Ghostly Vancouver, BC
By Dana Lynch, TripSavvy
Chances are, you've already seen the spooky side of Vancouver as it often appears as a creepy city in sci-fi TV shows and films but in real life, the historic districts are home to some ghostly residents. From the "Lady in Red" who haunts the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver to multiple hauntings at Gastown's Old Spaghetti Factory, Vancouver has plenty of legendary ghosts. Use this guide to find out which local landmarks are haunted, plus Vancouver ghost guides, haunted Vancouver tours, and more.
There are also many Vancouver sites that aren't haunted but have played host to movie ghosts and monsters. See if you recognize any of these spooky sights!
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Chances are, you've already seen the spooky side of Vancouver as it often appears as a creepy city in sci-fi TV shows and films but in real life, the historic districts are home to some ghostly residents. From the "Lady in Red" who haunts the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver to multiple hauntings at Gastown's Old Spaghetti Factory, Vancouver has plenty of legendary ghosts. Use this guide to find out which local landmarks are haunted, plus Vancouver ghost guides, haunted Vancouver tours, and more.
There are also many Vancouver sites that aren't haunted but have played host to movie ghosts and monsters. See if you recognize any of these spooky sights!
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Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - Downtown Vancouver
Any list of most haunted places in Vancouver has to include the historic Hotel Vancouver (now the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver), which first opened in 1939 and is allegedly home to the ghost of the "Lady in Red." The Lady in Red is always spotted on the 14th floor--she's been seen by both guests and staff--and sometimes stops elevators at the 14th floor (even when the button hasn't been pushed). She is thought of as a "good" ghost, so the hotel has embraced this apparition by naming a cocktail after her in their lounge. Whether you meet the Lady herself, or just enjoy a drink named after her, you're sure to enjoy some spirits in the hotel.
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The Old Spaghetti Factory - Gastown
Gastown's old-fashioned style lamps and cobbled streets make it feel like you're stepping back in time to another era. But one of the most haunted places in Vancouver is actually a super-family-friendly restaurant: The Old Spaghetti Factory in historic Gastown. Inside the restaurant, there is an old, 1904 trolley train, and the most famous ghost in residence is said to be that of a uniformed tram conductor, who staff report seeing seated at a table after-hours.
According to Ghosts of Vancouver (more on that website below), there are three more ghosts at the Old Spaghetti Factory, including a young boy and a "little red man." Look out for extra guests at your dinner table if you're eating there with your family or friends.
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According to Ghosts of Vancouver (more on that website below), there are three more ghosts at the Old Spaghetti Factory, including a young boy and a "little red man." Look out for extra guests at your dinner table if you're eating there with your family or friends.
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Hycroft Manor - Shaughnessy
One of the most historic mansions in Vancouver, Hycroft Manor is, today, the home of the University Women's Club of Vancouver and site of several UWCV fundraisers, including the popular Christmas at Hycroft Christmas Market.
But it's also one of the most haunted places in Vancouver! From 1911 - 1942, Hycroft was the home of WW1 hero General Alexander Duncan McRae and his wife Blaunche McRae, who hosted elite parties there that included famous guests and royalty. While there have been up to seven different ghosts seen on Hycroft's grounds, the most famous are a man dressed in WW1 garb (presumed to be the General himself) and a well-dressed lady said to be Mrs. McRae. Other ghost-sightings include reports of a "Crying Man" whose sobs can be heard emanating from a downstairs room.
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But it's also one of the most haunted places in Vancouver! From 1911 - 1942, Hycroft was the home of WW1 hero General Alexander Duncan McRae and his wife Blaunche McRae, who hosted elite parties there that included famous guests and royalty. While there have been up to seven different ghosts seen on Hycroft's grounds, the most famous are a man dressed in WW1 garb (presumed to be the General himself) and a well-dressed lady said to be Mrs. McRae. Other ghost-sightings include reports of a "Crying Man" whose sobs can be heard emanating from a downstairs room.
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Waterfront Station - Downtown Vancouver
Today it's alive with the bustle of busy commuters as the terminal point for the Canada Line, SkyTrain, West Coast Express and Seabus, but Waterfront Station is also one of the most haunted places in Vancouver. Built in 1915, the station has seen a lot of people (and ghosts) pass through the halls. Security guards and after-hours workers have long reported strange happenings at Waterfront Station, including ghost sightings, unexplained accounts of moving furniture, and phantom footsteps.
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Vancouver Ghost Resources & Haunted Tours
To explore more haunted places in Vancouver--or to tour haunted Vancouver with a knowledgeable (human) tour guide--use these fantastic "Haunted Vancouver" resources and tours to get a ghostly guide to Vancouver and beyond:
- Ghosts of Vancouver - Amazing, thorough online resource from Vancouver ghost expert Greg Mansfield.
- BC Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society - Features ghost reports and stories from all around B.C.
- Vancouver Haunted Trolley Tours - One of the Top 10 Vancouver Halloween Attractions, Vancouver Trolley Tours rolls out a special tour of Vancouver Haunts every October.
- Ghostly Vancouver Tours offers year-round ghost tours of Gastown and Downtown Vancouver.
See more at: TripSavvy
