The Richmond Hotel is a casual restaurant in an historic building in Bangor, PA. The owner, Debbie, has worked there for 26 years, and has owned it for the last 14. She’s told us that she’s seen orbs, people have had their backs touched by unseen hands, and the voice of a little girl inexplicably emanates from the kitchen. Doors open and close by themselves.
Richmond Hotel
Olive Groves
These olive groves sit at the bottom of the Ortega mountains off of Grand Ave. There have been numerous sightings of a woman running away from someone or something and hiding behind olive trees. The place has been olive groves for many years but also a fire destroyed whatever structure was here. All that remains are foundation pieces here and there.
Submitted by Maggie
The Oak Tree
This location has been a popular teen hangout spot for decades. Locals know it as “The Oak Tree.” The tree covers some old stone ruins which are now heavily covered in graffiti and refuse. Mostly used for drinking and doing drugs, but several bodies have been discovered there as well going back to the 1980s. The most recent one was found under the tree in a shallow grave on July 15, 2011.
Some visitors claim to see apparitions and hear voices. There are rumors some people have gone there and have never returned.
Bureau of State Library
We have had several reports at the State Library of lights turning on and off after closing time, the lids to the copiers open and close with no one around, and there is a tale of people seeing “The White Woman” in the library. We have offered a “spooky tour” to State employees around Halloween, and the building was built over what used to be the “8th Ward”, the red-light district of early Harrisburg.
Submitted by Ellen S.
Abandoned Public Pool
This old public pool was abandoned many years ago, left for the teens to graffiti inside. But the teens regularly report strange experiences there. They claim they hear water splashing and footsteps inside. Some accounts have said they have felt ghosts touching them. One account said that they saw a group of people swimming in the pool. They ran away, and when they came back 5 minutes later, they said the people were gone.
Submitted by Anonymous
Maple Lake
The ghost light at Maple Lake is, according to local legend, a reddish-yellow orb that appears over the lake and floats into the woods on the other side. It is believed to be the spirit of a man who was decapitated nearby in an accident; the light is his lantern as he looks for his head.
John Wayne Gacy House Location
1970s serial killer John Wayne Gacy hid the remains of at least 29 different people in and around his home at 8213 W. Summerdale Avenue. The house was demolished in 1979, but locals were mystified by the fact that the lot remained mostly barren for years thereafter – not even grass or weeds would seem to grow on the property. Stories started to emerge about the property being haunted by the ghosts of Gacy’s victims.
A new home was built on the property in 1988, and the new owner petitioned the city to change the number of the street address.
Rocky River Motel
We have lived at this motel for three weeks. In that time, we have had two incidents where there was a clear and loud knock at the door, but when we opened it there is no one anywhere in sight. Our wall clock sometimes runs backwards. My girlfriend clearly saw an orb cross the room in the dark.
Submitted by Simon S.
Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park
Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park is said by locals to be haunted. Just behind the garden of reflections there is a fence and behind that fence maybe 50 yards into the woods there is a dilapidated abandoned house. Legend says that at this house the father killed his son and wife with a pitchfork. EVPs have been captured here. As for the cemetery you will see shadows moving around, hear voices, catch great evps and ghost box responses. Be warned, the police frown upon trespassing and if you decide to check out the house you are greatly risking big trouble!
Submitted by Nick
40 Club Sports Bar and Grill
The 40 Club Restaurant has a lot of strange happenings going on in it after a man committed suicide in an upstairs apartment in 1999. The man was named Tom who also worked at the restaurant. He was known as a reliable employee and one day, Tom didn’t show up for work. When the owners checked on him, they were shocked to find the body of the young man with his dog curled up next to him. The apparent cause of death was choking due to a bag of drugs that Tom had tried to swallow.
Since Tom’s death, the staff started to experience weird events. These events usually happen after a large gathering or event at the Club. Staff have reported feeling cold spots throughout the restaurant much like a breeze of a person walking by them.
The staff are not the only ones experiencing these events. The owners have also reported that the bar lights will flicker as well as turn off and on for no apparent reason.
The jukebox is also a center of activity. The old jukebox has been known to turn on and start playing by itself. What really startled the employees was that the same Uncle Kracker song played at Tom’s funeral was the one that would most likely play. This song is not and never was available in that jukebox.
Other strange going ons include televisions turning on and off to a static screen when no one is around and a radio in an upstairs office turning on by itself.
Submitted by Sarah A.
