In the course of writing daily articles, we’ve come across a variety of ghost stories and tales to keep us awake at night. Some of them we give to you here and others are just too strange to write about. Each time an article of this type is published, we receive emails and comments asking us where the most haunted places in Maine really are. Seems our readers don’t want to merely read about these things, they want to experience them first-hand. So, with October approaching, we went searching for the perfect opportunity. Boy-oh-boy did we find it! If you’re looking for the creepiest hotel stay in all of Maine, check out the crypt at the Inn at the Agora in Lewiston.
Inn at The Agora / Facebook
Inn at The Agora / Facebook The Inn at The Agora has a rich and lengthy history. It was built around 1850 by Lewiston-based architect Captain Albert Kelsey. It served as a home until around 1875 when it was purchased by the Roman Catholic Church to become the rectory to St. Patrick’s Church.
The home served at the church rectory until October 2009, when St. Patrick’s Church closed its doors.
But, wait. That doesn’t sound especially scary. JUST WAIT. We’re getting there.
Inn at The Agora / Facebook In 2014 Andrew Knight purchased the former rectory and transformed it into the Inn at The Agora, which opened in September 2014. Later, the actual church and chapel were renovated to become the The Agora Grand Events Center. Today the space plays hosts to weddings and events of various sizes.
Inn at The Agora / Facebook But, where’s the creepy stuff?
One of the best things about this property is the crypt that comes along with it. The body of the original builder and priest, Thomas Wallace, laid inside the building for about a century after his death. It was only until the closing of the church in 2009 that his body was moved to a cemetery in nearby Bangor. This original crypt still sits, waiting for curious guests to come looking.
hotelcrypt.com Well, sort of. The Crypt has been preserved to serve as a room for those looking for an additional thrill during their stay in the Lewiston/Auburn area. Once you’ve booked one of the other rooms, you can request access to the crypt for your own use.
hotelcrypt.com Equipped with a coffin that sleeps two (although, don’t expect to actually spend the night) and a selection of DVDs, the crypt will provide a few hours of absolute eeriness for those brave enough to give it a try.
hotelcrypt.com While it’s now furnished for guests, the crypt still has much of what was necessary to keep a body resting peacefully for a hundred years. The curious will find a vent used for ensuring that gasses (a natural part of crypt-life) were removed from the chamber back when it was occupied by Wallace.
While the overall fear factor included here is high, we love that the Inn is a lovely place in every other area. Appointed with contemporary features and a light and airy feel, you’d never guess that one of the scariest nights of your life can be experienced right here within the walls.
Inn at The Agora / Facebook When we spoke with the Innkeeper (who has is an area-native and can tell you just about anything you need to know) we learned that the crypt is in the midst of a bit of an overhaul and should be ready for visitors again in October.
If you’d like to be informed of the progress so you can book a night, email the Innkeeper, Jan Barrett, directly at info@innattheagora.com. She’s promised to email all those who inquire with progress updates. To speak to the inn directly about booking one of their lovely rooms, give them at call at 855-552-4672. They’re located at 1 Walnut Street in Lewiston, ME 04240
Inn at The Agora / Facebook
The Inn at The Agora has a rich and lengthy history. It was built around 1850 by Lewiston-based architect Captain Albert Kelsey. It served as a home until around 1875 when it was purchased by the Roman Catholic Church to become the rectory to St. Patrick’s Church.
The home served at the church rectory until October 2009, when St. Patrick’s Church closed its doors.
But, wait. That doesn’t sound especially scary. JUST WAIT. We’re getting there.
In 2014 Andrew Knight purchased the former rectory and transformed it into the Inn at The Agora, which opened in September 2014. Later, the actual church and chapel were renovated to become the The Agora Grand Events Center. Today the space plays hosts to weddings and events of various sizes.
But, where’s the creepy stuff?
One of the best things about this property is the crypt that comes along with it. The body of the original builder and priest, Thomas Wallace, laid inside the building for about a century after his death. It was only until the closing of the church in 2009 that his body was moved to a cemetery in nearby Bangor. This original crypt still sits, waiting for curious guests to come looking.
hotelcrypt.com
Well, sort of. The Crypt has been preserved to serve as a room for those looking for an additional thrill during their stay in the Lewiston/Auburn area. Once you’ve booked one of the other rooms, you can request access to the crypt for your own use.
Equipped with a coffin that sleeps two (although, don’t expect to actually spend the night) and a selection of DVDs, the crypt will provide a few hours of absolute eeriness for those brave enough to give it a try.
While it’s now furnished for guests, the crypt still has much of what was necessary to keep a body resting peacefully for a hundred years. The curious will find a vent used for ensuring that gasses (a natural part of crypt-life) were removed from the chamber back when it was occupied by Wallace.
While the overall fear factor included here is high, we love that the Inn is a lovely place in every other area. Appointed with contemporary features and a light and airy feel, you’d never guess that one of the scariest nights of your life can be experienced right here within the walls.
When we spoke with the Innkeeper (who has is an area-native and can tell you just about anything you need to know) we learned that the crypt is in the midst of a bit of an overhaul and should be ready for visitors again in October.
Looking for more spooky options? Check out our list of most haunted hotels in Maine.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.