Ghost Tours at the mount, home of edith wharton

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“The ghost tour is a storytelling experience. Oakes shared historical, architectural and literary facts—and, of course, told chilling ghost stories. The tour was a spooky good time.” — Donna Liquori, The Times Union

“Walking through dark hallways and abandoned bedrooms with only the steady beam from a flashlight to guide the way creates an ambiance akin to the spookiness of campfire ghost stories.”  — Jennifer Huberdeau, The Berkshire Eagle

“Edith Wharton had a fascination with ghosts and the macabre that extended beyond her short horror stories, and few people know that side of her better than Robert Oakes, an author and educator who leads ghost tours at the historic residence.” — Matt Martinez, The Berkshire Eagle

"That was a great experience. We're all still talking about it. I have to say, it was pretty epic, and I do this all the time. Thanks again." —Sam Baltrusis, Mass ParaCon

"Robert is a captivating speaker, and being there after dark was a whole new experience. I highly recommend it."

"What better way to spend Halloween! The ghost tour was fantastic. Lots of fun, great stories."

"One of the best ghost tours ever ... it rivals Gettysburg and Portsmouth, NH, as my favorite. I have no doubt we were accompanied by spirits at least for part of the tour! ...  I would definitely recommend this tour to ghost enthusiasts."

"The ghost tour offered is amazing ... the history talked about, both of the property and the supernatural, is exciting. This is a great experience."

"We have done the ghost tour twice now! ... Really fun!"

"The guides were awesome, and wandering the grounds after dark and hearing the ghost tales is very eerie."

"The tour guide was very informative."

"The stories and photos of alleged sightings were interesting and great fun."

"The ghost tour is wonderful ... we were so very pleasantly surprised at how beautifully it was all orchestrated, and what a great way it was to be introduced to Edith Wharton and The Mount. Our guide, Robert, was amazing in how gently he treated the paranormal experience and how very entertaining he made the tour. (And better yet, my daughter thought he looked just like Oscar Wilde!) For us it was the very, very best way to view this historic place and beautiful home."

"It was REALLY cool. ... None of us particularly believe in ghosts, but we were all intrigued and were willing to have some fun with it and keep an open mind. The best thing about this tour was that the tour guides were not there to convince you to believe in ghosts. They simply narrated lots and lots of stories of workers and visitors who had seen, heard or smelled strange things over the years. They left it up to us whether we chose to believe the stories or not. ... We honestly had a blast. ... I definitely recommend the ghost tour!"

"The tour guide was a good storyteller with a flair for the dramatic. He had excellent use of flashlight lighting to enhance his "gotchas" on his tales. There was a moment out front when he was reading an except of Wharton's thoughts on the paranormal when the door creeked open behind him. Uber spooky. ...  It was a beautiful, creepy house with a great storyteller."

"Fun ghost tour of the buildings and the grounds. Very interesting stories."

"Great tour guide."

"Excellent tour! ... Robert is fun and engaging."

"We went last year! It was awesome!"

"Awesome!! Thanks for a fun evening. I really enjoyed the tour."

"Great fun!"

"Robert Oakes is an incredible speaker and tells ... stories so elegantly you feel like you've stepped back in time!" —Drew Babineau, paranormal investigator

"This is a really fun and atmospheric immersion into the history of a family, their tragedies and happier moments, as well as the soul of a house. Highly recommended." 

"Great experience ... I do not believe in ghosts or spirits, but the tour guide made it entertaining for all! If you are into history and/or the paranormal, I highly recommend you check it out."

"I loved learning about the house, the people that lived there, and the possible spirits that still wander. The host was amazing. You can really tell when someone takes pride in history and preservation of not only the structure but the families that called the mansion their home."

"Beautiful grounds. Interesting stories. Even though no ghosts caught in my pictures, the tour was fun."

"It was interesting and fun."

"Interesting experience and knowledgeable staff."

"Great ghost tour; and excellent, historically correct information."

"I'm a complete non-believer but the family had a good time. It is an interesting house to visit, but better at night."

"I highly recommend the ghost tours with Robert Oakes ... Whether you're a believer or not, the storytelling can't be beat. And getting to tour the home after hours is a whole different feel than during the day."

"This is such an awesome tour, plus Robert Oakes is an amazing tour guide, explaining everything as we went along. Totally worth it. You never know what you might feel or see."

"That was so much fun! It was interesting and awesome. The house is beautiful."

"Wonderful storytelling."

"I’ve done this tour and really enjoyed myself. I highly recommend it!"

"I highly recommend going here on a ghost tour."

"It is SO FREAKING WORTH IT."

"Ventfort Hall is said to be one of the most haunted places in the Berkshires ... with lots of activity from different entities. It was an amazing and engaging tour where we got to watch and listen to some recordings of paranormal activity at the mansion which sent chills down our spines!"

"Evocative and fun!"

"I just found all my pictures from the tour I went on! They’re great!"

"Very interesting."

"I just left and can't wait to come back!"

"I’ve only heard great things about this!"

"(Robert is) so good. You should definitely go."

"We went at Christmas. It’s so beautiful."

"Wonderful ghost tour ... great talk given by Robert Oakes."

"I very much enjoyed the tour."

"What a spooky time we had! We experienced chains swinging, curtains moving, lilac scent in the air and a lightheaded, dizzy feeling! ... This mansion is absolutely haunted! I have to say, it was such a cool experience ... Flashlights lit the way as we walked the floors of the mansion! I highly recommend a ghost tour with Robert Oakes! He is extremely educated in the history of this mansion. ... We had a blast!"

"Robert Oakes, author of Ghosts of the Berkshires, knows his spectral history. He will delve into his knowledge of the paranormal past to introduce participants in his ghost tours of Ventfort Hall to the building’s unseen residents." —Berkshire Style

"Our tour guide was fantastic, and the ghosts did not disappoint. We got to experience some pretty cool things. Lots of activity! It was really good! Highly recommend!"

"I love these tours! I don't believe in ghosts, but there is something for everybody. Goes over history, architecture and stories."

"This tour was fantastic."

"This was the best tour. My son and I loved it."

"I highly recommend this tour. I will be back, for sure!"

"What a cool, spooky evening!"

"I grew up playing and roaming the hallways of that place when it was boarded up in the 80s. It's definitely haunted."

"When I’m a ghost, I’m going to haunt this one. Fantastic evening at Ventfort Hall, the kind of place the ghosts will find you if they want."

"We had so much fun in October that we returned to Ventfort Hall for another ghost tour with Robert Oakes. It truly is a different tour every time."

"A truly riveting tour! Probably the best one I’ve attended!"

"I’ve visited MANY grand homes, museums and 'haunted' places, but never before have I felt the electricity this building gives."

"If I were a ghost, I would haunt tf out of that place."

"A wonderful ghost tour."

"It was a great time! Robert did a wonderful job of bringing the history of Ventfort to life."

"A fabulous ghost tour at one of my faves, Ventfort Hall."

"Fabulous talk and tour with Robert Oakes. I loved his style, delivery, and knowledge of his topic. Great presentation. ... He talked about some of the ghosts in the Berkshires and then he took us through the house. We heard a lot about the relationship between Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne who would come to visit and was somewhat of a mentor to Melville. I so badly wanted to spend the night there to see if anything happened, but of course, it was not meant to be. Very interesting to listen to a young woman who worked there to hear her experiences in the house over the years. A highly recommended tour."

"This was a wonderful tour, and I definitely left with much inspiration to my soul."

"Fantastic reading in the perfect setting! Thanks for a great afternoon!"

"What a great way to end a fabulous fall weekend in the Berkshires."

"I went last night and loved it. Great tour!"