Nocturnal Birding
For birders who don't put the binoculars away at sunset, the beloved Annual Owl Prowl takes you into the darkening woods of Landis Arboretum to listen for the owls that call it home.
Schoharie County after dark is a different place entirely. The skies are genuinely dark here, the kind of dark that makes you stop and look up. Campfires crackle, owls call, and live music drifts up into a canopy of stars. Put the phone away and stay a little longer.
For birders who don't put the binoculars away at sunset, the beloved Annual Owl Prowl takes you into the darkening woods of Landis Arboretum to listen for the owls that call it home.
At Mine Kill State Park, the myths get busted and the bats swoop overhead right on cue.
No light pollution, no distractions, no excuses. Schoharie County's dark skies are the real deal, and the stars have been putting on a free show up here for centuries.
For those who like their history with a little extra darkness, the Haunted History Trail connects ghost hunts, guided tours, and haunted inns across New York State. Schoharie County has more than a few stops worth making.
Inside this Victorian time capsule, antique furniture, medical tools, and personal belongings sit exactly as Dr. Christopher Best left them. Investigators have captured EVPs, shadowy figures, and a piano that plays on its own. Some places hold onto their past. This one never let go.
Built as a church in 1772 and fortified during the Revolution, the Old Stone Fort has accumulated more than just history over the centuries. Visitors report presences blocking the staircase, screams from the tower, and an organ that plays itself.
Built in 1850, Grapevine Farms is equal parts charming and unsettling. Browse three floors of gifts, grab lunch, and stop for a complimentary wine tasting. Just don't be surprised if you hear footsteps on the staircase. The original owners are buried on the premises, and by all accounts, they never really left.
This 1835 Greek Revival mansion in Middleburgh comes with a permanent guest. Duryea Beekman has never really left, appearing to every family who has owned the home as a figure in a banker's suit before vanishing into a closet beneath the staircase. Listen closely just before sunrise. You might hear him whistling.
When a former owner opened a bar in the bedroom of Mrs. Grace Steacy, a devoted member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, she made her feelings known. Tossed silverware, knocked over glasses, and a woman in a white nightgown drifts through the dining room. Consider yourself warned.
Empty Pockets Ranch has the rolling hills and rustic charm you'd expect from Schoharie County. What it also has is harder to explain. Disembodied voices, objects that move on their own, and a barn with a past that refuses to stay buried. Come find out for yourself, if you're brave enough.
Schoharie County is waiting β after dark, after hours, and just beyond what you can explain.
Explore the Haunted History Trail