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Belhurst Castle & Winery, located in stunning Seneca Lake, New York, is a triple threat: it's a castle, it's a winery, and oh yah, it's also haunted.
The Romanesque-style castle was built in 1855 with materials and furnishings imported directly from Europe, and guests can continue to enjoy original fireplaces in the rooms and original antiques in the onsite restaurant, Edgar’s Fine Dining Restaurant. But you're here for the wine, right? And the wine is free-flowing. In addition to an onsite winery and tasting room (which also serves craft beer and cider made exclusively for the property), spigots in the hallways are always on to pour complimentary vino for guests.
But if you hear bumps in the night, just know that it may not be from one too many glasses of Pinot. Belhurst is also home to its fair share of ghosts.
Two apparitions known to haunt Belhurst include fugitive William Henry Bucke – who ran away from London’s Covent Garden Theatre after embezzling money as their treasurer – and an unnamed actress. Legend goes that after building underground escape tunnels connecting the castle to the Seneca Lake shoreline, Bucke and the actress were killed when an unexpected wave drowned them in the tunnel.
There is also the legend of Italian opera singer Isabella, who fled Europe (and her husband) to be with her secret lover at Belhurst. When her husband came to the castle to take her back, she and her lover tried to escape through the underground wine cellar, which collapsed, killing them.
All we're saying is, make sure to pour one out for William Henry when you're sitting at the fire pit overlooking the lake.
Check availability for Belhurst Castle here.
And if you're into haunted stays, check out these haunted hotels across the USA.