HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena, as catalogued
+ 3 further entries on record
Built in 1908 by the daughter of Singer Sewing Machine's third president, this Sullivan County Victorian B&B has been investigated by Ghost Nation's Jason Hawes and called a favorite by Linda Blair.
573 High Road, Glen Spey, NY 12737
Research updated September 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$$
Individual mansion rooms $250/night for two. Singer Suite (3 bedrooms, 2 baths) $700/night. Mackenzie Suite (master + 2 attic bedrooms) $600/night. Entire mansion (up to 10 guests, required for paranormal investigations) $1,200/night. Stables Motel rooms from $140. Rates include home-cooked dinner and full breakfast for mansion stays.
Access
Limited Access
Victorian mansion with multiple floors and attic spaces; rural property. Stables Motel offers ground-level accommodations.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1908 · Built by Margaret Ross Mackenzie Elkin, daughter of Singer Sewing Machine Company's third president · Last of seven Mackenzie family summer mansions in Glen Spey; one of three surviving · Design attributed to Henry J. Hardenberg · Multiple children of Margaret Elkin died during her tenure in the house
George Ross Mackenzie made his fortune as president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company — a position he held as the third person to hold that office — and accumulated an estate valued at $3.5 million at his death in 1892. Seven of his children subsequently built elaborate summer mansions in and around Glen Spey, in Sullivan County. Burn Brae was the last of these, constructed in 1908 by his daughter Margaret Ross Mackenzie Elkin. Of the original seven, only three survive.
The design is attributed to Henry J. Hardenberg, who worked on projects for Singer executives. Margaret's husband, Charles Elkin, was an engineer and inventor who held patents for the Elkin Hose Clamp and various pipe fittings. He also ran a spring water bottling works on the property and was an accomplished organist — a detail that has taken on particular resonance given subsequent ghost reports involving unexplained organ music.
Margaret outlived several of her children: a daughter named Elsey died at age nine, a daughter named for Margaret herself died, a son Charles Jr. died at 34, and an infant grandson died at birth. After the Elkin family's tenure, the property served variously as a boarding house and a tearoom during Prohibition.
The mansion was eventually restored by its current owners, Mike and Pat Fraysse, who preserved original architectural elements and reopened it as a bed and breakfast with a paranormal focus. A 12-room motel was built on the former horse stable site.
Sources
The paranormal reputation at Burn Brae draws partly from the documented history of loss within the house — multiple children of Margaret Elkin died during the family's tenure — and partly from an accumulating record of reported experiences since the property reopened as a B&B.
Among the most-cited phenomena: unexplained organ music heard throughout the mansion despite no instrument being present (Charles Elkin, Margaret's husband, was an accomplished organist and played the instrument in life). Guests have reported children's voices and the sound of a baby crying. Apparitions include a Lady in White seen on the grounds, a male figure described as a black mist, and the elderly couple called the Hapijs — reportedly seen playing chess by a window and associated with the smell of fresh baking.
Jason Hawes, the founder of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) and co-host of Ghost Nation, investigated Burn Brae and documented findings on a Travel Channel episode titled 'Evil in the Attic,' which aired November 7, 2020. He has visited the property multiple times, and the mansion's website and Facebook page reference his involvement. Linda Blair, actress known primarily for The Exorcist, is publicly quoted as calling Burn Brae 'one of my favorite places to stay when I am up here.'
Monthly paranormal investigation evenings (third Saturday of each month) let guests use ghost-hunting equipment in the mansion, including the Attic of Curiosities.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
Overnight guests at the mansion receive a home-cooked dinner, a full breakfast, and an exclusive guided tour of the mansion including the Attic of Curiosities. Paranormal investigations require booking the entire mansion ($1,200). Monthly investigation evenings (third Saturday of each month) include training on ghost-hunting equipment followed by a guided investigation.
Murder Mystery dinners are offered throughout the year and do not require an overnight stay. Contact the mansion directly for event dates and reservation.
See current room rates and availability at Burn Brae Mansion.
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