From the blog

Cape May Haunted Mansions

Haunted mansions in Cape May 

As the nations “oldest Seashore resort,” Cape May has been attracting tourists since the mid-18th century. With that much history, there is bound to be a few stories here and there that bring chills to your spine. With more than 250 years’ worth of visitors that have come and gone, there are a few that have lingered. A hotbed of paranormal activity, almost any Cape May business owner, homeowner, or bed and breakfast owner, like the Southern Mansion, will tell you about their ghost stories and experiences.


Enter…only if you dare, into Cape May’s haunted past this Halloween season by visiting these Cape May haunted mansions, including our own Southern Mansion. We have the best list of haunted houses in Cape May that will send a chill down your spine!

Southern Mansion

The Southern Mansion was once used as a seaside summer escape by a wealthy businessman, George Allen, and his family, plus descendants, for 83 years. The mansion was built with the finest details, an expansive Italian garden, and Southern charm which completed the masterpiece. After the Allen family sold the mansion, the next owners turned the home into a boarding house. For the next 50 years, the Southern beauty became run down and dilapidated. The current owners bought the home in 1994 and restored it into today’s treasure. The beautiful and colorful Southern mansion is now one of Cape May’s crown jewels and hosts visitors from all over the world. The happy ghost of Ester Allen (George Allen’s niece) still lingers in the house, enjoying its new and elegant renovations, reminiscent of the house she once enjoyed many years ago.

Read more on Southern Mansion’s history here.

Our Southern Mansion is the perfect way to enjoy Cape May’s charm and hospitality. Our mansion offers restored charm and sophistication, Southern style, with period-appropriate furnishings and historic details that bring the past to life! Browse our accommodations and see what is waiting for you during your next Cape May vacation.

Congress Hall

Fist built in 1816, Congress Hall stands today after being re-built since being destroyed by the 1878 great fire. Its walls are lined with photographs, letters, and documents of its past within Cape May’s history. The third-floor hallway is said to be haunted. There are several different ghostly encounters that send chills up people’s spines. Reporting’s from the cleaning staff said they would hear the radio or television on and hear people talking, but when they knocked on the door, no one would answer. There have also been reports of children playing about when no children were present. This report seems to be backed by the 10-year-old boy who drowned in front of the hotel in 1876.

The Cape May Lighthouse

Cape May Point Lighthouse at dusk in New Jersey

Whether you enjoy sightings from “the other side” or not, the Cape May Lighthouse is a must-see during your stay in Cape May. Those who have climbed the lighthouse’s stairs to take advantage of the breathtaking views have seen a woman in white floating in the lighthouse. She is wearing a flowy dress holding a lantern in one hand and a child in the other. Be sure to climb the lighthouse at night as part of the Ghost of Cape May Trolley Tour.

Jackson Street

Spend your time strolling through Jackson Street with the many Victorian mansions, turned hotels, that haunt all who visit here. As one of the oldest streets in Cape May, Jackson Street brings with it a varied past and many hauntings that linger into the night.

Cabanas

Employees at this popular beach bar have claimed to hear rustling noises and doors opening and closing all on their own! The ghost is believed to be of an Irish woman who was outcast from society due to her child she had out of wedlock. Always anxiously awaiting the return of her lover, the woman would stand from the third floor, gazing out to sea. One day, a boat sighting sent her child out into the street only to be killed by a trolley in the excitement of her father possibly coming home. The mother in utter despair hung herself from the third-floor room, where her ghost still lingers.

Emlen Physick Estate

Built in 1879, the Emlen Physick Estate was once the home of Emlen Physick Jr. but stands today as a musuem run by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities. Many of the staff have reported figurest walking into rooms, only to report there was actually no where there. There are claims that the second floor hallway is the most haunted spot in the house, evident by the image of a woman captured as she was looking into the mirror near the stairs. 

Stay at Southern Mansion

Enjoy a stay at one of Cape May’s haunted houses and book a room at Southern Mansion. Our award-winning lodging in Cape May offers luxurious amenities, beautiful furnishings, and a convenient location to Cape May’s restaurant, beaches, and shops.

Be sure to view our monthly specials for savings on your Cape May lodging. 

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