John Lennon’s Ghost, Bodies Under Washington Square Park, and Spooky Places You Can Visit in NYC

Halloween is almost here! And if you are from the New York area or plan to visit the spectacular Big Apple this season, there are many must-see places to add to your list of the spooky and unexplained. Celebrate this amazing holiday in style where many have spotted ghosts, heard strange noises, and been genuinely chilled to the bone.

The Dakota: 1 West 72nd Street, New York, NY

This infamous apartment building is known for the location of the assassination of the great musical artist, John Lennon. However, it is not just Lennon’s ghost that roams the grounds of the Dakota. Residents report seeing young children, specifically a boy and a girl, walking around the halls of the complex. Lennon himself even claimed to have seen a woman he called “the crying lady ghost” at the Dakota when he was a resident there.

The Morris-Jumel Mansion: 65 Jumel Terrace, New York, NY

This grand and magnificent mansion is rumored to be haunted by a spirit named Eliza Jumel. Supposedly, Eliza had an affair with Vice President Aaron Burr when her husband, Stephen, passed away from pneumonia. Burr and Jumel were then married but their marriage didn’t last long and they were divorced only a few years later.

Eliza never married again and lived alone in the mansion until she died in 1865. Many believe she still wanders the rooms of the place, distraught by the loss of her husband, Stephen, or her divorce from Aaron Burr. Book a candlelight ghost tour and hear the haunting tales of the mansion’s paranormal inhabitants.

Belasco Theater: 111 West 44th Street, New York, NY

The historical Belasco Theater on Broadway was built in 1907 by a man named David Belasco. It is thought that David may have never left his glorious creation even after his death. People report sightings of him backstage, on stage, and even in the audience. Another spirit haunts the theater and is known by the name of the Blue Lady. She has been seen numerous times by employees and attendees. She is thought to be a companion and love interest of Belasco.

Il Buco Restaurant: 47 Bond Street, New York, NY

If you are a fan of the mysterious poet and author, Edgar Allan Poe, you won’t want to miss a visit to Il Buco. Poe is known to hang out at the Italian eatery and some believe this was the location that inspired his story The Cask of Amontillado. If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend it before you go. You are in for a treat!

The Merchant’s House: 29 East 4th Street, New York, NY

This museum and national historic landmark was previously owned by the Tredwell family. As you step inside, you are brought back to life in the mid-1800s. The Tredwell’s belongings still furnish the home and visitors claim to have seen the ghost of Gertrude Tredwell. She spent her life as a spinster there and it’s possible she never wanted to leave the only place she ever loved. You can even take a candlelight tour ghost tour and try meeting her yourself.

Washington Square Park: Washington Square, Greenwich Village, New York, NY

This last one disturbs me personally as I have visited the picture-perfect Washington Square on many occasions and just recently discovered a bit of chilling history about it. The 2005 Archaeological Assessment of Washington Square Park reports that as many as 20,000 corpses are buried underneath park concrete. In 1797, the city government purchased the land to develop a potter’s field: a burial ground for the poor, the indigent, and the sick, as well as criminals. The bodies were never disinterred, therefore they remain in their unmarked graves to this day. Yikes!

If you are lucky enough to be able to visit some of these purportedly haunted locations and experience a paranormal encounter, don’t forget to come back to this article and tell us your story! Happy hunting!