The Host Files: A Haunted Night at The Claire House

When I first came across The Claire House on social media last spring, I was immediately intrigued. A beautifully restored rectory-turned-bed & breakfast with a haunted reputation? That’s practically a Skills Murder Mysteries dream venue. I reached out to owners Hal and Rachel, and from our very first conversation, I knew this collaboration would be something special.

By early summer, our Haunted Homecoming mystery had completely sold out long before the Halloween rush even began. The excitement around the event was unlike anything we’d seen before, and The Claire House’s reputation for eerie happenings only fueled the anticipation.

Arrival at the Claire House

The day of the event, I packed up everything: the mystery materials, our iPad photo booth, and my share of snacks for the evening. The drive to Ogdensburg, New York was crisp and gray, the kind of autumn weather that makes the supernatural feel just a little more possible.

When I arrived, Hal and Rachel welcomed me with such warmth that any potential pre-event nerves would have immediately vanished.

The house itself? Immaculate. Massive. Beautifully curated. Every corner looked like it was built for storytelling, the kind of place where shadows linger just long enough to make you wonder.

(For the record, Skills Sister Amy would 100% dream of owning a haunted house like this one.)

Setup went smoothly, and before long, guests began to arrive. All forty of them were buzzing with excitement. The characters dove right into their roles, the detectives were ready to investigate, and before the mystery even started, the iPad photo booth was flashing nonstop.

Everyone was documenting the night; in fact, one shared gallery later surfaced online with over 350 photos, the most we’ve ever seen from a single event.

When the Game Came Alive

Among the crowd were B&B guests from Rochester, ghost hunters, in fact, who joined the mystery but came looking for more than the evening’s murderer. They weren’t the only ones. Neighbors and visitors were just as eager, cameras in hand, hoping to capture something extra in their photos.

And maybe they did.

At one point, we noticed things moving when they shouldn’t have been. Fake cockroaches and maggots seemed to appear from nowhere. Two guests who had arrived early, a duo we clearly saw enter, somehow vanished before introductions began and were never seen again. Maybe they slipped out quietly… or maybe the spirits wanted a turn playing detective.

The Claire House Spirits

It wouldn’t be out of the question. The Claire House has a long and fascinating paranormal history.

Hal has spoken about several bodies believed to be buried on the property and about the sightings his family experienced long before he did. It took him nearly two years to witness something himself: a man walking down the hallway who disappeared before his eyes. What makes that story stick with me is that his niece saw the man too, before Hal did, and acknowledged him aloud.

So when doors creaked, cold spots lingered, and shadows danced on the walls during Haunted Homecoming, well… I can’t say for certain it was just the wind. I’m fairly convinced the ghosts were part of our cast that night.

A Night to Remember

The guests were phenomenal. Our realtor arrived with her own business cards and a full-sized yard sign. Jason Voorhees crashed the party. Our magician not only nailed his costume but also performed actual magic mid-mystery. And one of our players delivered a scream so blood-curdling, it froze the entire room. The perfect “Final Girl” moment.

By the end of the night, everyone was laughing, sleuthing, and fully immersed in the story. It was one of those rare events where everything, from venue to crowd to energy, clicked into place.

What’s Next

We left The Claire House that night, buzzing with excitement and gratitude.

To Hal and Rachel: thank you for opening your historic (and haunted) home to us.

To our guests: thank you for bringing your characters, your curiosity, and maybe even summoning a few spirits along the way.

We can’t wait to return. Something tells me the ghosts are expecting us.

If you’re feeling brave, you can book your own stay or paranormal excursion at The Claire House. I know we will be.