brae Mansion was restored for its 100-year anniversary and shortly after the opening, overnight guests began reporting mysterious sightings and noises.
Eerie Inns that groups will love
The Fainting Goat Island Inn in Nichols has been voted the No. 2 Best Haunted Hotel by USA Today readers. As a former railroad hotel built in the late 1800s, Fainting Goat Island Inn has plenty of history and stories to tell. The themed rooms are filled with period furniture and unique pieces. Each room has a private bathroom and plenty of comfort and charm. Book your visit and stay the night in this haunted hotel. Ghost hunts and haunted tours are offered by event only.
Burn Brae Mansion, at the foot of the Catskill Mountains in Glen Spey, was restored for its 100-year anniversary; shortly after the opening, overnight guests began reporting mysterious sightings and noises. Attend one of the mansion’s Murder Mystery dinners or sign up for the Dark Forest Halloween Fright Trail. Overnight guests are invited to take a guided tour of the mansion, including the Attic of Curiosities. The mansion has been featured on the TV show Paranormal AfterParty. Its grounds lead to the historic Glen Spey Cemetery, the resting place of the mansion’s original owners.
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By Aria Wozniak
