October means Halloween, so freak yourself out on a spooky sleepover at one of several haunted bed and breakfasts across the country. BedandBreakfast.com has compiled an extensive list of haunted inns where ghost seekers can hang out with supernatural residents. Innkeepers tell tales of sassy specters who pull pranks on guests, ghostly whispers overheard, slamming doors and a woman who roams around in a red dress. Many B&Bs even offer haunted tours. Here are a few that gave me the heebie-jeebies:
Red Garter B&B: Williams, Ariz.
A ghostly gal named Eve lives in this two-story, 1897 inn and onetime bar and bordello. Eve is thought to be a former ‘lady of the night’ who never left. Haunted Happenings: shaking beds, footsteps upon the stairs, feeling that something brushed against the skin.
The Groveland Hotel: Groveland, Calif.
An old gold miner named Lyle died here, found with a box of dynamite under his bed—but he’s not bitter. Haunted Happenings: He gets his kicks off pulling pranks on guests, like fiddling with lights and water, moving items around on desktops and. especially, removing women’s cosmetics from ‘his’ dresser.
Queen Anne Hotel: San Francisco, Calif.
Guests who stay in room 410—also known as the Miss Mary Lake Suite—will likely meet their haunted hostess. Miss Mary Lake was the former headmistress of the late-19th century finishing school that is now the Queen Anne Hotel. Haunted Happenings: being tucked in at night by Miss Mary, feeling hot and cold spots in the room, brief Miss Mary appearances in the mirror.
Inn at 835: Springfield, Ill.
Former owner Bell Miller is thought to have loved her 1909 home so much, she never left. Haunted Happenings: Elevator rides that drops guests off on random floors; single books being repeatedly placed in the center of a room, pulled out from a tight bookshelf; a candy jar lid being removed; wallpaper torn and mended the next day, and friendly ghost greetings.
Green Mountain Inn: Stowe, Vt.
“Boots” Berry was born in room 302 in 1840, and he was a local Stowe hero who once saved the passengers of an out-of-control stagecoach. His celebredom got to his head, however, and he became a slacker and did a stint in jail. While in jail, he learned to tap dance, where he got his nickname. When he eventually returned to Stowe and the Green Mountain Inn, he finally redeemed himself by rescuing a little girl stranded on the inn’s roof during a storm. Boots lowered her to safety, but he unfortunately slipped on the icy roof—the roof of room 302—and fell to his death. Haunted Happenings: tap dancing on the third floor.
Whoa; I’m so totally creeped out right now, I have goosebumps.
Have you ever stayed at a haunted house? Where'd you stay? And what were your ghost encounters like? Happy Hauntings!
