The Top 5 Haunted Houses in Cape May
Cape May is known for its beautiful Victorian homes and calm beachside charm, but once fall arrives and the summer crowds head home, the town takes on a different personality.
Beneath its bright porches and gingerbread trim lies a long history of strange stories and ghostly encounters.
Every October, visitors trade boardwalk fries for flashlight tours as they explore haunted inns, historic mansions, and mysterious hallways that seem frozen in time.
If you are brave enough to step into the paranormal side of the Jersey Shore, here are the top five haunted houses in Cape May.
The Top 5 Haunted Houses in Cape May
5. The Inn of Cape May
The Inn of Cape May, located at 7 Ocean Street, stands tall along the oceanfront with its classic white trim and wraparound porch. Built in the late 1800s, it has welcomed generations of guests and perhaps a few who never left.
Stories tell of two ghostly children who drowned nearby and are still heard playing in the upstairs hallways, laughing and knocking on doors at night. Another tale speaks of the Lady in Blue, a spirit said to appear in an upper-floor window facing the ocean, waiting for someone who never returned from the sea.
Staff have mentioned lights flickering in empty rooms and the sound of running footsteps when the building is quiet. Whether or not the stories are true, the inn’s age and beauty give it an atmosphere that feels like it’s alive with memories.
Best way to visit: Join one of Cape May’s nightly ghost trolley tours, which often stop outside the inn to share its eerie history.
4. The Southern Mansion
Hidden away at 720 Washington Street, the Southern Mansion was built in the 1860s for businessman George Allen. It is one of the largest private homes ever constructed in Cape May, surrounded by peaceful gardens that seem to glow at sunset.
Many guests and staff believe that the spirit of Ester Allen, the owner’s niece, still walks the halls. Her presence is described as kind rather than frightening.
Visitors often notice the scent of flowers when none are nearby or doors closing softly on their own. Some claim to see her reflection in mirrors or passing through the garden before dawn.
Unlike the darker hauntings found elsewhere in town, the Southern Mansion feels calm, as if its spirits have found peace.
The combination of quiet elegance and history makes it a favorite stop for both ghost hunters and romantics.
Best way to visit: Stay overnight and request a garden-view room. Guests say the house feels alive after midnight.
3. Congress Hall
Congress Hall at 251 Beach Avenue has stood through fires, storms, and more than two centuries of history. Originally built in 1816 and rebuilt in 1879 after the great fire, it remains one of the most famous hotels on the East Coast.
With so many stories packed into its walls, it is no surprise that guests continue to report strange things happening there.
Housekeepers have heard radios playing in locked rooms and footsteps echoing on the third floor long after everyone had gone to bed. Some guests have woken to the sound of children running in the hallway, though none were staying nearby.
Others mention flickering lights, whispers, and the faint sound of music drifting from the ballroom.
Congress Hall embraces its ghostly legends, and visitors often say that the spirits simply blend in with the history. It feels like the past is still checking in every night.
Best way to visit: Stop by in the evening or take the ghost trolley tour that includes Congress Hall as one of its highlights.
2. Hotel Macomber
Sitting right across from the beach at 727 Beach Avenue, the Hotel Macomber has been part of Cape May’s story since 1916. While it’s a beautiful spot for an ocean-view stay, it is also known for one of the town’s best-known ghost stories.
The legend centers around a guest named Irene Wright, remembered as the “Trunk Lady.” After she passed away in Room 10, visitors began hearing the sound of a heavy trunk being dragged across the hallway in the middle of the night.
Staff have reported doors opening on their own and icy air rushing through the hall when the windows are closed.
Guests who stay in Room 10 say they sometimes feel a presence standing near the bed or hear soft footsteps outside the door. Paranormal groups who have investigated the hotel often record strange noises near the upper floors.
Best way to visit: Book Room 10 if you dare. Many guests request it hoping to meet the Trunk Lady herself.
1. Emlen Physick Estate
At the top of the list is the Emlen Physick Estate at 1048 Washington Street, the house that defines haunted Cape May. Built in 1879 for Dr. Emlen Physick Jr. and designed by architect Frank Furness, this 18-room Victorian mansion is now a museum run by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities.
By day, it shows visitors what life looked like in Victorian Cape May. By night, it transforms into the centerpiece of the town’s ghost tours.
The “Voices from Beyond” tour lets guests hear real recordings of unexplainable voices and see photos that appear to capture figures in the background.
Many employees say they have felt cold spots, heard footsteps upstairs, or seen doors open by themselves. Visitors often describe the feeling of being watched, especially in the second-floor hallway. Some believe that Dr. Physick’s family still lingers in the home, unwilling to leave the place they built more than 140 years ago.
Best way to visit: The MAC “Ghosts of Cape May” tour gives full access to the estate and tells the stories of the spirits said to remain there.
Cape May’s haunted houses offer more than a scare. They preserve the history of a seaside town that has seen both joy and tragedy over generations. The same architecture that draws tourists in the summer also traps echoes of the past when the crowds leave.
If you walk the quiet streets on a foggy fall night, you might hear the sea breeze mix with the creak of old doors or catch a glimpse of something moving behind lace curtains. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, Cape May is a place where history feels alive at every corner.
To learn more, visit the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities website and check out their fall ghost tours. Just remember to keep your camera ready. You never know who might appear in your next photo.