Walking Tour Booking Required
Mt. Misery ghost walk stop
Mount Ida is a stop on Ellicott City's guided Mt. Misery ghost walk, which narrates the house's history and the legend of Ida Tyson and her jingling keys.
- Duration:
- 1.5 hr
Haunted House / Historic Home
Mount Ida
An 1828 Greek Revival mansion in Ellicott City, last family home of Ida Tyson; visitors on the ghost walk report the jingle of the keys she carried in life.
3691 Sarahs Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Howard County-owned historic house; grounds viewable, with interior access tied to events and the guided ghost walk, which charges a separate ticket fee.
Access
Limited Access
Hilltop grounds north of Old Ellicott City with sloping lawns and historic stone construction.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1828 · Built in 1828 for William Ellicott, grandson of co-founder Andrew Ellicott · Raised by mason Charles Timanus, who also built the Patapsco Female Institute · Home of Judge John S. Tyson's family from the 1850s · Named for Ida Tyson, the last family resident · Now owned by Howard County and used for events and tours
Mount Ida was built in 1828 for William Ellicott, a grandson of Andrew Ellicott, one of the brothers who founded Ellicott's Mills. The house is a Greek Revival structure of rubble stone finished in stucco, raised by the mason Charles Timanus, whose other work in the area included the nearby Patapsco Female Institute and the Howard County Courthouse.
In the 1850s, Judge John S. Tyson moved his family into the house. His youngest daughter, Ida Tyson, became the last member of the family to live there, and the house took its name from her. Mount Ida stands on the same hilltop ridge north of Old Ellicott City as the Patapsco Female Institute ruins and the old county jail.
The house is now owned by Howard County and has been used as headquarters by local preservation groups, including Historic Ellicott City, Inc. and the Friends of the Patapsco Female Institute. Rather than keeping fixed daily public hours, it serves as an events and tour space.
Because of its history and its place in the hilltop cluster, Mount Ida is a regular stop on Ellicott City's guided ghost walk, where its story is told alongside those of its neighboring sites.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt_Ida_(Ellicott_City,_Maryland)
- https://www.marylandhauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/mt-ida.html
- https://midatlanticdaytrips.com/2022/09/walk-the-mile-with-the-most-ghosts-in-haunted-ellicott-city/
The jingle of a ring of keys reported in the houseA domestic, housekeeping-style presence reported by tour participants
The Mount Ida legend is tied directly to Ida Tyson, the last of the family to live in the house. According to the lore carried on Ellicott City's ghost walks, Ida kept a ring of keys with her in life, and the sound of those keys jingling is what visitors and tour participants report hearing as her presence is said to move through the rooms.
MarylandHauntedHouses describes witnesses hearing the keys as the ghost wanders the home, and MidAtlantic Daytrips independently folds Mount Ida into its account of the Ellicott City walk as a house with a domestic, housekeeping-style presence. The two accounts agree on the central image: a former resident still tending the house she never really left, announced by the small, specific sound of her keys.
The reports come from the guided walk and from house-history retellings rather than from formal paranormal investigation. Mount Ida's status as a county-owned events space, open mainly for tours, keeps the encounters anchored to the walk and to event visitors rather than to round-the-clock occupancy.
Notable Entities
Ida Tyson — last family resident, associated with the jingling-keys legend
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Drive-By
Grounds and exterior viewing
View the 1828 Greek Revival house and its hilltop grounds. Interior access is limited to events and guided tours.
- Duration:
- 20 min
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 Mount Ida family-friendly?
Family-friendly history and a gentle keys-jingling legend. Evening guided walks cross uneven hilltop terrain; interior access is event-dependent. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Mount Ida?
Howard County-owned historic house; grounds viewable, with interior access tied to events and the guided ghost walk, which charges a separate ticket fee. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Mount Ida wheelchair accessible?
Mount Ida has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Hilltop grounds north of Old Ellicott City with sloping lawns and historic stone construction..