Although most people associate Seaside with saltwater taffy, rounds of Fascination and strolls down the Prom, the historic city offers more than meets the eye. According to the many enthusiasts who flock here every year for the Northwest’s largest paranormal conference, Seaside is a top spot for exploring the supernatural. 

Unlike many events focused on spooky experiences, the Oregon Ghost Conference takes place not around Halloween but each spring in late March — after all, ghost hunting is a year-round activity. From shadowy theatergoers to a ghost with a vendetta against ABBA, here’s what you need to know about Seaside’s spooky side.

Where Ghost Hunters Meet and Greet

With conference events over the course of three days and nights, many hundreds of seasoned ghost hunters and curious visitors alike come for a spirited holiday. Attendees listen to speakers, shop for spooky souvenirs and join workshops and paranormal investigations. Investigators lead groups to well-known spots such as the Times Theatre — where shadowy figures occasionally emerge in the balcony seats — and the Bridge Tender tavern, whose resident ghost, “Madame,” famously wreaks havoc every time ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” comes on the jukebox. 

Located appropriately across the road from Caldwell’s Funeral & Cremation Arrangement Center, the Old Masonic Lodge is another hot spot for paranormal activity. Visits led by Astoria-based paranormal investigation group GhostOria during recent conferences revealed untold tales within the historic structure, with psychic mediums and tour participants reporting seeing, hearing and even recording the growls and screams of unexplained presences. In a moment fit for a horror film, a toy car turned itself on and drove across the floor.

Even the conference venue itself — the Seaside Civic and Convention Center — has had its own paranormal activity. One conference attendee witnessed an apparition of a floating woman in a long dress, while other spirit-sensitive visitors have noted sensations in what’s now the loading dock.

Sleep With Ghosts

Interested in a long weekend in Seaside for the ghost-curious? Consider a stay at Starry Night Inn, a charming, centrally located property with 12 rooms in three buildings, plus a spa with outdoor bathhouse and infrared sauna. 

But that’s not all you might find. According to paranormal historian Rocky Smith, Oregon Ghost Conference director and founder of Northwest Ghost Tours, the inn has one guest, a woman, who never checks out — or leaves. Multiple people have seen her hanging out upstairs, drawing the attention of paranormal investigators. One investigator saw the woman in a room and decided to wait for her to move on before heading in, stating: “After a while, when she didn’t come out, he went in slowly and there was nobody in the room.” There have also been reports of a chair moving on its own.

Smith and his fellow conference crew members often stay at the inn during the event, and something always keeps them from departing on time. “Ghosts seem to always want us to stay,” he says. One year their car key disappeared, causing them to unpack everything, only to find the key sitting neatly atop one of the suitcases after they’d repacked. Another year their truck suddenly wouldn’t shift into gear. After trying everything, Smith promised the spirits they would return and would be visiting again. The truck then moved with no issues.

More Ghost Hunting in Seaside

While joining conference tours is the best way to dip your toes into the world of ghost hunting in Seaside, you can always DIY your own ghost-hunting experience — if you dare. Start at the Seaside Museum & Historical Society to learn more about those who lived and died in the city. Some say the Butterfield Cottage on museum grounds — a beach cottage built in 1893 and now open for tours — is haunted. After conducting your own evaluation, make your way over to Twisted Fish Steakhouse, where people have reported seeing shadowy figures lurking in the kitchen. Even if you don’t see a spirit, you can still get a hearty bowl of clam chowder. Then pop over to the Spay and Neuter Thrift Shop, where volunteers have witnessed hangers sliding on clothing racks when nobody else was in the store (or so it seemed).