The Shanley Hotel : Napanoch, NY

In a portion of the Historic Hundson Valley under the Shawangunk Mountains lies the Shanley Hotel. This hotel brings hundreds of visitors a year to stay overnight at the chance of seeing one of the many apparitions. Built by Thomas Ritch in 1845, the hotel was a vacation spot for many wealthy travelers and their families. At the time it was know as the Hungerford’s Hotel, until things changed while under the ownership of Adolph Wagner. On March 18, 2024 a nearby home caught fire which spread to the hotel, burning it to the ground. The home was rebuilt and reopened in November of the same year.

The hotel passed through multiple owners until it was purchased by James Louis Shanley, an Irish immigrant who was born on Halloween. Mr. Shanley was a respectable man and well loved in the community. He and his family owned multiple hotels in the tri-state area and this was their pride and joy. Shanley even took the time to add rooms to the hotel including a bowling alley, billiard room and barber shop. The legend of the hotel grew to the point where Thomas Edison and Eleanor Roosevelt became frequent guest. But not everything lasts forever. Everything began to turn for the worse in 1911.

On June 1st, 1911, the hotel Barber Peter Grager was looking for his daughter Rosanna who had been playing outside. They searched for hours before they found her body in the well outside; she had drowned after falling in. In the following two years the Shanleys were blessed with two children, but both died before the age of 6 months. In September of 1915 a six year old boy, believed to be called Jonathan, was hit by a doctors car outside the inn and killed instantly. In the following year, the Shanleys had another son who passed away at an early age. Within the same period, Mrs. Shanleys’ sister died away during childbirth.

Through the next 15 years the endless tragedies began to slow with the exception of Mr. Shanleys three bothers who all died. Then on August 26th, 1937, James Shanley himself passed away as the result of a heart attack. Mrs. Shanley, still mourning the loss of her husband, sold the hotel to Allen Hazen in 1944 who owned the home for years until he strangely passed away on August 26th, 1971, the same date as Mr. Shanley. Rumors said that his death was caused by the spirit of Mr. Shanley.

The hotel was abandoned for years and was the hot spot for drinking, gambling, drag racing and more. During this time it was rumored that there were multiple murders and suicides in or near the home. The home was eventually purchased and restored in 2005 by Sal Nicosia who currently owns the home.

Multiple spirits are said to inhabit the hotel. Many of the hauntings are associated with the spirit of James Shanley and those that he knew including his wife and children. Locals speak of a tall man in a black three piece suite who wanders around the grounds keeping an eye on the guests. Along with these visions is the faint smell of tobacco smoke even though no smoking is allowed in the building. During the evening hours, guests commonly smell perfume and hear the crying of both a baby and a woman, believed to be Mrs. Shanley mourning as her sons and daughters pass away. Then there is Jonathan, the young 6 year old boy who likes to slam the doors, knock over glasses and touch guests. The activity has increased so much, that they offer specials year round for ghosts enthusiasts.