Have you met Elizabeth? Only a few people have. Elizabeth is 8 years old, friendly and wears a pretty white dress. She is known to frequent La Placita Restaurant in Albuquerque’s Old Town. And Elizabeth (sometimes identified as Victoria in legends) is a ghost. Believed to be an orphan or servant girl, Elizabeth died of tuberculosis around 1780. Her ghost has been seen most frequently in the ladies’ room of the 300-year-old building.
Do your children love scary stories? Try taking them on a ghost tour during this Halloween season – a great way to get up close and personal with some local spooks.
According to Julia Brown of New Mexico Ghost Tours, Albuquerque’s Old Town is home to 13 “major” ghosts – a spirit that has been seen more than once and by more than one person.
Bobby Darnall, another young ghost, is thought to inhabit Albuquerque’s KiMo Theatre. In 1951, 6-year-old Bobby was watching a movie from the theatre balcony. Apparently frightened by something on the screen, Bobby leaped up suddenly and ran to the theatre lobby. At that moment, the basement boiler exploded, taking Bobby and part of the lobby in its wake of destruction. Dressed in a striped shirt and blue jeans, Bobby has since been seen playing on the lobby staircase and has been known to play tricks on the staff and guests of the theater.
Santa Fe, with its long history of vigilantes, violent gunfights, murders and deceased artists, has its share of spirits, too. In fact, it is considered one of the most haunted cities in America.
Almost every downtown building has its own story. From the headless horseman of Alto Street to the parking lot of the PERA building to St. Vincent Hospital, stories of the not-quite-dead abound. One of those reported to wander about is Julia Staub, original owner of what is now La Posada Hotel. Some say she died of an extended illness while others believe she was murdered by her husband, Aaron. All agree that room 101 was the site of her death. Not content to remain dead, Julia’s ghost is said to walk the staircase and move rugs about.
The Grant Corner Inn, built in 1905, is believed to house the sounds of a young boy who once lived there. The medically fragile child required almost constant attention when living and was confined to a wheelchair. Legend says that he often rolled too closely to the stairway and tumbled down, wheelchair and all. The boy eventually died and his mother and stepfather moved away. Yet even after their departure, noises were heard in the child’s room as if he were still present, and a light has been said to appear in the window of his room.
And La Fonda Hotel is said to be home to several spirits, including a prominent judge and an unnamed businessman. Judge John P. Slough accused a military man of dishonorable conduct. The dispute ended with the accused man shooting the judge, who died in the hotel lobby.
During a period of ownership when the hotel was known as The Exchange, a nameless businessman is said to have gambled away his company’s money in a card game. Distraught over the loss, the man supposedly jumped to his death in a well, located just outside The Exchange. Staff and guests of the hotel have reported seeing a ghost in the hotel’s restaurant, La Plazuela, which was built over the site of the old well. According to reports, a ghostly figure walks to the center of the room, then seemingly jumps into the floor and disappears.
Ghost tours are an imaginative way to weave history and entertainment together, and can be an appealing family alternative to Halloween fare that focuses on violence and gore. “No blood and gore on our tours,” says Alan Jordan of A Boot About Tours. “Instead, we take a light-hearted look at those who won’t stay dead.” Alan and his wife, Kate, note that about a third of their tour-takers are children. Of course, parents should consider the maturity level and fright tolerance of their youngsters before signing up for a spine-tingling, ghost-busting adventure.
Ghost tours range in price from $13 to $20 per person, with group discounts often available. Most tours limit participants to 20 per group. Near Halloween, many of the companies increase their tour schedules to accommodate more guests and time slots.
The walks last from 1 1/2 to 2 hours, so the guides recommend participants carry a supply of water, wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the New Mexico evenings. “And bring a camera,” says Allan Pacheco, author of Ghosts-Murder-Mayhem: A Chronicle of Santa Fe, “because you just never know.” In addition to historical commentary, some tour companies can provide information on paranormal investigations associated with the sites. Several even offer birthday party tours. And although spook sightings cannot be guaranteed, all tour guides agree that a willingness to believe can heighten the paranormal experiences found on the tours. For a personal tour of the history and mystery of our areas, contact the following guides.
New Mexico Ghost Tours
1829 Zena Lona Court NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
249-7827
www.NMghosttours.com / email: tours@sgha.net
A Well-Born Guide/Have Ph.D., Will Travel
Stefanie Beninato
PO Box 1601
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1601
988-8022
Email: info@swguides.com
A Boot About Tours of Santa Fe
988-2774
Allan Pacheco
986-5002
www.santafeghostandhistorytours.com /
email: santafeghostwriter@zianet.com |
