Long Island's Haunted Restaurants and Bars

It's common knowledge to many Long Islander's that Katie's Bar in Smithtown is haunted. It's been investigated on TV's "Paranormal State," and there has been a lot of hype surrounding the place over the past few years. It's not the only popular eatery that has a ghost or two, however. Paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto and I have had the opportunity of investigating several haunted Long Island establishments. Good food and a ghost! Who could ask for more?

As I've mentioned in past blogs, one of the most "active" restaurants for ghostly activity is the Country House Restaurant in Stony Brook, which continues to be haunted by the ghost of Annette Williamson. Annette was brutally murdered in the house back in the days of the Revolutionary War. Orbs, EVP's and light flashes continuously abound and have been witnessed by many patrons as well as staff. Several people, including the restaurant's owner Bob Williamson, have actually seen the apparition of Annette. For reasons unknown, Annette refuses to move on.

DEK's American Restaurant in Rocky Point has a an assortment of mischievous ghosts including one who will mess up previously set tables. By the bar area, shadowy figures can be seen swiftly moving around. There was a bartender who worked there for years who never believed in ghosts until he had his own encounter with the shadow person. From that point on he refused to be in the building alone. The building itself has a long and interesting history and is Rocky Point's oldest commercial building. It served as an inn for many years, and there are also rumors that it once was a brothel. Who knows what kind of energy could be left behind there?

On a smaller scale, the 1930's Sayville Modern Diner, located on Main Street in Sayville, realized they had a ghost or two when the chef reported that things were falling off the shelves in the kitchen. On one occasion when he opened up the diner one morning, the chef discovered a multitude of items lying about on the kitchen floor. He had been the last one to leave the night before. Joe Giaquinto has also received numerous EVP's (electronic voice phenomena) there over the years.

Heading to the North Fork, the Jamesport Manor Inn in Jamesport also has a ghost. The present building was rebuilt exactly as it was after a mysterious fire had burned it to the ground in October of 2005. The history of the place, which dates back to the 1750's, includes tragedies, death and scandals. Countless people have claimed to see the ghost of a young woman in a second floor window. It possibly could be the daughter of one of the original owners who died there tragically.

Moving on to bars, Del's Union Square Bar in Holbrook has had a plethora of ghostly activity. Apparitions, glasses flying off the bar, a TV set that turns off by itself, a glass exploding on its own, doors opening and closing...the list is endless. The building was built in the mid-1900's. It is unknown who could be haunting this establishment.

Lastly, in Nassau County, the beautiful Glen Cove Mansion in Glen Cove is said to be haunted by the ghost of its previous owner, Mrs. Pratt who died in the house she loved in 1965. The Georgian Revival building was built in 1910 and is presently a hotel and conference center. Although there has been ghostly activity throughout the building, the most haunted area seems to be upstairs in the bar. Countless employees have seen the apparition of Mrs. Pratt, and many have claimed to have felt her presence. During our investigations there, Joe and I photographed many orbs, and we received EVP's as well. Did Mrs. Pratt love her home enough to stay there permanently in spirit?

I'm sure there must be more haunted restaurants and bars on Long Island that I haven't heard of or investigated. So if you have a story a two you'd like to share, please let me know. All the above stories with the complete histories can be read in my Ghosts of Long Island books.