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Newport, Rhode Island, a city renowned for its opulent Gilded Age mansions and picturesque coastline, also harbors a hidden, spectral side. This article ventures into the shadowy corners of “Haunted Newport,” unveiling the ghostly mysteries that linger in its historic locations.
Haunting at the White Horse Tavern
The White Horse Tavern, America’s oldest tavern, dating back to 1673, stands as a beacon of Newport’s haunted heritage. Known for its spectral inhabitants, including a colonial man and a seaman, visitors often report unexplained encounters and ghostly apparitions. The Tavern’s rich history as a courthouse, meeting place, and residence contributes to its eerie ambiance​​.
The Ghosts of Purgatory Chasm
Overlooking Second Beach in Middletown, Purgatory Chasm’s 160-foot cliff is shrouded in a tragic legend from the 1600s. The story of a Native American man meeting his end while pursuing a young woman has led to reports of his lingering spirit, eternally searching for his lost love in this haunting setting​​.
Belcourt of Newport’s Eerie Past
Belcourt of Newport, a grand Louis XIII-style estate, is notorious for its spectral sightings. Visitors and past residents have recounted chilling experiences, including apparitions and unexplained occurrences, that add a spine-tingling dimension to this historic property​​.
The Carey Mansion / Seaview Terrace Hauntings
Famed as Seaview Terrace, the Carey Mansion’s 40,000-square-foot expanse is rife with ghostly tales. The mansion, known for disembodied voices and phantom footsteps, is most famously haunted by Mrs. Bradley, seen playing her beloved Estey organ. This Gilded Age mansion’s impressive history is matched only by its paranormal activity​​.
Beechwood Mansion’s Unseen Residents
The Astor’s Beechwood Mansion, now a part of Haunted Newport’s lore, reportedly houses several spirits. Tales of a maid and a woman in a yellow dress, along with doors mysteriously opening and closing, have been frequently reported by visitors, adding to the mansion’s ghostly reputation​​.
Rose Island Lighthouse’s Chilling Past
Once a quarantine site, the Rose Island Lighthouse is said to be inhabited by the souls of those who succumbed to illness there. These spirits are often seen at the top of the lighthouse, overlooking the island with a haunting presence​​​​.
Fort Adams’ Mysterious Ghosts
Known for its military history, Fort Adams State Park is also a site of paranormal occurrences. With tales of a jealous soldier and unexplained physical encounters, visitors often report strange happenings within the fort’s walls​​.
Haunted Newport
Haunted Newport offers a journey through the city’s most chilling and ghostly locations. From the ancient walls of the White Horse Tavern to the echoing halls of the Carey Mansion, each site in Newport bears witness to the city’s spectral history, making it a must-visit destination for those intrigued by the paranormal.
