Mason Winfield

When

7 PM Fridays July 11 through October 31

Where

The Allen Street Hardware Cafe, 245 Allen St, Buffalo NY

Benefit

Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier

The Allentown walk has its measure of occult architecture and, though the shady streets are lovely, some of the grisliest ghosts in the city.

A key feature is the curious "Allentown Line," something you'll have to sign up and stay to the end to understand. You'll look with new eyes on this atmospheric district of famous authors, artists, buildings and events!

When

7 PM Wednesdays, July 16 thru August

7 PM Saturdays, Sept. 20 thru October 25

Where

SPoT Coffee, 227 Delaware Ave, Buffalo NY

Local Partners

Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier

Tour Guides

Dave Kocak

John & Tammy Koerner

Scott Sloan

Mason Winfield

They say every theater has a ghost, but this tour is more than that. We speculate on the city's old street plan and Buffalo's classic architecture. We meet the ghost of the town's greatest boxer, encounter the apparition of one of the city's most influential men, and study what may be the city's most haunted building. Our route ends with three electrifying psychic encounters, all 21st century experiences. Theater tradition, city history, and good-old fashioned spook stories. This is a good walk for the kids.

When

7 PM Saturdays, July 12 through October 25

Where

The Commons, S. Main and Coach St., Canandaigua NY

Local Partners

The Ontario County Historical Society

Canandaigua - "the Chosen Place" - was once the home of ancient Native American settlement, and this theme is one of the grounding points of our village walk. But a number of historic events tie in to Canandaigua's truly classic ghosts, and our tour has this dual focus.

This is possibly the most "legendary" of our tours, and features one of Mason's favorite New York State buildings, the Ontario County Courthouse. Some of the frontier's most famous personalities come back to "the Chosen Place" as ghosts.

When

7 PM Saturdays, June 28 thru October 25

Where

Outside the Roycroft Inn, 40 S. Grove St., East Aurora NY

Tour Guides

Dave Kocak

Rob Lockhart

Scott Sloan

Mason Winfield

These tender village streets have seen their intrigue, and the Haunted History tour of East Aurora brings much of it out. As if the Rosicrucian-inspired Arts and Crafts Movement community Roycroft wasn't enough, East Aurora has enough home-grown spooks to make for a rich, entertaining tour. Beginning on the Roycroft Campus, this tour mosies down "suicide alley" and ends with three sidewinding village classics, including Vidler's and The Globe Hotel. This tour offers as many possibilities for discussions of mystical architecture and "Da Vinci Code" theory as any of our walks. The tales that come up also make it an excellent introduction to the thinking of parapsychology. Don't let the theoretical possibilities fool you, though. This is one of the best of our tours for children.

When

7 PM Fridays, September 19 thru October 31

Where

Lewiston Welcome Center, 476 Center St., Lewiston NY

Ancient mystery and War of 1812 tragedy mark this walking tour of the scenic village of Lewiston. The legacy of the Underground Railroad is everywhere here, and Lewiston's churches and cemeteries seem still alive with it. The old battle-line from the Burning of 1813 flanks us on the West at every step; the haunted escarpment above us to the South looms like an incoming storm! This is a great one for the kids.

When

3 PM July 12-13

7 PM Saturdays, September and October

Where

Wayne County Courthouse, on the Green, Lyons NY

Local Partners

The Wayne County Museum of History

The Erie Canal and early tales of Spiritualism flavor this new-for-2006 walk in historic Lyons, NY. Intrigue broods under the shady streets and within the old churches, homes, and stately public buildings. Join the hunt for the Hydesville Peddler, and win "the Haunted History Ghost Walks Challenge" for 2006, special to Lyons. Help us track "the Peddler's Murderer" and win a prize, including your choice of one of our official T-shirts. Join the Lyons walk and see what this is all about.

When

7 PM Wednesdays in October

Where

Town Hall/Municipal Building, S. Buffalo Street. (South of "Four Corners") Orchard Park NY

While not widely considered a "haunted zone," Orchard Park has a number of surprises up its spectral sleeve. We dwell on the legacy of the Quakers and the heavy Native American presence all through the town and village. We tour its village streets and survey the mysterious old pathways that form it. Join us for the debut in 2006, and a few new insights about this illustrious community and its mystical past.

When

7 PM Fridays, July 11 thru September

7 PM Fridays & Saturdays in August and October

Where

Saratoga County Arts Council, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs NY

Local Partners

Saratoga County Arts Council

Saratoga Springs has history in several major eras. Its hauntings come, too, come in layers of meaning, and our tour of the picturesque village brings much of it out. One surprise influence on the village haunts is the diverse culture of the town itself. Many of the village legends come back as its famous ghosts! This is another ideal tour as an exposure to the thinking of parapsychology, including "the earth mysteries" window of insight.

When

7 PM Thursdays in October

Where

The Old Mill on Spring Street (off Main) Williamsville NY

The old coach route between Batavia and Buffalo would figure to have its share of hauntings. "The 'Ville" has seen a number of historic frontier personalities, and a couple of the famous ones come back as signature ghosts. Village tradition, frontier intrigue, and natural power you never knew before!

Ellicottville
Niagara Falls (NY)
Niagara on the Lake (ONT)

Private tours available.
$10 a head, $200 minimum, discount ($8 per) available for groups 30 or over.
$50 deposit needed a week in advance.
Call (716) 655-6663 to arrange private tours.