Historic Palmyra Ghost Hunt, Palmyra, New York

Historic Palmyra Ghost Hunt

Where the Dead Refuse to Leave and Spirit Portals Still Burn in Two of the Finger Lakes’ Most Terrifyingly Haunted Buildings

Prepare yourself for an overnight investigation at one of the most genuinely haunted locations in the Finger Lakes region! Historic Palmyra has earned its reputation as “one of the most haunted places in the Finger Lakes” through decades of documented paranormal activity, multiple television investigations, and countless witness testimonies that will make your blood run cold.

Two Buildings. Centuries of Tragedy. One Unforgettable Night.

Your investigation grants you exclusive after-hours access to two historic buildings on Market Street, each with its own dark history and restless spirits. The Phelps General Store and Residence stands as an eerie time capsule—a three-story building where the ground floor operated as a thriving merchant’s store until one fateful day in July 1940. That’s when owner Julius Phelps simply locked the doors at closing time and never returned. Everything remains exactly as it was left 85 years ago, down to the eggs still sitting on the counter!

Here’s where it gets truly unsettling: the Phelps family continued living in the residence upstairs—the second and third floors—while the store below sat frozen in time, untouched and gathering dust. For 36 more years, they walked past those locked store doors every single day, never once stepping inside. What were they afraid of? What made Julius seal that space forever? This isn’t a recreated historic site—this is one of the best-preserved examples of a small-town merchant’s home and store in America, and the residual energy trapped inside is absolutely palpable.

Just down Market Street, the St. James Hotel and Rifenberg’s Saloon—a sprawling 23-room former canal-era hotel built in 1826—holds an even darker secret. This building now sits atop the charred remains of Palmyra’s most horrific tragedy. On December 20, 1964, at 2:00 AM, a devastating fire consumed the home that once stood on this very foundation, claiming the lives of Anna Ruth Breedon and all six of her children in minutes. The blaze burned so hot and moved so fast that firefighters were stunned. Foul play was suspected. Theories swirled around the husband who was conveniently out of town. To this day, fragments of the burned house still rest in the basement below, and the children’s spirits have never left.

The Spirits Who Walk These Halls

This isn’t a location with vague feelings or questionable evidence—the paranormal activity here is intense, consistent, and absolutely documented!

Sibyl Phelps

The ghost of Sibyl Phelps is the undisputed queen of this haunted domain! After inheriting the building following her father’s death in 1960, Sibyl lived alone in the upstairs residence until her death in 1976—all while the abandoned store sat locked and decaying just one floor below her. This wasn’t your average recluse. Sibyl was a practicing spiritualist who deliberately placed mirrors facing each other throughout her upstairs home to create spirit portals! She preferred conversing with the dead over the living, kept 15 cats at once, and local children genuinely believed she was a witch.

And here’s the thing—she never left! Museum staff member Steve reported seeing Sibyl materialize before him in full-body apparition, sternly warning him, “Don’t touch my stuff!” Her presence is protective, possessive, and unmistakably real. She’s still watching over her beloved home, and she will let you know if you cross the line! Docent Andrew Lambrix swears he was locked out of the store by Sibyl’s mother, Mayme Phelps, and he still checks over his shoulder to this day.

Breedon Children

The Breedon children are the most heartbreaking and active spirits you’ll encounter. Visitors consistently hear the sound of children’s laughter echoing through empty rooms, followed by the thundering of small footsteps racing from floor to floor. They’re playing hide and seek in the afterlife, and you are about to join their game! Cabinets fly open on their own. Toys move across rooms. Objects vanish and reappear. The phantom touch of small hands has been felt by numerous investigators in the Phelps living room—gentle, innocent, and absolutely chilling. These children don’t understand they’re dead, and some have even been spotted on the second floor of the Phelps building, crossing between locations as if the boundaries between buildings no longer exist for them.

Holly

But there’s another child here—one whose story is even more mysterious. An entity known only as “Holly” haunts the upper floors of the Phelps residence where Sibyl once lived. This young girl allegedly died in 1836, but her true identity remains unknown. Was she the daughter of a family who lived here when it was a boarding house? Did she die in a tragic accident outside? Or did Sibyl’s spiritual practices somehow pull her through one of those mirror portals? Holly’s presence is undeniable, and investigators have captured evidence of her multiple times.

Phelps Family

The entire Phelps family never truly left their home. William, Catherine, Mary Louise, Julius, and Mayme all died within these walls between 1907 and 1960, and their presence saturates every room. A male figure—likely William or Julius—has been spotted pacing endlessly in an upstairs bedroom of the residence. Disembodied voices drift through the merchant spaces. Phantom cats—remnants of Sibyl’s beloved pets—weave between investigators’ legs before vanishing into thin air! Ralph Kommer watched in disbelief as a black cat walked through the entire store and up the stairs—except there are no living cats in the building.

Other Common Reports

In the St. James Hotel’s medical room, a doctor makes his displeasure with female visitors violently known. The former saloon area pulses with oppressive energy where apparitions materialize from the shadows. And an unmistakable oppressiveness is known to overwhelm unsuspecting guests.

Investigated by the Best

This location has been featured on Kindred Spirits (Season 7, Episode 2: “What Lies Below” with Amy Bruni and Adam Berry), Ghost Finders, My Ghost Story, Haunted Explorations, and investigated by dozens of renowned paranormal teams including Scientific Paranormal Investigators, Rochester Phantom Hunters, Salt City Paranormal, and many more. It maintains five-star ratings across all review platforms, and investigators consistently report life-changing experiences here. When this many independent teams document the same phenomena over and over again, you know you’re dealing with something genuine.

Your Haunted Rooms America investigation begins with a comprehensive guided tour through both buildings, where you’ll learn the tragic histories, documented encounters, and most active areas. You’ll explore the perfectly preserved general store frozen in 1940, climb the stairs into Sibyl’s residence where her spirit portals still stand, and investigate all 23 rooms of the St. James Hotel where the Breedon children continue their eternal games. Then the real investigation begins—structured vigils in the most active areas, followed by free time to explore and conduct your own paranormal research.

The question isn’t whether you’ll experience something here. Based on decades of consistent reports from independent investigators, the question is whether you’re ready for what happens when Sibyl’s ghost materializes in front of you, when those children’s footsteps come racing toward you in the dark, when you feel those tiny hands reach out and touch you.

What’s Included

• Exclusive after-hours access to both the Phelps General Store and Residence and the St. James Hotel and Rifenberg’s Saloon
• Guided historical tour of both locations highlighting paranormal hotspots and documented activity
• Structured ghost hunting vigils in the most active areas led by experienced investigators
• Use of paranormal equipment including EMF meters, spirit boxes, trigger objects, and recording devices
• Free time to explore both buildings and conduct your own investigations
• Access to all 23 rooms across multiple floors
• Snacks and refreshments to keep you energized throughout the night
• The opportunity to investigate one of the most authentically preserved and genuinely haunted locations in New York State

This is your chance to investigate two buildings where tragedy, death, and spiritual obsession have layered on top of each other for nearly 200 years. Whether you’re a seasoned ghost hunter or a curious first-timer, this night promises encounters you’ll never forget. Book your spot now and discover what waits for you in the shadows—if you dare!

*Space is limited for this exclusive investigation. Reserve your spot today to ensure your chance to investigate one of New York’s most actively haunted locations!