Would You Stay in One of These 7 Haunted Places in Canada?

From haunted hotels to Victorian mansions, old jails and even an old funeral home, let's explore whether you've got the guts to book a night with some ghostly guests

Nov 01, 2024

While researching haunted Canadian locations for this week’s posts I was surprised to find so many places where you can stay that are reportedly haunted.

Would you stay somewhere that people claim to have heard strange sounds, observed unexplained phenomena, felt unsettling things, or witnessed other dark and mysterious experiences?

While you think about your answer, let’s investigate 7 Canadian accommodations for those who don’t mind sharing space with ghosts, spirits and other ghoulies.

Canada’s Haunted History

Canada has no shortage of historic buildings with rich—and sometimes dark—backstories.

For those looking for a creepy getaway or a brush with the paranormal, several hotels and inns across the country offer a chance to encounter the supernatural.

From Victorian mansions to former jails, these locations have more than a few eerie tales to tell.

Here’s a look at some of Canada’s most notoriously haunted places to stay and the chilling stories behind them.

1880s Victorian Mansion – Dresden, Ontario

Built in the 1880s, this Victorian mansion wasn’t always rental home. It wasn’t a family home either. It was a funeral home.

After the funeral home closed, it was listed for sale. In 2020 during the pandemic, its current owners the Blumberg family purchased the 38-room, 12,000-square-foot mansion for $570,000.

They then spent the next 2 years renovating it and leaning into the darker side of its past.

The renovation project was featured in a reality series titled “We Bought a Funeral Home.” The decor and style is very gothic and Addams Family-ish. It’s pretty neat if you’re into that aesthetic.

The family said they didn’t initially think the home was haunted but over time, spirits started making their presence known.

“There were some creepy elements to the house to begin with because of its background—the embalming room was still exactly how it was left, there was an old body box in the basement which is now framed and hanging in the entrance. But, in terms of actual ghosts, that didn’t start until a couple of months in. First it was seeing shadows on the staircase when there was nobody there. Then I would wake up in the middle of the night and hear music coming from the basement. And then we started to hear this voice that would say, ‘Hello, hello’.” - Heather Blumberg.

The mansion is now listed on Airbnb and you can rent out the whole thing (if you can find dates that its not booked). Here’s a link to the listing: Dresden Mansion - Funeral Home. It’s full of awesome pictures displaying the mansion’s unique decor.

Guests claim to have witnessed the same things mentioned by Heather above, as well as:

A lady in a blue dress.
A man walking around the side porch.
And doors mysteriously opening and closing.

Sounds… interesting….

The Beck House – Penetanguishene, Ontario

Built in 1885, this is another grand Victorian haunted house turned Airbnb.

The Beck House is claimed to be one of Ontario’s most haunted buildings. It was once home to Charles Beck, his wife, and 9 children.

Around 70 years ago it was converted into apartments, 2 of which you can now rent through Airbnb.

Reported paranormal activity includes:

Flickering lights.
Strange noises.
Blankets being tugged on during the night.

Legend has it that 18 spirits inhabit the Beck House, including Charles Beck’s wife and their two children who died tragically in the house.

Many of the houses apartments are home to permanent residents, but the 2 top-floor apartments listed on Airbnb here make for an interesting getaway.

If you don’t plan on sleeping.

HI Ottawa Jail Hostel (Saintlo) – Ottawa, Ontario

Located at 75 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, Ontario, this haunted place to stay was formerly the Carleton County Gaol, which operated from 1862 to 1972 as a maximum-security prison.

The jail was the site of many executions and many inmates died there due to malnourishment, disease, and filthy living conditions. Many of them are buried in unmarked graves outside the jail.

What guests have reported here include:

Notable spirit: Patrick James Whelan, who was hanged in 1869 for the assassination of Thomas D’Arcy McGee is said to walk the halls towards the gallows.
The Hole, also known as solitary confinement is reportedly full of negative energy and oppressive vibes.
The Gallows is still standing and guests have heard footsteps, voices and strange sounds coming from the execution chamber.
Slamming doors
Children crying, screaming and knocking on doors in the Lounge, which used to house women and children prisoners.

Guests can stay in actual jail cells, surrounded by the original architecture including (freshly painted) stone walls and steel cell doors. The operators also organize tonnes of activities including a tour of the prison.

It looks both beautiful and unsettling. Check it out to see for yourself here.

Algonquin Resort St. Andrews by-the-Sea – New Brunswick

Opened in 1889, this historic resort has hosted British royalty but is also known for its ghostly guests.

Notable spirits include:

A woman in a white dress appears in the towers.
A ghostly bellhop still assisting guests who disappears after showing you to your room.
A night watchman with jingling keys who makes the rounds in the hallways after dark.
A sobbing bride-to-be in Room 473 who was left at the altar without a final goodbye from her fiancé who was lost at sea.
The laughter of a young child heard in the halls, believed to be the ghost of a boy who fell to his death chasing a ball out of a 3rd-floor window.

The owners of the hotel are fine with acknowledging their establishment’s haunted reputation. They even offer daily tours of the most haunted spaces and share the most interesting stories that guests and staff have shared over the years.

Reportedly one of the hotel’s first ad slogans was

“An incomparable resting place.”

Yikes!

Fort Garry Hotel – Winnipeg, Manitoba

Built in 1913 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, this hotel is famous for Room 202.

Legend has it that a woman took her life in Room 202 after learning of her husband’s death.

Reported occurrences include:

Blood appearing to drip from walls.
A cloaked female figure at the foot of the bed.
Guests feeling an unseen presence climb into bed.
Shadowy figures walking down the hallways.

After staying in Room 202 in 2004, Former MP Brenda Chamberlain shared:

“It was like somebody was settling into position next to me, like my husband, only lighter. I actually felt the bed move.”

This account from hauntedrooms.com is very touching,

“A young boy on a trip with his family organized by “Make-a-Wish” wanted to stay in 202. He was fascinated with the whole thing and decided to take pictures of the room with his film camera. After getting the photos developed a couple of months later, all the images from the trip turned out, apart from those in and around Room 202! The boy was thrilled, believing the spirits in that room were just camera shy and didn’t want to be seen.”

To book your stay (or to check out what the hotel looks like), click here.

Fairmont Hotel Macdonald – Edmonton, Alberta

Established in 1914, this hotel boasts over a century of history and ghostly lore.

A notable haunting involves the sound of a ghostly horse galloping on the 8th floor and basemen. It’s said to be linked to an exhausted horse that died during construction in 1914.

Guests also claim to have witnessed paranormal activities such as,

Apparitions walking through elevator doors.
Objects moving on their own.
Unexplained music.
A man sitting in a chair smoking a pipe in one of the Executive suites.

Staff have their own accounts of mysterious experiences as well. Including regularly getting calls from a room on the 6th floor when no one is checked in, and when they go up to check the room, it remains unoccupied.

Employee Nella Mirante stated:

“We receive these phone calls about once a week. The evening staff will receive a room service call from the 6th floor from a vacant guest room.”

What is it about Fairmont Hotels that makes spirits want to stick around?

Here’s the link to check out or check in to this Haunted Hotel: Hotel Macdonald.

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – Quebec City, Quebec

Perched high above Quebec City, this hotel, built in 1893, has a rich history of ghost sightings.

Guests have reported seeing 17th-century governor Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac, who died while his fiancée was overseas.
Another frequently mentioned spirit is a woman in a white nightgown known for appearing in rooms at night and startling sleeping guests.

You’ve likely already seen pictures (or maybe even stayed) at this iconic hotel. But just in case, here’s a link: Château Frontenac.

Are You Up (all night) for a Stay in One of These Haunted Places?

From Victorian homes to grand hotels to old jails, Canada offers plenty of allegedly haunted places for those seeking a brush with the supernatural.

Whether you’re curious or a dedicated ghost hunter, these locations let you experience Canadian history with a side of chills.

So, are you brave enough to spend the night in one of these haunted spots?

Type a quick comment and let everyone know about your ghostly sleepover experiences, and/or if you’re not afraid of staying at these Canadian haunted hotspots.

Then, have a rad rest of your day!