Sip Wine And Mingle With Ghosts In One Of The Oldest, Most Haunted Bars Near Pittsburgh
By Beth Price-Williams|Published July 12, 2019
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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.
Most of us, when we were growing up, just thought of ghosts as figures that floated in the air and would shout “boo!” to scare others. It was also the easiest Halloween costume. Today, however, we have all heard plenty of tales of the paranormal, especially living in a city as old and as historic as Pittsburgh. Experience the paranormal, if you’re lucky, when you pull up a chair at this haunted bar near Pittsburgh.
Spend a leisurely few hours on the drive to Jean Bonnet Tavern in Bedford — it's about an hour and 50 minute ride from downtown Pittsburgh — where you just might sip wine with a ghost.
The historic tavern opened in 1762, starting an epic history. In the 1790s, local farmers would gather at the bar in protest of the new tax on alcohol, passed in 1794.
George Washington and his men are said to have marched by the Jean Bonnet Tavern on one occasion while his troops would later sleep at the tavern on their way to Pittsburgh during the Whiskey Rebellion.
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Local legend also tells of a frequent guest who was hanged at the bar.
Despite its rich history, tales of the paranormal didn't begin until the late 1950s. Many of those stories — from both employees and visitors — sound eerily familiar.
One particularly eerie tale started when two employees walked an intoxicated patron home. However, before they left, they made sure the building was empty and the door was locked.
As they approached the bar's porch upon returning, they looked through a window, where they noticed a man sitting at the bar, a drink in his hand. The man disappeared by the time they entered the building.
The two searched the entire tavern and found no one, leaving many to believe that they had been visited by a ghostly spirit.
Plenty of guests have also told of strange happenings — from taps on the shoulder and no one is there to dishes breaking and spontaneous screams — at the tavern.
Intrigued? Pull up a chair at the historic restaurant and bar, where you can indulge in a delicious meal, sip a glass of wine, and keep an eye out for spirits.
Jean Bonnet Tavern offers an assortment of beer, wine, and cocktails. Complement your drink with such delicious dishes as burgers, wings, and tacos. (You can also visit the restaurant.)
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Sip wine and mingle with the spirits at Jean Bonnet Tavern, open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Click here for the official website of Jean Bonnet Tavern. Or, go here for Facebook.
Have you ever encountered a ghost at this haunted bar near Pittsburgh? Share your experience in the comments! Up for some more paranormal exploring? Visit 10 of the most haunted places in and around Pittsburgh. Click here to read more.
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