Believe it or not, the state of New York has a colorful history of ghoulish characters haunting a variety of different local institutions. If you live or work in an old home, perhaps you’ve witnessed some paranormal experiences. In the spirit of Halloween, our propane company would love to explore some of these frightening places:
The Sagamore
Located on an island overlooking the beautiful Lake George, the Sagamore Hotel is stunningly beautiful. With views of the lake and nearby mountains, this beautiful establishment looks like the perfect place to forget your troubles.
Perhaps the serene beauty of the estate provides some otherworldly guests with a reason to stay long after they stopped living. Some New York residents whisper that this hotel is one of the most haunted places in New York.
The most famous spirit is the host of a little boy playing on the grounds. Local lore claims that he sold lost golf balls to the pro shop. One day while retrieving a ball, he was fatally struck by a car and never really left.
Utica State Hospital
There’s nothing quite as scary as old, abandoned mental hospitals, which are abundant in the state of New York. Originally called the New York State Lunatic Asylum, the Utica State Hospital opened in 1843, this was the first state-run hospital specifically for the mentally ill. Although the hospital was considered to house state-of-the-art technology at the time, the reality was that the patients were subjected to cruel, inhumane treatments.
Many of the patients suffered through lobotomies and electroshock therapy, but this hospital is infamous for its “Utica Crib.” Patients considered unruly were locked into this shallow cage as punishment or simply to calm them down.
Closed in 1973, locals claim that they can still see faces in the windows or hear screams coming from inside the building. Some even say that you can still see ghostly patients ambling down the hallways.
Letchworth Village
In Rockland County, you can find the beautiful remains of a building modeled after Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate. Opened in 1922, this state-run facility housed physically and mentally disabled adults and children.
Over the years, the institution quickly grew overcrowded and patients suffered. Although it is said that the staff was dedicated to caring for their patients, they simply lacked the resources they needed to provide adequate living conditions.
Rolling Hills Asylum
In East Bethany, the Genesee County Poor House opened in 1826, taking in the impoverished, homeless, and mentally ill people of New York. Over the years, this estate contained an orphanage, nursing home, and tuberculosis hospital.
Private and public ghost tours of this institution are available, and guests claim they’ve seen shadowy figures in the living quarters, morgue, and the psych ward. Are you brave enough to take a tour?
Canfield Casino
Opened in Saratoga Springs in the late 1800s, this beautiful establishment is rumored to house several paranormal guests. SyFy even filmed a Ghost Hunters show on the premises of this beautiful three-story building.
Casino visitors claim that ghosts have touched them and pulled on their hair and people have also smelled phantom cigar smoke. The third floor in particular is said to have a particularly spooky, looming feel. A popular wedding venue, the casino must not feel too terribly spooky.
Bannerman Castle
It goes without saying that most castles are creepy enough to house ghosts, and this building is no exception. Overlooking the shores of the Hudson River, this ammunition storage facility was built in the early 1900s by Fanke Bannerman IV. Native Americans believed that the island this castle was built housed evil spirits.
Not only did a part of the castle blow up in the early 1900s, but in 1950, a cargo ship crashed into the island and exploded on impact. Years later, after the local ferry sank nearby, the island became uninhabited. Today, the haunting ruins of the castle remain.
The Landmark Theater
In the 1920s, the Landmark Theater opened in Syracuse, which still runs today. Although you will probably not encounter a ghost during a show, you might have more luck during the ghosts tours the theater hold in October.
Three different ghosts are believed to haunt the establishment, and the ghost of Clarissa is the most famous one of all. Legend states that Clarissa is an actress who fell to her death from the balcony, where she still likes to hang out and scare people. Oscar, the otherworldly stagehand, prefers to stir up some mischief by flicking the lights on and off.
The Winery at Marjim Manor
Built in 1834, this picturesque winery features a beautiful white house overlooking Lake Ontario. Originally a farmhouse, this lovely place is haunted by friendly ghosts, including an otherworldly dog. We’ve even heard that the more wine you drink, the more likely you will see a ghost.
If you believe in paranormal phenomena, upstate New York can be a spooky place. If you are scared silly during a ghost tour, you may not be able to sleep at night. In these circumstances, it’s a good idea to stay up and relax in front of your propane fireplace.
If you run out of propane, you might worry that a ghost is up to no good. Our upstate New York propane suppliers can’t do anything about ghosts, but we can provide you with automatic propane delivery services so that you won’t run out of propane. Contact DiSanto Propane for all your home propane services today.