Post by Graveyardbride on Oct 6, 2013 3:15:11 GMT -5
5 Haunted Lighthouses to Visit if You Dare
Good ghost stories usually require an location, howling winds and things that go bump in the night, and you’ll find all three at America’s haunted lighthouses, where paranormal lore and legend make for an especially exciting visit during the spooky season. Each of these beautiful beacons is said to have at least one resident spirit, so grab a flashlight and explore – if you dare.
Cape May Lighthouse (Cape May, New Jersey). Standing guard where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic, this 1859 gem draws almost 100,000 annual visitors. For most, climbing the 199-step tower (above) is a Jersey Shore rite of passage and the reward is far-reaching panoramic views. But what if you’re more interested in Cape May’s rich ghost lore? Wait until nightfall, then hop on a red trolley for the Ghosts of the Lighthouse Trolley Tour, which shares the stories behind many of the town’s haunted places en route to the lighthouse. And as you ascend the spiral stairs, be on the lookout for one of the more famous supernatural residents: a phantom woman in a flowing, white gown carrying a child and holding a lantern in one hand to light the way. (Call 800-275-4278, $20 - adults, $15 - children 3-12.)
Point Sur Lightstation (Big Sur, California). Perched on the famous rocky coastline between Big Sur and Carmel, the beacon that has protected sailors and fishermen since 1889 was named one of America’s most haunted lighthouses by Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures. During the show’s visit, the hosts claimed to have encountered the spirit of an admiral, heard unexplained laughter in the stairway and observed desk drawers open mysteriously in the keeper’s quarters. Year-round, you can take a three-hour daytime or moonlight tour. (For information call 831-625-4419, Moonlight tours: $20 - adults, $10 - children ages 6-17, children under 5 Free.)
St. Augustine Lighthouse (St. Augustine, Florida). The lighthouse has been the subject of several television programs, including the SyFy series Ghost Hunters and Impact Television’s Haunted Lighthouses. The tower and adjoining keeper’s quarters accommodate several ghosts, including the two daughters of Hezekiah Pittee, Mary, age 15, and Eliza 13, who drowned in the bay on July 10, 1873; a former keeper who has been seen standing outside the lantern room at the top of the light, and a spook whose footsteps seem to follow people at night. The spirit of a young girl, assumed to be Eliza Pittee, has been heard playing in a room in the keeper’s house, and people have seen the ghost of a second girl, believed to be Mary Pittee, who wears a blue velvet dress with a matching bow in her hair. There also have been reports of phantom cigar smoke and people talking inside the tower when no one else is there. (904-839-0745, $25 - adults, $20 - children under 12.)
St. Simons Lighthouse (St. Simons Island, Georgia). This lighthouse (pictured above), standing on the southern tip of one of the Golden Isles, is the setting of one of Georgia’s most famous ghost stories. In 1880, the lighthouse keeper, Frederick Osborne, was killed in a duel with John Stephens, his assistant. By some accounts, the two men fought because Osborne was a chronic faultfinder and made an inappropriate remark to the assistant’s wife. In another version of the story, it is said Osborne made advances toward Mrs. Stephens. Whatever the cause, Osborne ended up dead and Stephens was acquitted of all charges. Later, however, Stephens was haunted by the footsteps of Osborne’s spirit ascending and descending the tower. For more than a century, many who have climbed the 129-step tower have reported hearing those same unexplained footsteps on the stairs and a few have even seen Osborne’s ghost standing at the balcony railing, looking out toward the sea. (912-638-4666.)
White River Light Station (Whitehall, Michigan). On the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, a few hours’ drive south of Traverse City, this compact lighthouse-turned-museum no longer guides water traffic but a very dedicated (and long-dead) head keeper is still on the job. Captain William Robinson, with the help of five other men, built the light station in 1875, and he served as its keeper. In 1919, the government encouraged Robinson to retire, but after 43 years of service, he refused to leave the station. Fortunately, his grandson, William Bush, assistant keeper, had been doing most of the work since 1911. William Robinson died on the last official day of his service in April at 87 years of age. During his later years, the old keeper walked with a cane and to this day, one can hear the sound of his cane and halting footsteps on the spiral stairs. The lighthouse is open for visits June thru October. (Call 231-894-8265, $4 - adults, $2 - children 2-12.)
Sources: Kristi Marcelle (MiniTime); St. Simons Lighthouse Museum; White River Light Station Museum, and St. Augustine Ghost Stories.
