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Uncovering the Ghostly Legends of The Driskill Hotel in Austin

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The ghost stories about the cigar smoking cowboy, the two suicide brides as well as the playful ghost of a little girl has haunted the pristine rumor of The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas. But how much of the stories are true, and how many ghosts are still checked into the hotel?

Downtown in Austin, Texas, stands a grand hotel with a dark and mysterious past. The Driskill Hotel, built in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill has been a staple of the city’s skyline for over a century and is the oldest operating hotel in the city. But behind its impressive architecture and luxurious amenities lies a darker side. 

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Over the years, the Driskill has gained a reputation as one of the most haunted hotels in the country, with countless ghostly sightings and eerie occurrences reported by guests and staff alike. From the ghost of a young girl who fell to her death down the hotel’s grand staircase to the spirit of a cowboy who met his untimely demise in one of the guest rooms, Driskill’s history is steeped in supernatural lore. 

History of The Driskill Hotel

The Driskill Hotel was built in 1886 by Jesse Driskill, a wealthy cattle baron who wanted to create a luxurious hotel that would be the jewel of Austin’s social scene. The hotel was designed by Jasper N. Preston, one of the most prominent architects of the time, and its grand exterior and opulent interior made it an instant icon after its grand opening close to Christmas that year. The Driskill quickly became the center of Austin’s social and political life, hosting events and galas that drew the city’s elite.

Read More: Check out all haunted hotels around the world

But the hotel’s fortunes took a turn when Jesse Driskill lost his fortune in a high-stakes poker game. He was forced to sell the hotel, and it changed hands several times over the years. By the 1920s, the Driskill had fallen into disrepair and was in danger of being demolished. That’s when a group of Austin citizens banded together to save the hotel and restore it to its former glory.

Driskill Hotel: The lobby of the Driskoll Hotel in Austin Texas, a portrait of the founder by the stairs believed to still haunt the hotel. // Source: Kenneth C. Zirkel/Wikimedia

Today, The Driskill Hotel is a beloved landmark in Austin, known for its rich history and luxurious amenities. But the hotel’s past is not all glamour and elegance – it’s also steeped in ghostly legends and spooky stories.

Ghostly legends of The Driskill Hotel

The Driskill Hotel is no stranger to supernatural activity. Over the years, countless guests and staff members have reported eerie encounters and ghostly sightings. Disembodied voices, apparitions, strange noises, mysterious leaks and cold sensations are only some of the rumors people staying and working at the Driskill have experienced. 

The Haunted Song: “Ghost of a Texas Ladies’ Man” is a song from rock band Concrete Blonde, from 1992. Napolitano was inspired to write “Ghost of a Texas Ladies’ Man” after a supernatural experience she had during an overnight stay at the Driskill Hotel, in March 1991, on tour as the opening act for Sting: “There’s this horny ghost there that goes for women. ‘I wanna see you naked,’ that was the vibe. The minute I took my clothes off, I felt like there was someone watching me. He kept turning the lights on and off in my room. I finally unplugged all the lamps. Then he turned on the light in the closet and really slowly opened the closet door, just like a hand was opening it. The light in the closet shined out into the room onto the bed. Then I knew for sure he was there. I just said, ‘I know you’re here, but I know that you’re not going to hurt me, so I’m going to go to sleep now.’ I just got this feeling of amusement, like he was playing. He was just like a rascal. It was like a game. I guess I’m lucky he was in a good mood.”

The amount of information that has been passed down through the years have created many different variations and at times conflicting ghost stories. Here are just a few of the most chilling legends associated with the hotel.

The Ghost of Colonel Driskill

Jesse Driskill, the hotel’s founder, is said to haunt the halls of the Driskill to this day. Right after the hotel opened, he fell under financial stress as he had spent it all on alcohol, women and gambling as well as hotels. Besides the harsh winter and drought the following year after opening killed his cattle. Because of this, he had to give the Driskill up almost as soon as it opened and sold it to his brother in law. He had lost his fortune and built it up again many times, but this time, he wouldn’t recover financially. He died in May, 1890 of a stroke.

Legend has it that his restless spirit wanders the hotel, checking on the guests and staff and making sure everything is running smoothly. Some guests have reported hearing footsteps and the sound of a cane tapping on the floor, as if Colonel Driskill himself is still in residence.  Driskill’s portrait hangs in the hotel’s grand lobby and some claim that this is the man they interacted with. 

It is especially the room that was his favorite, overlooking 6th Street & Brazos that is haunted according to the stories. He has been seen by visitors, smoking a cigar as he looks out the window. 

The smell of cigar is most connected with his haunting, the smell lingering in the lobby he used to greet guests. Security guards also claim to have heard his voice, asking for a match behind them, although nothing was there except the smell. 

The Suicide Brides of The Driskill

Some of the more well known ghost stories from the Driskill are about the brides supposedly haunting it. The staff have reported about a woman crying on the floor when it is empty. Even the singer Annie Lennox claimed that one of the ghost brides had helped her choose a dress when she put two on the bed before taking a shower. When she came back, one of them was back in the closet. 

Some say that perhaps in the 1950s, a bride stayed in room 525 when the fiance called the wedding off the day before. According to the lore, she hanged herself in the room. 

The same thing happened several years later in the same room twenty years later on the same day. Or was it really the same room? Was it even a suicide the first time? Some claim that both brides killed themselves in room 525, but one of the stories is also said to have taken part in Room 329, and at least one source claiming it was in room 427 or 29.

One story goes like this: A bride checked into her room in the early 1990s. Or was it in the early 1980s? 1989 as some claim it was? This was by the way during a time when room 525 was shut off before it reopened for guests in 1998. 

According to the legend, she was a socialite who had just been left by her fiance. She booked a five day stay at the Driskill. She had one final day where she went shopping for around 10 to 40k the second day she stayed there, all on her fiance’s credit card. 

On her third day, she put up a “do not disturb” sign on her door. She lined up all of her new stuff by her bed before shooting herself in the head with a pillow muffling the sound. Some say they found her in the bathtub after they broke into the room after they suspected something was wrong. 

The True Story of the Ghost Brides

How true this story is, is uncertain. There are many dates, room numbers and little detailing of the incidents, especially the first. According to the Austin Ghost Tour, this version was written by an employee in India for a company in New York that has never been to Austin. So what is the true story then?

Police reports talk about Tara, and she was not a socialite. She was said to have bought alcohol, cigarettes and a people magazine, instead of shopping goods. It is said that she would have died of alcohol poisoning if she hadn’t shot herself. 

According to guests staying there, they claim to sometimes see the ghost of the woman dragging her many bags from her shopping day up and down in the halls of the hotel. There is also said to be a ghostly wailing coming from the rooms the brides died in. 

The Child Ghost Playing at the The Driskill Hotel

On the fifth floor of the hotel is a mysterious portrait that is said to have caused supernatural occurrences. The portrait is unnamed, but based on a painting by Charles Trevor Garland (1855-1906) known as “Love Letter” by or for a Richard King. 

It depicts a little girl with flowers in one hand and a letter in the other. Some claim it is haunted by the four year old daughter named Samantha Houson, of the US Senator Temple Lea Houston, who died in a horrible accident at the hotel. 

The girl often called Samantha was playing in the Grand Staircase of the Mezzanine in 1887. This is before the painting was created though, or perhaps around this time. That May the hotel also closed its doors, so it had to have been before this.

Driskill hosted a function that year for a Legislative Session that year. US Senator Temple Lea Houston had seven children. Only four of their children survived childhood and one of them who didn’t was said to have been Samantha. The Senator had given his daughter a ball to play with. Skipping in the staircase she reached for her ball to bounce, but she fell and died of a broken neck. 

People claim to have heard the sound of the ball bouncing from the walls as well as hearing the giggles of a little child. Guests have reported seeing apparitions of children playing in the hallways. When children come back from playing, they often claim to have played with a little girl called Samantha. 

It is especially heard around the stairs, but as mentioned, the portrait on the fifth floor is also said to have strange things like dizziness and strange sensations around it that people often claim is connected to the girl. It is said that the painted girl looks eerily similar to Samantha. Perhaps the wildest story is how the girl’s expression in the painting seems to change when looking away. 

The Presidential Ghost

One of the more famous ghosts said to haunt the hotel is Lady Bird and Lyndon B. Johnson, often referred to as LBJ. The couple first met in the Driskill Dining room in 1934 and returned every year for special occasions. It is said that the hotel was Lyndon B. Johnson’s favorite place in the city. It was even here he waited for the results of his 1948’s Senate run, his 1960’s Vice President run and in the presidential election in 1964. 

Read Also: The Ghost Within The White House

According to those visiting the ballroom, they sometimes claim to see the late president with his wife in the mirrors as they pass by.

The Ghost of a Mrs. Bridge Minding the Front Desk

One of the former employees of the hotel said to haunt it, is Mrs. Bridge. She worked at the hotel for many years in the early 1900s and it is said she is sometimes still working. At night, people claim to have seen a woman in a Victorian dress, fussing over flower arrangements in the lobby. It is said that her apparitions are often accompanied by the smell of roses as she loved flowers when she was alive. She has also been seen walking from the vault to the lobby where the old front desk used to be. 

The Ghost of Peter Lawless

One of the ghosts haunting the hotel is said to have a more poltergeist presence than the other. Peter Lawless worked as a ticket agent for the Great Northern Railroad in the early 20th century. Peter Lawless was born July 23, 1851 and died in Austin on June 29, 1931. After his wife passed, he moved into the Driskill. 

From 1886 to 1916, he lived and worked from the fifth floor where he set up shop. Years it is said he lived there vary. Ever since his death people claim to have seen Lawless coming out from the elevators, looking at the time and his railroad watch and greeting the staff at the front desk before vanishing into thin air. 

Housekeeping claims he is watching them as they are cleaning and there have even been those claiming to have seen him stepping in front of a bus outside the hotel. His ghost is said to have dark hair and pants with a white shirt and a pocket watch.

The Royal Haunting in the Mirrors

The Driskill Hotel is also said to be the place of a certain royal haunting.This haunting legend tied to Empress Carlotta of Mexico. She was born Charlotte and was a princess of Belgium. In the 1850s, Carlotta and her husband, Emperor Maximilian, ruled Mexico, seen as a puppet regime, but their reign ended in tragedy when Maximilian was executed, and Carlotta descended into madness. Heartbroken she survived with the support from European courts, suffering paranoid delusions.

The Ghost of an Empress: Empress Charlotte in mourning clothes. Photography by Eugène Disdéri, 1867.

After their fall, eight ornate gold-framed mirrors, originally meant as a belated wedding gift for Carlotta, made their way to the Driskill in 1930. It is not known if Empress Carlotta knew about the wedding gift at all, but some say that she is now haunting the mirrors. Adorned with a color palette of gold and white, the Maximilian Room features unique accents such as eight lavish gold leaf mirrors, originally discovered in the 1930s. This charming space has since been converted into an area for premium dining events, with 1,500 square feet of space and room for 20 to 150 attendees.

Since their installation in the hotel’s “Maximilian Room,” guests and staff have reported eerie experiences, including sightings of Carlotta’s ghost. One photographer claimed to see a woman in a white gown appear in the mirrors but vanish when he turned around, leaving only her reflection. Many believe Carlotta’s spirit haunts the mirrors, watching over the last remnants of her lost empire.

Why did the Hotel Become Haunted?

The Driskill has had many faiths coming through its doors throughout the years, but could it be another reason for it being haunted? Something older perhaps? One of the many reasons the hotel was built on this exact spot was because of the artesian water right by it. Driskoll thought that this would supply the hotel with water for years to come. 

This artisan water used to be hollow ground for the native Americans though. Both the Apache, Tonkawas as well as the Comanche used to believe that the water from the spring had the power to hold spirits. Many believe this is the foundation that started the haunting. 

Many paranormal investigators have spent numerous nights in the hotel in search of ghosts. Could the hotel really be haunted? Could it be that the ghost of Driskill is still smoking in the lobby, or could it actually be from the tobacco shop that used to be in the lobby still lingering? Could there be something lurking within the mirrors and paintings as well as the rooms not of this world?

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References:

Featured Image: Spawnzilla/ Wikimedia

The Haunted Driskill Hotel – Austin Ghosts

The Haunted Driskill Hotel | Austin’s Haunted Hotel

Who is Haunting the Driskill Hotel? – Austin Ghost Tours

Is this Painting in the Driskill Hotel Haunted by a Little Girl’s Ghost?

The Haunted Driskill Hotel – Austin Ghost Tours 

The Haunted Driskill Hotel — Eerie Lights 

‘I talk to ghosts and they’re my friends – what it’s like working in a haunted hotel’ – Mirror Online

Room With A Boo: Haunted Hotels in Texas

Haunted Driskill Hotel, Austin, Texas

Driskill hotel in Austin Tx… Suicide Bride from Houston?

Driskill Hotel

9 Allegedly Haunted Paintings — And The Disturbing True Stories Behind Them

The Love Letter’s Replica Painting Inside The Driskill Hotel

Home of “The Ghost of a Texas Ladies’ Man” | bumpinthenightblog

Ghost of a Texas Ladies’ Man – Wikipedia 

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The Headless Bride of Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone

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Within the rustic embrace of the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park, a haunting tale unfurls—a tragic narrative of love, rebellion, and a spectral bride forever bound to the halls of this historic lodge.

Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as the world’s first national park, spans across three states—Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Renowned for its stunning geothermal features, including the iconic Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone encompasses a diverse landscape of majestic mountains, expansive forests, and picturesque lakes. 

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The park is home to an array of wildlife, such as grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk, offering visitors a rare glimpse into unspoiled natural habitats. With over 2 million acres of breathtaking wilderness, Yellowstone is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, providing opportunities for hiking, camping, and exploring its unique geological wonders. If we are to believe the stories, there are also ghosts haunting the park, with one story being more famous than the others of the ghost of the decapitated bride at the Old Faithful Inn.

The Old Faithful Inn and its Ghost

The story begins with the rebellious daughter of a wealthy shipping magnate from New York, who defied her family’s wishes and married an older servant. Many also said she was a modern woman who rejected an arranged marriage from a young man from a “better” family. When it was difficult to say, in some versions they say it was in 1915. 

Her father tried for a long time to convince her he was only a gold digger, but she refused to listen. In a bittersweet compromise, the father reluctantly granted a dowry for his daughter’s union, and the newlyweds embarked on their honeymoon to the heart of Yellowstone. In some version this compromise was done with her having to give up her family, her inheritance and had to leave New York. Perhaps he hoped this would scare away the man, but the wedding was held and they left for Yellowstone.

Their chosen abode was the Old Faithful Inn, a grand testament to rustic architecture nestled amid the park’s pristine wilderness built in 1903. The hotel was one of the first park lodges in the American west and one of the few still standing. The hotel is still in operation overlooking the Old Faithful Geyser Basin. 

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However, the idyllic honeymoon took a dark turn when a violent argument erupted between the newlywed couple within the confines of their room. Many say that it was room 127. It was said he was gambling their money away and they argued all the time. This night was the worst thus far though. After a mere month of honeymooning they had run out of money, and her father refused to help them with more. After everything that could kill you in the park—bears, forest fires and avalanches, the most dangerous thing for the bride was the one she was sharing rooms with. 

The Ghost in the Crows Nest

One night the man stormed out and was never seen again. After a few days of silence from the rooms got the staff worried and they opened the door:

The aftermath of what went down revealed a gruesome scene—the bride was found decapitated in the tub, her head gruesomely separated from her body and missing.

The Crows Nest: The head is said to have been found in the Crows Nest where they used to have bands playing. Although the whole detailed story was said to have been a bluff, the staff claim to really have seen something looking like a ghostly bride descending from it. // Source: Wikimedia

As if the tragedy wasn’t harrowing enough, the lore deepens with the discovery of the bride’s severed head in the hotel’s crow’s nest where the band played. The once-celebratory space now harbors the ghostly echoes of a love gone awry, forever etched into the timeworn walls of Old Faithful Inn.

The Haunting of the Old Faithful Inn

Since that fateful night, guests and staff alike have reported chilling encounters with the spectral bride. A phantom figure, adorned in a wedding dress, descends the inn’s staircase with an eerie calmness, her disembodied head cradled under her arm. 

The Crows Nest was damaged in the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake and is now not allowed to visit for the guests. So if you see something up there, they really aren’t supposed to be there. 

The Hoax of the Park or a True Haunting?

George Bornemann used to be assistant manager of the inn in 1991. Closing a night in the winter, it was only him and another staff member at the hotel. When investigating the sound of running in the hallway, he saw her on the stairs. After many years he told the story again and added the details, year and room number. 

But then, was it true? George himself said in 1983 that he had made the whole thing up himself to make the hotel seem more spooky and mysterious. According to the story told by Leslie Quinn working in the park, he was chased down by a reporter, and made the whole thing up to get rid of him. Even though he told the reporter to make it to whatever year he wanted, the story stuck as true for a long time. 

But the thing is, he never said that the sound of running in the hallway was false, and still claims that part is true. He is also been rumored to have said to see doors open and close mysteriously. So then, could there really be a true haunting within the Old Faithful Inn?

Other Hauntings at the Old Faithful Hotel

There may be no truth to the tragic tale of the decapitated bride, but the other stories, could there be something about those? 

Another story told from the inn is about a woman that woke up in Room Number 2. She was scared, woke her husband and asked if he too could see the woman in Victorian clothing at the foot of their bed. 

And although the inn itself was built decades after the Victorian area, the hotel was built upon the site of the Fountain Hotel that was destroyed. 

The newer addition of the Inn, the West Wing is said to have been built over some unmarked graves as well. The park is riddled with people that have died, from falling into the springs, eating poisonous mushrooms and in child labor at the inn. So even though the details of the story of the headless bride is made up, could there really be something haunting the Old Faithful Inn?

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References:

GHOST STORIES GIVE OLD FAITHFUL INN A HAUNTING REPUTATION – Deseret News 

Old Faithful Inn – Haunted Houses 

Haunted Yellowstone | Ghosts of Old Faithful Inn 

https://www.usparklodging.com/yellowstone/old_faithful_inn.php?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkJm0BhBxEiwAwT1AXO3mvV_n1mnDiaR_2r1884Vq9gEZdPgZuwKVivw0cFQA6OP4-xgDOxoCcZ0QAvD_BwE

Ghost Stories from Yellowstone National Park 

Headless Bride Ghost of Old Faithful Inn 

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The Bride’s Jump Waterfall

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El Salto de la Novia is a rumored haunted waterfall. The Bride’s Jump Waterfall in Spain is thought to be haunted by the ghosts of a bride and her groom that drowned in the Palencia River. 

Close to a small town Navaja, in Castellon in Spain, lies the picturesque Bride’s Jump Waterfall towers over 30 meters, or El Salto de la Novia as it’s called in Spanish. Nestled amidst lush greenery and surrounded by the tranquility of nature, this majestic waterfall has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The legend of the haunting bride has only added to its allure, drawing curious visitors from far and wide.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

According to the legend there was a local custom for brides to jump over the Palencia River to prove their love and have a happy marriage. A fun and harmless tradition. A girl would find a narrow point in the river and jump over it in front of the villagers.

The Unlucky Wedding Couple

The legend of the Bride’s Jump Waterfall Ghost Story begins with an unlucky wedding couple. In the past, it was a local custom for brides to jump over the Palencia River to prove their love and ensure a happy marriage. 

This tradition of jumping from one bank to the other was seen as a fun and harmless way for the villagers to celebrate the union of two souls. The bride-to-be would find a narrow point in the river and bravely leap across it in front of the gathered villagers, symbolizing her commitment and devotion to her future spouse.

However, on one fateful day, tragedy struck as it turned out the harmless tradition was actually a dangerous endeavor. As the bride prepared to make her jump, her foot slipped on the wet rocks, causing her to lose her balance. With a cry of despair, she plummeted into the icy depths of the river below. In a desperate attempt to save his beloved, the groom leaped after her, but the strong current proved too powerful, and they were both swept away by the unforgiving waters.

To this day, the people who live near Bride’s Jump Waterfall claim to hear the voices of the ill-fated couple, echoing through the night. Some swear that on moonlit nights, the river itself turns as white as a wedding dress, a haunting reminder of the tragedy that unfolded many years ago. The story of the bride and groom who lost their lives at the waterfall has become a cautionary tale, a reminder of the fragility of love and the consequences of taking risks.

Close to a Small Town in Navaja, Spain

In recent years, the waterfall has emerged as more than just a site of tragedy and ghostly tales. It has become a popular spot for picnics and outings on sunny days, with families and friends gathering to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The cascading waters provide a soothing soundtrack, offering respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Salto de la Novia: The Bride’s Jump Waterfall has been the subject for a local legend and ghost story in Navaja, Spain for a long time.//Source: © Enrique Íñiguez Rodríguez (CC-BY-SA)/Wikimedia

Furthermore, Bride’s Jump Waterfall has become a sought-after location for wedding photoshoots. Couples are drawn to the romantic ambiance and the ethereal beauty of the waterfall, hoping to capture their love against the backdrop of this haunting legend. Despite the ghostly tales that surround it, the waterfall now holds the promise of new beginnings and hopeful futures for those who choose to exchange their vows in its presence.

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References:

Mysterious and Haunted Places in Spain
The Legend of Bride´s Jump in Navajas – At Lifestyle Crossroads
El Salto de la Novia de Navajas: leyenda y senderismo – Clubrural
Salto de la Novia

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The Haunting of Madh Island Road and its Beaches by the Murdered Bride

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On this serene vacation island with its lush beaches, it is said that Madh Island Road and the nearby beaches are haunted by a would-be bride that was brutally murdered in the area. 

Madh Island Road, located in Mumbai, India, is known for its picturesque beach and luxurious resorts facing the Arabian Sea. However, what many people don’t know is that this seemingly idyllic location is also home to one of India’s most terrifying ghost stories. 

This road connects the mainland of Mumbai to Madh Island, which is a small fishing village with a population of about 10,000 people. The narrow and deserted road is about 15 kilometers long and is surrounded by mangroves, salt pans, and fishing villages. 

The legend goes that a woman in white haunts the road at night, causing accidents and terrorizing anyone who crosses her path both on the Madh Island Road and the surrounding beaches. 

The Murdered Woman in the Mangroves

One of the most told legends about this area is about the young woman that is said to linger. According to the stories she was brutally murdered on her wedding day and her body was disposed of in the thick forests of mangroves nearby.

She is said to roam the beaches, and streets where it is said she is stopping passing cars. According to the stories she is still wearing her bridal clothes and anklets as she is sobbing. For what is uncertain. To get help or to warn people? To get some sort of revenge? In any case she is said to have been the cause of several of the road accidents that happen on these roads.

The Death on the Road

Another variant of the legend is that she wasn’t murdered per se, but died in a car crash together with her husband on their wedding night. The reasons for their crash have many variants. Some claim that they simply were unlucky, some say that the husband sped the car in front of the car and jumped, leaving his wife to fatally crash into it. 

The woman died on the spot, and her spirit is said to have haunted the road ever since. According to the legend, the woman’s ghost appears on the road at night, causing accidents and terrorizing anyone who crosses her path.

When these stories are said to have happened varies, but the legends go back at least a couple of decades. According to the stories she is said to appear on nights with the full moon and staff working at the hotels nearby are said to have heard her dying screams. 

The Ghost of the Bus Passengers

Another told legends from these parts is about the ghosts of passengers of a ghost that crashed somewhere along the road. It is said that ghosts haunt the road, looking for help. There are also several car crashes that are said to have left their ghosts, as they wander the road they died on for eternity. 

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References:

https://www.india.com/travel/articles/be-warned-drive-down-these-10-haunted-roads-in-india-only-if-you-must-3238874/

Mumbai’s Bone-Chilling🥶10 Most Haunted Places 

Will You Give In To Your Worst Fears When You Travel On These Roads 

10 Haunted Indian Roads You Should Never Drive On At Night | RenewBuy 

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Ledgelawn Summer Estate and the Bridal Ghost in the Attic

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In a former summer house for the rich and wealthy in Maine, the Ledgelawn Summer Estate has long been thought to be haunted by the ghost of Mary Margaret, the jilted bride haunting the house wearing her wedding dress.

Built in 1904 in the seaside town of Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island in Maine, Ledgelawn Summer Estate was one of the original grand summer estates from the Gilded Age in the harbor for the elite that used to spend their summer here by the sea. 

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Ledgelawn Estate is a 21-room shingle-style cottage on Mount Desert Street, found close to the church. They used to call these estates for the cottages where the rich summered and it is said that this building is the most haunted one in Bar Harbor and a story all the locals know about.

Bar Harbor: On Mount Desert Island in Maine you will find Bar Harbor where the Ledgelawn Summer Estate is. There are many places in this picturesque said to be haunted.

The Haunted Ledgelawn Summer Estate

The red building built for the wealthy summer visitors in 1904 was built upon something older, equally a mystery as the supposed haunting. It is said to be haunted by the woman in white known as Mary Margaret. According to legend, she was jilted just about to get married. 

Most of the variations of the stories tell that Mary Margaret was a dark haired beauty from that time, a member of the rich and powerful Astor family, or at least related to them.

Her soon to be husband took off right before their wedding and left her alone. Mary Margaret took this so hard and went straight up to the third floor, dressed herself in her wedding dress before hanging herself from the rafters in the attic with her wedding veil.

It is said that when her family found her, her face was so bruised, they almost didn’t recognize her. Her lips curled up to a smile. She has ever since then lingered and haunted the Ledgelawn Summer Estate through the years. 

The Haunting of Mary Margaret

Although her death is said to have happened in the attic of Ledgelawn Summer Estate, she is most often seen on the third floor. Her ghost is said to be transparent and floating about, returning to the place she died again and again.

The former summer estate used to be an inn and there is a particular one story from this time that is retold. Back then, the place used to be called Ledgelawn Inn and it was said that room 326 was the place she most often appeared. 

Guests checking in or staff working there would often get an ominous and gloomy feeling before claiming to see the ghost of a woman floating at the foot at their bed or even a ghostly wedding veil was coming from the ceiling and swaying in the night. 

According to this guest, the ghost got into bed with him. Scared of what happened he tried to ignore her lying next to him and simply rolled over, petrified and didn’t dare to open his eyes. 

The Ghost of a Maid in Ledgelawn Summer Estate

Ledgelawn Summer Estate: Source

The dramatic ghost of Mary Margaret is supposedly not the only ghost said to haunt the Ledgelawn Summer Estate. Apparently there is also a former maid most often called Catherine said to be haunting the former summer house and former inn. 

It is said that she had an affair with the owner of the house at the time and became pregnant while working there. The story is often been told to have happened in the 1930s. She died after falling down the stairs in the back. If she fell or if she were pushed is up for debate and was hushed up at the time. 

In addition to the women said to haunt the Ledgelawn Summer Estate there is also a child said to haunt the cupboard he hides in. According to the stories, he drowned somewhere in Bar Harbor. 

The Truth Behind the Legends

So how true is this very specific story said to haunt the Ledgelawn Summer Estate? The historic inn was bought by a firm in 2010, ending its time as an inn. 

The story behind the house is that Ledge Lawn was built by Samuel Willard Bridgham and Fanny Shermerhorn in the beginnings of the 1900s. Fanny was related to the Astors, a family filled with money and scandals. Samuel and Fanny though were known to be kind people, didn’t have any children and other mysterious deaths happening inside of their home. 

So what about the ghost that people keep seeing? Could it just be a trick your mind plays you when staying in an old building, and a local story told for fun in a sleepy seaside town. Or could it be something that the history didn’t record or where the details and facts have become distorted over time?

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References:

American Ghost Walks – Bar Harbor | Culture & Tours | Family Friendly Activities 

The Haunting of Ledgelawn – by Carrie Jones 

Resort company buys historic Bar Harbor inn 

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Ghost Stories of Canada’s Infamous Haunted Hotel – The Fairmont Banff Springs

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Canada’s iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is known for its legendary haunted stories about the tragic end of a bride to be and a helpful staff, even after their deaths. 

Two elderly women checked into the hotel and called the bell desk for assistance after their keys wouldn’t work. The bellman on duty had other things to do and wasn’t able to help them for another 15 minutes. 

Another bellman in plaid jacked came and helped the two ladies inside, and when the bellman on duty finally managed to get to the two ladies, they had already unlocked the door. He asked them how they managed and the two ladies said that an old Scotsman in plaid had helped them. The bellman turned white as that description fit perfectly with Sam McCauley, the former head bellman in the sixties and seventies. Problem was though, he had been dead since 1975. 

Step into the storied halls of The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and experience its mysterious history. The iconic establishment has been tantalizing travelers with tales of hauntings and long-forgotten ghost stories since 1888, making it one of Canada’s most interesting haunted hotspots.

Introducing the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is a historic hotel located in the Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Built in 1888 by railway magnate William Cornelius Van Horne and designed by architect Walter S. Painter, the grand chateau-style building has been a Canadian landmark for more than 130 years. 

Its picturesque setting in the Canadian Rockies at 1414 meters altitude makes it perfect for an unforgettable stay.

History of the Hotel

With its long and fascinating history, it’s no surprise the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is rumored to be haunted. Built in 1888 for pioneering Canadian Railway chief William Cornelius Van Horne, the hotel was originally used as a grand chateau-style residence for railway employees before becoming a popular tourist destination. 

The hotel has seen many events over the years, from royal visits to mysterious disappearances – all of which have contributed to its reputation as one of Canada’s top haunted locations.

There are more than one ghosts supposedly haunting the hotel, like Sam the bellman who is mostly spotted at the 9th floor, helping guests, but vanishing into thin air if you try to strike up a conversation or try to tip him. 

The Bride of The Hotel

The most famous ghost of the hotel is the story of the Ghosts Bride. She even dates back to the 1920s and got so famous she even appeared on her own stamp and coin. 

According to the legend, she was walking down the hotel’s marbled staircases on her wedding day. She was dressed up in her wedding gown, a long ting that dragged along the staircases. Some say she got her heel on the dress and slipped, some say she brushed up against a candle and burst into flames. 

No matter what caused it, it ended in the same way, she died on those step before she were able to get married. 

After her death, guests have claimed to have seen a ghostly figure ascending from the stairs, still trying to reach the last step. Others have claimed to have seen a woman wearing a wedding dress in the ballroom upstairs, dancing alone while she is still waiting for the first dance with her husband. 

Watch Out for Room 873 – The Haunted Suite

The Fairmont Banff Springs is home to many haunted stories, but none quite as spine-tingling and mysterious as that of Room 873. According to local folklore and anecdotes from guests, the room’s occupants often experience strange noises, sudden temperature drops, and even the feeling of being touched in the night. 

Some have reported seeing apparitions walking up and down the halls outside – though no one knows what the specter could be. Despite these eerie tales, visitors still flock to the hotel each year for a chance to encounter its legendary hauntings.

One of the theories about who is haunting the premise is the old legend that once an entire family was murdered inside. 

Today the door is bricked up and looks like the rest of the wall in the hallway, but according to the stories, the ghosts of the murdered family still get out late at night. 

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References:

Banff Springs Hotel – Wikipedia 

The Ghosts of Fairmont Banff Springs – Avenue Calgary 

The Haunted Banff Springs Hotel, Canada 

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The Bride Missing her Ring Finger in Venice

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Killed because of love, the would be bride now walks in the Castello district of Venice, missing her ring finger and her loved one. 

In Campo St. Piero in Castello area of Venice, there is a young woman dressed as a bride walking up and down the streets. It is nothing novel about a bride in Venice as it is quite the romantic place, but for this particular bride you need to take a closer look at something other than her beautiful dress. 

The bride walking the streets in Campo St. Piero is missing a finger, which according to legend was cut off before the wedding. This bride is known as Tosca, once a beautiful but poor girl from Treviso. She was engaged to marry a very wealthy nobleman who was much older than her. It wasn’t love, it was safety. 

She fell in love though, but not with her betrothed. It was with a young hunter and together they escaped to Venice to live out their love. But the love they had, would not last, as the nobleman followed them there and ended it all. 

Toscas betrhothed killed her lover and cut off her finger, swearing that if he couldn’t have her, then no one could. But he could never have her either as she died shortly after. 

On the 22nd of September in 1379 in Campo St. Piero, she took her own life to escape her loveless marriage. But she would never leave Venice, as she came back as a ghost to haunt the place were she tought she would be free to live with her lover. 

Coincidentally, it was her ring finger as well and she is looking for her ring finger, still dressed, walking up and down the Castello district as a bride she never got the chance to become.

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Venice Legends and Ghosts

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The Ghost Bride at the Devil’s Curve

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On a road known as the Devil’s Curve in Colombia, the ghost of a bride has been reported on the road since the 70’s, asking passing cars for a ride. 

On the road can be a dangerous place to be, especially at night, during bad weather and at high speed. Especially when there are rumors about a ghost roaming the road that are asking you to take them with you.  

Since the 1970s, there have been reports about something that looks like the ghost all dressed in white on what is known as The Devil’s Curve or La Curva del Diablo in Puerto Colombia, a coastal town and municipality in Colombia. 

There are many tales about ghosts that asks for a ride, disoriented and alone alongside the roads.

Read More Ghost Stories About Ghost Hitchhiking

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The tsunami disaster in 2011 left large parts of Japan in ruins. And some of the people never being found, are still trying to reach home it seems.

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The Ghost Bride at La Curva del Diablo has later been dubbed as the ghost bride as many have thought it looks like she is wearing a white wedding dress. 

She is said to be asking for a ride of the cars passing by this dangerous road. If they refused, they would later see her sitting in the back of the vehicle, even if they didn’t let her in. 

If they did let her into the car, several reports of her sitting in the backseat crying are told, but when the driver turned to check on her, she disappeared, leaving the seat wet. In some versions she smiled and left a sickening smell of rotting flowers in the air before disappearing. 

The buses passing by also report a woman that is signaling them to stop. One taxi driver named Hugo Rangel told a story of meeting her in 1993. He was scared as he knew of the ghost bride. She was covered in dirt and looked terrible. 

This tale of a female hitchhiking is a very common ghost story throughout the world. The urban legend of The Vanishing Hitchhiker comes in many variations. Considering just how many die a sudden and tragic death on the roads, there might be some truth to some of them?

Read the Urban Legend of The Vanishing Hitchhiker

The Vanishing Hitchhiker

The Vanishing Hitchhiker is a well known urban legend throughout the world. Here is a Moonmausoleum original writings based on the Urban Legend – The Vanishing Hitchhiker

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References

Archivo de Terror Histórico del Atlántico: Los fantasmas que aterrorizan en las carreteras – Archivo Histórico del Atlántico

La novia que asusta a conductores en el Atlántico – Barranquilla – Colombia – ELTIEMPO.COM

Las carreteras fantasmales de Colombia | Blog Autolab

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Fighting The Widow Ghost With Cross Dressing and Erect Penises

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When unexplained deaths of seemingly healthy and young men occur around the same time and same place there are many Thai people who believe it is the Widow Ghost who is after their men, and they have their own way of holding the seemingly paranormal death at bay. 

In some parts of rural Thailand, especially in the northeastern parts, men are afraid of falling asleep in fear of dying because a ghost sought them out as a mate. There are sometimes waves of panic where a fear of the widow ghost trying to take them during the night, are keeping them awake. 

But whether it is a paranormal explanation or a scientific one still has the local villagers and medical personnel divided. 

Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome or Lai-Tai

From time to time, there will be cases where more than one man in a geographic area will die during the same time, perhaps under mysterious circumstances at first glance. Like in the 1990s there were many unexplained deaths of a group of Thai workers in their sleep in the northeastern parts of Thailand. It was referred to as ‘Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome’ by Thai doctors. 

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This particular syndrome (SUNDS), is a disorder found in southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, Japan, Philippines and Cambodia, which causes sudden cardiac death, mostly during sleep. In Thailand it also goes under the name lai-tai Lai (dreaming, screaming) Tai (death). It is however not the name of the Widow Ghost as it is cited as in many articles. But what is this ghost?

The Widow Ghost

The unexplained deaths got a more paranormal explanation to it and the legend of the vengeful spirit or the widow ghost fitted the narrative. She is an evil spirit that hunts men at night and steals the men from their bed. 

Protection from the Widow Ghost: A scarecrow dressed in red with an erect penis was considered the remedy when the fear of her reached Nakhon Phanom in 2018 // Photo: AsiaWire/thairath

The story about the widow ghost is not a particularly new one, but it definitely is one of the more persistent ones. Around the same time as this was happening in northeastern parts of Thailand, more of the same mysterious deaths occurred among Thai workers both in Malaysia and Singapore. What was this thing that took the lives of so many of their men? Over the years before there was anyone trying to explain this in a scientific way, they had figured out ways to protect themselves from the sudden deaths.  

To protect themselves from this, the men themselves as well as their mothers or wives took measures according to superstition to defend themselves and their men. Some put on lipstick or nail polish, or even dress up in womens clothing before going to bed. By doing this, they hoped to fool the widow ghost into thinking they were in fact women and would leave them alone. 

There was also a very traditional Thai way of protecting their home where they hung phallic symbols around their necks, over the doors and at the village gates for protection. Many Thai people believe that phallic symbols bring good luck and good business. The bigger the penis, the better the business. There is also the habit of putting scarecrows with erect penises to distract or even hunt the Widow Ghost. 

This is the case in Thung Nang Oak, a rural village in Thailand where they have a very phallic symbol for their commune, more than 3 feet long and weighing 22 pounds. One of the reasons for putting that on display was because of the terrible nightmares to the local men that was an indication that the Widow ghost was on her way. 

Deadly Health and Diets

However, even with this protection, there would still be death, and a man died in his sleep, even though he wore red nail polish. The Thai public Health Ministry concluded the deaths were not caused by a spirit, but a bad diet of carbohydrate and sugar worsened by both physical and mental strain. This was after the Thai health authorities investigated over 700 of these mysterious deaths from Thai  workers in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei since 1983 to the 90s, and many more back in Thailand. 

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This seems extreme, but the fact is that at least back in the day, the Thai workers from the northeastern provinces lived on just white rice with a sweet syrup, overproducing insulin and lacking both potassium and vitamin B-1. 

Since then, the Public Health Ministry launched campaigns where they tried to advocate for the value of a more balanced diet with more nutrients to stop the panic. But did it work?

Fighting Ghosts with Phallic Symbols

Seems like this is not a problem that only existed, ‘back in the day’. In 2018, there was another wave of panic after five young men died in a few weeks. This was also in northeast Thailand in the remote Nakhon Phanom province. In a small village of 90 people, they resorted to old ways when five of their healthy and young men died suddenly in their sleep. 

They were otherwise seemingly healthy and went to bed after taking a bath as per usual. They were all found dead by their families the next morning. 

There are no man here: Red shirts are hung up in the fences, trees and doors. They are all trying to tell the widow ghost that there are no men in the house and urging her to pass on over to the next. //Photo: Sanook

The legend of the Widow Ghost came back and so did the old remedies to fight her and protect the men. Huge scarecrows with an impressive 80 cm erect penises were placed on the gates. They hung signs saying ‘There is no man here’ ( “บ้านนี้ไม่มีผู้ชาย”)  to confuse the ghost. Often they also hang out red t-shirts as it is a color for women and alludes to the fact that there are only women at home, in the hope the ghost will ignore the house and move on to the next. The men were dressed in dresses and painted with makeup to protect them from being stolen by the ghost in their sleep. 

As not a single man died the following week since the scarecrows were put up and the nails painted, they thought that it must have worked. 

However, in neighbouringing villages and other cities there were similar cases and panic about the widow ghost. Most of these deaths most likely didn’t have an official autopsy, as it often is. But authorities claim that there is a more logical explanation to it all. In many cases where they have done autopsies, there is the case of malnutrition as well as heart diseases, respiratory failure and other illnesses or accidents. 

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References

Thai villagers fears evil widow ghost will kill their men | Daily Mail Online

`SPIRIT` WON`T LET THAI MEN SLEEP – Chicago Tribune

Men Die Mysteriously In Thai Village, Locals Blame It On Ghost

Lai Tai, the Mysterious Death of Young Thai Men | SpringerLink

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Nale Ba – The Bridal Ghost of Bangalore

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In the 90s, rural parts of Bangalore in India were haunted by a fear of a ghost walking from door to door. To protect themselves from death, they used to write Nale Ba – come tomorrow. 

The sound of a knock on the door can be one of the more terrifying things when you are not expecting someone. In lores and legends, opening the doors for strangers are the biggest mistakes you can make, as you have no control once the door is open.

But what if the voice on the other side sounds familiar, like that of a friend or a family member. What do you do then? Before the big urbanization of Bangalore in more recent times, there used to be some pretty rural parts where a particular urban legend struck fear in those who lived there. 

Nale Ba or Come Tomorrow

Haunting the streets: The movie Stree’s take on the legend showed the ghost of the Nale Ba legend as a ghostly woman in red sari.

The story of Nale Ba is a popular folk legend that is told primarily in Karnataka, in the south western region of India that truly blew up in the 1990s, making it perhaps more of an urban legend than folklore as it was centered around the more developed areas.

During the crazy times in the 1990’s there were around 5 million people living in Bangalore and city experienced a rapid urbanization that turned the place to one of India’s most populated cities.

But this was then and many of those living there lived in fear of Nale Ba. Villagers wrote the words Nale Ba on the walls and doors for many years to protect themselves, giving the name to both the legend and the creature haunting them. Nale Ba or sometimes spelled Naale Baa (ನಾಳೆ ಬಾ) is a Kannada phrase that means come tomorrow in English. 

They wrote this exact phrase to protect their home from an evil spirit that tries to break in. What type of entity Nale Ba was supposed to be, was unclear. She was often referred to a so called Bridal Spirit as she was out to get a man to stay with her for eternity. She is also sometimes also referred to as a witch more than a ghost.

What her intentions were varied, but in some of the earlier versions she wore ragged clothes, had messy hair and asked for alms like a classic ‘do not open the doors to strangers’ legend.

But one of the more popular and retold stories is that she is roaming the streets hunting down the men to claim for herself. 

The Manhunt of the Bridal Ghost

In some variations of the Nale Ba legend it is a bridal ghost that is looking for a husband among the villagers, and she will stop at nothing to get him. Although the legend will probably never be as infamous as it’s peak in the 1990s, the urban legend have a habit of popping up from time to time.

What is also curious is that it is very similar to the widow ghost legend in Thailand where there also is a female entity hunting down the men:

The bridal spirit will usually go for the only son or the man of the house who is the only member of the family earning money, and therefore bringing bad luck not only to the poor man that is taken away, but to the entire family as they are left in ruin. 

Nale Ba: According to this legend there is a bridal ghost that goes from door to door in Bangalore in search of a man she can take with her to the afterlife.

She goes from door to door in the night and knocks on the doors, trying to get in. When she speaks through the door she speaks in the voice of your kin or familiar person, calling you by the name, so that you will open the door for her. But if you open it, you will most likely die according to the Nale Ba legend. 

This is why the villagers came up with the idea of writing Nale Ba on their doors and walls of their homes to protect themselves. The idea is that the bridal ghost or witch will read the words and come back another time. And the cycle will only continue and you will be protected. 

Leaving Nale Ba in the Past

The legend of Nale Ba, the haunting bridal ghost roaming the streets of rural Bangalore, continues to captivate the imaginations of locals and visitors alike. While the fear it once instilled may have subsided, the tale remains an intriguing part of the city’s folklore.

Over time, as Bangalore underwent urbanization and transformation into a bustling metropolis, the legend of Nale Ba gradually faded into the background. The growth and development of the city brought about new stories and urban myths, yet every now and then, a whisper of the infamous bridal ghost resurfaces.

In today’s modern era, the streets of Bangalore are abuzz with the sounds of progress and innovation, leaving behind the ghostly echoes of its past. Yet, hidden beneath the surface, the essence of these legends lingers, shaping a city that embraces its rich heritage while moving fearlessly towards the future.

So, next time you hear a knock on your door late at night, remember the spirit of Nale Ba and the importance of remaining vigilant. And should you ever encounter the whispers of an ancient legend, embrace it as a testament to the vibrant history and enduring spirit of the city of Bangalore.

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Ghosts are important

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