Gilded-Age Elegance With a Ghostly Rumor
Boardman House Inn is an elegant historic mansion overlooking the Connecticut River Valley in East Haddam. Built around 1860 for Norman S. Boardman, a successful local silversmith and manufacturer, the home preserves high ceilings, original floors and staircases, ornate moldings, ceiling medallions, fireplaces and other period details. It was extensively restored beginning in 2004 and opened as an inn in 2010.
But behind the chandeliers and polished antiques is a quieter story.
Regional ghost lore describes an apparition of a gentleman dressed in period clothing, reportedly seen smoking a cigar inside the historic house. Connecticut’s official tourism organization includes Boardman House among its haunted hotels, while appropriately describing the haunting as local folklore rather than established fact.
BestHauntedHotels.com Verdict: The paranormal evidence isn’t as extensive as Captain Grant’s or Blackberry River Inn, but the combination of an authentic 1860 mansion, a recurring gentleman apparition story and an exceptionally atmospheric setting makes Boardman House a worthwhile Connecticut haunted stay.
👻 The Cigar-Smoking Gentleman
Boardman House’s signature ghost story is remarkably specific.
Visitors have reported seeing what appears to be a man dressed in old-fashioned or period clothing, smoking a cigar inside the inn. The apparition is generally associated in regional paranormal sources with the library.
Who is he?
That’s the mystery.
History vs. Folklore
Documented: Norman S. Boardman built the mansion around 1860.
Reported: An old-fashioned gentleman has supposedly appeared inside the property.
Unverified: The apparition’s identity and whether he has any connection to Norman Boardman.
I would not identify this ghost as Norman Boardman on BestHauntedHotels.com unless stronger historical evidence emerges. “The Cigar-Smoking Gentleman” is actually a more intriguing—and more credible—way to present the story.
Where Should Ghost Enthusiasts Stay?
Unlike Captain Grant’s, Boardman House doesn’t have a sufficiently documented room that deserves to be marketed as the haunted room.
Instead, I’d prioritize staying within the mansion’s most historically atmospheric accommodations.
👻 #1 — Boardman Room
This would be my BestHauntedHotels.com room recommendation.
The first-floor room has a king four-poster bed, bay window, antique furnishings, crystal chandelier and marble fireplace. Its location and period styling provide one of the strongest historic-mansion experiences.
#2 — Corner Room
Also on the first floor, with 12-foot ceilings, antiques, chandelier and access to a large semi-private porch.
#3 — Queen Room
A second-floor option with an antique brass bed, keeping guests higher inside the historic mansion.
Important: These are recommendations based on historical atmosphere—not claims that these particular rooms are haunted.
The Boardman Family Story
The mansion was constructed around 1860 for Norman S. Boardman, whose family was prominent in East Haddam’s manufacturing industry. Norman and his father Luther were associated with the production of Britannia and silver-plated wares.
The house later underwent an extensive restoration designed to preserve features including:
- Original floors and staircases
- Decorative moldings
- Ceiling medallions
- Period architectural details
- Historic fireplaces
Modern bathrooms, air conditioning and other conveniences were incorporated without eliminating the mansion’s nineteenth-century character.
For haunted-hotel travelers, that preservation is important—you still feel like you’re staying inside a historic mansion rather than a conventional modern hotel.
A Perfect Goodspeed Weekend
Boardman House has an excellent location for couples.
The inn says it’s only about 352 yards from Goodspeed Musicals and roughly 340 yards from restaurants along the river.
Nearby attractions include Goodspeed Opera House, the Connecticut River and Gillette Castle State Park, making this especially appealing for a romantic historic weekend with a supernatural twist.
What the Stay Is Like
Boardman House is more luxury mansion than traditional haunted inn.
Rooms feature combinations of:
- Period antiques
- Chandeliers
- Oriental rugs
- Four-poster or antique-style beds
- Heated bathroom floors
- Luxury linens
- Private porches
- Historic architectural details
- Modern Wi-Fi, televisions and air conditioning
One useful detail for your readers: despite retaining “Bed & Breakfast” in its name, the property currently does not serve breakfast and operates with a streamlined self-check-in model.
That’s worth mentioning briefly so guests know what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boardman House Inn haunted?
It has a recognized local ghost tradition involving a cigar-smoking gentleman in period clothing. Connecticut tourism includes Boardman House in its haunted-hotel coverage but describes the haunting appropriately as folklore.
Who is the ghost?
His identity is unknown. I would not claim he is Norman Boardman without historical evidence.
What is the most haunted room?
There isn’t enough evidence to designate a particular guest room. For the best historical atmosphere, I recommend the Boardman Room.
When was Boardman House built?
The mansion dates to approximately 1860 and was constructed for Norman S. Boardman.
Is Boardman House currently open?
Yes. The inn’s current site lists active accommodations and booking options, and Connecticut tourism lists it as an operating lodging property.
👻 BestHauntedHotels.com Ghost Rating
8.5 / 10 — Haunted Historic Mansion
Why We Awarded Boardman House 8.5/10
Boardman House earns its place on your Connecticut list because it combines authentic 1860 history, preserved architecture, an identifiable apparition tradition and official recognition of that folklore by Connecticut tourism.
What keeps it below 9/10 is important: the paranormal record is relatively narrow. There isn’t a well-documented haunted room, multiple recurring spirits or the volume of reported phenomena found at Captain Grant’s.
That makes 8.5/10 a better credibility-building rating than pushing it into the 9s.
Why Ghost Enthusiasts Should Stay Here
Boardman House is ideal for travelers who want their paranormal history served with a little luxury.
See a show at Goodspeed.
Walk back through quiet East Haddam.
Enter a mansion built around 1860.
Then imagine looking across one of its historic rooms and seeing a well-dressed gentleman who seems perfectly suited to the surroundings—until you notice the cigar-smoking stranger isn’t supposed to be there.
For BestHauntedHotels.com, I’d position it as:
“Connecticut’s Elegant Haunted Mansion Getaway.”
