Spooky!

Ok, this is the fourth time we have had guests report supernatural events in one of our guest rooms. It is always this room and they always report a child or small animal, dog or cat was in their bed with them and woke them up! What gives! We aren't sure whether to tell them that we have had other reports from other guests. DH has even had an encounter (twice) in that room. Harmless, sweet ghosty, but unsettling to the guests, not sure we should share the info with other guests? Any thoughts?? My husband is a huge skeptic of anything supernatural, so for him to even admit having had an experience like this is weird to me...
-Innsane1

We thought it would be fun to mention the 'ghost' in our room literature. We had one couple request a new room after they read it. Said they were up all night with lights flashing in the room, lights they couldn't figure out where they were coming from, etc.
Other guests have told us about encounters but the majority of guests never mention it. People who do notice it don't like it because our guy is crabby and unwelcoming. So we don't mention it any longer.
If you want to use it as a selling point, go for it. But realize that a lot of people are adamant unbelievers in anything 'supernatural' and they may avoid your inn altogether.

Madeleine said:

We thought it would be fun to mention the 'ghost' in our room literature. We had one couple request a new room after they read it. Said they were up all night with lights flashing in the room, lights they couldn't figure out where they were coming from, etc.
Other guests have told us about encounters but the majority of guests never mention it. People who do notice it don't like it because our guy is crabby and unwelcoming. So we don't mention it any longer.
If you want to use it as a selling point, go for it. But realize that a lot of people are adamant unbelievers in anything 'supernatural' and they may avoid your inn altogether..

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I am not interested in advertising it, we've never mentioned it to our guests. I guess I am just looking for suggestions on how to handle the guest when they have had this experience. Some have been pretty freaked out and others open about it and think it is "cool". DH just isn't sure what to say to them when they have these encounters. You don't want to make them feel any more awkward, we are starting to take notice, because they have all reported similar experiences. We have blown them off as them feeling insecure in a big, sometimes empty house, when they are the only guests and letting their imaginations get the best of them. But like I said, even DH, the ultimate skeptic has had two run-ins in that room. What do you say to a guest who tells you this?

You say this is the fourth time and DH has experienced this twice... so that makes 6 times you have heard about. Don't know how long you have been open, but you have been a member of the forum for 5 years, so I am thinking this is actually not really all that frequent, and I wouldn't mention it. My thought would be a sympathetic "Oh, really! That is interesting....sorry you didn't have a good night, perhaps tonight will be better", I would feign ignorance..... That said I would probably have a talk with "whatever" is in that room and say you don't mind them being there, but please don't scare the guests....

white pine said:

You say this is the fourth time and DH has experienced this twice... so that makes 6 times you have heard about. Don't know how long you have been open, but you have been a member of the forum for 5 years, so I am thinking this is actually not really all that frequent, and I wouldn't mention it. My thought would be a sympathetic "Oh, really! That is interesting....sorry you didn't have a good night, perhaps tonight will be better", I would feign ignorance..... That said I would probably have a talk with "whatever" is in that room and say you don't mind them being there, but please don't scare the guests.....

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No it hasn't been frequent, but it is just odd when it happens and they are visibly shaken. Was just curious if anyone else had dealt with this kind of situation and how they handle it...

innsane1 said:

Madeleine said:

We thought it would be fun to mention the 'ghost' in our room literature. We had one couple request a new room after they read it. Said they were up all night with lights flashing in the room, lights they couldn't figure out where they were coming from, etc.
Other guests have told us about encounters but the majority of guests never mention it. People who do notice it don't like it because our guy is crabby and unwelcoming. So we don't mention it any longer.
If you want to use it as a selling point, go for it. But realize that a lot of people are adamant unbelievers in anything 'supernatural' and they may avoid your inn altogether..

Click to expand...

I am not interested in advertising it, we've never mentioned it to our guests. I guess I am just looking for suggestions on how to handle the guest when they have had this experience. Some have been pretty freaked out and others open about it and think it is "cool". DH just isn't sure what to say to them when they have these encounters. You don't want to make them feel any more awkward, we are starting to take notice, because they have all reported similar experiences. We have blown them off as them feeling insecure in a big, sometimes empty house, when they are the only guests and letting their imaginations get the best of them. But like I said, even DH, the ultimate skeptic has had two run-ins in that room. What do you say to a guest who tells you this?

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What I have said, 'You too? You're not the only one!' And then I tell the story of the guest who was telling me what happened when the exterior door she was standing next to opened and slammed shut all on its own. I also say that I am not sensitive to the ghost so it never manifests itself to me. Compliment them on their sensitivity! Make it a positive thing. An 'exclusive' thing. Ask if they've ever had that happen to them before.
I would never blow off a guest's comments. They'll either feel really stupid for bringing it up or think you're blowing them off. Neither is a good situation.
If it's possible, I'd ask if they are comfortable staying in the room as YOU KNOW the 'spirit' is gentle or harmless. If they're not, then move them if you can. Sometimes you just can't move someone, but offer if you can. Unless your ghost moves around. Mine doesn't.

We have a sitting room within a large suite that over the years guests report the same feeling and use the same verbiage "warm female presence". It also makes sense, knowing the history of this old house.
I only speak about it when asked. Sometimes people will ask when I'm checking them in, if we have ghosts. It's been my experience that those are the people who are hoping we have them! I so tell them that no one has ever seen a ghost or apparition, but they've reported the warm female presence and it's always positive.
In your situation, I would weigh how the guest is asking you. If they think it's "cool" is would reaffirm their experience, if they are weirded out, I would listen to them, but probably wouldn't affirm it, but just listen.

We lived with three ghosts in AK-it was actually documented and a paranormal team came to that old house and investigated paranormal activity for a weekend-we were not there for that. But they found three ghosts, one a teenager who rang the doorbell constantly (and no noone could run up the hill and down again without being noticed) a lady that emited a sweet scent (we encountered her many times) and a Union Soldier who did not come out of the basement. We had a few guests while we worked there saying that they "felt" something. I was sceptical until I actually smelled the sweet smell and I did not spray or have any kind of plug ins. They never bothered us-but all we said to any guest that had any paranormal experience is that the house is very old and that some people are more sensitive to things than others-and that is it. Most guests were excited. Actually the last weekend we were there we wanted to play with a Oija Board but never got the chance. Apparently there is a ghost here at this Inn but we've never encountered it as of yet although sometimes there are weird noises...I would just tell them that its an old house and who knows what it really is...
I would tell them if they complain as Madeline said to move them to another room if available and as Madeline said I would not disprove their comment either.

Ok, and now just got confirmation of possible ghost connection from family member/friend of previous owner of property, neener/neener!!!

I was asked once if we had a ghost. Never since then and I guess I am just insensitive to most everything because I have never seen anything.