Haunted Hotels in Ontario

Perched dramatically atop rocky waterfalls on Mahaffy Court in Bracebridge, Ontario, the Inn at the Falls began as a Victorian manor built in the early 1870s as a private residence. Seven years after construction, the property was acquired by Judge William Crosby Mahaffy, a district judge who lived in the house until his death in 1911. The building later served briefly as an apartment house and youth home before being converted to the popular inn it became in 1943. Located in the heart of Muskok...

Located at 24 Sydenham Street in Kingston, Ontario, the Hochelaga Inn was built in 1879 as a grand Victorian residence for John and Harriet McIntyre. John McIntyre held the distinction of being Kingston's first mayor and was a prominent attorney, while Harriet was a relative of Sir John A. MacDonald, Canada's first Prime Minister. The McIntyres built their home on land inherited from Harriet's family, creating an elegant estate befitting their social standing. After John McIntyre's death, the pr...

The Fairmont Château Laurier stands as one of Ottawa's most recognizable landmarks, a French Gothic castle featuring Tiffany stained-glass windows, hand-moulded plaster, limestone walls, and marble floors. This 429-room luxury hotel was commissioned by Charles Melville Hays, president and general manager of the Grand Trunk Railway, and was originally scheduled to open on April 26, 1912. However, tragedy would forever alter the hotel's story and create its most persistent haunting. Charles Melvi...

The HI Ottawa Jail Hostel at 75 Nicholas Street stands as one of the most unusual accommodations in Canada—a former county jail where guests can sleep in actual jail cells. Built in 1862 as the Carleton County Jail, this imposing structure served as Ottawa's main jail for over a century before closing in 1972 due to inhumane conditions. The building held a grim cross-section of society: murderers, the mentally ill, drinking offenders, women, and children, all confined together. Prisoners died fr...

The Fairmont Royal York opened in 1929 as a 28-floor Château-style hotel and held the distinction of being the tallest building in both Toronto and the entire British Empire until 1930. With 1,343 rooms, two restaurants, a tea room, two bars, an indoor pool, sauna, and gym, it was nicknamed the "city within a city." Over its nearly century-long history, it has hosted royalty, celebrities, heads of state, and over 40 million guests. Located at 100 Front Street West in downtown Toronto, this massi...

Overlooking the pristine waters of Lake Rosseau in Ontario's scenic Muskoka region, Windermere House has welcomed guests since 1870, earning it over 150 years of history and the affectionate nickname "Lady of the Lakes." This Victorian building at 2508 Windermere Road has become a beloved destination for those seeking both natural beauty and supernatural encounters, as the property harbors at least two distinct spirits who make their presence regularly known. The primary ghost haunting Winderme...