Haunted Hotels and Inns: Vermont

 

12. Green Mountain Inn, Stowe, Vermont

The property was built in 1833 by Peter Lovejoy. He later traded the property to Stillman Churchhill for a 350 acre farm. Stillman Churchill added  two brick wings, large dance hall, and a double front porch. He also renamed it to Mansfield House. However, Churchill lost the house to W.H.H. Bingham in a foreclosure because of borrowed money. This is when it first started running as an Inn. Later, the Inn switched hands again, this time going to W.P. Bailey who renamed the Inn the Brick Hotel. However, it wasn't until 1893, when the property was purchased by Mark C. Lovejoy, did the name change to Green Mountain Inn. In 1897, the Depot Street Building was built to house the Mount Mansfield Electric Railroad and the Sanborn house was bought to become a blacksmith and livery. 

The Inn has played host to many famous people. This included President Chester A. Arthur, who actually acted in a theatrical production that took place at the Inn. It also included Gerald Ford who was there on an assignment for Look Magazine photo spread in Stowe. 

Boots Berry was born in 1840 in room 302 of the Inn's servant quarters. He grew up to be a respected horseman like his father. He had gained local fame when he saved some stagecoach passengers from certain doom when the coach's horses bolted down Main Street. 

As a hero he soon realized that he didn't have to buy his own drinks anymore. He ended up getting fired from the Inn for neglecting his duties. He wandered the country, and received his nickname from a fellow inmate on a New Orleans jail who taught him how to tap dance. He eventually ended up back in Stowe, and was on hand to save a little girl that was stranded on the roof during a snowstorm. He remembered an old secret. A childhood route to the rooftop, he reached the little girl and lowered her to safety before he himself slipped off the roof. He fell to his death above room 302. 

Legend has it that you can hear Boots tap dancing on the roof in a snow storm.

11. The Equinox, Manchester, Vermont 

The building was originally built in 1769. The columns that have become like a trademark for the Inn were added in 1839. While the 200 room Equinox House, which was the predecessor to the Equinox today, had been established in 1853. 

A number of presidents had visited the Inn and even gave campaign speeches from the front lawn. This included, William Howard Taft, Ulysses S. Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt. President Abraham Lincoln's wife and two sons had visited the Inn in the summer of 1864. It is said that she enjoyed the summer there so much, that she made reservations to visit again with the president. A special Suite was constructed for the Lincoln's visit, but unfortunately he was assassinated on April 14th 1865, and never got the pleasure of staying in the Inn. His son, Robert Todd Lincoln enjoyed the area so much that he eventually built his summer estate, Hildene right down the road. 

The Inn itself is reportedly haunted. At least 2 employees had been on the 3rd floor cleaning when they spotted a brief apparition of Mrs. Lincoln and a small child. Several of the Inn's guests have heard whispered voices, others catching glimpses of apparitions out of the corner of their eyes. Many guests have reported objects moving around the room,  others saying there is a slight problem with the lights. 

One room on the 2nd floor was even missing furniture, and other items were piled up like a pyramid. One guest even reported an odd experience in his room. He claims that he stepped out of his room only for a moment. When he returned he found that the keys he left on a table were separated from the ring and thrown about the room. 

Robert Cullian a security guard from the Inn, was called up to investigate a disturbance in room 329. He found a family of 4 in hysterics. Upon investigating the room, several things were acting out of the ordinary. The rocking chairs were rocking, the shades on the lamps were spinning, and the bed was lurching from one leg to the other across the floor. Cullian was then pushed by a hard force that nearly knocked him down. Six other employees had witnessed things going in in the room on the same night. 

One person had also reported sounds of a mother comforting a whining child. The Inn had also functioned as a jailhouse for sometime.  It has been rumored that in the process of renovations some bones were discovered and disposed of. Though if these rumors are true it went unreported. The hauntings could also be the cause of many misfortunes that have surrounded the Inn, which include a propane explosion in 1985 that had badly burned large portions of the hotel. 

10. Back Inn Time Bed & Breakfast, St. Albans, Vermont

The house was built in 1858, by Victor Atwood. While the current owners claim that they haven't experienced any paranormal activity, there have been plenty of reports in the past. These reports include unexplained noises, voices, and sightings of an apparition of an older woman.

 

Pauline Cray, an old owner of the Inn claims that Lora, the wife of Sidney Weaver is the one that is haunting the Inn. Weaver used to own the house, and Lora died at the age of 30 in the house. There is also reports of a second ghost, this one a male that has been seen in the downstairs parlor. 

Paranormal investigators staying in the Inn have reported voices, noises, and apparitions. This included unexplained noises and voices captured by Vermont Spirits Detective Agency in 2007. 

 

9. Norwich Inn, Norwich, Vermont

The place was built in 1797, by  Colonel Jasper Murdock to be used as an Inn. Has been known through the years as Norwich Hotel, Curtis Hotel, The Union house and the Newton Inn. The Inn had a tavern that was the first to entertain a president. President James Monroe had visited the Inn on July 22nd 1817.

A fire had destroyed the Inn, and neighboring buildings. The Innkeeper rebuilt the Inn in 1890. In 1920, Charles and Mary Walker had bought the Inn, and given it its current name. Theodor Suess Geisel commonly known to the world as Dr. Suess visited the Inn quite often. The Inn was also known for the illegal beer that Mary would sell out of the tavern's basement. 

The Apparition of Mary Walker has been seen gliding along the upper floors, and in the dinning room. She is said to wear a black formal gown, and has been seen wandering through the parlor and disappearing in the adjoining library. She is also attached to room 20, which is where she died. In this room, many strange and unusual events take place. 

Toilets flush themselves, faucets turn off and on, and rocking chairs are said to rock. One guest has even reported that she knocked her water glass off the stand, only to find it under the bed, standing upright, and still filled with water. 

8. Comfort Inn, White River Junction, Vermont

Being built only in 1990, there isn't much history on the Comfort Inn, so why is it haunted. We are unsure of this answer, but rumors and speculation about the Inn suggest that it is. 

Legend has it that room 112 is haunted by the spirit of a woman who committed suicide in the room. Her ghost is said to tamper with the electric locks, and guests have reported the eerie feeling of being watched. 

7. The Old Stagecoach Inn, Waterbury, Vermont

The place was built in 1826 by Dan Carpenter, and it's first owner was Mr. Palrmalee who opened a stagecoach stop and tavern. He also rented spaces out for meetings, and it was a secret location for Freemasons. When the railroad was built in 1848, the stagecoach stop was remodeled and became the Stagecoach Inn. 

However, during the 1920s to the 1940s the building served as a private residence of wealthy socialite named Margaret Spencer. In 1947, at the age of 98 Margaret died in her bed. Her room, now known as room 2 is said to be haunted. 

Though she likes to appear to guests in room 2, wearing a white shawl she has been seen all over the Inn. She goes about her business and the funny thing about her apparition is that it appears in a solid form. Looking no different than a normal person. She enjoys rocking in rocking chairs, and moving objects around. 

Guests have woken to find the friendly spirit of Margaret standing over them and watching them sleep. There was one night at the Inn where a potential guest cancelled his reservation. This was a busy week for the Inn and it was full up to that point. A party of 3 were looking for a place to stay late at night when everyone living was sleeping. They were let into the Inn by a woman wearing a long black dress and her hair was up in a bun. She welcomed them, and led them to the unrented room. The 3 guests came down to breakfast the next morning, and startled the owner. Who hadn't known they had been checked in by the helpful spirit. 

There was also a housekeeper, who went into a guest room to clean it. When she entered she saw an indentation on the bed, and quickly left the room. When she returned she found the bed stripped and the bedding neatly folded on the corner of the bed. 

 6. Golden Stage Inn Bed and Breakfast, Cavendish, Vermont

It started as a stagecoach stop in 1788, with one guest room for men, and one for women. However, it became a private residence in the early or mid 1800s. Rev. Warren Skinner had purchased the Inn, building the common rooms and the attached barn. He raised his family in the house, and he reportedly used the house as a stop for the Underground Railroad. The building wasn't opened as an Inn until the 1980s. 

A male and female spirit haunts the Inn. The female spirit isn't often spotted, but when she is it is reported that she is constantly brushing her hair. The Innkeepers themselves have become familiar with the spirit they've named George. Who often appears wearing a travelling cloak. Many who have seen him says that he resembles Robert Redford. The owner, Sandy Gregg had first seen George when she was sleeping on the 3rd floor of the Inn. When she woke, she saw George standing next to her bed. He was wearing a wide brimmed hat, and a duster coat. There have been other female guests staying on the 3rd floor, who have reported the exact same apparition. 

There are reports of gusts of air, objects going missing only to return in a day or two, unexplained footsteps, and electronics turning off and on by themselves. 

5. Brass Lantern Inn, Stowe, Vermont

Not much is known about Brass Lantern Inn, other than it was built as a farm house in 1835. However, this Inn is a hotspot of paranormal activity and unexplained phenomenon. Apparently, several guests have reported the same incident at different times. Late at night they will hear people arriving and talking loudly about the good time they had at some party. This happens often and from the same room, and happens even when no one is staying in that room. 

 4. White House Inn, Wilmington, Vermont

The house was built in 1915 by Martin and Clara Brown as a summer home. The house remained in the family until 1965, when Clara passed away. It was then sold and converted into an Inn. The spirit of Clara Brown is said to haunt the Inn. 

Both guests and staff have reported a number of things which include, cold spots, doors opening on their own, and apparitions. There was one guest, who was named Mrs. Brown who had been staying in room 9. She reported being visited by an elderly woman in her room in the dead of the night. The woman sat in the chair beside the bed, and said: "One Mrs. Brown in this room is quite enough!" 

One of the owners of the Inn claimed that a mirror moved from one wall to another. Two guests were staying in room 6 complained that someone kept knocking on their door. The owner walked back upstairs with them, when they opened the door the alarm went off and they heard 1930s music. 

On New Years Eve, many guests saw a cloaked figure come speeding down the staircase, go into the bar, and walk to the middle of the lounge area before disappearing. There is an old tale about a man that was caught stealing. It is said that Mrs. Brown locked the man away in the basement vault as punishment. The man was rumored to die in there, and still haunts the basement. The owners believe this story because of the behavior of their dogs. 

3. Hartness House, Springfield, Vermont

The house was built in the early 1900s by James Hartness. He and his wife Lena had entertained many influential guests in their home. This included Charles Lindbergh, and they built underground tunnels. 

Many have claimed that these underground tunnels have a supernatural feel to them. Objects have gone missing, and electricity goes off for no reason. One guest who was staying in the Lindbergh room, claims that the woke at 1 in the morning, to the rocking chair, rocking very loudly back and forth. Then suddenly the faucet in the bathroom started to run. 

Then when they returned to the room after a day of exploring they claim that their suitcases have been switched around. The following night they were woke by static and voices, a cell phone that lit up was moved to the other guests suitcase, the rocking chair was rocking again, and the closet door which had been closed was wide open. The guest got up to retrieve the cell phone, and the noise stopped but the phone remained lit up. 

2. Saxtons River Inn, Rockingham, Vermont

There isn't much information on the Saxtons River Inn, only that the building was built in 1834. Although the building is classified as haunted, there also isn't much information on the haunting of this building either. 

All we know for sure is that the building is haunted by an entity that has been seen in the ballroom and other places in the Inn. We also know that a female spirit is said to haunt room 3. 

1. Readmore Inn, Bellow falls, Vermont

Even less is known about Readmore Inn, we couldn't even find a picture of the Inn! All we know about this Inn is that it was built in 1892, and is said to be haunted by a ghost that resides in the Cook's room.