The Hinsdale House

What haunts this infamous home?

At one end of McMahon Road in Hinsdale, New York stands a white, two-story house that needs little introduction. The Hinsdale House is widely considered within the paranormal community as one of the most haunted houses in the country. But it isn't just the house that has brought paranormal investigators from all over the world. The land and surrounding woods have also been known for unexplained phenomena for those who dare venture out in the dark.

The history of the Hinsdale House is long and somewhat fragmented. It is believed that a Native American massacre occurred on the property around 1799. There's also the theory that this area once served as a Native American burial ground. While neither have been confirmed, one of these events (or both) may be responsible for the many reports of strange chanting and the sound of beating drums emanating from the woods and even a few claims of apparitions of Native Americans elsewhere on the land. 

The Hinsdale House is believed to have been built in 1853 by Charles and David Everett. The Burton family bought the home in 1861, followed by The McMahon family (the same family for which the road leading to the house is named) in 1861. Around 1970, the house was sold to Phil Dandy and his wife, Clara.  The Dandy's had four children; Mary, Beth, Mike, and Laura. And it is the story of the Dandy's that grabbed the attention of paranormal investigators and clergy.

The Dandys claimed to suffer a range of incidents prior to fleeing the home in 1974. Mysterious lights were seen at night, as well as apparitions and shadows both inside the house and on the surrounding land. Disembodied voices and objects being moved were also said to occur. Vehicle accidents and malfunctions were reported in the driveway of the house and elsewhere on the property. There were even claims of physical encounters with unseen forces. Clara Miller (formerly Clara Dandy), wrote about what the family experienced in a book called "Echoes of a Haunting" in 1999. 

But long before a book was ever written, legendary paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were called to the home. After experiencing furniture moving, disembodied voices, and Lorraine Warren being choked by an aggressive entity, the Warren's concluded that the home was inhabited by multiple spirits, including a demonic presence with a penchant for tormenting the Dandy's.

Fr. Alphonsus Trabold was called in to perform a cleansing of the home, along with an utterance of the "Rite of Exorcism". This seemed to only work as an antagonization method, heightening the frequency and severity of paranormal activity experienced by the Dandy's. Living with a new level of fear in their home, the Dandy's fled the residence in 1974. The house changed owners several times before finally becoming in such a state of abandonment and disrepair that demolition appeared likely.

Enter paranormal Investigator Dan Klaes, who bought the property in 2015, offering a second life to a curious home that seemed destined for a wrecking ball. The Hinsdale House today serves as a research center of sorts, where those interested can investigate to gather evidence of paranormal activity and perhaps solve some of the many mysteries that have long been held. 

On Saturday, December 7, 2024, Night Shift Paranormal will descend upon this notorious location, searching for evidence of unexplained activity while forming our own opinions of what may be the cause. You'll have an opportunity to join us, and a lucky few will test their limits of fear with our paranormal challenge. 

Your Ghost Hunt at Hinsdale House includes:

• Access to the entire house and property.
  
• Refreshments provided throughout the night.
• Use of our equipment, or bring your own.

Please be advised:

• This event is age restricted: 18+
• Please dress comfortably according to the weather.
• This event starts at 7:00pm. Please arrive no more than 15 minutes prior.
• This event ends at 2:00am (except for the paranormal challenge).
• No use of drugs or alcohol will be tolerated

Paranormal Challenge Information (SOLD OUT):

• This event starts at 7:00pm. Please arrive no more than 15 minutes prior.
• Once the regular event ends at 2:00am, you will exit the house with the other guests.
• You will receive a packet with instructions of what happens next.
• This event ends at 10:00am.

When you join Night Shift Paranormal for an investigation of this infamous house, you will have a real attempt at gathering paranormal evidence with an experienced investigator. We'd love to know what evidence you capture or experience you have during this event. Once you take your first steps on this incredibly haunted property, you may find how real a haunting can get!