18th-Century Inn with Ghostly Residents in Coastal Connecticut
Captain William Gonzales Grant erected a manor in 1754 in the woods of southeastern Connecticut for his wife, Mercy Adelaide Avery. Then he died at sea. Over the next two centuries, a multitude of his family members, Revolutionary War soldiers, and Civil War runaway slaves alternated as residents at the estate. Today, Captain Grant’s, 1754 has been restored to its old glamour, but it’s said to be haunted—guests have heard whispering voices during evening hours. The hotel embraces these paranormal visitors; it holds ghost-communication lessons where inn staff members give tips on how to speak to those beyond the grave.
The guest rooms have centuries-old decor and full private bathrooms. The Adelaide room features 1800s Gothic furniture, and the Elizabeth room, named after the last woman to reside at the property, has hardwood floors crafted from now-extinct hard-heart pine. Inn staff provide firewood for the marble-and-mahogany fireplace in the Margaret room and the Holly room's reproduction of an 18th-century hearth.
Captain Grant's all-you-can-eat country breakfasts come loaded with hearty, seasonal recipes. In autumn months, chefs draw on freshly harvested, local ingredients to concoct egg dishes laden with a variety of cheeses. Winter breakfasts feature whiskey-soaked peaches and homemade corned-beef hash, which you can enjoy next to the crackle of the dining room's fireplace. In the spring, enjoy fresh fruit and the inn's homemade jams and jellies—from pineapple rhubarb to arabian peach. Complimentary wine is served nightly.
New London County, Connecticut: Colonial and Native American History in Fielded Landscape
Stone walkways wind through Poquetanuck Village, the historical district where Captain Grant’s, 1754 resides. This coastal area is steeped in colonial-era maritime history, and you can learn about it in museums throughout the county, including Mystic Seaport, with its wooden-shipbuilding yard.
The county also boasts dozens of historical districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see relics of the native Mashantucket Pequot nation in artisans' shops and galleries.
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