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The Spalding Inn in Whitefield, New Hampshire is the kind of location that every ghost hunter dreams of.
For several years, the hotel was owned by ghost hunters Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson (famous for TAPS and the Ghost Hunters TV show) and their families.
Since we’ve been friends for many years, I’ve spent happy days and nights at that hotel.
Parts of the Spalding Inn were – and possibly still are – delightfully haunted.
During my informal visits, I concluded that the Spalding is similar to Louisiana’s Myrtles Plantation… but perhaps differently haunted.
Similar to the Myrtles Plantation, the Spalding Inn seems to transform after dark.
The carriage house at the Spalding Inn
From my investigations, the Spalding Inn’s most active area is the carriage house, shown in the photo at left.
It’s not heated, so that part of the hotel is opened seasonally.
Each guest room in that building has its own odd energy.
Upstairs may be more haunted than the ground floor. Room 17 is especially active, but Rooms 15 and 16 are also interesting for ghost hunters.
(I detected intense male energy in Room 16, and later discovered that my uncle and his wife had stayed in that room in 1978. So, I might have been hypersensitive to his residual energy.)
Even when the building is empty, apparitions and odd shadow figures have been seen in the upstairs windows… in broad daylight.
After seeing the shadowy figure of a woman in one of the carriage house windows, I commented that all I could see clearly were the pearls in her necklace. They seemed to catch the light, though the rest of the figure was a vague shadow. I later learned that a former owner of the Spalding Inn – who may haunt Room 17 – always wore pearls.
To encounter something paranormal, spend the night in the carriage house. The rooms are very comfortable, and vintage decor adds to their charm. Each room is “en suite” (has its own bathroom) and offers a view of the hotel, the surrounding mountains, or both.
If you stay in the carriage house, be sure to ask about the haunted telephone and the ghostly message that seems lost between the worlds.
The main building
If the carriage house isn’t open, or if all of its rooms are full, you can still encounter spirits in the Spalding Inn’s main building.
Several (but not all) guest rooms are haunted. One of them is Room 33 where other guests have described eerie activity that woke them up.
I’ve spent the night there and enjoyed the room. Perhaps it was the clean, mountain air or the luxurious bed, but I slept very soundly and woke refreshed in the morning.
In fact, Room 33 is my favorite, since it’s far from any noise around the lobby and it adjoins a sitting area with its own ghostly energy.
The sitting area
At the west end of the main building you’ll find a group of comfortable chairs, and windows on three sides.
Spend some time sitting there, quietly, after dark. Watch the corridor that leads to it. Several of us noted visual anomalies. One was similar to the distortions above pavement on a hot day, or the mostly-invisible creature in the Predator movies.
It’s an unusual phenomenon. I’ve seen it before, in just a few locations such as the upstairs hallway at Brennan’s restaurant in New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Ghosts… and faeries?
While most of the paranormal energy at the Spalding Inn seems to be residual, some of what I encountered may not be ghostly.
In the first floor corridor of the main building – where the sleeping rooms are – I saw an odd, hunched figure moving slowly across the floor. It reminded me of Caliban, a character in Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest.
It was there… and then it wasn’t. It didn’t look like a ghost.
I’ve discussed this with a few other paranormal researchers, some of whom have been to the Spalding Inn. They agree that I may have seen one of the traditional faeries; they’re larger entities (and sometimes very dark beings) recorded in early folklore and legends.
It’s too early to say if the Spalding Inn is a good location for studying fae entities and ghosts, but that may explain some of the unusual energy at the hotel.
A bonus
If you’re interested in – or at least amused by – a wide range of paranormal mysteries, be sure to stop at Exit 33 (off Route 93) on your way to or from the Spalding Inn.
Fill your gas tank or buy some munchies at the Irving gas station and convenience store, close to Route 93.
While you’re there, visit their rest room.
You’ll see one of the most impressive displays of information about America’s first documented alien abduction, the Betty and Barney Hill story. Apparently, the abduction took place just a few hundred yards from the gas station.
So, when you stay at the Spalding Inn, don’t just look for ghosts… look for spaceships, too.
In general, the Spalding Inn is a wonderful hotel whether you’re there for a good night’s sleep… or a “good scare.”
how do you make reservations. next may is my 20th anniversary. we would like to stay at the
Spalding. we are huge fans of TAPS
Hi Tony,
The hotel is a wonderful place to stay, and a ghostly step back in time. When you’re there, ask about the ghost next door (it’s a private residence, but there’s a well-known ghost story there) and see if you sense anything at the oddly empty hotel foundation across the street from the Spalding. (It’s almost covered with grass now, but I’m sure Chris or someone at the hotel can tell you where it is.)
To make your reservation, visit http://www.thespaldinginn.com/ or call (603) 837-9300. Tell them that Fiona recommended it, so they know you’re looking for real ghosts. (Most of the hotel rooms aren’t haunted. If you want a room that has ghost stories, ask. If the Spalding’s carriage house is open in May — it’s a seasonal part of the hotel — that’d be my first choice for a very haunted room.)
I love TAPS and watch it when ever I can. I’m watching the program where GHI is investigating the Spalding Inn. I have spirits in the house I live in now, it was built in 1920. This Inn sounds like a great place to stay as I would love to see if I can feel & experiance anything there like I do in my own home.
Hi debbie are you stil out there? What a coinc im watchin the same episode right now at 3:50 am. I wonder if the inn is open now the web site is sayin closed id love to visit there someday.
Myself, my husband and 2 Daughters stayed here Sunday 7th March..night.
We happened to be the only guests staying that night, so the 4 of us and the night manager…..we stayed on the ground floor in the main house…….we had some really cool experiences here and would definitely go again, though my youngest daughter has stated, she will never go again!
Hello Rhonda,
Thanks for telling me about this! The ground floor in the main house is one of my favorite places to spend a night at the Spalding Inn. Some of the rooms are haunted, and some aren’t. However, the hallway — and the end of that hall, where the sitting area has windows on three sides — are delightfully haunted.
I’m so glad you had some cool experiences, and — like you — I’m looking forward to returning there for more!
Cheerfully,
Fiona
i would like to know the history of the inn.
what are the reasons and what is the history for the apparent haunting of the in?
Eric,
There are a variety of stories connected with the Spalding Inn. One involves a long-time guest who haunts the carriage house. Another is about a suicide, though that might be more about the private residence, next door. Then there are stories about ghosts from the hotel that used to be across the street, but now all you see is the foundation of the building. (Look in the grass.. it’s there, across from the eastern end of the Spalding Inn driveway.
There’s a Native American history at that site, and then there’s the fae activity that several of us have commented about.
I hope that’s helpful.
Fiona
My sister used to work here years ago!! She said that the west wing was really creepy!
My sister when she was working here years ago, she found Shoes in the dining area, who would leave shoes in a Dining area?!? CREEPY
My wife and I stayed there 3 years in a row on our Anniversary, we met Jason and Grant the 1st year, very nice people. We stayed in room #17 twice and never encountered anything in the room or Hotel, we love the place but have to say it’s not Haunted at all. I do have to say I am very sad that the place is closed and hope it will open again some day
Michael, I’m sure the new owners will be delighted to hear that the hotel isn’t haunted. My opinions are very different, from my many visits to the hotel, but you may have visited later, when — perhaps — paranormal experienced ceased.
Given the scope of the anomalies I witnessed over several years, I’m not sure how a place like that could become un-haunted, but… well, I suppose it’s possible.
Sincerely, Fiona
I want to stay three so badly! I work at Mountain view grand resort and spa in the weekends, I drive by with my daughter, her father’s family is from Whitefield! I have always been intrigued with The Spaulding Inn. I know it’s closed down but how do I contact the owners so I may go through?
Chandelle, I have no idea. I’m amazed that it’s still closed, because it was an ideal hotel for smaller gatherings – art shows, family reunions, etc.
The town hall probably knows who owns it, and – with that info – you might be able to contact them. I’m not sure they’d be willing to let anyone in – liability issues, and so on – but you could try. Or, contact a “ghost hunting events” organizer and see if they can get access to the hotel – for a group/event – for a night or two.
If you hear about it being open to ghost hunters, I hope you’ll leave a note here to let others know. I have no doubt the site is haunted, day and night. And, if it’s of any help: I saw the ghost of the older woman during the daytime, from outside the carriage house. She was on the upper floor, and looking out the windows towards the main building. If you can at least get permission to go onto the property, not inside but just walk around, you might see (or detect, with equipment) something ghostly. (But, of course, get permission first, since the hotel is now private property.)
Why did Grant and Jason sell it?
Managing a hotel is a full-time job, especially when the building is older and needs regular repairs and updates. I’ve never asked them what the main reason was for selling the hotel, but every time I visited, workmen were repairing or replacing something. I couldn’t imagine how Grant & Jason juggled their shows, off-screen investigations, public appearances, books, and oh yes, time for themselves and their respective families.
Ive been intrigued by ghosts for along time. I believe theres a possibility for their existence somehow. But i also believe that they are a very rare phenomenon. Sadly for that reason most ghost shows are faked and only offer entertainment value.
Why is the inn permanently closed?
For now, it’s not practical to keep it open. First, there’s the competition from the bigger hotel up the street. Then… well, I’ve always felt that the Spalding was best for corporate events, small conferences (art, family reunions, etc.), and similar gatherings.
But, though I heard that the hotel had been purchased, perhaps the new owners are in wait-and-see mode, looking ahead to the best use for the property. And maybe they’d like that whole “haunted” reputation to fade into the past. (Good luck with that. I have no doubt about the Spalding being haunted, and by some quirky spirits.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5f2Gwntt9U&fbclid=IwAR2TdVDW6J6uy1W0bbnDQRMzm1DoLKqHRWjZgS6fg2NXLAfGx2v5Ic2kgPM
Room 10 in the carriage house when the hotel supervisor let us in on Halloween eve in 2010) The entire building was empty but littered with beer boxes and cans when it was shut down for the season due to no heating.