Are there really ghosts in Cape May?
Yes, there are ghosts in Cape May!
Actually, the entire town is haunted. Some people claim it might be the most haunted place in the country. I have heard the theory that spirits linger because of the intense energy created as the Delaware River and Atlantic Ocean meet. I cover that a little more in my Mind-Body-Spirit in Cape May post. Cape May was featured on an episode of Haunted Towns and they speculate the high amount of quartz in the ground is one possible explanation. No one really knows why for sure – but many, many people have experienced it…
The ghost in our 170 year old house is named Margaret. Rachel, our daughter, said she just senses that is her name. We became aware of the ghostly presence in our home early on when she started playing little tricks on us—closing and locking doors, turning on the water, taking things and then putting them in odd places. We, as well as several guests, have heard walking above them when no one was there. A painter we contracted refused to work after dark, because he felt someone watching him when he worked at night. Our niece Grace and her boyfriend Nic recently heard the eerie sound of furniture or maybe a trunk being dragged across the floor above them. The thing is-there is plush carpeting on the third floor… It would be impossible to naturally make that kind of sound. There are similar stories in homes all over Cape May.
CONGRESS HALL
Haunted Hotels
A great many of the hotels in Cape May are known for being haunted. Here are just a few…
- Congress Hall – The first Congress Hall was built in 1816 and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1878. It has been said that some of the spirits may be from the original structure as well. The current version was built in 1879. Several folks on The Ghosts of Cape May Facebook group have reported seeing and photographing ghostly inhabitants. I also had a supernatural experience during a stay there. While applying my makeup in the bathroom, a travel sized tube of hair gel flew from the sink into the adjoining bedroom and rolled under the bed. It was like some unseen force had hurled it into the other room. Needless to say, I didn’t retrieve it!
- The Southern Mansion has been the subject of a Ghost Hunter episode. Bruce Tango from the show said that he experienced some of the most paranormal activity ever while filming there. They actually filmed a door closing with no one there. One of the ghosts is apparently Ester Allen the niece of the original owner George Allen. Her favorite flower was the gardenia and many guests have reported smelling the fragrance in several locations, but primarily her room on the third-floor number 9.
- Hotel Macomber-room 10 is rumored to be inhabited by a spirit. Some believe it is Irene Wright — also known as the Trunk Lady was a guest who stayed at the hotel in that room consistently year after year. Other rooms are reported to be haunted as well. Sarah “Sadie” Davis was the owner of the hotel when it was called the New Stockton Villa. She committed suicide there and her spirit may be lingering.
- The Virginia Hotel – built in 1879 is believed to be haunted by a man and woman. The woman some say is Mrs. Connell the wife of the original owner. I can completely understand why she would not want to leave such a gorgeous and refined property.
- Inn of Cape May (formerly the Colonial Hotel) has a ghost of a young girl that is quite likely that of Eva Church who died at 17 years of age tragically. A “lady in blue” has been seen gazing out the window of one of the rooms.
Peter shields inn
Haunted Restaurants
Restaurants in Cape May are frequently haunted as well. The full list is quite long, but some of the more well known ones are below.
- Peter Shields – If you dine at Peter Shields you will undoubtedly enjoy a wonderful meal. However, if you venture to the restrooms in the cellar, you just might encounter the spirit of Earle Shields. Earle tragically died at the age of 15 when he was shot while hunting.
- Washington Inn is said to have a ghost named Elizabeth who most often has encounters with the waitstaff. She is also apparently active around children’s events.
- Elaine’s – The story goes that it is haunted by human ghosts including Emily the daughter of the original owners, but also that of a cat named Streak. The current owner describes them as friendly and even hosted ghost hunter weekends in the past.
- Ugly Mug an institution on Washington Mall in Cape May. If you have been there you can’t help but notice the mugs suspended from the ceiling. They belong to members of The Ugly Mug Club. When one of the members pass on, their mug is turned to face the ocean. Are the spirits who visit there to watch over their mugs?
emlen physick estate
Ghost Tours and Events
Walking and Trolley Ghost Tours are regularly held during most of the year by Cape May MAC. Cape May MAC is a non-profit organization focused on Museums, Art and Culture in the Cape May area. Craig McManus frequently conducts some of the tours and occasionally even holds seances at the Emlen Physick Estate. The Emlen Physick Estate (also quite haunted) is the only Victorian house museum in Cape May. The second-floor hallway is thought to be the most active (spooky) part of the house. Tours of the estate as well as other activities are conducted regularly throughout the year. You can check out the full calendar here of the house tours, ghosts & mysteries tours, as well as several other events. You can get tickets too!
Craig McManus who conducts the tours and seances is a renown psychic medium. He is the quintessential expert in all things haunted in Cape May. He has written five fascinating books on the subject that go into great detail and in-depth history.
- The Ghosts of Cape May Books 1-3
- 400 Years of the Ghosts of Cape May: Chronicling Four Centuries of Hauntings in America’s Oldest Seaside Resort
- The Ghosts of Cape May NEW HAUNTS/OLD GHOSTS
You can watch Craig talking about what it is like to be a medium on his feature on the Today Show. Who better to leads these hauntingly interesting activities?
Almost everyone who has visited Cape May seems to have their own ghost story. They hear strange voices, see things in mirrors, even have photographs will unexplained orbs or shapes. If you have had an encounter with the spirit world while visiting, please let me know! I’d LOVE to hear about it-comment below!
If you have an interest in the history of Cape May, I invite you to check out my friend Laura Quinn’s blog. She is also working on a novel set in Cape May. I will keep you posted!
Get organized and take the stress out of vacation planning with Cape May Days’ digital vacation planner and guide! Only $9.99!
Three Great Museums in Cape May
13 Comments
Jennifer Westhead Arenberg
I worked at Congress Hall when they first reopened after the rehab project. Top floor room toilet flushed by itself and the aren’t auto flush toilets. 2nd floor 1 room I was making a bed up for the first wedding to be held and the tv went on si I turned it off then it went back on and this happened about 3 more times before I finally asked the spirit to stop because I work better in silence and it stopped. Another room is was same thing with a radio and yet another room with a shower curtain. Working in the Blue Pig I was talking to a staff member about what her duties were and a sugar bowl came off the shelf and hit her in the back of the head😳 I was washing my hands in the kitchen and someone patted my shoulder only there was no one else in the kitchen. Good times
Jane Gober
I just love hearing the ghost stories in Cape May! Thanks so much for sharing! I really do believe there is a wonderful energy on the island that attracts spirits and humans alike!
Michael woods
Me and my wife just recently went to Cape May and we enjoyed a wonderful day on the fairy. We saw a whale splashing around Which wasn’t going to be the only first sighting of something Rare that day. After we decided to see What else was around in the area to do so I called and talk to some lady that mentioned the ghost trolley tour and that it was pretty cool. So me and my wife bought two tickets and throughout the tour I took photos of about five of the different places we seen and it wasn’t until I got home and Laid down in bed when I said “let me check out the photos that I took” so I was looking at the pictures I took, zooming in and out looking in the windows to see if I see anything. Than all of a sudden something caught my eye as I was zooming out so I zoomed back in and there was somebody in the reflection in the window creeping next to a bush that you could clearly see in the picture to but there was nobody next to the bush there was only somebody next to the bush in the reflection. Now I was somebody that never believed in Ghosts my whole life maybe it was because I never seen something to make me believe. It was so wild to me the next day me and my wife went back to go look around at the house to see if there was any statues or anything in the window or something that could explain what was in my photo. There was nothing we looked around on the outside of the house for about 20 minutes before we actually knocked on the door. This nice woman answered and I Told her my story and why I was there and she looked at me like oh my god what’s this guy gonna show me. So I showed her the picture on my phone and she instantly got goosebumps and said wow it all makes sense now, apparently Neighbors have been telling her for years that a little girl in a white dress has been looking into her house. She Has never seen anything she has only Heard stuff until my photo in the reflection in the window you can see a little girl in a white dress creeping alongside a bush. It’s just so crazy because there’s only one Bush that even looks like that in the whole area and the Bush you can clearly see in the picture and there’s nothing next to it it’s only in the reflection in the window that you could see someone next to the bush. It’s definitely next to the bush because the bush is actually hiding parts of her arm and head. It’s so crazy to be able to see the Bush with nothing near it but when you look into the window and you see the reflection of that same bush there’s somebody next to it. I’m 36 years old I’ve never believed in ghosts Until that day April 15 7:12 PM I’ll never forget it I’ll see if I’m able to post a picture for everybody to see
Jane Gober
Thanks so adding this story to the comments! That is a good one for sure! Makes me curious who the little girl was… Did she live in the house? So many questions! Thanks again!!!
Darlene Rovatsos
I don’t know if my comment posted , but can you share the pic of the little girl? I saw a little girl , dressed in white , at the Southern Mansion .
theflatbkny com
Spot on with this write-up, I seriously feel this amazing site needs much more attention. I’ll probably be returning to see more, thanks for the information!
Jane Gober
Thanks so very much! I am so glad you are enjoying!
Rebecca Anderson
I AM FROM NORTH CAPE MAY. MY HUSBAND GARY AND I LIVED I THE PHYSICK ESTATE WHEN DAN CRILLY OENED IT AND HAD TURNED SEVERAL ROOMS INTO APARTMENTS. WE NEVER HAD ANY PARANORMAL EPISODES, BUT ENJOYED OUR TIME THERE.
Jane Gober
Thanks for the comment! That is so interesting-I had no idea the Physick Estate was once apartments.
suzanne g taylor
Hi Rebecca, the Dan Crilley you mention was propretor,along with his mother Mary, of a boarding house at 720 Washington St. Now knpown as Southern Mansion.
Dan S
Wilbraham Manaion definitely haunted. After playing w a non functional skeleton key, our bedroom door locked & they hadda break it down. Also my wife & I used the indoor pool late night & I could’ve sworn it wasn’t her personality in the pool w me that night
Jane Gober
Well that certainly gave me chills. I will have to remember that if I decide to book a stay at the Wilbraham!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Darlene Rovatsos
Mike, can you share the pic of the little girl ? I saw a little girl, dressed in white , pink sash around her waiste , at the southern mansion .