Burn Brae Mansion

Burn Brae Mansion in Glen Spey was built in 1908 by the granddaughter of Singer Sewing Machine's third president, and it's the last surviving mansion of seven built by the Mackenzie family. Guests have reported a woman in white, a baby crying, and children playing in the attic for over 40 years. Ghost Nation's investigation found a hidden room behind a wall, and Ghost Hunters featured it in Season 10.

The Ghost Nation team tore down a wall at Burn Brae Mansion and found a hidden room. They were investigating escalating activity in the attic, where guests kept hearing children's voices and the sound of balls bouncing across the floor above them. The secret room didn't answer every question, but it added another layer to a house that already had plenty.

Burn Brae Mansion was built in 1908 by Charles and Margaret Ross Mackenzie Elkin on over 20 wooded acres in Glen Spey, at the foot of the Catskills. Margaret was the daughter of George Ross Mackenzie, the third president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. When George died in 1892, his estate was worth $3.5 million. Seven of his children built elaborate summer mansions in Glen Spey. Burn Brae is the last one standing.

The family history provides the backstory for the haunting, though nobody was murdered here and nothing violent happened on the grounds. The tragedy is quieter than that. Charles and Margaret's daughter Elsey died at four years old in 1893, before the mansion was even built. A grandchild named Levi died at birth in 1940. Several Elkin family members are buried in the Glen Spey Cemetery, which sits at the end of a walking trail through the property's woods. Guests walk past those graves on their way back to the house.

The paranormal reports have been consistent for over four decades. Guests see a woman in a white dress. A man appears as a dark mist or in turn-of-the-century clothing. Doors open and slam on their own. An organ plays with nobody at the keys. A baby cries in empty rooms, which takes on a different weight when you know about Elsey and Levi. The attic is the most active area. Children's voices, bouncing balls, sounds of play from a room where nobody is playing.

The mansion has attracted serious investigation. Ghost Hunters featured it in Season 10, Episode 3 ("Last Will and Evidence"). Ghost Nation came through and filmed "Evil in the Attic," during which Jason Hawes, Steve Gonsalves, Dave Tango, and Shari DeBenedetti conducted a follow-up investigation that led to the hidden room discovery. A separate three-day investigation using motion sensors, heat sensors, cameras, and voice recorders produced over 180 photos and sound recordings. The team confirmed activity.

YouTuber Fede Vigevani spent a night alone at the mansion on a dare from MrBeast, filming everything. The mansion operates as a bed and breakfast that leans into its reputation without turning it into a circus. You can book overnight stays in the regular rooms, or you can book it as a ghost hunting group for a private investigation.

What makes Burn Brae interesting is what it isn't. There's no murder, no massacre, no dramatic tragedy to point at. The Elkin family lived here, loved the place, buried their children nearby, and left a mark that apparently didn't fade when they did. The ghosts here feel less like horror and more like attachment. A family that built something beautiful in the Catskills and never quite left it behind.

The mansion sits on 20-plus acres with streams, fields, and trails. The Glen Spey Cemetery is a short walk through the woods. The attic room is the one guests specifically request if they want the full experience. Ask the owners about the hidden room.