It’s that time of year—cool air, eerie vibes and ghost stories galore! Syracuse and Central New York have some pretty creepy urban legends, some more known than others. Here are three hidden spooky stories haunting Syracuse and the surrounding areas that you can scare your friends with this Halloween.
The Brae Loch Inn
Settled on the 208-year-old William Burr Estate, the Brae Loch Inn was opened in 1950 as an inn and restaurant in a historic, gothic mansion located in nearby Cazenovia. Originally, the Brae Loch Inn—then named the Hill Lake Inn—was located on a farmhouse in Borodino, New York, and operated as a summer-only restaurant before relocating to Cazenovia.
Ever since the Inn’s relocation, guests have reported ghost sightings in their rooms on numerous occasions, especially in the “Mary Queen of Scots” Room 12 and the “Robert the Bruce” Room 13. Strange noises and phantom footsteps abound, and many people have reported seeing lights and orbs. Apparitions seen by guests include a man in an old-fashioned shirt, a young girl in a blue dress, a shadowy male figure and a man dubbed “Scotty” wearing a kilt. However, all of the ghosts have been reported to be very friendly, so try not to get too spooked!
The Brae Loch Inn offers a special getaway package that includes an overnight stay, a private ghost tour and dinner. Be sure to check out their website to learn more about these tours and their haunted history.
The Ghosts of Glen Haven
The Brae Loch Inn isn’t the only haunted place to stay in Central New York! The original building of the Glen Haven Hotel burned down in a fire many decades ago, but the lives lost in the fire as well as on the nearby lake allegedly haunt the structure built in its place. The sounds of running children can be heard in empty rooms, and visitors have claimed to feel ghostly hands touch their shoulders or a pressure like someone is sitting on them.
One spirit in particular has haunted the Hotel and surrounding area for decades—the Glen Haven Screamer. Many guests and local residents have reported hearing a piercing, bloodcurdling scream coming from the basement of the hotel. There is much speculation by locals as to who the Screamer is in relation to the hotel’s history, but there’s no way to really know.
Stay in the hotel or have dinner in the restaurant to experience the spirits for yourself!
The E(e)rie Canal Museum
Housed in the only remaining Weighlock Building in the U.S., the Erie Canal Museum offers over 200 years of Erie Canal history through interactive displays and original artifacts. While the museum is an integral part of Syracuse history, it is also supposedly haunted. In fact, it is haunted by so many ghosts that it is known as one of the most haunted spots in Syracuse.
Notably, there is a woman who haunts the building who was killed in the spot where the model canal boat now sits, but this is just one of many spirits rumored to haunt the museum’s halls. Museum staff have so many reports of ghost sightings that they know which spots in the museum have the most paranormal activity… and the most “bad energy.” In fact, when the museum hosts ghost tours, they never take anyone down to the basement as there is “bad energy” down there, and even the staff themselves avoid it. Next time you consider checking out the Erie Canal Museum, beware of what spirits you may encounter!
Central New York has much to offer in the scope of paranormal activity, local lore and ghost stories—these only scratch the surface of the stories you’ll hear. I hope these local spooky stories really put you in the Halloween spirit!
Written By Mirren Grimason ’29, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
This article is for reference purposes only and is not deemed an endorsement by Syracuse University.