Top 5 Haunted Places in the Hamptons
The Hamptons real estate market has more possibly haunted listings than one would probably imagine, but few motivated sellers would care to admit that fact. It’s not exactly something a broker advertises, unless asked. With this in mind, we share some haunted places that are not on the market but once were. Consider the possibility that there are others out there right now, waiting for you to move in.
This renovated farmhouse, once owned by actress Renée Zellweger, is allegedly haunted by a mischievous spirit. When Zellweger bought it in 2003, the New York Post reported that a previous owner, Manhattan furniture designer John Mascheroni, said the ghost of an elderly woman resided there. “She loved to play tricks,” Mascheroni said. He lived there from 1974–1982 and identified the spirit as past owner Lillian Worthington. The gated property features a 4-bedroom and 3-bath home, garage with loft, and a pool—plenty of places for the dead to frolic and play.
Villa Paul Restaurant
162 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays
Well known for its history and strange occurrences, Villa Paul was just a log cabin in 1804, and the “borning room” (reserved for births, illness and death) from that structure remains at the site today. Most notable in its history of owners are Judge Edward Lazansky—a Justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1920–1940—and his wife Cora, who may be responsible for attracting its spirits. After her husband’s death, Cora supposedly removed all the headstones from the adjacent cemetery in order to sell the house more easily, and the bodies have remained in unmarked graves there ever since. It’s likely to be the cause of the haunting, which includes disembodied footsteps, lights going on and off on their own and more. The home was eventually converted into the restaurant, which has been owned an operated by the Pensa family since 1965.
The location of the Buddha Berry frozen yogurt since 2015, this 250-year-old building has, according to one broker who worked there, had all sorts of paranormal happenings for more than 20 years. Creepy things reported include a floating black phantom, disembodied footsteps, a ghost’s face peering out the window and lots of creepy vibes. It was also home to Rebecca Cooper gallery, Winter Tree Gallery and WellNest healing center. The building underwent a major renovation in 2013, which can often agitate resident spirits.
Murf’s Backstreet Tavern
64 Division Street, Sag Harbor
This haunted bar has barely changed since its namesake, Tom Murphy, opened in 1976. Before it was a Murf’s, the building was a small home, constructed in 1792, and Murphy believed that one of its former and long dead residents remained. During his years as proprietor, Murphy said his bar was haunted by the ghost of Adelaide “Addie” King. He claimed the blender once turned on even though the switch was still in the off position. He also said Addie flipped chairs and even turned on the jukebox while Murphy doing a television interview. Murphy eventually sold the bar to its current owner, Jay Hamel, in 2007, and he died at age 78 in January of 2010. One wonders if Murphy and Addie are now there together, sharing a drink and old memories.
Rogers Mansion
17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton
The headquarters of the Southampton Historical Museum, the Rogers Mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places, and reportedly very haunted. William Rogers bought the property in 1648, and Samuel Longstreth Parrish purchased it from Rogers’ descendants in 1899. The Southampton Colonial Society leased the house and grounds and began restoration in 1952. There are stories of a female apparition some believe to be one of Nathaniel Rogers’ two wives—who were also sisters—as well as loud footsteps upstairs and the sounds of people congregating when no one is there at all.
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