Post by Joanna on Oct 6, 2017 2:40:01 GMT -5
Vancouver Spooks and Other Mysteries
While the fall season is known for its beautiful display of colorful foliage and a variety of pumpkin-inspired food and drink, it is also known for its seriously spooky events and activities. Some of these are completely man-made, and a ton of fun! Legions of people in the lower mainland head to events such as the ghost train in Stanley Park, the Surrey Scream Train and Potter’s House of Horrors; however, some of Vancouver’s tours and tales are based on legitimately frightening stories and experiences. Check out our list below for a sample of some of these bone-chilling legends!
Hotel Vancouver: The Lady in Red. Many ghost stories aren’t believed because so few people have experienced them – this one stands apart. The Lady in Red (above) is practically a celebrity spook with an astounding number of witnesses from all walks of life claiming to have seen her. She is said to appear on the 14th floor of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and is always seen in an elegant red evening gown. Believed to have been a socialite in life, the graceful ghost even has a drink named for her. Some say she is the spirit of Jennie Pearl Cox, a woman struck by a car in the 1940s. Whoever she may have been, she is now a friendly poltergeist that seems harmless, but has been known to make people scream at the top of their lungs.
University of British Columbia: The Hitchhiker. If it isn’t already creepy enough, the eerily dark road between Point Grey and UBC, on rainy night, you might be stopped by a mysterious female hitchhiker. While the precise story behind the legend is unclear, people say the lady is headed for the library. Apparently, the stranded apparition will even hand drivers a handwritten note with the library’s address on it before she suddenly disappears. Some claim the woman was hit by a car after arguing with her boyfriend, while others insist the argument was invented by someone repeating the tale. Either way, it’s creepy as hell!
The Strait of Georgia: So Many Feet. While the Strait of Georgia extends a considerable distance, it isn’t long enough to explain the numerous feet that have washed up on its shores. Scientists say the currents in the area may explain how the shoes traveled, but this doesn’t explain why they are there. Some of the feet have been identified, but many others haven’t. The feet began appearing back in 2007 and they continue to pop up. A young girl was the first to find a running shoe with a human foot inside along the shore. Interestingly, no other body parts have ever been spotted with the feet.
The Great Fire: Gastown Spirits Galore. Rumor has it that the spirits of the 22 souls who died in the Great Vancouver Fire of June 1886 still walk the old-fashioned streets of Gastown (above). The conflagration wiped out most of the newer parts of the city and dozens of lives were lost in its flames. The area is a fitting setting for these specters because they are all appear in the clothing of yesteryear. A man in a bowler hat has been seen strolling along the cobblestone streets and in the Bodega Hotel. Other apparitions have been spotted on the streets and in the allies between Water and Cordova. You may want to walk with a friend in these areas around Halloween – and avoid the dark alleys.
The Vogue Theatre: Playful Ghosts. The Vogue Theatre is a popular venue for concerts and shows and most of the time, it’s packed. Though usually bustling and busy, there are quieter times when a couple mischievous apparitions get up to some fun. Two spooky inhabitants are well-known to theatre workers, guests and even a few performers. Apparently, one of the spooks likes to open doors and stomp around, frightening people in the dressing room area. The other is fond of dressing to the nines, donning tails and a bow tie. He nonchalantly sits in the audience as though there were nothing at all unusual about a ghost watching a performance. While these guys are mischievous, they aren’t known to cause any real problems – other than scaring people. Besides, no one ever said phantoms aren’t allowed to have a sense of humor!
Source: Elana Shephert, 604now, October 5, 2017.