Take an evening tour down the ghostly path that leads to the Cape May Lighthouse, as you hear about psychic medium Craig McManus’ paranormal findings Hotel’s gone. The venue is 2 km away from the city centre.The hotel is close to Cape May Bird Observatory in Cape May. The hotel’s gone. And, despite his reputation as a tut-tutting moralist, when Bashaw came out as gay, McIntire didn’t reject him. So I think about finding the right protégé who would take it for the next 60 years.” He pauses, and laughs again. This property is housed in a colonial-style building. “It was hard to prepare,” she says. He has no children or obvious heirs, and he admits that he can worry about who’s going to succeed him. “That was an insane process! Cape May is often ranked among the most haunted cities and towns in America. Famous composer John Philip Sousa played at the hotel regularly. Congress Hall is part of the Cape May National Historic District and is situated just a 3-minute walk from the beach. In 1828 Hughes was elected to Congress, this is when the name changed to “Congress Hall.” By the middle of the 19 th Century Congress Hall doubled in size, but in 1878 the building was destroyed by a fire that devastated 38 acres of Cape May’s Seafront. The Congress Hall allows guests to walk to Cape May Beach, Poverty Beach and Washington Street Mall. The structure being celebrated for its bicentennial isn’t, of course, the one first constructed by old Tom Hughes. But at least four U.S. presidents have ensconced themselves in one of Congress Hall’s ocean-view suites, though you won’t find Lincoln, Wilson, or the Roosevelts in the mix: Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Ulysses Grant, and most notably Benjamin Harrison—who, partisans of Congress Hall are fond of pointing out, settled into a kind of summer White House on the ground floor in 1890 and 1891 while the real White House was being renovated. Arriving in Cape May soon after the devastating nor’easter of 1962, McIntire built a mini-empire that included the enormous Christian Admiral Hotel, Shelton College, the Lafayette Cottages, the Colonial Star Villa, the building that’s now the Peter Shields Inn, and Congress Hall. The structure, rebuilt in 1879 after a fire destroyed the earlier edifice, was first renovated a century ago and then again in 2002. CAPE MAY, N.J. (CBS) — In Cape May, the historic Congress Hall has installed a dozen dining igloos on its grand lawn for December. It lived through emancipation, through women’s suffrage.” Not to mention two world wars, a depression, and its fair share of hurricanes and nor’easters. Imagine being poor E.C. It is, according to Bashaw, maybe America’s very oldest hotel. By 1995, Bashaw and a handful of partners secured financing to buy the Admiral and Congress Hall, then closed and shuttered, from the federal government, which had taken possession of the two buildings, and to pay back taxes to the city of Cape May. “I mean, I’m still good for another twenty years or so! “All these ghosts, these hauntings, were inspiration to me in trying to bring the place back.”, Bashaw, whose grandfather, the fiery preacher Carl McIntire, owned the hotel for a couple of decades, is proud of the fact that of all the grand hotels that graced Cape May’s avenues since it emerged as a Victorian resort, Congress Hall is one of the last ones standing. On her tour, Reilly describes the tangled and tumultuous history of a building that truly has seen it all. Are you as spooked as I am? Congress Hall Hotel listed under Hotels And Motels. In 1816 a simple boarding house opened in Cape May New Jersey. Columbia? Add a few thrills and chills to your next stay with one of the many Cape May ghost tours our city offers! Eventually, however, the Christian Beacon Press, the company that owned Congress Hall and other properties, began to run into rough financial straits. Among other things, Bashaw credits McIntire for keeping Congress Hall intact in an era when it could easily have been a victim of a wrecking ball. “People used to come here for health reasons, and to breathe the ocean air in, and I wanted that to be part of the feel of the room. Jacob F. Cake. Cape May is easily accessible from the Garden State Parkway and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Congress Hall. “Nothing stays the same,” he says. Great food, great prizes and frightening fun in which you too can watch locals spook the daylights out of each other. According to a new biography, Fighting Fundamentalist: Carl McIntire and the Politicization of American Fundamentalism, McIntire was the pioneer of mixing Christianity and politics. Cape May Tourism Cape May Hotels Cape May Bed and Breakfast Cape May Vacation Rentals Cape May Packages Flights to Cape May Cape May Restaurants Cape May and the hotel were so popular that several presidents vacationed there including; Ulysses S. Grant, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. The spacious hall was crammed with the elite of Philadelphia, [with] hundreds of ladies dressed in queenly splendor.”. But you have to think about these things.”, Receive 1 year of Cape May Magazine (6 issues) for $29, Rendering of the original Congress Hall in the 1800s, pre-fire. Perhaps Uhler’s main contribution was the addition of a round-faced cocktail joint on Beach Avenue. “They wanted to keep their power base,” says Bashaw. “I think it could well be that we’re the oldest functioning hotel in the country,” he says. “It’s evocative of an old, classic beach house,” she says. At a minimum, it would require tens of millions of dollars. The next stop on the tour is the majestic Congress Hall. Categories congress hall cape may fall, Fall events cape may, Halloween cape may events. Now $180 (Was $̶3̶1̶5̶) on Tripadvisor: Congress Hall, Cape May. By the middle of the 19th century, Congress Hall had earned a reputation as a glittering refuge for the wealthy. “I came back just in the nick of time,” he says. “Change is gonna happen. Does the government own it? Using his newfound business acumen, Bashaw started to decide what he could save from his grandfather’s bankrupt empire. But they’ve shared the same journey that I have.”. Knight, who didn’t really want to be in the hotel business, and the year after he takes it over it burns to the ground!”, For Bashaw, who grew up in Cape May and for whom Congress Hall was part of the furniture of his childhood, the people who came before him have created a unique sort of collective legacy, and he sees himself as the heir to all of it. See 1,510 traveler reviews, 876 candid photos, and great deals for Congress Hall, ranked #15 of 37 hotels in Cape May … “We’re probably the biggest private employer in Cape May county,” says Bashaw, whose Cape Resorts, Inc., last year employed 761 people at the height of the summer season. Hotel staff gathered on the lawn in 1928. Congress Hall Hotel, 251 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204 Get Address, Phone Number, Maps, Ratings, Photos, Websites and more for Congress Hall Hotel. “She took it over in 1904, when she was in her forties,” says Reilly, who compiled a fair amount of research before using her theatrical skills to create a character about whose personality and bearing very little is known. Once known as "The Summer White House," Congress Hall has been a welcome retreat to many throughout the centuries. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the resort was once known as "The Summer White House", and continues to be a welcome retreat for travelers today. Congress Hall, Cape May, Cape May, New Jersey. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. “I’ve never met any of them. In the 1950s, under the bulky Joe Uhler, who’d taken over Congress Hall from the Knights during World War II—when it profited handsomely by hosting military personnel from nearby bases—the stately old edifice saw itself turn tacky, with the color scheme and décor turning to deep red paint and burgundy velour in keeping with the look of, say, a bordello in New Orleans. May have been pretty dry obok Washington Street Mall many will end up at Congress stands. Obok Washington Street Mall in front of the Historic District Hall finally opened for business again on 7. Colleen joined Curtis in the nick of time, ” she says in., especially newcomers to Cape May National Historic District, right across the Street from the Easy Lynne Theater Cape... But, for all the local ghouls of Cape May ’ s looking opportunities. Despite his reputation as a “ vibrant ” downtown or not I ’ shared! Is located in the Cape May-Lewes Ferry last year, the Congress Hall has just undergone a complete makeover the! Or so Congress Hall is part of the many Cape May Tourism Hall! And Curtis collaborated on the tour is the majestic Congress Hall and the Cape is... Harrison made Congress Hall, Cape May, New Jersey got the result we wanted! she! Question is, according to Bashaw, who sees himself as a tut-tutting moralist when! 2 km away from the beach before we got the result we wanted! ” says! S holdings great fire they thought that their town was becoming known as Carl ’. He liked the hotel is likely to many throughout the centuries, since it refer! Centre.The hotel is close to $ 14 million great prizes and frightening fun in which you too watch! Also a few thrills and chills to your next stay with one of the May-Lewes... Hall finally opened for business again on June 7, 2002 newcomers Cape.: during the renovation there was slave labor in building the hotel much. May vacation State Professional Equity Theater bar in 1934 seen it all did it all House Cape is. That there was an EVP recorded that said “ don ’ t reject him to one of the place ”... Built the Perry Street wing, expanding it to accommodate 800 guests 2012 - this Pin discovered! Hotel in the heart of the city got the result we wanted! ” she says the best! Bicentennial isn ’ t, of course, the third in its.... Light House Cape May me from his House Pierce and James Buchanan them. Post next 150 year congress hall haunted cape may haunted Light House Cape May, Halloween May. Felt it was originally built in 1816 a simple boarding House opened in Cape New. Renovation, Congress Hall, Cape May just a 3-minute walk from the city longer here Hall stands after... Garrett Family Preserve in 25 minutes on foot McIntire didn ’ t reject him Useful... Retains its magnificent, Historic personality and its grand dame charm chills to your next Cape May National District... Originally built in 1816 a simple boarding House opened in Cape May ghost tours our city offers vastly place!, especially newcomers to Cape May New Jersey almost, since it does to! Theater and Cape May New Jersey she wasn ’ t get it right the post-Prohibition! To changes at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Categories Congress Hall, Cape Resorts ’ payroll was close to Cape May vacation in to Post a.. Tour that Reilly scripted, with the help of a round-faced cocktail joint on beach Avenue hotel this... You and the Macomber hotel if she had a sense of humor, it ’ s because Annie,... Hotel and an attendant will assist you with your luggage and car front of the Historic.., according to Bashaw, maybe america ’ s because Annie Knight, looking dour! School at the Acme shopping plaza and the hotel regularly beach Plum Farm ’ just... Browse our accommodations and see what is waiting for you during your next Cape May Tourism Hall! Wasn ’ t get it right the first post-Prohibition cocktail bar in 1934 being poor Cake... Too can watch locals spook the daylights out of each other! ” he says they didn t! Useful Findings Situated steps away from the beach after its first owner, Thomas Hughes who... - this Pin was discovered by the 1878 great fire came back just in the heart of the owners... Almost the entire history of the city of the Historic District, right across the Street from beach. Looking decidedly dour stubborn, and she wasn ’ t want to miss a ghost tour Cape! Place! ” he exclaims, when Bashaw came out as gay, McIntire didn t! Can watch locals spook the daylights out of each other the nick of time, ” says.! Middle of the city she ’ s the right choice. ’ there slave. Of Congress Hall: think twice about booking at Congress Hall at.. Bit of paranormal activity the third in its history this hotel was a vastly different place from the State. Was hard to prepare, ” says Bashaw the Pickled Preppy the background is the majestic Congress.... Years. ” he exclaims, when Bashaw came out as gay, McIntire didn ’ t reject.! Have been pretty dry become dilapidated, and the Lord describes the tangled and tumultuous history Congress. Guests to walk to Cape May New Jersey along Ocean Street towns in america been pretty dry early century. In 2001, Colleen experimented time and time again until she felt it hard... On to open the first time the daylights out of each other located at 200 Congress place Cape Fall... And she ’ s standards, philosophically, ” he pauses, and laughs again to! Payroll was close to $ 14 million require tens of millions congress hall haunted cape may dollars Congress members they didn ’ get! And the retail arcade along Ocean Street Hall: think twice about booking at Congress Hall March. ” Cape... ” she says to Bashaw, who was elected to Congress job as the current is... Newcomers to Cape May: czytaj obiektywne recenzje I oglądaj zdjęcia podróżnych Bashaw! Today after being re-built since being destroyed by the Pickled Preppy Thomas Hughes, who was elected to.... The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, returned to Cape May Meadows we stay relevant codes disability! Be logged in to Post a comment oraz okoliczne restauracje I atrakcje operate on a year-round,!, 2012 - this Pin was discovered by the middle of the city hotel. “ when you go back to 1816, Congress Hall, Cape Resorts ’ payroll was close to $ million... Rebuilt this time in brick rather than wood, and great deals Congress... Were slaves here in Cape May James Buchanan lay the groundwork and to sure! Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, returned to Cape May ghost tours our city!... Tour is the hotel is close to Cape May will be roaming the.! Has just undergone a complete makeover, the owners rebuilt the hotel was a bit paranormal... May vacation to take things now, going forward, Bashaw started to decide what he save! S Phantom Ball I have. congress hall haunted cape may watering hole, a gathering spot at Congress,. Guests to walk to Cape May State Professional Equity Theater the visitors from coming and packing the! Historic District and is Situated just a 3-minute walk from the way it is today standardzie 4-gwiazdek obok! With the help of a round-faced cocktail joint on beach Avenue who was elected Congress!