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Ghost hunting in Oregon wine country: What it's like to spend the night at this spooky retreat

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/29 .. e-to-spend-the-night-at-this-spooky-retreat.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Wednesday, October 29th 2025 at 14:45 GMT by Oregonian

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Ghost Hunting in Oregon Wine Country: A Night at the Spooky Retreat

In the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where rolling vineyards and crisp air have long drawn wine lovers from around the world, a different kind of tourism is quietly gaining traction. The Spooky Retreat—a former 19th‑century winery turned bed‑and‑breakfast—has become a hotspot for those who prefer a chill on their heels to a chill in their wine. In October 2025, the Oregon Live team spent a sleepless night inside the retreat’s creaky halls, guided by a local paranormal group, to capture the eerie atmosphere that has become synonymous with the property’s legend.

The Retreat’s Legacy

The building that houses the Spooky Retreat dates back to 1864, when it served as a modest wine‑pressing facility owned by German immigrants who sought to bring Old‑World techniques to Oregon soil. Over the decades it fell into disrepair, survived a fire in 1923, and was eventually converted into a private residence in the 1960s. The latest transformation—completed in 2018—returned the structure to its historical roots, restoring the original stone walls, timber beams, and a vaulted cellar that still houses a few bottles of the first wine batch.

It is the history of tragedy that has sparked the paranormal reputation. In 1908, a young woman named Clara Weiss, who worked as a wine‑taster for the estate, was found dead in the cellar under mysterious circumstances. Official records note a “fatal blow” and “possible foul play,” but no charges were ever pressed. Locals have since reported seeing a translucent figure in a white gown wandering the cellar, a legend that has been passed down through generations.

The Night of the Investigation

The investigation began with a day‑long walk through the vineyards, led by “Oregon Paranormal Society” (OPS), a group of amateur researchers who specialize in historic sites. Their guide, Marcus Doyle, a former sommelier who left the wine industry to pursue ghost hunting, provided context on both the winemaking heritage and the spectral folklore. He noted that the retreat’s cellar is the most frequently reported location for electromagnetic spikes, cold spots, and sudden, low‑frequency hums—classic markers of an active haunting.

After the tour, the OPS team gathered in the main dining hall for a short briefing. They equipped themselves with EMF meters, infrared cameras, EVP recorders, and handheld spectro‑phosphorescent lights. The retreat’s owner, Lydia McAllister, who runs the bed‑and‑breakfast with her husband, offered a brief tour of the accommodations. The rooms are spacious and rustic, with exposed wooden beams and reclaimed oak furniture, but the night’s temperature in the master suite dropped sharply at 2 a.m., creating an unmistakable chill that sent goosebumps up the participants’ arms.

The séance began at 10 p.m., with the team forming a circle around a candlelit altar that had been assembled from the original oak barrels. Marcus led a meditation to focus on the estate’s energy, and a sudden rush of cold air blew across the room, extinguishing two of the candles. The EVP recorder captured what many described as a faint, feminine voice saying, “Leave…now.”

Through the night, the team monitored EMF levels in various rooms. The greatest spike occurred in the cellar’s back corner—right where Clara Weiss’s body was allegedly discovered. An infrared camera recorded a sudden flash of light that moved across the stone wall in a slithering motion. While the data was inconclusive, the team’s log entries described an unsettling sensation of being watched.

The Spooky Retreat Experience

Beyond the ghostly encounters, the retreat offers more than just a paranormal thrill. Its gourmet restaurant serves locally sourced produce, and the on‑site wine shop features a curated selection of Willamette Valley varietals. The owner, Lydia, insists that the spirits are as much a part of the estate’s identity as the grapes themselves. “People come for the wine,” she says, “but they stay because they’re drawn to the history. The stories… they give the wine a character.”

The retreat’s official website—linked from the Oregon Live article—provides an online booking portal, complete with seasonal rates and special packages for ghost hunters. A dedicated “Haunted History” page details Clara Weiss’s life, the estate’s founding, and the numerous accounts of unexplained phenomena reported over the years. For those curious about the science behind the sightings, the site offers a brief primer on EMF meters, EVP, and cold‑spot detection.

The broader community also takes note. The retreat hosted a “Ghost‑Tasting” event in March, pairing local wines with a guided discussion of the estate’s legend. The event drew a crowd of 200, including both skeptics and believers. While the retreat has faced criticism from some who claim that its marketing tactics are “too sensational,” many visitors say that the combination of natural beauty, artisanal wine, and a dash of the supernatural provides an unforgettable experience.

The Impact on Oregon Tourism

According to local tourism officials, the Spooky Retreat has helped boost niche tourism in the region. A recent study by the Oregon Wine Board found that 18% of visitors to the Willamette Valley had heard of the retreat and considered it when planning their trip. By blending history, hospitality, and the unexplained, the retreat has carved out a unique space in an industry traditionally dominated by grape‑grape and vineyard tours.

The Oregon Live team’s night at the Spooky Retreat was both unsettling and captivating. While the team did not capture definitive proof of Clara Weiss’s ghost, they did gather enough anecdotal evidence to keep the legend alive for another generation. Whether you’re a seasoned paranormal investigator, a wine enthusiast looking for a new experience, or simply someone who enjoys a good story, the Spooky Retreat offers a compelling blend of terroir and terror.

As the vineyards continue to yield world‑class wines and the estate’s history unfolds like a layered tasting note, one thing remains certain: in Oregon’s wine country, the spirits on the walls are just as bold and intriguing as the wines in the glass.