Ghost Tours Return to the Canfield Casino This Summer
Jul 31, 2024
WNYT NewsChannel 13 recently stopped by the Saratoga Springs History Museum to experience one of our most popular seasonal programs: Ghost Tours at the Canfield Casino—a spine-tingling blend of Saratoga history, legendary characters, and long-whispered reports of paranormal activity inside one of the city’s most iconic buildings in Congress Park.
We’re grateful to WNYT for showcasing this uniquely Saratoga experience and helping spread the word that ghost tours are back for the summer season.
A haunted landmark in the heart of Saratoga Springs
As the segment highlights, the Canfield Casino isn’t just a beautiful historic building—it’s also known for decades of ghost stories and unexplained encounters. From slamming doors and mysterious knocking sounds, to sudden shifts in atmosphere (and even the occasional lavender-like scent), visitors and staff have long reported strange moments throughout the museum’s three floors.
WNYT’s crew joined Executive Director Jamie Parillo (featured in the piece) for a guided look at the stories that have made the Canfield Casino a must-visit for anyone who loves history and the paranormal.
The third floor…and the Walworth connection
One of the most talked-about areas is the third floor, home to significant displays from the Walworth Collection. The segment describes visitors experiencing pressure in the chest or a heavy feeling as they reach the top of the stairs—an experience many have reported over the years.
The tour also shares the enduring legend of Rubina Walworth, remembered for her service as a nurse during the Spanish-American War, and often described in local lore as a “woman in white” seen moving from room to room.
History behind the hauntings
The segment also offers a quick—but fascinating—history lesson: before it was known as the Canfield Casino, the building began as a high-stakes gambling club established in 1870 by John Morrissey (also credited with launching Saratoga’s race track). During its peak years, it drew elite visitors—names like the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and J.P. Morgan—and became part of Saratoga’s larger Gilded Age story.
Join us on a ghost tour
As WNYT notes, Ghost Tours of the Canfield Casino run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the summer, beginning Monday, August 5, 2024 with tours starting at 11:00 AM. If you’ve never joined us, it’s a fun, atmospheric way to experience the museum—and if you have, you already know no two visits feel exactly the same.