Post by Joanna on Oct 1, 2017 1:57:14 GMT -5
Hudson Valley Frights and Spirits
If you’re looking for a unique, possibly haunted, night out, the Hudson Valley boasts some of the most haunted locations in New York. And with Halloween just a few weeks away, there’s no better time. Here are a few to consider:
Sleep in a haunted medieval castle. The feeling of being watched won’t go away at the medieval fantasy that is Wing’s Castle (above) at 717 Bengall Road in Millbrook – and this is not because there are eyes carved into the walls.
On top of a hill that overlooks the Hudson Valley, Peter and Toni Wing began building the castle in the 1970s with recycled materials, which makes it appear much older than it really is. “This whole place is sort of an illusion,” says Charles Wing, son of Peter and Toni Wing, who has been adding to the unusual structure. “About 80 percent of the castle is made from buildings that were torn down around the Hudson Valley, a lot from Poughkeepsie.” The Wings are constantly working on the property, so it’s never really a finished project.
As tempting as it may be to take a look, guests at the site must book a tour to gain access. Those brave enough can book an overnight stay, which includes a complimentary tour of the property and continental breakfast. Potential guests should call for rates and dates.
The castle’s latest addition, the Guardhouse, which has been in the works since 1994, is expected to open Sunday, Oct. 1. Complete with a kitchen and diningroom, the building gives off a very creepy vibe, especially the bathroom where a mosaic that resembles spider webs, angelic figures and hash-marks cataloging years of entrapment immerse guests in a hauntingly beautiful setting.
There are also a few “extras.” While working alone on the Guardhouse one day, Charles Wing left for short time and when he returned, all the doors to the addition were locked. “I actually had to take a crow bar to one of the doors,” he recalls. “All the doors were padlocked from the inside. I was the only one on the property and still have no explanation as to why it happened.”
After this unsettling experience, Wing did some research and found that similar incidents had been reported at the Wing Fort House in Sandwich, Massachusetts. As the story goes, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1632, tensions were high between the colony and the Wing family because the Wings had exchanged firearms with the local Wampanoug tribe for land on which they constructed Wing Fort House. The Indian name for the location translated to “Sand Witch” because of the legend of a witch who lived on its shores. The town was later renamed Sandwich and the Wing Fort House is still standing. After the family left Massachusetts, they settled in Wingdale, but not for long. They eventually left that property to make room for the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center. Since the early 1900s, the family has resided on the property occupied by Wing’s Castle.
Tours are Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m., throughout the month of October, beginning on the hour with the last admission at 4 p.m. Cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children 11 and under. Absolutely no walking on the grounds without paying. For reservations at the bed and breakfast, call (845) 677-9085.
Dine in a haunted depot. Nestled beside the MetroNorth train tracks is the Cold Spring Depot (above). The restaurant, which specializes in burgers and steaks, is a great spot to have a bite and experience the paranormal. According to the restaurant’s website, the Cold Spring Depot was on the Hudson River train line until the mid-1950s. It was then turned into a car dealership and in 1974, the Cold Spring Depot became a restaurant.
On cold nights, as closing time approaches, people often report feeling an unseen “presence.” The story is that one winter’s night, a woman overheard her husband plotting to kill her. She fled the house, hoping to catch the 10:13 train out of Cold Spring. Unfortunately, she arrived too late and her husband caught up with her and stabbed her to death. “On quiet cold nights in the winter, usually around 10 p.m., are the nights that something usually happens,” reports Greg Pagones, co-owner of the Cold Spring Depot. “Usually it’s the doors popping open.”
The restaurant is located at 1 Depot Square, Cold Spring, N.Y. For reservations, call (845) 265-5000 or go to www.coldspringdepot.com/
Dine with spirits of ‘76. The ‘76 House at 110 Main Street in Tappan is known for its paranormal activity, with not one, not two, but several, ghosts haunting the establishment. The location is where Maj. John André, a British officer during the Revolutionary War, was imprisoned for treason until he was hanged as a spy.
But there are also lesser known entities “residing” in the building and this makes it difficult sometimes for diners trying to decide where to sit. In the tap room, chairs move on their own, tablecloths disappear and wine bottles turn upside-down. This is the perfect date spot for those looking for a surprise third wheel. Owner Robert Norden claims ghostly things have happened at the corner table by the window.
“Table 11,” says Katerena Kampouroglou, a longtime staff member at the ‘76 House, is where “we have a lot of activity of a woman. She sits at that table.” One time, she relates, a woman who sat at the table went home and found a coin from 1776 stuck in her shoe. Then there’s table 2. That’s where the spirits of Revolutionary War soldiers sit. No matter the weather, guests always complain they are cold when sitting at this table.
If all this isn’t enough to scare you, there’s also a storage space above the restaurant haunted by the spirit of a little boy. “A ghost hunter went up there and said he was talking to some kid,” Kampouroglou continues. “He said his mom doesn’t allow him to go downstairs. He’s really happy though. I cleaned the room, so he has a lot of room to play.”
For reservations or additional information, call 845-359-5476 or go to: 76house.com The ‘76 House, in collaboration with Ghost Hunts USA, allows patrons to explore the paranormal with ghost hunts about once a month for at a cost of $169.00 which includes a three-course dinner, complimentary wine and psychic mediums. Additional information is available at www.ghosthuntsusa.com/collections/the-76
Source: Heather Clark, The Poughkeepsie Journal, September 29, 2017.