Overnight Stay Booking Required
Overnight Stay
Stay at the oceanfront inn that first welcomed guests in 1875, where some guests and staff report subtle paranormal experiences attributed to the inn's long-rumored resident spirit.
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on file
on file
HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena, as catalogued
- 01Female apparition seen out of the corner of the eye
- 02Scent of roses or gardenias with no source
- 03Lights turning on by themselves
- 04Phantom footsteps
+ 1 further entry on record
Haunted Hotel / Inn
The Wauwinet
A luxury oceanfront inn on Nantucket first welcoming guests in 1875, where guests and staff have long reported a perfume-scented female apparition, self-activating lights, and phantom running water in the lobby.
120 Wauwinet Road, Nantucket, MA 02584
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 4 sources
Research updated September 2026
Age
12 and over
Cost
$$$$
High-end seasonal Relais & Châteaux resort; overnight stays and dining at Topper's restaurant. Open seasonally.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Renovated resort property with grounds and beach access at the eastern end of Nantucket; accessible paths reach check-in, guest rooms, dining and the business center, with 2 accessible rooms and an accessible public restroom, but there is no accessible elevator.
Equipment
Photos OK
One of Nantucket's oldest continuously operating inns (since 1875) · Named for the Wampanoag sachem Wauwinet of the island's eastern region · Owned by the Backus family from the early 1900s until 1978 · Restored and reopened as a luxury Relais & Châteaux resort in 1988
The Wauwinet House first welcomed guests in 1875 on a narrow strip of land between Nantucket Harbor and the Atlantic at the island's remote eastern end. The inn took its name from Wauwinet, a sachem (chief) associated with the Wampanoag people who inhabited the eastern section of Nantucket. On June 17, 1876, the local Inquirer & Mirror reported that the Wauwinet House hosted 163 people for a shore dinner of clam chowder, boiled lobster, and pastry, a scale that captures its early popularity as a destination for excursions across the harbor.
James A. Backus managed the Wauwinet beginning in the mid-1890s and bought it shortly after the turn of the century; his family would own the property until 1978. During the early 1900s the inn gained a second floor and the front veranda lined with rocking chairs that became one of its signatures, where guests watched the comings and goings of harbor boats and the surrounding marshland.
The Karp family purchased the Wauwinet House in 1986 and, following an extensive renovation and redecoration, reopened it in June 1988 as The Wauwinet. Today it operates as a seasonal luxury resort and a member of Relais & Châteaux, with the acclaimed restaurant Topper's housed in the historic building. After roughly 140 years of operation, the inn remains one of Nantucket's most storied lodging properties.
Sources
- https://www.wauwinet.com/explore/history
- https://www.mahauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/the-wauwinet-hotel.html
- https://www.ghostquest.net/haunted-places-nantucket-massachusetts.html
- https://historygoesbump.blogspot.com/2022/03/hgb-ep-429-haunted-nantucket.html
Female apparition seen out of the corner of the eyeScent of roses or gardenias with no sourceLights turning on by themselvesPhantom footstepsSound of running water in the lobby with no plumbing
The Wauwinet's best-known legend centers on a woman's apparition that visitors say is seen only out of the corner of the eye and is accompanied by a distinctive floral scent, usually described as roses or gardenias. Beyond the perfumed lady, guests and staff have reported lights turning on by themselves, disembodied footsteps, and the unexplained sound of running water in the lobby in places where no plumbing exists. These accounts appear across multiple Nantucket ghost sources and have been recounted on paranormal podcasts covering the island.
A persistent piece of folklore holds that the inn was built atop a Native American burial ground, which some storytellers offer as an explanation for the activity. It is important to note that no historical evidence supports this claim; local and tourism sources that repeat it explicitly acknowledge that it is unverified island lore rather than documented fact. We present it here only as part of the storytelling tradition, without treating it as established history.
The single Shadowlands submission that seeds this entry adds further uncorroborated details that do not appear in other accounts; those have been set aside in favor of the consistently reported phenomena above. The Wauwinet's age, isolation at the wild eastern end of the island, and gentle, atmospheric reputation have kept it on lists of Nantucket's most haunted places for decades.
Notable Entities
The perfumed lady (unidentified female apparition)
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Dinner Booking Required
Dinner at Topper's
Dine at the inn's acclaimed restaurant, Topper's, set within the historic Wauwinet House; book through Resy, which the hotel's dining page links to.
Book a room at The Wauwinet
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See current room rates and availability at The Wauwinet.
Check rates and bookRates come from booking partners, so a small property may not be listed. Book direct with The Wauwinet
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Wauwinet family-friendly?
A refined, high-end resort that caters to guests 12 and over; the operator directs families with younger children to its sister properties. The ghost lore is gentle (a perfumed apparition) rather than frightening, but the price point and atmosphere are aimed at luxury travelers. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit The Wauwinet?
High-end seasonal Relais & Châteaux resort; overnight stays and dining at Topper's restaurant. Open seasonally.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, reservations are required.
Is The Wauwinet wheelchair accessible?
Yes, The Wauwinet is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Renovated resort property with grounds and beach access at the eastern end of Nantucket; accessible paths reach check-in, guest rooms, dining and the business center, with 2 accessible rooms and an accessible public restroom, but there is no accessible elevator..