Tour The Haunted Vaile Mansion Then Dine With Ghosts At The Former Savoy Hotel And Grill In Missouri
By Beth Price-Williams|Published May 25, 2022
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Missouri makes it pretty tough not to believe in the paranormal. After all, residents, travelers, and even ghost hunters tell so many tales about their own paranormal experiences in all corners of the state. Vaile Mansion and the former Savoy Hotel and Grill in Missouri are just two notoriously haunted spots that offer the perfect way to spend the day.
Vaile Mansion has been a landmark in Independence since it was built in 1881. The majestic mansion originally housed Harvey and Sophia Vaile, but their story certainly wouldn’t end with happily ever after.
Tragically, in 1883, Sophia died of an accidental drug overdose. Harvey passed away some years later, and the home became a safe haven for drug addicts and those with mental illnesses.
However, many locals at the time adamantly believed, and the coroner apparently conferred, that Sophia’s death was a suicide. She had reportedly been suffering from stomach cancer and was in great pain.
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The home would transition purposes several times – in the 1910s, it became a home for drug addicts and the mentally ill. By mid-century, it served as a nursing home.
Countless visitors to the mansion tell of seeing Sophia's spirit, most notably in what was once her bedroom. If you venture into the basement, you may also see the apparitions of former patients, who had undergone lobotomies, chained to the walls.
Vaile Mansion is open seasonally and offers traditional tours during the day, where you just might experience the paranormal. Keep an eye out, too, for special paranormal events.
Once you’ve toured Vaile Mansion, you’ll likely be pretty hungry. How about a meal at the Savoy at 21c, the former Savoy Hotel and Grill in Kansas City, a quick 20-minute drive from Independence?
The Savoy at 21c in Kansas City dishes up a delectable range of dinners – from salmon and chicken to prime rib. If you’re more of a brunch kind of person, you’ll love the brunch at The Savoy.
During its early days as The Savoy Hotel, it housed a woman, Betsy Ward, who mysteriously died one day. Since then guests have told of weird experiences – water that turns on and off by itself, strange shadows, and voices when no one is around.
