I like spooky. If there are ghosts and goblins, legends, or lore, I will go there. The mystical and the magical are always just a road trip away. Haunted mansions to haunted forests will get my attention. Stories of ghostly and spooky adventures will certainly make me make a turn. Come along as I share a few of my favourite spooky RV travel destinations. Let’s get spooky.
Salem, Massachusetts
It is no secret I love Salem. This picturesque little city is the highlight of spooky. The history of the town itself is a ghastly tragic story, and you can feel it in its bones as you tour through town.
The most beautiful thing about Salem is the preservation of the homes and architecture in this town. With its 1700 and 1800 wooden buildings and cobblestone streets, it is truly a walk back in time.
The history, both tragic and climatic, is evident everywhere in this town. The story of the deadly witch trials that happened in 1692 and 1693 is told in every step. This message, written in the stone leading to a courtyard by the cementary says so much about the injustice and terror that encompassed this town.
“God knows I am innocent.” As you traverse Salem and imagine the terror that must have befall this town, goosebumps will appear. It is in the air, in the foundation and earth beneath. When night falls, the spirits come. If you close your eyes and stand on the old ground, you can too can feel the spooky of Salem.
Dancing Dot on Lake Erie
Sitting by the lake is one of the best parts of RV life. Growing up and with my home base being Niagara, I have always had the choice of two lakes to sit by. Lake Erie on one side of the peninsula and Lake Ontario on the other.
One of my favourite spots to go on Lake Erie is by an old cemetery. It has great parking that fits my Class B RV right by the water and I have a haunted cemetery behind me. Perfect for a weird and wonderful happening with my friend Kim.
The Story of Hopkins Tomb
We must first start with the story of Hopkins Tomb, which sits in Oakwood Cemetary near Port Colborne, Ontario. Sam Hopkins lived a successful life in the mid-1800s. He moved to Port Colborne in 1851 and ran a successful business with many holdings in town. He died a regal man in 1899 and was encased in Hopkins Tomb. It is said that his faithful dog companion would sit outside the tomb after his death guarding his master.
There have been many reported ghostly sightings near and around the tomb. Ghostly images of Sam and his faithful dog walking down the road to people hearing sounds coming from inside the tomb. There is a legend that if you run around the tomb three times in one direction and knock on the door, then turn around and run around three times in the opposite direction and knock. You will receive an answer.
I have tried. There has always been nobody home! Lol.
The Lake gets Eerie.
Sitting by the lake one night waiting for a lunar eclipse with my friend Kim, we were filming the moon and noticed something quite peculiar.
A green dot appeared to be floating over the lake through the view of the video. If you looked away from the screen to look directly at it, it was not there. As we sat there watching it in the night sky while the waves slowly lapped the shore, it was an eerie feeling.
Sitting in our lawn chairs on the shore, we discussed how it would be possible to see it in the camera but not with our own eyes. What was it? It was not a firefly or any luminous bug I have ever seen. It’s definitely hovered and then began moving toward us. As we watched through the viewfinder, it floated closer until it disappeared into a small Grove of trees on the shore.
There was no explanation for what we saw. Something came to see what we were doing. We did not mind a bit.
Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston, Ontario
I have always been intrigued with Kingston Penitentiary. An imposing building with impenetrable walls. Opened in 1867, it remained a working prison until 2013. Oh, if those walls could talk. Some say they do.
I was very excited when they announced they would be doing tours. I love the Kingston area with its rich history and amazing architecture. I have visited Kingston many times and been through the wardens house museum across the road from the prison when it was still a working prison.
The tour is led by people who actually worked in the facility, sharing their own experiences and its most prominent history.
Walking along the halls of cells, you can feel the history of what was sometimes a very violent and deadly past. Just the closing of the heavy cell doors and the dampness that seemed to seep through the stone walls gave me a shiver.
Guards, inmates, and visitors alike have told stories of seeing the ghostly figure of George Hewell. A violent criminal who made guards his focus was killed by a guard in self-defence in 1897. He swore vengeance as he died. Some people say they have seen him on their tour. Looking down that hallway I believe that.
There have also been reports of strange sounds and sights and bumps in the night by staff. Although I do not believe I saw anything. You could sure feel it. Was that cold spot just a draft, or was I sharing that space with someone? We will never know.
When you get to Kingston, be sure to take a tour of Kingston Penitentiary. I enjoyed it so much that I went back again for their Pumpkinfest event. I even gave it its own blog. Check it out here.
Lizzie Borden’s House, Falls River, Massachusetts
Growing up, we heard tales of the famous Lizzie Borden. I remember singing the rhyme as we danced in a circle as a child. Do you remember the rhyme?
Lizzie Borden took axe
She gave her mother 40 wacks
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father 41
When I look back, it was kind of morbid, but so was the crime. But did she kill her parents? It was 1892. Lizzie’s parents, Sarah and Andrew, were found horrendously slain in their home. Lizzie, their daughter, was a suspect, and there was enough circumstantial evidence to arrest her. Unfortunately or fortunately, the crown did not have enough evidence to convict and she was acquitted of the crimes.
Lizzie Borden lived the rest of her days in Fall River, Massachusetts. Her days were forever clouded by doubt of her acquittal.
The house still stands and is now a Bed & Breakfast and museum. It is said the ghosts of Andrew and Sarah roam the house. Some staff members say that Andrew has punched them as he is a particularly aggressive ghost.
Unfortunately, when I went, it was closed and under repairs. Someday, I will return and sleep in Andrew’s room. Where they say if you do not leave a monetary gift for him, it will be a sleepless night.
Still, even with it closed, it glowed an eerie light. In the second-floor window, I thought I could see something peering out at me. The Lizzie Borden House has Strange and eerie all over it.
Do you think Lizzie was the murderer? Let me know in the comments.
Freetown – Falls River State Forest, Massachusetts
In the heart of Massachusetts lies an interesting phenomenon. They call it the Bluewater Triangle. A 200-square-foot area of paranormal and alien activity. Where strange sounds are heard and UFO sighting has been a regular occurrence.
In the middle of the triangle is Freetown – Fall River State Forest. It has been classed as the most haunted forest in the United States. It is so haunted they actually close it at night. Rumours of satanic rituals and floating orbs that will lure you to your death. Talk of Bigfoot sightings and sacrifices flow through the town. There have even been murders that have happened adding to the ghostly tales.
A local legend talks of Puckwudgies occupying the forest. They at first appear as orbs to lure you into the forest. Once deep into the forest, they will lure you to a cliff and push you off. I wanted to see if I could find a Puckwudgie!
Travelling with a friend, I really wanted to experience the forest at night. We found an access road that drove into the middle of the forest. We found a safe place, or we hoped it would be a safe place and parked for the night.
I have stayed in many forests. I will tell you there were sounds in that forest that I had never heard before. Was that a cry of a bird or a cry for help? Were the lights appearing in the forest fireflies or puckwudgies trying to draw us out of the van and into the darkness of the forest? I am not sure. Fabulous place to visit. Do not get out of the van.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
A trip through Gettysburg will definitely give you goosebumps. As you walk the battlefields and hear the stories of wartime and the many casualties the hair will raise on your arms.
I think that the cemeteries gave me the most ghostly feelings. You can walk for miles and admire the ornate headstones. As you walked, you knew you were not walking alone.
Exploring after dark near a cemetery with high walls surrounding it with my friend Kim, we thought we heard someone behind us. We knew we were alone. There were no other cars in the lot. As we headed back to the van, it sounded closer. Not quite like footsteps, but you knew it was there. We kept looking and could see nothing in the darkness. As we got closer to the unlighted lot, Kim yelled at me to turn and take a picture. The only thing in the picture was a streak of green light in the darkness. There was no green light we could see.
The picture disappeared from my phone shortly after. I went to find it the next day and it was gone.
What was that sound? What was that light? Was a ghostly figure following us? We will never know.
My House Ghost
This is not an RV travel destination, but if I am talking about ghosts, then I have to mention my house ghost.
After my divorce, I bought a cute little house by Lake Erie. As soon as I walked through the doors, it had such a comfortable feeling I knew I had to make it mine. A small ranch-style home with an awesome two-car garage sitting on an acre of land. It was quiet and cozy. What I did not know was that I would be sharing it with a ghost. I would end up naming him, Jake.
You may think I am crazy but there was more than just me that heard him. My friends Bonnie and Jim were staying the night. I had to go watch my grandsons early on a Saturday morning. When I returned, Jim asked me why I came back. I did not come back. He had heard the back door open and close not long after he heard me leave. Was not me or the cat. It was a large steel fire door between the garage and the house. Apparently, Jake went out with me, and then he went back to bed. Lol
They were not the only ones who heard him. He had my friend Kevin looking for the sound all over the house one evening. It was rather entertaining, to be honest.
Often, as I drifted off to sleep, I could almost feel someone sitting on the other side of the bed and lay down. I could also not keep a charged battery in the house. I would buy a new pack, and within a few weeks, they would all be dead.
There are some days I miss both Jake and that house. But I love my RV lifestyle and the new experiences every time I turn the key.
Do you have a favourite ghost story? Let me hear about it in the comments.
Thanks for coming along on my Chipmunk Adventure. See you next week.
Chipmunk
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