5 More Haunted Places in Albany County & Beyond
In the fall of 2020, we highlighted 7 places in Albany County & beyond known to house strange apparitions and unexplainable occurrences.
Steeped in 400 years of rich history, Albany County and the surrounding area is full of ghostly tales and buildings with storied pasts. Scroll on for 5 more haunted places in Albany County and beyond!
Check out our 2020 blog for more haunted spots!
1. Olde English Pub
Built in 1736, the Olde English Pub resides in the historic Quackenbush House. The second oldest building in Albany, it was home to the Dutch, Quackenbush family who lived in the home for over a century. Since the last Quackenbush's departure in 1864, the building has been everything from antique store to boarding house to tavern.
It is hard to say from which era stem the apparitions who lurk around the business well after closing time. But they have made themselves well known. Many patrons report staring into the pub’s mirrors to see phantom faces stare back at them and staff have heard voices sound up from the basement when no one else is there.
2. Old Stone Fort Museum
In the village of Schoharie, New York, located west of Albany stands the Old Stone Fort Museum. With a building steeped in rich history, it makes sense that the Old Stone Fort Museum is the centerpiece of numerous strange accounts. The museum was originally built as a church in 1772 and fortified in 1777 during the American Revolution. It was attacked in 1780 by British forces, in fact one of the cannonballs that struck the building left a hole that can still be viewed today, and the building is surrounded by a large cemetery.
A stop on the Haunted History Trail of New York State and even featured in an episode of SyFy’s “Ghost Hunters,” many visitors and staff members have told tales of paranormal experiences within the museum walls. Reports have included the sight of an apparition in the doorway to the library, the sound of a woman screaming from the tower or the sound of footsteps on the vacant second floor. Many guests have even felt a presence prevent them from climbing up the stairs.
3. Graceland Cemetery
Iterations of the “vanishing hitchhiker” date back centuries and span cultures across the globe. Writer and specialist on American folklore, Louis C. Jones lists the Albany-centered story of “Hattie the Hitchhiker” among the classic examples of this legend in his collection of haunted tales “Things That Go Bump in the Night.”
In this account, a young man had been leaving a party near Albany and had driven past Graceland Cemetery in the early hours of the morning. It was raining heavily, but through the storm he noticed a young woman in a white evening gown by the cemetery gates. He offered her a ride which she quietly accepted. As the rain poured heavily, he kept his attention on the road, but when he approached her house, she had disappeared from the car. He went up to her door to be greeted by an older woman who explained it was her daughter Hattie who often hitched a ride home on rainy nights. But she always disappeared. The figure in his car had been her ghost, Hattie had been buried at Graceland Cemetery for the past four years.
Other iterations of the “Hattie the Hitchhiker” tale involve the man lending her his jacket and dropping her off to discover she took the jacket with her. He knocks on her door but is greeted by an older woman who explains that Hattie was her daughter who had been killed by a drunk driver. She was now buried at Graceland Cemetery. So, the man visits the cemetery to find her gravestone with his jacket draped over it.
4. Former Campus of the College of Saint Rose
Before the College of Saint Rose's closure in 2024, the campus boasted an extensive haunted history. Reports of hauntings appeared in the student newspaper, a previous display within the school’s library entitled “Tales from the Archives: Haunted Saint Rose,” and in the haunted account novel “Ghosts of the Northeast” by David J. Pitkin.
Many strange occurrences were reported in Brubacher Hall including doorknobs that seemed to turn or shake on their own, closet doors that inexplicably creaked open and shut, the sound of running footsteps in empty hallways, and the sound of instruments played without anyone around.
Mysterious melodies were a common supernatural experience throughout the campus especially for students in Morris Hall. It is said the building was once the site of a Catholic convent and phantom flute music can still be heard throughout the halls. There also once stood a reportedly haunted music building on campus grounds, Cabrini Hall, which was known to produce sounds of the piano late at night when the building was vacant.
This October marks the inaugural year of Discover Albany’s All Hallow-E’en Festival Resurrection. The month-long, county-wide festival features plenty of opportunities to explore Albany’s haunted past.
The following tours have tickets on sale now:
- Eerie Albany Historic Ghost Tour
- New York State Capitol Hauntings Tour
- Murder at Cherry Hill Tour
- Manifestations: A Shaker Ghost Tour
Visit albanyhalloween.com for more events and updates! Be sure to follow the All-Hallow E’en Festival on Instagram @albanyhalloween.
*This project is made possible in part by the City of Albany’s Albany for All funding program and President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
*This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP1752 awarded to the City of Albany, New York, by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Top Haunted Tours & Eerie Experiences in Albany County
Beware, October in Albany brews up tales of spine-chilling spirits, historic hauntings and frightening folklore. Whether you desire an immersive walk-through experience or a ghostly guided tour, Albany County offers a variety of ways to enjoy the most haunted time of year. Scroll on for the details about how to get in on the hocus pocus.
New York State Capitol Hauntings Tour
Varying dates between October 2 and November 1
The popular Capitol Hauntings Tour returns! If you dare, dive into the urban legends and famous hauntings connected to the historic New York State Capitol Building on this eerie guided tour. Tour guides regale brave guests with spine-chilling tales about the "lost" Capitol murals and their eccentric artist, two United States Presidents who visited the Capitol after they died, and a secret demon carved into stone with a Capitol curse. Keep an ear out for jangling keys and locking doors! These mysterious sounds are often attributed to the spirit of the nightwatchman still making his nightly rounds. The tour is free, but registration is required.
Special Capitol Hauntings Open Houses offered in place of the walking tour on October 4 and November 1! This self-guided experience is offered to all, no reservations required!
Paranormal Report with Tri-City NY Paranormal Society
October 3
Centuries ago, America's first Shaker settlement was founded on the grounds where Shaker Heritage Society stands today. Over the years, the historic property has been the site of various paranormal experiences. Attend this event hosted by the Tri-City NY Paranormal Society and uncover their findings from investigations of the Shaker property. View audio and video recordings and discuss what these findings might reveal.
The Dark Side of Center Square
Varying dates between October 4 and October 26
Embark on a sinister tour exploring the "Dark Side of Center Square!" This guided tour will delve into the stories behind the buildings you see every day in the Center Square area of Albany, peeling back the layers of history to discover tales of true crime, spooky stories, and murderous mysteries. Follow in the footsteps of the infamous Silent Stalker, and uncover the stories previously told only in lost newspapers and hushed whispers. Find out more about the Dark Side of this historic neighborhood, including the assassination attempt of Albany’s Halloween Queen and the best spectator’s view of the notorious Gallows Hill. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly for this guided tour with Historic Albany Foundation and Discover Albany. Tours meet at New Scotland Spirits.
Nine Pin & Eerie Albany
October 5
Sip on Nine Pin cider and listen to tales of Albany's sinister past with Discover Albany's own Maeve McEneny-Johnson. This ghost talk will feature the hauntings of Olde English Pub, the New York State Capitol Building and more.
Eerie Albany Historic Ghost Tours
Sundays, October 6 to October 27
If you dare, embark on the Eerie Albany Historic Ghost Tour! This guided walking tour through historic downtown Albany is not made for the faint of heart. Your tour guide will regale you with spine-chilling stories about the mysteries surrounding the enchanting homes lining Ten Broeck Triangle and the ghostly figure lingering past closing time at the historic Olde English Pub.
City Séance Ghost Tour
Varying dates between October 8 and October 30
Roam the streets of the capital city with theREP and Discover Albany's Maeve McEneny-Johnson, your guide into the ghostly history that lurks in the nooks and crannies of the Capital Region. Together, we’ll cross the veil in search of historic Albany specters like Legs Diamond and his flamboyant paramour Kiki Roberts or the cursed couple who shared Lincoln's ill-fated theatre box - Henry and Clara Rathbone. We may even encounter other nameless specters, who have been known to appear without introduction.
Mulled Wine & Murder
October 9
Travel back in time to an eerie event in Cherry Hill's history. This event will tell the story of an infamous murder that took place at the historic site in 1827. Sip on mulled wine and taste foods from that year by the glow of jack-o-lantern light. Then trace in the footsteps of the crime on a murder-themed tour of the house. This tasting event is in collaboration with the Siena Beverage Institute.
Murder at Cherry Hill
Wednesday to Saturday from October 10 to October 26
Trace the footsteps of a murderer at Historic Cherry Hill this October. Murder at Cherry Hill, a popular historic walk-through experience, returns! Step back in time to May 7, 1827, and relive the night of a frightening murder that resulted in Albany's last public hanging and two sensational trials. Murder at Cherry Hill tends to sell out faster than you can say "BOO!", so purchase your tickets today!
Manifestations: A Shaker Ghost Tour
Varying dates between October 12 and October 24
The Shakers never saw the spirit world as frightening, instead they embraced visions, dreams, and communication with those who have departed. Dive into the spirit world and pull back the veil between our realm and the next at America's First Shaker Settlement. Learn stories of Shakers who once walked in the world of the living.
Another Ooky Spooky Musical Showcase
October 18
In one of Albany County's most notable haunted sites, Cohoes Music Hall, prepare for an evening of macabre melodies telling the stories of the region's eerie past. In between musical performances, the Cohoes Historical Society will tell tales of the haunted Hall.
Haunted Tales from the Crow's Wood
October 19
Gather around the campfire at the Crailo State Historic Site's Riverside Park to hear haunted tales like those of the 18th century used to tell. Enjoy mulled cider and donuts during this ghostly evening. Younger children and those of the faint of heart are welcome to join in on the fun at the pumpkin painting station that will be set aside.
Stories from the Past with Psychic-Medium Michele Lyons Polito
October 20
Join local psychic medium and ghost rescuer Michele Lyons Polito on a tour of the historic Albany Rural Cemetery. Learn local history and hauntings, visit a number of graves and tombs where Michele will share the history of those who rest there and connect with their spirits to share their stories.
