10 Most Haunted Places in Vermont
Vermont hides its ghosts well. Behind the maple syrup, the ski slopes, and the postcard villages sits one of the oldest, most story-soaked corners of New England.
The Green Mountain State was fought over long before it was a state. Native peoples, Revolutionary War soldiers, and hard-luck pioneers all left their mark on this land.
That much history tends to leave residue. Covered bridges, granite mansions, and stagecoach inns here carry stories that visitors swear are still unfolding.
Some of these places lean into legend. Others are quiet sites where staff and locals have simply run out of ordinary explanations.
The hauntings range from gentle to genuinely aggressive. A few sites report little more than footsteps and cold spots, while others are tied to violent tragedy and centuries of documented sightings.
Below are the 10 most haunted places in Vermont, ranked from the most famous haunting down. You can browse the full directory of all haunted places in Vermont for even more.
If you plan to investigate any of them yourself, pack smart and read our ghost hunting equipment guide first. Many of these locations are active businesses or private property, so always get permission and never trespass.
1. Emily’s Bridge (Gold Brook Covered Bridge), Stowe
Tucked into the Green Mountains near Stowe, Emily’s Bridge is officially known as the Gold Brook Covered Bridge. John W. Smith built the roughly 50-foot timber-frame span in 1844 as a crossing for farmers and travelers.
For more than a century, the legend of a jilted bride named Emily has drawn visitors and paranormal investigators alike. The covered interior and isolated setting turn genuinely menacing after dark.
What sets this haunting apart is how aggressive it is said to be. People report unexplained scratches on their vehicles, disembodied screams in the night, and the ghostly figure of a woman near the bridge.
Unlike passive hauntings where a spirit merely appears, Emily is said to interact with those who cross. Those documented encounters have earned Emily’s Bridge in Stowe its reputation as Vermont’s most haunted location.
2. The Equinox Resort, Manchester
The Equinox is a grand white-columned landmark in the heart of Manchester Village. It opened in 1769 as Marsh Tavern, built by William Marsh to serve travelers along the stagecoach route.
In 1853 new owners transformed the property into a luxury resort, and wealthy families from New York and Boston came each summer for the mountain air. Mary Todd Lincoln stayed here during the Civil War, seeking refuge from the turmoil in Washington.
The resort underwent massive renovations in 1901 that shaped the landmark guests see today. Through it all, staff and visitors have reported unexplained phenomena for more than two hundred years.
Multiple spirits are said to roam the hallways, with sightings spanning generations. Paranormal investigators rank the Equinox Resort in Manchester among New England’s most actively haunted hotels.
3. Wilson Castle, Proctor
Wilson Castle rises from the rolling hills of Proctor as a sprawling Victorian mansion. Construction began in 1867 under John Johnson, a British doctor who spared no expense on his dream home, and finished around 1875.
Johnson imported materials from around the world, and European craftsmen worked alongside local builders on elaborate parquet floors and ornate molding. The estate is enormous, with 32 rooms, 84 stained glass windows, and 13 fireplaces.
Its original name was Eddy House before later owners rechristened it Wilson Castle. Visitors and staff have reported unexplained phenomena throughout the castle’s long history, and its otherworldly atmosphere lingers even in daylight.
The mansion operates as a tour destination, so respect posted hours and staff guidance. Ghost hunters treat Wilson Castle in Proctor as a must-visit, and its paranormal reputation keeps growing.
4. Bowman Cemetery, Cuttingsville
In the quiet village of Cuttingsville sits one of New England’s most peculiar burial grounds. Bowman Cemetery is small, but its history is anything but ordinary.
In the late 1800s, local resident John P. Bowman built an elaborate shrine to his deceased family members. His grief-stricken devotion turned a simple graveyard into a place where the veil between worlds feels impossibly thin.
A Gothic mausoleum with weathered stone angels dominates the grounds. Visitors often describe an overwhelming wave of melancholy at the gates, and locals speak of fresh flowers appearing and the grounds staying pristine through harsh Vermont winters.
What unsettles people most is how well kept the grounds stay despite few living caretakers. A century of whispered stories has made Bowman Cemetery in Cuttingsville a magnet for paranormal enthusiasts. Treat it as the active burial ground it is and visit respectfully.
5. Bennington Battle Monument, Bennington
The Bennington Battle Monument is a limestone obelisk that towers 306 feet above the landscape. Construction began in 1887 and was completed in 1891 to honor the fallen of the Revolutionary War.
The monument marks the site of the Bennington storehouse, where the ammunition and supplies were kept. In 1777, British General John Burgoyne sent troops to raid those supplies, and General John Stark led Vermont and New Hampshire forces against them.
The Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777 claimed hundreds of lives over two days, with Colonel Seth Warner’s Green Mountain Boys joining the fight. That blood soaked into the surrounding soil.
Visitors ride to the observation deck for the sweeping view, and some come away with stories instead. Guards and tourists at the Bennington Battle Monument report uniformed figures that appear and then vanish into thin air.
6. Green Mountain Inn, Stowe
The Green Mountain Inn is a colonial landmark in the heart of Stowe village. It opened in 1833 as a stagecoach stop where travelers rested during hard journeys through the Vermont wilderness.
The original structure served as both inn and community gathering place, expanding over the decades as tourism to the Green Mountains grew. Nearly two centuries of history have brought joy and tragedy in equal measure.
The most significant tragedy is said to have struck in the 1840s and involved a young horseman. Staff and guests report supernatural experiences that have made this one of Vermont’s most documented haunted inns.
Many describe long-term residents who never checked out. The paranormal reputation of the Green Mountain Inn in Stowe has grown steadily over the decades.
7. Old Stone House Museum, Brownington
Perched on a hill in rural Brownington, the Old Stone House Museum is an imposing four-story granite building. It was built in 1836 from locally quarried granite blocks hauled up the steep hillside by oxen.
The structure was designed and built by Alexander Twilight, an extraordinary figure in American history. It served as a dormitory for the Orleans County Grammar School before becoming a museum in 1918.
The museum sits in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, a remote region that only deepens its lonely atmosphere. Visitors and staff report unexplained footsteps, phantom voices, and the sense of spirits who never left.
Paranormal investigators have documented strange occurrences here for decades. Those thick granite walls seem to hold more than artifacts at the Old Stone House Museum in Brownington.
8. Lake Bomoseen, Castleton
Lake Bomoseen stretches across western Vermont like a dark mirror. As the state’s largest lake at roughly 2,400 acres, it draws crowds each summer, but its history runs long and troubled.
The lake formed over 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. Indigenous peoples considered these waters sacred and warned of spirits dwelling beneath the surface, and the Abenaki used the lake for fishing and travel for thousands of years.
Local folklore ties the name Bomoseen to an Abenaki chief who is said to have met his end in these waters. Ghost stories have been documented here since the early 1800s, and they only multiply as more people explore the shoreline each year.
Whispered tales still circulate through the campgrounds and rental cabins each summer. Visitors to Lake Bomoseen near Castleton report strange encounters along the shore and out on the water.
9. Norwich University Sullivan Museum, Northfield
The Sullivan Museum and History Center sits on the grounds of Norwich University in Northfield. Norwich dates to 1819 and is the oldest private military college in America.
The museum opened in 1961 to preserve the institution’s military heritage. Its collection rooms hold personal effects from fallen soldiers and battlefield remnants.
Students and staff report unexplained footsteps echoing through empty corridors after closing time. Shadow figures have been spotted near the Civil War exhibits when no living person stands nearby.
Some believe former cadets remain attached to their wartime possessions. Many visitors to the Sullivan Museum in Northfield describe an overwhelming sense of being watched among the artifacts.
10. Burke Mountain Resort, East Burke
Burke Mountain Resort towers over Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and has welcomed skiers since 1960. It is a fully working ski destination by day, but its reputation shifts after the lifts stop.
Local Indigenous tribes are said to have avoided this particular peak, calling it a place where spirits walked. When European settlers arrived in the 1700s, they too noticed something off about the mountain.
Staff describe inexplicable events once darkness claims the slopes. Equipment operators reportedly refuse to work alone in certain areas after repeated unexplained incidents.
Management tends to downplay these accounts, but longtime employees know better than to dismiss them. Because Burke Mountain Resort in East Burke is an active resort, keep any ghost hunting to public areas and follow staff direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most haunted place in Vermont?
Emily’s Bridge, the Gold Brook Covered Bridge in Stowe, is widely considered Vermont’s most haunted spot. Visitors there report scratches on their vehicles, screams in the dark, and the figure of a woman tied to the legend of a jilted bride.
Are Vermont’s haunted places open to the public?
Many are, including the Equinox Resort, Green Mountain Inn, Wilson Castle, and the museums on this list. Others are active resorts, private property, or working cemeteries, so always check hours, buy a ticket where required, and never trespass. Browse all haunted places in Vermont to plan a route.
Why does Vermont have so many haunted sites?
Vermont’s haunted history reaches back through Native American conflicts, Revolutionary War battles, and the hardships of early settlers. Sites like the Bennington Battle Monument and Lake Bomoseen carry tragedy that residents say never fully faded.
Which haunted Vermont hotels can I stay in?
The Equinox Resort in Manchester and the Green Mountain Inn in Stowe are both operating hotels with long histories of reported hauntings. Guests at each have described unexplained phenomena and spirits said to linger for generations.
What gear do I need to investigate haunted places in Vermont?
A basic kit includes a flashlight, a digital audio recorder, an EMF meter, and a good camera. Our ghost hunting equipment guide breaks down what to bring and how to use it, and warm layers are essential for Vermont’s cold nights.
