HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena, as catalogued
+ 3 further entries on record
Claimed as America's oldest continuously operating inn since 1704, the Beekman Arms runs basement ghost storytelling on Friday nights and hosts guests who report a Revolutionary War soldier near the original Tavern Room fireplace.
6387 Mill Street, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Overnight rooms from approximately $115/night. Restaurant and tavern open to non-guests.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Village inn with accessible main floor; basement access involves stairs
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1766 · Oldest continuously operating inn in the United States · George Washington and other Revolutionary War figures stayed and gathered here · Listed on the Haunted History Trail of New York State · FDR concluded each of his four campaigns for governor and president from the inn's porch
A travelers' inn was established on the site in 1704, and the Beekman Arms was added to it in 1766, at the main colonial route between New York City and Albany then known as the Albany Post Road. It served travelers, merchants, and military personnel from its earliest years. During the Revolutionary War, the inn's location on the primary Hudson Valley road made it a regular stop for Continental Army officers. George Washington and other Continental Army figures are documented to have stayed, eaten, and gathered here during the war. Among the other Revolutionary-era figures associated with the inn are Benedict Arnold and Alexander Hamilton.
The property operated continuously through the 18th and 19th centuries, surviving periods of decline and renovation. The original Tavern Room preserves the 1766 fireplace, making it the oldest surviving architectural element of the current structure. Historic Hotels of America recognizes the Beekman Arms as the oldest continuously operating inn in the United States.
The inn was expanded with the acquisition of the adjacent Delamater Inn, a Gothic Revival cottage designed by Alexander Jackson Davis in 1844 — the same architect who designed Lyndhurst in Tarrytown. Today the combined property has roughly 50 to 80 rooms across several historic buildings. It is listed on the Haunted History Trail of New York State.
Franklin D. Roosevelt concluded each of his four campaigns for governor and president by speaking from the inn's porch.
Sources
The Beekman Arms's haunting tradition centers on the original Tavern Room fireplace — the 1766 hearth that is the oldest surviving element of the building. A Revolutionary War soldier is the most consistently reported apparition; witnesses describe seeing a male figure near the fireplace during quiet hours. The inn's 250-year tenure on a major military road during a period of active combat provides a historical context that guests and staff cite when explaining the reports.
Beyond the soldier, multiple guests and staff members have logged flickering lights, inexplicable cold spots, and the sound of footsteps in hallways where no one is walking. Visitors who have photographed the inn report orbs appearing frequently in images taken throughout the building. Shadow figures moving through hallways and forms appearing in guest rooms are among the more specific accounts.
The seasonal Friday-night Ghost Stories in the Basement program takes guests to areas not typically open to visitors and presents these accounts with historical context. The storyteller leads the group down to the basement of the 18th-century inn and recounts specific episodes attributed to particular periods of the building's history. The program is described by the inn as appropriate for mature audiences.
The property is listed on the Haunted History Trail of New York State and is among the Hudson Valley's most consistently referenced haunted hotel destinations.
Notable Entities
The inn has roughly 50 to 80 rooms across several historic buildings; ask for the current count when booking. Guests and staff report recurring phenomena including flickering lights, cold spots, and footsteps in empty hallways. The Tavern Room, which features the original 1766 fireplace, is the most frequently cited location for the reported Revolutionary War soldier apparition.
Seasonal Friday-night Ghost Stories in the Basement reenactment, taking guests to the inn's basement for a candlelit storytelling session covering the inn's history and the people and spirits said to have occupied the building. Call (845) 876-7077 to book and confirm the current night, time, and price.
Non-guests can visit the Tavern at Beekman Arms, which includes the original 18th-century fireplace. The inn traces its site to 1704, with the Beekman Arms addition built in 1766, and is a Historic Hotels of America member.
See current room rates and availability at Beekman Arms & Delamater Inn.
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