THE SHANLEY HOTEL
Throughout it's existence the hotel has passed through over 20 owners. During that time it has had thousands of guests, who have rested their heads for the night in its many rooms. Known as one of the most haunted places on the east coast, the Shanley Hotel consists of 35 rooms, some of them hidden, a basement, an attic, secret passages inside of closets, & the ever-seductive Bordello.
Upon entering the Bordello, people have reported feeling light-headed, shortness of breath, heaviness, & over-whelming feelings of joy or sadness. Many strange photos have been taken in this area, which include full body apparitions & other things that cannot be explained. It is also a hotspot for both EMF & EVP activity, making it by far the most haunted area of the hotel. |
It wasn't always the haunted hotel, where the "Spirits are Inn," as the hotel's motto goes. The hotel has actually gone through a series of names before becoming known as the Shanley Hotel, or Hotel Shanley, as it was also referred to in its distant past.
In 1845 Thomas Ritch built the Ritch's Hotel on Main Street just off of Route 209 in Napanoch, New York. It soon became the Mansion House & by 1851 the name of the hotel had been changed to Hungerford's Hotel. The hotel was eventually purchased by Adolph Wagner in January of 1887, not to be confused with the German economist by the same name. On March 18, 1895 the hotel burned to the ground, but was quickly rebuilt & by September of the same year it reopened as the Colonial Hotel. By the year 1901 George Gosselin owned the hotel & lived there with his wife & 3 kids. It wasn't until the end of September of 1906 when James Louis Shanley purchased the hotel for $10,000. He had his grand opening on October 1st of the same year.
By May 28 of 1908 there was a new addition built for the hotel, which would house a bowling alley, billiard room, & additional second floor apartments. Two years later, on February 6, 1910, a new state of the art barbershop opened in the old bar room, or what is now known as the Great Room. Peter Greger was the name of the barber. |
James Shanley became engaged to Beatrice Rowley on April 7 of 1910. They were married in the hotel a few weeks later on the 26th. When they returned from their honeymoon, there was a Skimmerton Party held for them on May 12th. The Shanleys were well liked by the community.
Below are several documents on the Shanley family detailing their arrival from Ireland courtesy of Ancestry.com followed by early photos of the hotel.
Below are several documents on the Shanley family detailing their arrival from Ireland courtesy of Ancestry.com followed by early photos of the hotel.
Many of the historic photos seen here have been acquired courtesy of the Shanley Hotel, although the photos below of Rosie with her sister were acquired from Ancestry.com, courtesy of Florence's great-granddaughter, Sabrina Foley.
It was only one year later towards the end of May when the first of many tragedies would occur at the hotel. The hotel's barber, Peter Greger, resided on the second floor of what later became the bordello, along with his wife, Mary, & their two young daughters, Florence & Jeanette Roseanne, who they called Rosie.
Rosie, who was 3 years old wandered off across the road to the Hoornbeek Farm. She lifted up the wooden lid that covered the well & fell inside. While falling she struck her head on a rock protruding from the inner wall before hitting the water. She died almost instantly. Her body was found about 2 hours later. Soon after her death, her father found he could no longer work at the hotel. He returned to Brooklyn with his wife & other daughter, who was only a year older than Rosie. Florence was traumatized by the incident & had a fear of water for the rest of her life.
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The jovial spirit of little Rosie is amongst the countless restless spirits that currently haunt the hotel. Her screams & laughter have been heard & recorded in the Bordello area. Multiple EVPs have captured her soft voice & some have even claimed to have taken photos of her apparition. Her presence is felt more notably in her old bedroom on the second floor of the Bordello, although when she resided there with her parents & sister it was not used as a Bordello, yet. That area served as an apartment at the time.
The well now remains sealed, covered by a heavy concrete slab.
On January 6, 1912 the infant daughter of James & Beatrice Shanley, Kathleen, died at the tender age of 5 months & 24 days old. She was buried nearby at the Fantinekill Cemetery in Ellenville, where Beatrice Shanley would eventually be laid to rest, as well. However, Kathleen was not the only child they would lose. James Shanley, Jr. was born on September 10, 1913, only to die at the age of 4 months & 11 days old on January 21, 1914. Two years later William Shanley was born on January 30, 1916. In an unfortunate stroke of luck, he also died on November 9 of the same year at the age of 9 months & 10 days. To add insult to injury, on February 19, 1916 there was a fire in the ice house. Luckily, a new auto fire truck saved the hotel from total destruction. The hotel was closed at the time of the fire. Traditionally, it would be closed down for the winter season & reopened by April. |
Only a year earlier on September of 1915 a 5-year-old boy was hit by a doctor’s car, who happened to be the boy's father. Dr. Walter Nelson Thayer, Jr. was backing out of the alley between his home & the hotel when his son, Walter Nelson Thayer III, climbed onto the car's running board & fell off. The wheel went over the boy & the boy sustained severe head injuries, but did not die from the accident. Many believe this boy is the spirit known as Jonathon, who haunts the third floor of the hotel. However, after extensive research we learned that is not the case. Walter Nelson Thayer III would actually live a fairly long life becoming a prominent lawyer in NYC.
By July 20, 1916 a concrete garage was erected behind the hotel for auto repairs, although there is no word on what happened to that structure. However, according to an aerial image available through Google Earth during the 1990s there appears to be a structure next to the bordello that is no longer there after the hotel is purchased by its current owner. However, it is also possible it could be this structure shown at the right.
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The hotel was well-known for hosting parties, weddings, & other celebrations. Naturally, during the Prohibition Era, like many hotel owners, James Shanley wanted to please his alcohol-craving guests. He conspired with a business partner named John Powers to create & sell bootleg liquor. The liquor was kept down in a hidden basement room beneath the bar, which was also accessible through a trap door inside of a hall closet. On February 26 of 1932 the hotel was raided by authorities. It is said the spirit of John Powers now haunts one of the second floor rooms of the main building, which mysteriously bares bullet holes on its walls.
Many famous people have come and stayed as guests, including former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, his wife, Eleanor, who was a close friend of Beatrice Shanley. One documented visit by Eleanor was during the time of August 3, 1933. Earlier that year on March 2nd, Mr. & Mrs. Shanley attended the Inaugural Ball for President Roosevelt at Washington, D.C. Inventor Thomas Edison was also a guest of the hotel at one time.
On August 26, 1937 James Louis Shanley died leaving his wife a widow & sole owner of the hotel. There was another fire on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1941. The fire was caused by a faulty chimney, but Mrs. Shanley returned from church in time to see the flames coming through the roof & the hotel was once again saved from destruction.
By 1944 Beatrice Shanley sold the hotel to Allen H. Hazen. She died many years later on November 27, 1961. Al would become the hotel's next owner for several decades, until his death on August 26 of 1971, 10 years after Mrs. Shanley's death, while on the same day of Mr. Shanley's death. Al loved spending his days in the corner room by the stairs on the second floor, which is now called the Silent Room. |
On April 5, 1979 William Blackmur, who was a resident at the hotel, died. Could he possibly be one of the many spirits that haunt the hotel today? Anything is possible.
Shown below are a few random photos taken during the hotel's last years as a drinking tavern. The photos were all taken within the bar, which was named the James Shanley Tap Room. It is the same room that would later become the Great Room. These photos & most of the above historic images of the hotel were provided courtesy of the Shanley Hotel.
Shown below are a few random photos taken during the hotel's last years as a drinking tavern. The photos were all taken within the bar, which was named the James Shanley Tap Room. It is the same room that would later become the Great Room. These photos & most of the above historic images of the hotel were provided courtesy of the Shanley Hotel.
When the hotel ultimately closed in 1991, it remained abandoned for over 10 years. When it was purchased by Salvatore Nicosia in 2005, he saw it as a challenge to take on the enormous responsibility of restoring the abandoned structure to its former glory. Sal only learned it was haunted soon after the closing of the sale, but it didn't deter him in any way. By the end of 2007, the hotel was open for business.
The Shanley Hotel is reportedly haunted by many different spirits, who once frequented the establishment in its distant past. There isn't a location in the hotel, where you won't capture a possible EVP because at one time the hotel was packed with patrons. According to the owner, he has seen apparitions of men from the 1920s, women from 1890s, & people who appear to be from at least up to the 1960s. EVPs of spirits have been recorded & photos of orbs or full body apparitions have been taken. Doors open & shut on their own, footsteps can be heard all hours of the day & night, music & people talking in the old bar area are audible. Some of the spirits will interact with you, while others go about their daily haunts. Some might even push or poke you to get your attention. Thankfully, there have never been any reports of aggressive evil entities. |
Linda Zimmermann, the famous Ghost Investigator, has also done investigations at the hotel. Her information and finds can be found on her website or in her books. The TAPS team of “Ghost Hunters” did an investigation here in 2012, while the show, “My Ghost Story,” did an episode featuring the hotel in 2013. "Ghost Lab" also did a show on the hotel before the show was cancelled.
A new “The Haunted Shanley Hotel” logo was designed by Chuck Sanders of Simply Paranormal from Prospect Park, Pennsylvania, in the early part of 2013, as a part of a contest. Sal was also able to finally open a gift shop in the former check-in room on the first floor of the main building. Although, it is still undergoing renovations, the hotel is available for visits, overnight stays, & paranormal investigations. The price for a room at the Shanley Hotel varies between $75-$100 depending on the type of event or investigation. Ouija boards are not allowed! Breakfast is included in the price. Contact Sal for more details on your chance to stay & investigate a haunted hotel! |
Unfortunately, Sal passed away on July 5, 2016, after complications due to his heart. He will surely be missed by so many. The hotel is now operated by his wife, Teresa Abril, and her son-in-law, Mike Lazdauskas. Both are good people.
All of the images shown below have been taken by the Yonkers Ghost Investigators team members during our many investigations conducted at the Shanley Hotel with the majority being taken by the team leader & lead photographer.
We are glad to say after over 300 paranormal investigations conducted at various locations, this particular hotel remains one of the most haunted & delightful locations we've ever had the pleasure of visiting. Thank you, Sal, for always welcoming us with open arms. You were like an extended part of our family. It was an honor to know you. Rest in peace, my dear friend. To show our appreciation & genuine fondness of Sal & the Shanley Hotel, it should be noted that our team is responsible for acquiring the long sought after photos of Rosie & her family, as well as finding the location of her grave. Team leader Jason has dedicated his time to researching the hotel & is currently acquainted with & in touch with a relative from the Greger family, Sabrina, the great granddaughter of Florence. |
In December 2017 the hotel was condemned and closed its doors. It was taken over by new ownership soon after with the intention to bring it back to its glory days of how Sal ran it. I wish the new owners luck and hope they stay true to Sal's dream. This was always one of my favorite places to visit.
THE SHANLEY HOTEL TIMELINE
1845 – Thomas Ritch has a new hotel built called Ritch’s Hotel, but later renames it as the Mansion House.
1851 – The hotel’s name is changed to Hungerford’s Hotel, after being bought by F. G. Hungerford.
1853 – The nearby Wawarsing Cragsmoor Stone Church Burying Ground is abandoned.
1851-1858 – At some point during this time Aaron Freer was a proprietor of the hotel according to the deed passed on in 1858.
1858 – In April Averill H. Hungerford sells the hotel to John Tonkin.
1866 – During the spring John Tonkin sells the hotel to A. J. Wood and it becomes the Topatcoke House.
1870 – Nearby Fantinekill Cemetery is established and most significant burials in regards to the hotel will take place here for the next century.
1871 – In May the Woods family sells the hotel to Aaron Schoonmaker and it becomes the Napanoch Hotel, which was the name of the Fountain Hotel for a brief time during the late 1860s before it burned down diagonally across the street.
1872 – In November Aaron Schoonmaker sells to Eli Dewitt Terwilliger of Ellenville.
1876 – On October 31 James Louis Shanley is born.
1877 – In July Eli D. Terwilliger sells the hotel to Civil War veterans, William Easman and his two brothers, Charles and Peter.
1884 – In March the Easman brothers sell to Frederick B. Bridgens, but he did not stick around for too long after making an arrangement with D. S. Perkins on a plantation in Virginia.
1887 – In January Adolph Wagner purchases the hotel.
1895 – On March 18 the hotel burns down to its foundation, after a nearby house catches fire and spreads.
1895 – By April an architect named Fay draws up plans for a new improved hotel.
1895 – By September a new building frame is erected.
1895 – In November the hotel reopens for business as the Colonial Hotel.
1896 – On August 1 Adolph Wagner becomes ill and sells to his son, John.
1897 – John Wagner sells to his sister, Agnes.
1898 – On May 3 Agnes Wagner sells to Mary Roos, wife of E. J. Roos and they change the name of the hotel back to the Hotel Napanoch. At some point they sold the hotel to E. Belden Ransom, but remained active in its management.
1900 – As of April of this year the US Federal Census shows George Gosselin as the owner with his family and others in residence.
1901 – John Wagner dies of consumption (alcoholism) and Mr. and Mrs. George Gosselin purchase the hotel, after renting from the Roos family with an option to buy.
1902 – On October 31 Allen H. Hazen is born.
1906 – At the end of September James Louis Shanley purchases the Colonial Hotel from George Gosselin for $10,000.
1906 – On October 1 Mr. Shanley holds a public party, dinner, and dance for the hotel’s grand opening with him as the owner.
1907 – Charles Byrnes fell from a window, but survived.
1908 – As of May 28 a new addition is built for the hotel, which will include a bowling alley, barbershop, billiard room, and second floor apartments.
1909 – On September 2 James Louis Shanley reports the hotel is having its best season ever.
1910 – On February 6 a new state of the art barbershop opens with a barber named Peter Greger from Brooklyn, NY.
1910 – On April 7 James Louis Shanley becomes engaged to Beatrice Rowley.
1910 – On April 26 James and Beatrice are married in the hotel.
1910 – On May 12 the Skimmerton Party is held for James and Beatrice’s return from their honeymoon.
1911 – On July 18 Kathleen Shanley is born to James and Beatrice.
1911 – On May 26 the barber’s 3-year-old daughter, Jeanette Roseanne “Rosie” Greger, drowns in the well of the Hoornbeek Farm across the street from the hotel.
1911 – On November 3 a Pig Roast dinner is held for the Democratic Party.
1912 – On January 6 Kathleen Shanley, the infant daughter of James and Beatrice, dies at the age of 5 months and 24 days old and is buried at Fantinekill Cemetery
in Ellenville.
1913 – On September 10 James Shanley, Jr. is born. By this time the hotel was still being called the Napanoch Hotel, but the name would soon be changed to Shanley’s Hotel. Ralph DeGroff becomes the new barber, after the Greger family leaves for Brooklyn, NY.
1914 – On January 21 James Shanley, Jr. dies at the age of 4 months and 11 days old.
1914 – On June 22 James Louis Shanley purchases Reo Tour Car from his neighbor, Hoornbeek.
1915 – On September Dr. Walter Nelson Thayer, Jr. accidentally ran over his 5-year-old son, Walter Nelson Thayer III, after the boy climbed onto the running board as the car was backing out of the alley between the hotel and the doctor’s home. The boy sustained severe head injuries, but did not die from the accident. He would grow up to become a lawyer and lived until 1989.
1916 – On January 30 William Shanley is born to James and Beatrice.
1916 – On February 19 there is a fire in the ice house and a new auto fire truck is credited with saving hotel from total destruction.
1916 – By July 20 a new concrete garage is erected behind the hotel for auto repairs.
1916 – On November 9 William Shanley dies at the age of 9 months and 10 days old.
1918 – On January 3 there is a fire at Benjamin C. West’s store, which is across the road.
1918 – On October 16 Beatrice’s sister, Esther Rowley Faughman, dies of influenza.
1919 – On January 26 James’ brother, Andrew Shanley, dies at age 49.
1920s – The hotel operates as a speak-easy with bootleg liquor being hidden away in a secret basement room under the bar.
1927 – On July 22 Marie & Kathleen Faughman of Napanoch visit their father, John, in Kingston, NY.
1927 – On December 10 the hotel closes for the winter.
1928 – On April 15 the hotel reopens for the new season.
1930 – On March 21 James’ other brother, Michael Shanley, dies.
1931 – On January 8 the hotel closes for the winter.
1931 – On April 16 the hotel reopens for the new season.
1932 – On February 26 the hotel is raided for booze during the Prohibition Era.
1932 – On October 6 another brother to James, Thomas Shanley, dies.
1933 – On March 2 James and Beatrice attends the Inaugural Ball at Washington, D.C.
1933 – On August 3 future First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, is a guest at the hotel.
1935 – In May James and Beatrice celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary at the hotel with a party for 50 guests.
1937 – On August 16 Beatrice Shanley announces the engagement of Kathleen Faughman at teatime.
1937 – Ten days later on August 26 James Louis Shanley dies.
1939 – On June 12 Kathleen Faughman is married to Jacob Rippert at the Hotel Shanley.
1941 – On April 13, Easter Sunday, there is a fire at the hotel due to a faulty chimney and Beatrice Shanley returned from church in time to see the flames coming through the roof.
1944 – After many years of memories Beatrice Shanley sells the hotel to Allen H. Hazen.
1945 – Allen H. Hazen opens the hotel as his own.
1961 – On November 27 Beatrice Shanley dies and is buried at Fantinekill Cemetery in Ellenville with her children.
1966 – On February 11 former hotel barber Peter Gasper Greger dies and is buried at St. John’s Cemetery with his daughter and father in Middle Village, NY.
1966 – On April 13 Mary Theresa Miller-Greger, wife of the former hotel barber, Peter Greger, dies and is buried at St. John’s Cemetery with her husband and daughter in Middle Village, NY.
1967 – Nelson F. Waters purchases the hotel from Al.
1971 – On August 26 Allen H. Hazen dies in Napanoch, NY and is buried at Fantinekill Cemetery in Ellenville.
1973 – G. Edward Trumbull and his wife purchase the hotel.
1976 – On July 15 there is a newspaper article printed about an increased police presence near the hotel due to drinking, drag racing, vandalism, and harassment.
1978 – On April 17 police respond to a noise complaint at the hotel.
1979 – On April 5 William Blackmur, a resident at the hotel, dies.
1981 – Paul Trumbull, son to G. Edward, becomes active in the management of the hotel.
1991 – The hotel closed down.
1992 – The hotel was abandoned remaining that way for many years to follow.
2005 – On January 13 Florence Irene Greger-Jaworowski, daughter of the former barber, Peter Greger, dies of old age. Ever since her sister, Rosie’s, death at the hotel Florence developed a fear of water.
2005 – In July Salvatore Nicosia purchases the abandoned Hotel Shanley and soon discovers it is home to several spirits.
2007 – The Shanley Hotel is reopened and advertised as a haunted hotel.
2010 – From April 30-May 1 the Yonkers Ghost Investigators join the ranks of many other paranormal teams by visiting the Shanley Hotel for their first of many paranormal investigations and acquire audio evidence that the spirit of young Rosie haunts the hotel, although her spiritual presence was already established before the team’s arrival.
2012 – By early spring composition notebooks are added into each room for the guests to write down their experiences. In the fall a gift shop is added on the first floor in what was once the check-in room. Sal Nicosia also began dating Teresa Abril, an employee of the hotel.
2013 – A new “The Haunted Shanley Hotel” logo is designed by Chuck Sanders of Simply Paranormal out of Prospect Park, PA.
2014 – On February 28 Sal Nicosia and Teresa Abril get engaged.
2014 – In July Jason Medina, team leader of Yonkers Ghost Investigators finds never-before-seen photos of Rosie and her sister, Florence, on Ancestry.com and sends it to Sal Nicosia. For the first time in the hotel’s recent history, a face can finally be added to the name for this former young resident of the hotel, who suffered a terrible death over a century earlier.
2014 – In October Jason Medina, team leader of Yonkers Ghost Investigators locates the gravesite of former Shanley Hotel residents, Peter Greger, Mary Miller Greger, and their daughter, Rosie, at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, NY.
2014 – On December 29, Sal Nicosia and Teresa Abril are married.
2015 – At the end of June the Yonkers Ghost Investigators bring a new photo to the hotel of Rosie and her sister, Florence, posing together. During the visit they also verify that the 5-year-old boy, who was run over by his father next door in 1915, is not the ghost known as Jonathan, as previously believed by many due to the fact that boy’s name was Walter Nelson Thayer III.
2016 – On July 5 Sal dies, after complications with his heart. The burial is held three days later and Sal is buried at a local military cemetery. The hotel remains open.
2017 – In December the hotel was condemned and closed, after a time of mixed reviews and poor management. Many of the furniture and items were taken by the previous owners leaving some rooms looking abandoned.
2018 - The hotel will soon reopen under new management, once renovations are complete.
OUR DEDICATION TO SAL
THE SHANLEY HOTEL PHOTO GALLERY
Outdoor Views of the Shanley Hotel
The Shanley Hotel is a fascinating old structure, which has just the right look for a haunted old house. No matter which angle you view it from, it has appeal.
THE ROOMS OF THE SHANLEY HOTEL (First Floor)
Entrance Lobby/Main StaircaseUpon entering the hotel, this is where you find yourself. To the left is the Great Room & to the right is the gift shop. The stairs lead up to the second floor. A back door behind the stairs leads to an unfinished area of the hotel, so this door is usually kept locked.
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Gift Shop/Former Check-In
This was once the check-in room of the hotel, before it was abandoned. After years of being renovated it was opened in early 2013 as a gift shop, where souvenirs or "ghost hunting" equipment can be purchased for a reasonable price. This room can be opened upon request during the daytime hours. All sales are currently cash only.
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Great Room/Former Bar
The Great Room, which is probably used as every paranormal investigative team's operations center & dining area, was once the bar of the hotel. Old photos indicate the exact location of the bar. These days it is the first room all guests are led into, where they are greeted by an old piano, books containing articles about the hotel, an array of business cards from paranormal groups, tables with food, coffee, & a microwave oven, which are next to 2 refrigerators. Be sure to leave a dollar, if you take a drink! At one time the barbershop was also in this room. In here guests may sign in on the Guestbook. An ATM is available, too. There are also research materials regarding the history of the hotel.
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Former Kitchen/Dining Room
This area is currently off limits to guests because it is still under renovations. In the meantime, it is being used for storage. There is an opening in the ceiling, which goes all the way up to the closet of the blue room on the third floor. At one time, this room was divided into a kitchen & dining area for guests of the hotel. I look forward to seeing what becomes of it in the future. Due to its size, it would be great for events. It would be an ideal place for vending machines, too. If I lived closer, I'd gladly volunteer to help out with working on this room.
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ROOMS OF THE SHANLEY HOTEL (Second Floor)
Room 1/The Blue Room/The Eleanor Suite/Formerly the Honeymooners' Suite
Probably one of the nicest looking rooms of the hotel, this room is partially named for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who frequented the hotel on more than one occasion. It is connected to one of the second floor bathrooms & is the location of the thermostat. Therefore it is asked that the door to the room remain closed when not in use. The room fits 2 guests comfortably. People have claimed being touched in the middle of the night when sleeping here. Allegedly, a man hung himself in this very room, which once bore the name of the Honeymooners' Suite. Numbered as Room 1.
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John Powers Room/Formerly Oscar & Grover's Room/Formerly the Sesame Street Room
This room is named for John Powers, who was an associate of James Shanley during the Prohibition Era. Both were arraigned in court together. There are bullet holes that can be found on the walls, if you look closely enough. An easy one to spot is over the door frame. When the hotel first reopened in 2007, this room was called the Sesame Street Room due to the name of 2 spirits that haunt it, Oscar & Grover. The room only has 2 single beds. In the past this was not actually used as a room. It has access to the fire escape & once had doors leading into adjoining rooms now called the Blue Room & the Rose Room.
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Room 2/The Rose Room
Named after Rose Wilkes, a longtime guest of the hotel in the past, this room has 2 beds & its very own bathroom with an antique claw foot bathtub. It can accommodate up to 3 guests, not counting ghosts. The sound of singing has been captured in this room, people have reported being touched, & the door likes to close on its own. Numbered as Room 2. Unfortunately, as of 2015 the bathroom door was locked and is now unavailable to all guests.
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Room 3/The Silent Room/Formerly the Soldier's Room
This room was once used as an infirmary. It is said that a female spirit awaits the return of her dead soldier lover. When Al Hazen owned the hotel, he would often sleep here on warm summer nights. A portrait of a soldier once adorned this room, but it has since been removed. The room has 2 beds in it & is numbered as Room 3.
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Room 4/Marguerite's Room
It is said that if you stare into the mirror in this room long enough using only candlelight, your face will appear distorted. The door has been known to lock on its own in the past. People, particularly redheaded women, have claimed being touched in here. The room is named after a spirit that is said to haunt the room. A fair warning to all, if you hear clanking noises in the middle of the night that would be the steam pipe in the wall. Not a ghost. The room sleeps 2 guests & is numbered as Room 4.
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Room 5/Esther Rowley Room
Named after the sister of Beatrice Shanley, this actually was Esther's room. She slept here with her husband, John Faughman, until she died in October of 1918 from influenza. The room once had access to one of the second floor bathrooms, but that door has been blocked off. It also has access to the Sunroom. It sleeps 2 guests on a full-sized bed, but when combined with the Sunroom it can sleep up to 4 guests. One guest claimed to have been held down by an unseen force when sleeping in Esther's room. It is numbered as Room 5. Unfortunately, as of 2014, this room is no longer available for guests. It is now part of the owner's private apartment.
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The Sunroom
The Sunroom, which is only accessible through the Esther Rowley Room, was once a porch that was converted into a bedroom. Beatrice & her sister often enjoyed sitting out here together. Perhaps their spirits have remained because a female presence has been felt in here. A video of orbs moving has been recorded in this room, which also had a small library for guests to enjoy. As of 2014, this room is no longer available to guests, as it is now part of the owner's private apartment.
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Second Floor Bathrooms
There are 2 different bathrooms available to all guests on the second floor. They are on opposite sides of the building, designed in opposite styles. The one near the Esther Rowley Room has an old-fashioned feel to it with its claw foot bathtub, while the other near the Room 1 aka the Blue Room is more modern with a jet-stream shower. It is said a female was once murdered in the modern bathroom, but it was made to look like a suicide.
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Private Apartment & Office
This area is absolutely off limits to investigators & guests. It is the private living quarters of the hotel's current owner. All doors leading to these rooms are marked as "Private" & that is to be respected by all visitors. In recent years, Room 5, also known as Esther Rowley's Room and the Sunroom were added to the private section and are no longer available to guests.
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SHANLEY HOTEL HALLWAYS (Second & Third Floors)
Second Floor HallwayThis is the second hallway, which has the feel of an old haunted mansion. We have captured an EVP on video in this eerie hallway.
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Third Floor HallwayAt night this dark corridor can be very creepy. The shadows seem to play tricks on your mind. Apparitions have been seen & EVPs have been captured here both during the day & night. Sweet Thing the cat is one spirit seen here.
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ROOMS OF THE SHANLEY HOTEL (Third Floor)
Room 13
This small room at the end of the long hallway is located directly above one of the second floor bathrooms. If you enter here, be careful because the floor is not sturdy.
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Room 14/Walk-in Closet & Roof Access
This small room is just at the top of the stairs to the left. It can never be used as a guest room, due to it's small size. It connects to a room just left of it, which has a door that leads out to the roof. Guests are not allowed here.
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Room 15/Northeast Corner RoomThis corner room has the best view of the well across the road.
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Room 16/Northwest Corner Storage Room
This corner room faces the front of the house, as well as the side facing the well. It is currently off limits to guests, as it is being used for storage purposes.
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Room 19/Joe's RoomThe room known as Joe's room is occupied by a single sofa seat. It is believed the spirit of a former hit man known as Joe, inhabits this room. He does not like anyone to sit on his chair, although most guests do so anyway. Sometimes the ghost of a boy named Jonathan wanders into this room, but his room is actually next door. Because this room is located directly above the owner's apartment, it is very easy for EVP evidence to get contaminated. Pay close attention to what you are recording. It may not be paranormal in nature.
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Room 21/Jonathan's RoomThe spirit of a young boy of about ten years of age haunts this room. The boy's name is Jonathan, but he prefers to be called John. Some believe it is the same spirit of a boy that was struck by a doctor's car, who lived next door. However, that boy did not die from his injuries and his name was Walter Nelson Thayer III, so it could not have been him. I believe Jonathan was a former guest at the hotel. It will definitely take some more research, before I can say for sure.
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Room 22/Southwest Corner RoomSome psychics have felt a strangling sensation in this room. It is believed a woman was choked to death in this room by her lover.
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Room 23/Southeast Corner Room/Clair's Room/Sweet Thing's RoomThe owner's former cat, Sweet Thing, used to like coming up to this room. When Sweet Thing died one of the spirits named Claire laid claim to him. At around 11:30 pm the spirit of Sweet Thing likes to leave the room & run through the hallway to the stairs. If you are lucky, you may see him. At times the spirit of Claire occupies this room.
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Room 24/Claire's Alternate RoomSometimes the spirit of Claire lurks within this room. Claire hung herself in the original hotel building prior to the fire that destroyed the building in 1895. The hotel was rebuilt by the end of the same year, opening for business once again. Claire has never left.
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Room 25/Blue RoomThis room is directly to the right at the top of the stairs. It is currently closed to guests, due to safety reasons. The floor requires repairing & the window needs to be replaced. The closet has a shaft that drops straight down to the old kitchen area. In the past, we captured an EVP from this room that we believe might have been Claire.
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Fire Escape Access Room This room cannot be used as a guest room for safety reasons, as it is the access point to the fire escape & must remain easily accessible at all times in case of an emergency.
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Holiday Storage RoomOld Christmas decorations are stored in here. This room is too small to ever accommodate guests.
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ROOMS OF THE SHANLEY HOTEL (Basement & Attic)
Boiler Room & Morgue
The basement boiler room is haunted by the former caretaker, who has been known to sit in the far southwest corner. Sometimes people have lost items in the hotel & those items have turned up in that corner. Through a small blue wooden door you end up underneath the front porch. This area, which is now used for storage, was once a temporary morgue. If guests died, their bodies were stored down here, until they could be picked up.
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Fuse Room
This room is off limits to guests, so please keep out. The fuses for the hotel are located here. From here one can see into the crawlspace beneath the bordello, which can not be accessed safely.
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Storage Room
This is just a small storage room at the bottom of the stairs.
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Sealed Corridor
This dead end corridor in the basement once led to a staircase that led up & outside to the back of the house. It is believed to be a vortex, where spirits pass in & out of the house. It was once part of the "Underground Railroad" during the times of slavery.
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Hidden Wine Cellar Room
This room can only be accessed via 2 doors on the floor of the ground floor. The first door is in the Great Room, but there is a heavy table upon it & the owner does not want anyone to use it. The other door is on the floor of a closet in the next room that leads to the old dining area, which is currently under renovations & therefore not a place for guests. The closet trap door leads down a steep ladder to this hidden cold storage room. It has been covered to prevent anyone else from going down & possibly getting injured. During the Prohibition Era alcoholic beverages were hidden in this room.
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The Attic
The door leading into the attic can only be accessed using a ladder. It is located on the ceiling just outside of Joe's Room on the third floor. There really isn't much to see, aside from insulation. The ceiling is not high enough to really walk around up there either. I don't recommend it. Guests are not allowed in the attic for safety reasons.
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BORDELLO ROOMS (First Floor)
Bordello Powder Room
The bathroom at the entrance hallway of the bordello was once used by patrons of the bar. During the 1950s-1960s patrons of the bar saw the apparition of a woman in Victorian Era clothing. It is believed she still haunts the hotel today.
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Gentleman's Quarters
This 5-bed guest room was once a bowling alley & a ball room. During the times when the bordello was in full operation, the men would hang out in this room & wait, until they could go upstairs to be with one of the ladies of the bordello. This room is said to be one of the more haunted rooms of the hotel.
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Refrigeration Room
This is basically a storage room for food & beverages. It is off limits to guests. It was once the storage room for the bar.
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Sitting Room
Up until around 2013, this wasn't even a room. It was part of the hallway & used for storage. Today, guests can sit here, while looking out of the window to the well across the road.
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BORDELLO ROOMS (Second Floor)
Emma's Room & Bordello Staircase
The stairs leading up to the bordello have a low ceiling, so those of you that are tall will want to duck your heads. Halfway up the landing is a seat, where the madame of the bordello accepted payments from customers. When you reach the second floor, you arrive at Emma's Room. It is named such because the spirit of a girl named Emma haunts this area.
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Anna's Room
The first room on the right belonged to Anna, who was a popular girl of the bordello. These days she is one of the more popular ghosts. She has moved items into her room in the past. One of our team members captured a female apparition in a photo taken looking to the window, which we believe to be her. A door in the room connects to the next room via a small storage corridor that is highly unsafe.
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Maddy's Room
The second bedroom, which is haunted by a girl named Maddy. She was one of the bordello girls. It is connected to Anna's room via a storage passage that is not safe to walk through, so do not attempt it.
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Rosie's Room
Rosie was the 3-year-old daughter of the barber, Peter Greger. In 1911 Rosie wandered across to a nearby well & fell inside. She died immediately. Now she haunts this room, where she once slept. Rosie is one of the most active spirits of the hotel. Her old room has been filled with toys to please her spirit, while also acting as trigger objects that can be used to interact with this young playful spirit, who probably has no idea she is dead.
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The Former Well for the Hoornbeek Farm
This well once belonged to the Hoornbeek Farm, which stood right beside the Shanley Hotel. Today it is part of a park, although there are still descendants of the Hoornbeek family that own property in the area around the park. The well is sometimes considered to be part of the hotel, but it is not.
NOW AVAILABLE!
A Night at the Shanley Hotel by Jason MedinaWhile driving along Route 209 through Napanoch, New York, a weary traveler stops for the night at a rural bed and breakfast called the Shanley Hotel. What happens next is a series of paranormal events, which he cannot explain, nor fully comprehend. His bazaar experiences soon drive him to the brink of madness, as he encounters the spirits that are said to haunt this quaint hotel.
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