Ghosts are fascinating.

At least, they are to me. Not everyone agrees; some people fear them, others completely deny their existence. But I’ve always found the idea of ghosts intriguing, from friendly little Casper, to Jacob Marley, to the malevolent spirits that scared the crap out of me in Poltergeist. I loved the chills that ran up and down my spine while reading The Amityville Horror. Even to this day, Ghostbusters is one of my all-time favorite movies.

So when I checked into The Elms Hotel & Spa last week and discovered they have a nightly Ghost Tour, I had to sign up. I was there for an interview (more on that in a future post) and to visit family and friends. But my inner Ghostbuster just couldn't resist finding out if the hotel was home to creepy things that go bump in the night.

What makes the Elms so deliciously hauntable? Well, for starters, it’s been in existence for over a century. That’s plenty of time for apparitions to move in and make themselves at home. It has also mysteriously burnt to the ground . . . twice. The structure standing today is the “third Elms” and is fashioned from beautiful native limestone, giving it the look and feel of a castle—and what castle doesn't have its fair share of restless spirits?

On top of that, the hotel was once famous for its connection to politicians and crime figures. Al Capone is rumored to have hosted gambling parties there, and the lower level served as a speakeasy during Prohibition. Imagine all the gun battles involved with bootlegging! I’ll bet there’s more than one gangster ghost hanging around the Elms, longing for revenge.

To keep from spoiling the experience for others, I won’t go into elaborate detail about the stories I heard during the tour. But a few of them did raise the hairs on my neck. Our guide, Jerry, worked at the Elms for several years and claimed to have seen and spoken with many of the spirits himself. A born storyteller, he wove interesting facts and juicy little tidbits about his experiences into the tour. By the time it was over, I'd promised myself to return someday and write a spine-tingling ghost story centered around the Elms and its supernatural guests.

So did I run into any of these spooky apparitions during my stay? Disappointingly, no. The spirits kept to themselves, so I can't verify that they're really floating around the hotel. But many of the staff and guests think they are. Paranormal investigators check out the Elms regularly, and it was featured on an episode of Ghost Hunters on the Syfy channel back in 2013. They even offer a special “ghost tour package” for people who want to know more about its haunted history!

But I do wish I'd met one of the spirits while I was there. I would love to have caught a glimpse of the ballroom lady, or chatted with the man who haunts the tavern. Or heard giggles from the little girl who runs through the hallways on the third floor. When I’m ready to write that novel, though, I’ll be going back to see if I can make a connection.

Maybe then, something will decide to go bump in the night.

Photo credit: Elms Ghost Tour via C.L. Denault; Ghost Stories via Freedom Church