Back to Ghost Stories

The Inn at the Falls

Our Experience :: History :: Past Activity :: Story of Sarah

Location: Bracebridge, Ontario
Date: November, 18, 2006
Members: Amanda, Brenda, Donny, Jay and Rachel
Equipment: 3 Digital cameras, 2 camcorders, 3 voice recorders, 1 digital thermometer, 1 EMF detector, 1 audio enhancer, 2 walkie-talkies

HISTORY

The Inn at the Falls, is located in the charming village of Bracebridge, Ontario, in the heart of the Muskokas. It over looks the beautiful Bracebridge Bay and Muskoka River.

Originally built in 1876, by John Adair with the help of English Stone Masons. John Adair never actually occupied the house, and a few years later the house was sold to William C. Mahaffy. William Mahaffy was a land surveyor, but in 1888 he became the first district judge of Muskoka and Parry Sound. William Mahaffy lived in the house until his death in 1912. Even though William Mahaffy did not die in Bracebridge (he passed away in London, England following surgery), his presence is still felt in the building today. After his death, the Mahaffy family resided in the house until the 1920's.

After the Mahaffy family moved out, several different families moved in and out of the residence. It then briefly became and apartment, and then a home for youth. By the 1930s the house went in disrepair. For several years after the house laid dormant. In 1943 the building was purchased by Ernie and Marion Allchin. It was renovated and turned into a Inn, in which the Allchin's named "Holiday House" Marion Allchin was the first out of many people to report ghosts. She would refer to them as "Bumps in the night", and claimed that the building was haunted. The Holiday House unfortunately had a slight mishap in 1955 when fire broke out and spread through the upper part of the building.

In the 1960's, the pub was added to the Inn, in what was once a furnace room and livery (horse stable), and is now one of the places for paranormal activity.

In 1975 the Inn changed hands from the Allchin's to Jim and Jackie Niven. During this time Jim's grandmother was the owner and operated the establishment. Grandmother Niven's bedroom is the infamous Room 105. Maybe it is her spirit that guests see sitting on a chair, staring out the bay window. Sadly, Jackie Niven passed away in the house some time later due to cancer. Since then many employees of the Inn have claimed to have seen the previous owner.

In 1983 the Inn changed hands once again. This time it was sold to Arthur and Sylvia Richardson. They have claimed that they had experienced paranormal activity for three long years. In 1988, Jan and Peter Rickard purchased Holiday House. After renovations they renamed it "Inn at the Falls". The Rickard's openly admitted that the Inn is haunted. Though they make sure to say that there are no bad or harmful spirits that roam.

The Inn at the Falls is a truly beautiful and remarkable place. Made up by a collection of seven houses that form a cul-du-sac, it's like taking steps back in time but with all the comforts and luxuries of today. It is a place where you may never want to leave. Even the ghosts don't want to.