Middletown Eatery Joins Connecticut’s New Haunted History Trail

Earlier this week Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Office of Statewide Marketing and Tourism rolled out something that feels straight out of a ghost‑storybook: the Connecticut Haunted History Trail. It’s a curated, interactive map that stitches together more than 130 locations—homes, museums, lighthouses, even eateries—each tied to the state’s long, unsettling folklore.

What makes the trail special, aside from the chill‑inducing legends, is its breadth. The nine categories range from haunted homes and cemeteries to witch‑trial sites and, yes, restaurants. It’s a culinary twist on traditional ghost tours, and Middletown’s own Harrie's Jailhouse lands squarely in that food‑and‑fright niche.

Harrie's isn’t just any restaurant. Housed in the old Pameacha Jailhouse built in the 1850s, the brick walls still echo the clank of iron bars. Staff and patrons alike swear they’ve felt a cold touch or heard faint giggles in the pantry—usually attributed to a little girl named Sarah who, according to local lore, still roams the corridors.

Despite (or perhaps because of) the spectral rumors, the spot has become a hotspot for creative cocktails and hearty sandwiches, all cleverly named after jail‑related themes. Think “Cell Block Old Fashioned” or the “Lock‑Up Club Sandwich.” The owners say the ghost stories actually draw a crowd eager for a good scare and a good bite.

“Connecticut has nearly 400 years of stories to tell,” Lamont said at the press event. “This trail gives people an opportunity to learn more about that history while supporting the many small businesses that make our state unique.” He was right—by weaving folklore with tourism, the state hopes to boost visitation to places that might otherwise stay under the radar.

Beyond the food, the trail dives deep into Connecticut’s early witch‑trial era—long before Salem’s infamous hysteria. In 1647, Alice (Alse) Young of Windsor was executed, marking the colony’s first witch‑craft death. Fast‑forward to 2023, the state formally apologized for those historic injustices, a gesture now highlighted on the trail’s educational panels.

Travelers can follow the spooky itinerary on an interactive map at CTvisit.com/haunted-history. Whether you’re a hardcore paranormal enthusiast or just looking for a quirky day out, the trail promises a mix of history, mystery, and, in Harrie's case, a dash of deliciously haunted hospitality.

Connecticut has already built a reputation as one of the nation’s most haunted states, and with this new initiative it’s turning that reputation into a tourism asset. As Morgan Nyerick, director of the Office of Statewide Marketing and Tourism, put it, “Travelers want stories they can take home. The Haunted History Trail gives them exactly that—plus a reason to discover towns like Middletown they might never have visited otherwise.”