Drive-By
Gleneida Avenue Exterior Visit
View the landmark former inn from the public sidewalk in the heart of Carmel hamlet, overlooking Lake Gleneida. The building is closed but remains a recognizable Route 52 landmark.
- Duration:
- 20 min
Photo coming soon
Haunted Dining / Bar
Smalley's Inn & Restaurant
A historic 1852 Carmel inn and tavern founded by a town sheriff-coroner, long reputed to be haunted by Elizabeth Smalley, a child whose tombstone was found buried beneath the basement stairs.
57 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, NY 10512
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Restaurant closed in January 2020; building is not currently open to the public. Exterior viewing only.
Access
Limited Access
Village sidewalk; building closed
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1852 · One of the oldest continuously operating inns/restaurants in Putnam County (1852-2020) · Owned by a 19th-century town sheriff and coroner · Survived two major Carmel downtown fires (1924, 1974) · Featured on Travel Channel's 'The Dead Files'
Smalley's Inn was established in 1852 by James Smalley in the hamlet of Carmel, the county seat of Putnam County, New York. Beyond running the inn, Smalley was a prominent local figure who at various times held the offices of town sheriff, coroner, and treasurer. A portion of the inn's basement reportedly served as a morgue during his tenure as coroner, a detail that later became central to the building's ghost lore.
The inn sat on Carmel's Route 52 business corridor (Gleneida Avenue), overlooking Lake Gleneida. In 1924 a fire destroyed the inn along with much of downtown Carmel, after which a new Smalley's Hotel was rebuilt on the site. The corridor was struck by fire again in 1974, once more damaging Smalley's and surrounding buildings.
The restaurant changed hands several times over the decades. Millie Coniglio purchased it in the early 1950s, and it was later owned by Anthony F. Porto Sr. and his son Anthony M. Porto Jr., who ran it for more than five decades. Under the Portos, Smalley's became a beloved Carmel institution and a regional dining mainstay.
Smalley's Inn closed permanently on January 15, 2020, reportedly for a combination of financial reasons and the owner's health, ending more than a century and a half of continuous operation. The building remains a recognizable village landmark.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smalley's_Inn_&_Restaurant
- https://dailyvoice.com/ny/mahopac/lifestyle/ghosts-and-all-smalley-inn-has-been-carmel-mainstay-for-over-century/687500/
- https://classicnewyorkhistory.com/ghosts-and-good-times-at-the-carmel-new-york-smalley-inn/
Apparition of a young girl (identified in lore as Elizabeth Smalley)Tugged clothingDisembodied footstepsCold spots in the basement liquor roomSimultaneous phone calls from the inn's own numberApparitions of an adult man and woman
The central figure in Smalley's lore is Elizabeth Smalley, described as a daughter of founder James Smalley who died as a toddler. According to multiple accounts, the building's paranormal reputation intensified after a restaurant owner discovered a tombstone bearing Elizabeth's name buried beneath a set of basement stairs, near a portion of the cellar that had reportedly been used as a morgue during James Smalley's term as town coroner (Wikipedia; Classic New York History; Daily Voice).
Reported phenomena over the years include patrons feeling their clothing tugged, disembodied footsteps, cold spots in the basement liquor room, and sightings attributed not only to a little girl but also to a grown man and woman. One frequently retold account describes a night when every cellphone in the building rang at the same moment, each call appearing to originate from Smalley's own phone number (Daily Voice; New York Haunted Houses).
The location drew media attention for its reputation. On August 17, 2012, Travel Channel's 'The Dead Files' aired an episode filmed at Smalley's, in which psychic medium Amy Allan reported sensing the apparitions of a soldier and other entities (Wikipedia; WRRV). Local radio coverage and regional ghost-tour writeups have repeated the Elizabeth story for years, making Smalley's one of the most widely cited haunted sites in the Hudson Valley.
Notable Entities
Elizabeth Smalley (child spirit, per local lore)
Media Appearances
- The Dead Files (Travel Channel, 2012)
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & 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 Smalley's Inn & Restaurant family-friendly?
An exterior-only stop in a walkable village. The lore centers on a child ghost, which is gentle rather than gory, but the building is no longer open to enter. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Smalley's Inn & Restaurant?
Restaurant closed in January 2020; building is not currently open to the public. Exterior viewing only. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Smalley's Inn & Restaurant wheelchair accessible?
Smalley's Inn & Restaurant has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Village sidewalk; building closed.