Since Halloween is fast approaching, it’s the perfect time of year to raise those hairs on the back of your neck. Even though Calgary is a relatively young city, it nonetheless has its share of spooky tales to tell.
Here are five places around the city where you can have dinner and maybe spot something a little unexplainable too…
The Hose and Hound
Inglewood, being one of the city’s oldest communities, boasts the highest amount of hauntings per neighbourhood capita in Calgary. Let’s start with this popular firehall-turned-pub, where strange things have been reported to have happened, which have been attributed to the ghosts of pet monkeys past. Literally. Apparently the old fire chief, “Cappy,” had a love of unique pets and wound up having to put down a couple of troublesome monkeys … and they’ve been causing a ruckus (i.e. unexplained plates falling a breaking, strange sounds, etc.) ever since.
1030 9 Ave. S.E., 403-234-0508, thehose.ca
Fairmont Palliser
This century-old hotel obiviously has its fair share of stories that include sightings of a ghostly conductor wandering the halls, a well-to-do woman descending on the staircase, unexplained sounds coming from empty hotel rooms and more. If these walls could talk, who knows what they would tell you while you sit back and sip on a cocktail and have a bite in the Oak Room.
133 9 Ave S.W., 403-262-1234, fairmont.com/palliser, @FairmontPal
Ironwood Stage and Grill
Always a lovely place to catch live music and enjoy some comfort food, the Ironwood, formerly the Garry Theatre, is rumoured to have a ghost that spends most of his time in the basement. Allegedly, a former director from a production decades ago, can’t seem to let the space go. What’s his quirk? He enjoys locking doors, leaving people stuck in awkward places. What a guy!
1229 9 Ave. S.E., 403-269-5581, ironwoodstage.ca, @IronwoodStage
Rose and Crown
Any eatery that was a funeral home in its former life should naturally expect to have a few spirits lingering inside. One of Calgary’s most famous haunted spots is just off of the corner of 17th Avenue and 4th Street S.W. Over the years, staff have seen things like strange lights coming from the attic and an apparition of young boy hanging around in the basement.
1503 4 St. S.W., 403-244-7757, roseandcrowncalgary.ca, @roseandcrownyyc
Rouge
It’s rare that a ghost will interrupt your chef’s tasting menu experience here at one of Calgary top restaurants, but if you’re a lingering guest past closing time then you never know what you might see. The original inhabitants of the Cross House (the building that houses Rouge, which was built in 1899) saw their two young children pass away tragically and, as such, staff have reported hearing sounds of children laughing throughout the space as well noticing that an object had been moved for no rhyme or reason when no one was thereto have moved it. Anyway, back to dinner!
1240 8 Ave. S.E., 403-531-2767, rougecalgary.com, @rougecal