Buzz
Outside, the wind wails relentlessly, lights dim and surge unpredictably, and the floorboards in the neighboring room groan under unseen pressure. Those who have spent nights in Vermont's aged homes are intimately acquainted with this eerie atmosphere. Even on still nights, when solitude envelops you, brace yourself for the faint sound of footsteps in the room's shadowy corners. These historic New England locations seem to magnetically draw the supernatural and the inexplicable.
10. Hayden House
Albany, Vermont, is rumored to be the location of a devastating curse that tore apart an entire family. The tale dates back to 1806, when William Hayden relocated to the town with his wife, Silence, and his wealthy widowed mother-in-law, Mercie Dale. Mercie provided the couple with financial support to help them establish their lives. However, after failing to repay her, William requested another substantial loan. The strain of these financial troubles forced Mercie to leave, and she fell gravely ill. Convinced William had poisoned her, she placed a curse on the Hayden family, declaring that their name would vanish within three generations and culminate in financial collapse.
William faced complete ruin. He escaped to Canada to evade his creditors and eventually passed away in poverty in New York. William and Silence had five sons, four of whom died young. The sole surviving son, Will, remained in Albany and fathered one son and four daughters. It was this Will who constructed Hayden House, an elegant red brick mansion.
Will and his wife had a strained relationship, and their son Henry grew increasingly erratic. Will lost his vision and a significant portion of his wealth. Henry clashed with his mother, who disinherited him. He died from a cerebral hemorrhage, leaving his only child, a daughter named Mamie, as his heir. Mamie never married, inherited nothing of value, and died alone and in debt in Maine in 1927.
The story continues with reports from locals and visitors who claim to witness eerie lights on the property. Some believe these are the spirits of the Hayden family, while others suggest they are the ghosts of illegal immigrants smuggled by the younger Will to labor under inhumane conditions on the estate.
9. Emily’s Bridge
Stowe is renowned for its mountain resort and is also the location of the Trapp Family Lodge, where one of the von Trapp children from the iconic Sound of Music family made their home after fleeing Europe.
The town’s most chilling attraction is the covered Gold Brook Bridge, commonly referred to as Emily’s Bridge. Legend has it that the bridge is haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart. The details of her death remain shrouded in mystery, but all versions of the tale involve her being abandoned by a fiancé. One account claims she drove a speeding carriage off the rocky edge, plunging to her death in the brook below. Another version suggests Emily took her own life by hanging from the bridge’s rafters. While historical evidence is scarce, stories of strange happenings on the bridge have persisted for generations.
Visitors have reported various paranormal phenomena, such as unexplained scratch marks on vehicles and sensations of being scratched or grabbed. Others have heard eerie sounds like footsteps, ropes creaking, and screams. Notably, more aggressive encounters seem to target men crossing the bridge. Full-bodied apparitions have also been sighted, with most activity occurring in the early hours after midnight. Whether Emily’s tragic tale is the true source of these events remains uncertain, but paranormal experts agree that something otherworldly is at play on Gold Brook Bridge.
8. Lake Bomoseen
West Castleton, located on Lake Bomoseen, has been deserted for decades. Once a thriving community after the Civil War, the town was filled with quarries and mills, attracting immigrants from Italy, Ireland, and Eastern Europe. However, by the 1930s, West Castleton was entirely abandoned. Today, it stands as a ghost town, not only devoid of living residents but also rumored to be haunted by spectral presences.
A well-known tavern once stood on the opposite shore of Lake Bomoseen, and workers would row across the lake to visit it. Legend has it that one night, three friends embarked on a journey to their favorite pub but never returned. The next morning, their empty boat was found adrift on the lake. In modern times, witnesses claim to see a phantom rowboat gliding across the water, its shadowy oars leaving no trace on the calm surface.
7. Brattleboro Retreat Tower
Originally named the Vermont Asylum for the Insane, the Brattleboro Retreat now serves as a mental health treatment facility. Established in 1834, the campus spans 1000 acres and includes 58 buildings. While 20 structures are modern, the rest date back to the period between 1838 and 1938.
Among the abandoned structures is the Retreat Tower, constructed between 1887 and 1892 by patients. At the time, medical professionals believed that manual labor could benefit mental health. According to legend, the tower was shut down soon after completion due to numerous patients leaping to their deaths. Today, a frequently reported apparition is a spectral figure seen jumping from the tower, only to vanish before reaching the ground.
6. American Flatbread
American Flatbread, a beloved restaurant in Burlington, Vermont, is famous for its wood-fired thin-crust pizzas crafted from organic, locally sourced ingredients. They also brew their own beer, making it a favorite spot for both residents and tourists. Before its transformation into American Flatbread in 2004, the location housed Carbur’s Restaurant. The current manager recalls that the first two years of operation were marked by a series of unsettling incidents.
Doors without locks would inexplicably secure themselves. One night, a wreath hanging above the fireplace suddenly flew across the room. Employees of the former Carbur’s Restaurant had reported similar strange occurrences, including a server who was mysteriously locked inside a cooler. The building has a dark past: decades ago, a young cook took his own life late at night. Even earlier, between 1790 and 1820, a man named Gideon King operated a trade business on Lake Champlain and constructed a network of tunnels beneath the building to smuggle goods during an embargo. Legend has it that these tunnels were later used during Prohibition for the illegal trade of alcohol.
Regardless of the origin of the paranormal activity, numerous visitors have described intense reactions to the oppressive energy within the building, particularly in the basement. It’s strongly advised that no one goes down there alone.
5. Haunted Stagecoach Stops
Nestled in the Okemo Valley, a charming bed and breakfast is renowned not only for its farm-to-table meals and historic charm but also for its eerie past. The Golden Stage Inn, originally built in 1788, served as a stagecoach stop in Southeast Vermont and may have played a role in the Underground Railroad. After functioning as a private residence for nearly a century, it was transformed into an inn in the 1960s.
Over the years, the building has undergone several renovations. Despite changing ownership and the constant flow of guests, some spectral residents seem to have taken up permanent residence. A newer section of the inn is said to be haunted by a benevolent and dashing spirit who bears a striking resemblance to Robert Redford and is often seen strolling the halls in a vintage coat. Others have reported hearing unexplained footsteps and witnessing electronics turning on and off by themselves.
Another historic stagecoach stop and inn in Vermont is the Averill Stand Historic Site in Wilmington, located between Bennington and Brattleboro. Established in 1797 by the Averill family, it is believed that Lavina Field Averill passed away in the house during childbirth. Years later, another woman named Mrs. Brown also died there. Their spirits are thought to linger, haunting the now-historic property.
In the kitchen, objects inexplicably vanish and reappear. A young woman dressed in period clothing has been spotted in various rooms. Dogs exhibit unusual behavior at night, as if sensing an unseen presence in the yard. On cold winter nights, the doorbell has been known to ring mysteriously, with no tracks left in the snow.
4. Green Mountain Inn
Stowe’s haunted reputation extends beyond Emily’s Bridge. The Green Mountain Inn, a historic hotel, is also known for its ghostly activity.
In 1840, “Boots” Berry resided in the inn’s servants’ quarters, now room 302. His mother worked as a housekeeper, while his father tended to the horses. Following in his father’s footsteps, Boots became a stablehand at the inn and a beloved figure in the community. He once halted a runaway stagecoach, saving everyone aboard.
Later in life, Boots struggled with alcoholism and lost his job. After traveling the country and learning to dance during a stint in jail (earning him the nickname “Boots”), he returned to Stowe and visited the inn. In 1902, during a snowstorm, a child became trapped on the roof. Boots rescued the child but tragically slipped and fell to his death. Today, guests and staff report hearing the rhythmic sound of dancing feet on the roof.
3. The University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont’s largest city, is home to the University of Vermont (UVM), the state’s premier higher education institution. Founded in 1791, UVM was the fifth university established in New England. While thousands of students graduate annually, it appears some never truly depart.
UVM has repurposed numerous historic homes in the city into campus facilities. One such building, the Counseling Center, is said to be haunted by Captain John Nabb, its former owner. Nabb’s ghost is known for causing disturbances, such as overturning buckets and slamming doors and windows. Nearby, the Public Relations building, once owned by John E. Booth, is believed to be the source of mysterious banging noises and disembodied voices.
The Bittersweet House is among the most haunted structures on campus. Numerous witnesses have reported encountering full-bodied apparitions there, believed to be the spirit of Margaret Smith. After being widowed young, Smith lived a reclusive life in the house until her death in 1961. Some have described seeing a woman with neatly styled hair and a long dress in vivid detail, while others have glimpsed a more indistinct figure.
One of the most heartbreaking tales on campus revolves around Converse Hall. In 1920, a medical student named Henry took his own life there. Since then, students have reported missing belongings and unexplained movements of doors and windows. It seems the University of Vermont boasts more haunted buildings than any other location in the state.
2. Hartford Railroad Disaster
On February 5, 1887, in frigid temperatures of -15 degrees Fahrenheit, the Boston-Montreal Express departed White River Junction at 2:10 AM. As it crossed the White River on the West Hartford Bridge, the train began to sway, causing the rear carriage to derail and plunge into the river below. The train caught fire, dragging the bridge down with it. Only the front section remained intact. The tragedy claimed 37 lives and left 50 injured.
Following the crash, a nearby barn was transformed into a temporary trauma center, where some of the injured succumbed to their wounds. The barn remains standing, and those passing by have reported hearing cries emanating from within. The site of the former bridge is said to exude the scent of burning wood. Some claim to see the ghost of Conductor Sturtevant, who is believed to be guarding the bridge to prevent further tragedies. Others have spotted the apparition of a young child dressed in 19th-century attire, floating above the river and gazing at the crash site.
1. Shelburne Museum
Located in northern Vermont, the Shelburne Museum is a sprawling complex of gardens and historic structures. Spanning 45 acres, the museum features 39 buildings, 25 of which were relocated to the site. More than a showcase of local history, the museum offers a unique blend of historical and artistic experiences, including an old farmhouse and eclectic family collections. Open only from mid-May to late October, it houses rare artworks and hundreds of antique dolls, with many visitors claiming to encounter spectral figures wandering the grounds.
Constructed in 1782, the Dutton House was relocated to the Shelburne Museum in 1950 from Cavendish, a quaint town. Staff at the museum have encountered strange phenomena within this historic colonial residence. Some guides claim to have spotted the ghostly figure of an elderly man, while others have detected the eerie sound of a child weeping in the dark corners. During the quieter months, the house is known to produce mysterious sounds, witnessed only by the unnerved maintenance crew.
