HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
+ 2 further entries on record
A Greek Revival mansion on Seneca Lake where an 1850 renovation tragedy left two spirits — and a wine named Ghost in their honor.
168 Randall Crossing Road, Himrod, NY 14842
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages (wine tasting 21+)
Cost
$$
Tasting flights available; see website for current pricing and hours.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Lakeside property with some lawn areas; historic mansion with interior stairs.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1802 · Greek Revival mansion built circa 1802 on Seneca Lake · Historic ferry crossing site · 1850 renovation tragedy: husband fell from attic; widow died of grief · Wine Enthusiast Magazine podcast feature on haunted history · Ghost wine released 2003 depicting spectral couple
The property at 168 Randall Crossing Road in Himrod occupies a site where a ferry crossing operated in Seneca Lake's early navigation era. The Greek Revival mansion on the grounds dates to approximately 1802, predating the winery operation by more than a century and a half.
Doug Miles and Suzie Hayes have managed the property since the early 1980s, building a winery operation that now produces wines including Riesling, Cabernet Franc, and the property's signature Ghost, a Chardonnay-Cayuga blend released in 2003. The winery draws visitors from the wider Finger Lakes Wine Country circuit and also operates a lakeside boathouse and accommodation in the William Miles Suite.
The 1850 event that defines the property's haunted reputation involved a newlywed couple tasked with renovating the mansion from its original farmhouse configuration into the Greek Revival structure. During attic work, the husband fell to his death. His widow reportedly did not survive his passing, dying of what contemporaries described as grief. The tragic symmetry of their deaths — one violent, one a kind of willed absence — gave rise to accounts that began circulating shortly after.
In 2003, the winery formalized its relationship with the legend by releasing Ghost, a wine featuring a silk-screened bottle label depicting the spectral couple embracing. An elderly visitor had earlier recalled childhood memories of 'a nice man and woman who would come out of the walls,' providing early third-party corroboration of the ghost accounts. The winery's Haunted History page documents the phenomenon openly and has been referenced by Wine Enthusiast Magazine in a podcast episode.
Sources
The legend of Miles Wine Cellars centers on a couple who died on the property in 1850. The husband fell from the attic while renovating the mansion; his widow is said to have died of grief shortly after. An elderly visitor years later recalled childhood memories of 'a nice man and woman who would come out of the walls,' an account the current owners treat as independent corroboration of their own experiences.
Doug Miles himself witnessed one of the most-described incidents: a mist rose from the floor of the living room, formed at approximately human height, then moved through the room and slammed several doors in sequence. Miles's father, staying at the property, repeatedly woke to someone pressing on his back, with his comforter flung across the room by morning.
Visitors have reported seeing the couple together — standing on the porch, apparently embracing — while individual apparitions have appeared as a moving mist inside the mansion. Following clairvoyant advice, the owners actively prohibit séances on the property, believing such contact would agitate the spirits. Ghost hunts are similarly discouraged.
The 2003 release of the Ghost wine was the winery's way of acknowledging the couple's presence rather than treating their story as a marketing gimmick. The silk-screened label depicts them embracing, and the back label invites visitors to share their paranormal experiences. Wine Enthusiast Magazine later featured the winery's haunted history in a podcast episode, bringing national attention to the story.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
Visit the tasting room in the historic Greek Revival mansion overlooking Seneca Lake. The winery's own 'Haunted History' page details the 1850 renovation tragedy, and the property's Ghost wine — a Chardonnay-Cayuga blend — depicts the legendary couple on its silk-screened label.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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