Longfellow’s Wayside Inn – Haunted Historic Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn holds the title of the oldest operating inn in the United States, welcoming travelers since the early 1700s. Steeped in New England history and charm, the inn is equally famous for its spectral guests who have never checked out. Mysterious footsteps, ghostly whispers, and the fleeting presence of a sorrowful woman have made the inn a favorite destination for ghost hunters and curious visitors alike.

Historical Background

• Year Built: 1716
• Original Purpose: Stagecoach Inn and Tavern
• Significant Events:
  The inn, originally known as Howe’s Tavern, was a popular stop for weary travelers along the old Boston Post Road. It gained literary fame when Henry Wadsworth Longfellow visited in the 1860s, inspiring his book Tales of a Wayside Inn. Though the inn saw no major tragedies like murders or fires, centuries of human drama — lost loves, untimely deaths, and whispered family secrets — seem to have left a lasting imprint on its walls. The tragic story of Jerusha Howe, a spinster whose unfulfilled romance ended in heartbreak, is perhaps the most enduring and chilling tale tied to the inn’s hauntings.

Paranormal Activity Summary

• Guests frequently report cold spots, especially in the upper rooms and hallways.
• Unexplained footsteps echo on the stairs when no one is there.
• Personal objects go missing, only to reappear in strange places.
• The ghostly figure of a woman, believed to be Jerusha Howe, has been seen drifting through the corridors, her presence accompanied by a faint floral perfume.
• Mysterious piano music has been heard playing in the dead of night, with no one near the instrument.

Ghost Stories & Reports

• Who are the ghosts?
  The most famous spirit is Jerusha Howe, the sister of a former innkeeper. Heartbroken after her lover never returned from overseas, Jerusha is said to have died of a broken heart in the very inn she once called home. Her ghost has been seen in Room 9, sometimes standing at the foot of the bed or gazing out the window, waiting for her lost love.
• What do visitors report?
  Guests have reported feeling a gentle touch on their shoulder, or the sensation of someone brushing past them in empty hallways.
  In Room 9, female guests have reported waking up to the sensation of someone lightly stroking their hair or tucking them in. Men, especially those staying alone, have reported the faint scent of perfume and the sensation of being watched.
• Any local folklore associated with these spirits?
  Local legend says that any unmarried man who sleeps in Room 9 will be visited by Jerusha, who is still searching for the love she lost long ago.
• Urban Legends:
  There are whispered stories of an unknown male spirit who lurks in the tavern area, sometimes seen standing by the fireplace before fading into thin air.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

Room 9, often referred to as “Jerusha’s Room,” is the most paranormally active part of the inn. Guests frequently request the room, hoping for a chance encounter with the inn’s most famous ghost.

Can You Visit?

• Open to the Public? Yes
• Entry Fee: None for general dining or overnight stays; fees apply for paranormal tours.
• Tour Availability: Occasional ghost tours offered seasonally, especially around Halloween.
• Photography Allowed? Yes
• Visiting Hours: Guests can dine or visit the grounds during regular business hours. Overnight stays provide the best chance for paranormal encounters.

Best Time to Visit

The fall months, especially October, are considered the most active for ghost sightings, coinciding with the inn’s annual ghost tours.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Paranormal teams, including The New England Ghost Project, have conducted several investigations at the inn.
They captured EVPs (electronic voice phenomena), with faint female voices responding to direct questions.
Thermal cameras have also picked up unexplained cold spots moving through the hallways, often lingering near Room 9.

Guest books from the inn are filled with handwritten accounts of spooky occurrences — hearing piano music late at night, waking to a ghostly touch, and even seeing a shadow figure standing at the edge of their bed.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn has been featured in several local paranormal documentaries and New England-based ghost hunting shows.
Investigators have reported unusually high EMF readings in areas where no electrical wiring was found, particularly near Jerusha’s former room.