AMERICA’S “OLDEST INN” STILL OPERATING

Established in 1696, the Old Yarmouth Inn and Tavern holds the record as the oldest inn in America which still operates today. It was part of the Underground Railroad; slaves were hidden in a secret room in the attic.

The spirit of an enslaved person still lingers. A male guest was awoken in the night by a figure that sat on his bed. The man hid under the covers. He felt his feet being massaged by unseen hands. Suddenly, the presence shook the bed vigorously from the bedposts. He ran out of bed and sat on the porch into the morning hours when the sun rose. It’s believed this entity was female and formerly enslaved. Giving a foot massage would have been the duty of a woman toward the slave owner.

A guest sleeping in the inn awoke in the middle of the night to see a man sitting at the foot of his bed. Unlike the unseen presence that may have once been an enslaved person, this one was far more visible, taking the shape of a gentleman in 19th century clothing. The spirit was described as having full cheeks and jowls. Apparently, he was puzzled what this guest was doing in his room.

His presence is described as calm and refined. The other is playful. The owners of the Old Yarmouth Inn and Tavern believe there may be other possible entities, which would explain occurrences that would be out of character for the two known spirits. Ashtrays slide across the bar and flip on their own. Bartenders have to hold their glasses when pouring drinks to prevent them from shaking. Wait staff often hear their names whispered in their ears. Even if you go by yourself, you won’t dine alone.

* Listing information and/or photos were researched on the Internet and provided by a third-party, article or property owner's website and is deemed accurate, but not guaranteed, to the best of our knowledge.