Halloween always gets me in the mood to be spooked, and there is nothing spookier than visiting a “haunted” destination across New York State. There is a lot of history in the Central Region of New York State, and with historic places sometimes come the inevitable hauntings. Here is our list of reputedly haunted places in the Central Region of New York.

Please Note: Some locations listed here need permission to visit or investigate. We do not condone nor encourage trespassing.

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Cemeteries

Woodlawn Cemetery – Syracuse

800 Grant Blvd, Syracuse

Of course, cemeteries always make it on haunted places lists by their very nature and are usually spooky. This cemetery is said to have a white incorporeal being that will chase visitors who explore the cemetery at night.

Jacksonville Rural Cemetery – Phoenix

9250 Fenner Road, Phoenix

This creepy cemetery is supposed to have a number of different entities haunting it. Visitors have reported seeing a black cat with glowing green eyes and the ghost of a girl in her teens. There have also been reports of visitors hearing gunshots, but this could very well be from people who live around the cemetery. There is also apparently a stream that flows behind the cemetery, and it is said that people have been drawn to this stream. (Not sure why that would be considered to be creepy, but to each his own.)

Riverside Cemetery – Oswego

4024 County Route 57, Oswego

Riverside Cemetery’s ghost is a little boy who apparently drowned in the pond near the back of the cemetery.

Inns and Restaurants

Wayside Irish Pub – Elbridge

101 West Main Street, Elbridge

This restaurant is the site of several fires and is said to be haunted by a number of spirits. One is a girl who it’s believed to have hung herself on the 3rd floor. She has been spotted wearing a long gown, most notably on the stairs. The other ghost that is said to haunt this restaurant is that of a man dressed in soldier’s clothing. Reports from staff and guests suggest that this is a friendly ghost. People in the pub have experienced the feeling of being poked and touched. Some people have experienced feeling cold spots in the restaurant.

Brae Loch Inn – Cazenovia

5 Albany Street, Cazenovia

Stay a night in this cozy inn, and you might find that you aren’t alone. Visitors have reported a young girl who will offer to help them find their room. Others have seen the ghost of a man coming from the closet in Room 12. Room 12 is the room that has the most supernatural activity in the historic Inn. The Inn does offer ghost tours on occasion. Dining is also available here.

Farnam Mansion – Oneida

302 Main Street, Oneida

Just one look at this historic mansion is enough to make one believe that it is haunted. There have been countless accounts of paranormal activity such as voices and footsteps. There have been reports of shadowy figures, even sightings of full-bodied apparitions.

Aurora Inn – Aurora

391 Main Street, Aurora

Seems like there are quite a few ladies in white hauntings in New York State, and here is yet another. This lady in white is said to appear at various places in the Inn, with no particular favorite spot. Patrons have also reported seeing a male spirit that seems to haunt the shoreline.

Parks and Outdoor Hauntings

13 Curves – Syracuse

Cedarvale Road, Syracuse – GPS Coordinates – 42.939841799346524, -76.23034858712344

Cedarvale Road, better known as 13 Curves, was the scene of a horrific car accident in the 1950s. Today, legend has it that this road is haunted by the souls of those who died in this crash. The central ghost in this haunting is a bride with red eyes, who occasionally is seen holding an orange lantern. If nothing else, the super curvy road is fun to drive down, even if you don’t spot a ghost.

Split Rock Quarry – Camillus

Onondaga Blvd, Camillus – GPS Coordinates – 43.024539, -76.242194

This abandoned quarry was the site of a horrific accident in 1918 that killed 50 men. The only remaining part of the munitions plant is the stone crusher and an underground tunnel. The quarry is on public land, so it is open to the public. However, due to its remote location, it is recommended that you wear proper footwear and don’t explore it alone. The crusher hasn’t operated since the explosion, but visitors have reported hearing the revving of its engine. People have also heard voices and footsteps.

Gulf Road – Chittenango

Gulf Road, Chittenango – GPS Coordinates – 43.045099216179025, -75.91919419573975

Seems like there is something about twisty, curvy roads that invite hauntings. This serpentine road is haunted by a shadowy woman. People have spotted burning crosses on this road as well.

Whiskey Hollow Road – Baldwinsville

Whiskey Hollow Road, Baldwinsville – GPS Coordinates – 43.11637, -76.39461699999998

There are lots of legends surrounding this road; many involve satanic rituals. The haunting here involves a man and his wife. The man, wrongfully convicted of murder, was imprisoned in a small building somewhere along this road, and he died while awaiting his death sentence to be carried out. His distraught wife hung herself nearby.

Cazenovia Lake

There are many legends associated with this Lake, many of which involve victims of boating accidents. One of the legends is about a newly wedded native American princess and her husband, who died while trying to escape a battle when their canoe sank on the lake. People have reported hearing the sounds of a battle as well as weeping. People have reported seeing the ghost of a young woman who walks the shoreline weeping over her fiancé, who legend says ran away with her sister.

Sterling Road

Sterling Road, Sylvan Beach – 43.16974521098874, -75.72559780373535

Another winding road with a scary haunting attached to it. This one is a little more disturbing. Instead of seeing ghosts, people who drive down this road her screaking. When the road is photographed, people have seen orbs in their pictures. Apparently, there are two graves at the top of the road.

Happy Valley WMA

Happy Valley Road, Oswego – 43.4439589, -75.9743628

If you are looking for a little more than ghosts in your huantings, this area is known to have a lot of UFO activity. Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area is the site of a town that mysteriously disappeared, and no one knows why. Could the disappearance have to do with the frequently reported UFO activity?

Seneca Hill Ghost

County Rt 57, Minetto – 43.40064635265922, -76.47028967724611

If you drive down this road at night, you might see the ghost of a panicked woman running down the road with a young girl. Both are dressed in old-fashioned pajamas from a bygone era.

Gray Road

Gray Road, Minetto – 43.4216465, -76.49592039999999

According to legend, a ghost will apparently approach your vehicle if you park your car on the train tracks (which I have to say doesn’t sound safe, so this is my warning against it). People have reported seeing a headless horseman and that the woods and swamp are also reputedly haunted.

Buildings and Memorials

Fort Ontario

Show Park Road, Oswego, NY

Forts are often to found among the most haunted places by their very nature. This Fort is no exception; if anything, it is more haunted than normal. According to staff and visitors alike, this place is teeming with apparitions. Most are deceased soldiers who served at the Fort at one point or other in its history. There are a few civilians who haunt the Fort as well. People have witnessed a woman staring out one of the windows and heard a child sometimes calling for his cat, sometimes crying, occasionally giggling. A really interesting legend goes along with the post cemetery at the Fort. According to the tale, if you step over the grave of George Finks, you will be haunted. However, if you jump over the grave, he will haunt whomever you choose.

Landmark Theater

362 S. Salina Street, Syracuse

The Landmark Theater is said to be haunted by several spirits. One is of a young actress who died in a fall from the balcony. She appears as a lady in white or manifests the smell of lilacs. She will appear suddenly to people, especially those who are breaking any of the theater’s rules. The other ghost seems to continue working as though they never died. One, a stagehand, is sometimes spotted backstage. The other is a janitor who cleans the theater in his afterlife.

Lorenzo State Historic Site

17 Rippleton Rd, Cazenovia

Time stands still at this Mansion, which belonged to the founder of Cazenovia, John Lincklaen, because he and some of the members of his staff may never have left. Visitors and staff have witnessed the master of the house and the servant throughout the house and reported lights turning on and off on their own.

Casey Cottage at Mexico Point State Park

120 Mexico Point Drive, Mexico

The cottage at Mexico Point State Park is the remodeled carriage house from the days when this park was a Resort. The cottage was remodeled to be a medieval manor house. Visitors have heard the sound of organ music, and witnessed furniture and objects move. Some people have reported seeing the spirit of a young girl who stands under a tree. Others have heard cries of “help” from Lake Ontario or felt someone touching them. Ghost hunts can be arranged by contacting the park.

Oswego Pier Lighthouse

Off Fort Ontario Park, Oswego

People have witnessed things at this lighthouse that they just can’t explain. Many people believe the haunting began with a tragic accident when a storm killed six men in 1942. Lights will turn on and off by themselves, and there is a creepy presence at the lighthouse that makes even the bravest souls uncomfortable.

Fort Stanwix

112 East Park St. Rome

Fort Stanwix is a Revolutionary War fort that saw its share of action, and like all forts, specters of the soldier seem to linger here. This fort is full of spirits; they don’t just come out at night. Visitors to the Fort have seen doors open and close by themselves, heard footsteps, someone sweeping, a woman crying, the sound of someone chopping wood, disembodied voices, and seen doorknobs turn. Patrons and staff, during daylight hours, have seen the ghosts of soldiers around the Fort. At dawn, people heard the sound of fife and drums playing. The apparition most often spotted is a one-legged man in the barracks.

Enjoy more Haunted Places

There are lots of haunted places in Central New York. Have you visited any haunted places that aren’t on our list? Have you experienced any paranormal activity when visiting these sites? We want to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.