12/06/2025 Haunted Locations: The Shanley Hotel in Napanoch, New York
- Danielle Yvonne
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
Happy Saturday! Today we take a trip to Napanoch, NY, and take a look at the Shanley Hotel... not to be confused with the infamous Stanley Hotel! Enjoy!
THE SHANLEY HOTEL
The story begins in 1845 when Thomas Ritch built Ritch’s Hotel. This was a highly popular hotel because of how convenient it was to the railroad.
Ritch sold the hotel in 1851, and it became Hungerford’s Hotel. It was still a largely successful location and catered to the same clientele, etc. This hotel was known for its famous guests and others who were regulars at the Gentleman’s Club and Bordello.
In 19887, Adolph Wagner became the new owner of the hotel. Then, in 1895, a home nearby caught fire, which spread to the hotel and was burned to the ground. Wagner rebuilt the hotel, and it was back open less than a year later.
In 1906, James Shaney bought the hotel. He is the most notable owner, as the hotel is still named after him. His family came to NYC from Ireland. He and his brothers successfully opened hotels and restaurants all across the country.
In 1910, James married Beatrice Rowley. There was a huge celebration for them, but tragedy struck soon after. In 1912, they welcomed their first daughter. Unfortunately, she lived less than six months. They had two more children. James Jr, who passed away at four months old. Then they had William, who died at around nine months. Many people report seeing a woman of that time period roaming the halls and assume it could be Beatrice looking for her children.
Esther was Beatrice’s sister. Esther and her husband, John Faughman, lived in the attached apartment. They were super close. In 1918, Esther ended up dying from influenza and left her sister to raise her two daughters.
Tragedy happened all around. Not just to the family. Peter Greger, who was the barber James hired, also lived in the hotel with his family. His daughter was three years old when she died. She fell into a wall, where she hit her head on rocks and died. He and his wife and their other daughter moved from the hotel after that. People claim to see a little girl in the hallways, believing it is her.
In 1915, a family w ho lived nearby was a prominent doctor. When he was backing his car out between his home and the hotel, he backed over his son. He was severely hurt but didn’t die. They do believe there is a little boy who roams in the attic playing, though.
Another issue that came about was Prohibition. The hotel was not safe from Congress, but because they wanted to please their guests, the previous Greger apartment was transformed into a bordello to meet members of the Gentleman’s Club.
In 1937, James had a massive heart attack and died. Everyone was really sad about this, including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who was a good friend of Beatrice and even reached out. Beatrice sold the hotel to Allen Hazen. He ran the hotel until he died in 1971.
It continues to change owners until 2018. It is currently open and under new management.
Thehauntedshanleyhotel.com provides a really easy and nice timeline, which you can find below:
The Haunted Shanley Hotel Timeline:
1845 - Thomas Ritch built a new hotel called Ritch's Hotel, but later renamed it as the Mansion House.
1851 - The hotel's name is changed to Hungerford's Hotel, after being bought by F. G. Hungerford.
1858 - In April, Hungerford sells the hotel to John Tonkin.
1866 - John Tonkin sells the hotel to A. J. Wood and it becomes the Topatcoke House.
1871 - In May, Wood sells the hotel to Aaron Schoonmaker, and it becomes the Napanoch Hotel.
1872 - Schoonmaker sells to Eli Dewitt Terwiliger.
1876 - October 31st, James Louis Shanley is born.
1877 - Terwiliger sells the hotel to Civil War veterans, William Easman and his two brothers, Charles & Peter.
1884 - The Easman brothers sell to Frederick B. Bridgens.
1887 - Adolf Wagner purchases the hotel.
1895 - March 18th, the hotel burns down to its foundation after a nearby house catches fire and spreads.
1895 - By September, a new building frame is erected.
1895 - In November, the hotel reopens for business like the Colonial Hotel.
1898 - Wagner sells it to Mary Roos, and they change the name of the hotel back to the Hotel Napanoch.
1900 - US Federal Census shows George Gosselin as the owner.
1902 - Allen H. Hazen is born.
1906 - James Louis Shanley purchases the Colonial Hotel for $10,000.
1907 - Charles Byrnes fell from a window but survived.
1908 - A new addition is built for the hotel, including a bowling alley, barbershop, billiard room, and second-floor apartments.
1910 - A barbershop opens with a barber named Peter Greger from Brooklyn, NY.
1910 - April 26th, James and Beatrice are married in the hotel.
1911 - July 18th, Kathleen Shanley is born to James and Beatrice.
1911 - On May 26th, the barber's daughter, Jeanette Roseanne "Rosie" Greger, drowns in the well of the Hoornbeek Farm across the street from the hotel.
1912 - On January 6th, Kathleen Shanley dies at the age of 5 months and 24 days.
1913 - On September 10th, James Shanley Jr. is born. By this time, the hotel's name would soon be changed to Shanley's Hotel.
1914 - On January 21st, James Shanley Jr. dies at the age of 4 months and 11 days old.
1915 - Dr. Walter Nelson Thayer, Jr. accidentally ran over his 5-year-old son, Walter Nelson Thayer III, after the boy climbed onto the running board as the car was backing out of the alley between the hotel and the doctor's home. The boy sustained severe head injuries but did not die from the accident.
1916 - January 30th, William Shanley is born to James and Beatrice.
1916 - In February, there is a fire in the icehouse, and a new auto fire truck is credited with saving the hotel from destruction.
1916 - On November 9th, William Shanley dies at the age of 9 months and 10 days old.
1920s - The hotel operates as a speakeasy with bootleg liquor being hidden away in a secret basement room under the bar.
1932 - The hotel is raided for booze during the Prohibition Era.
1933 - James and Beatrice attend the Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC.
1933 - On August 3rd, future first lady Eleanor Roosevelt is a guest at the hotel.
1937 - August 26th, James Louis Shanley dies.
1941 - April 13th, there is a fire at the hotel due to a faulty chimney.
1944 - Beatrice sells the hotel to Allen H. Hazen
1961 - November 27th, Beatrice Shanley dies.
1967 - Nelson F. Waters purchases the hotel from Al.
1971 - August 26th, Allen H. Hazen dies.
1973 - G. Edward Trumbull purchases the hotel.
1991 - The hotel closes down.
2005 - Salvatore Nicosia purchases the hotel and discovers it is home to several spirits.
2007 - The Shanley Hotel has reopened.
2016 - July 5th, Salvatore Nicoscia passes away.
2017 - In December, the hotel was condemned and closed after a time of mixed reviews and poor management.
2018 - The hotel is reopened under new management.
The hotel is known for having a ton of paranormal activity and has been on TV shows such as “Ghost Lab” and “Ghost Hunters.”
TV shows aired on:
Ghost Hunters - Season 7, Episode 17 Ghost Lab - Season 2, Episode 6
So, tell me. Have you heard of this location before? Have you been there? Would you go? Let me know in the comments. And as always, if you do decide to visit here or any haunted location, respect the property, respect the owners, respect the residents... living or dead.
For more details about this story, how you can visit, and links to the shows, podcasts, documentaries, and resources used for this post can all be found below.
RESOURCES: