HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena, as catalogued
+ 2 further entries on record
Cape May dinner theater in an early-1800s Victorian building with a named cast of resident ghosts, including Emily Reed and a ghost cat called Streak
513 Lafayette Street, Cape May, NJ 08204
Research updated September 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$$
Dinner theater pricing; ticketed evening shows include multi-course meal. See website for current packages.
Access
Limited Access
Victorian building with multiple floors; second floor accessed by stairs.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1800 · One of Cape May's older surviving commercial structures, predating the 1878 fire era · Operating dinner theater for multiple decades in Cape May's heritage tourism district · Formal paranormal investigation by Tri-County Paranormal Research Society · Municipal contributing historic resource: Phinney (Elaine’s), 513 Lafayette Street.
Cape May's architectural heritage is dominated by Victorian construction dating from the 1860s through the 1890s, but the building at 513 Lafayette Street has an earlier pedigree. Its early-19th-century origins place it among the oldest surviving structures in a city that has rebuilt repeatedly after fires — most notably the 1878 conflagration that destroyed much of the central business district.
The property's evolution into a dinner theater reflects a broader Cape May trend of adapting historic residential and commercial buildings for heritage tourism. Elaine's has operated in the space for multiple decades, developing a theatrical identity around both its dining programming and the building's documented haunted reputation. The combination of Victorian aesthetics, period furnishings, and a named cast of ghosts made the restaurant a recognized stop on Cape May's informal haunted-venue circuit.
Cape May itself carries significant 19th-century history as a resort destination for Philadelphia and Washington elites, a Union Army mustering point during the Civil War, and — in the early 20th century — a hub for bootlegging operations during Prohibition. The Lafayette Street corridor saw residential and commercial development throughout these periods, and the building at No. 513 accumulated layers of occupancy before its current identity.
Paranormal investigators from the Tri-County Paranormal Research Society conducted a formal investigation of the premises, documenting their findings on the group's website. The group's findings matched staff accounts of activity concentrated in the bar area, on the first floor near the children's reported locations, and in the second-floor maid's room.
Sources
The paranormal cast at Elaine's is unusually specific for a commercial haunted venue. Roadside America and local accounts identify James as a dark male figure seen in and around the bar area. Two child apparitions have been reported on the first floor, described as playful rather than threatening. The second floor hosts what accounts call a feisty maid — a presence associated with the former domestic-service function of the upper rooms.
The most historically grounded of the named figures is Emily Reed, described as the daughter of the building's original owners, who allegedly died while living in the house. Her activity is concentrated in Room 3, where guests and staff have reported temperature anomalies and the sense of being watched.
The ghost cat named Streak occupies an unusual category in the property's paranormal history. Multiple guests have reported being scratched by an unseen animal, an account documented by Roadside America. The Tri-County Paranormal Research Society's investigation of the premises matched the general concentration of reported activity in the areas where staff encounters are most frequent.
Cape May's position as one of the most well-documented haunted cities on the Jersey Shore gives the Elaine's accounts broader context. The city's paranormal reputation draws investigators and enthusiasts who have contributed to the body of accounts across multiple venues.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
Where this legend is told
Evening dinner theater performance in the Victorian mansion setting. Elaine's has operated for decades as a Cape May fixture combining theatrical shows with multi-course dining in rooms where staff and guests have reported paranormal activity.
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The Victorian mansion at 513 Lafayette Street was built in the 1880s and is now operated as a combination boutique hotel, restaurant, Victorian pub, and dinner theater under the Elaine's Haunted Mansion name. It has been rated one of the top 5 dinner theaters in America by Food Network Magazine.