Do you believe in ghosts? Maybe you should. They appear in the woods, homes and inns across northeast Ohio.
Mistress Suzanne is more famous in the town of Painesville in Lake County than anyone else.

She is seen by guests and regulars at the Rider's Inn, named after the man who built it in 1812.

Joe Rider was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. When he put away his sword he was given a parcel of land near Lake Erie, in what is now Painesville.

Rider was also a bit of a rogue and liked the ladies. He had four wives and one has never left the roadside Inn.

Mistress Suzanne was wife No. 3. She was a rich man's daughter and Rider found her dowry of land and timber quite interesting. He had been in financial trouble.

After just six weeks of marriage in 1834, she sat by the fire one night for the last time. Suzanne died. Some say of natural causes, others say by foul play. Newspapers reported her death under "strange and mysterious circumstances."

So, she still roams the halls of the inn, and for close to 200 years she's still been the innkeeper's wife.

What used to be the main door of the inn has been nailed shut for generations. It was the innkeeper's wife's job was to greet the guests and Suzanne still does.

"Please don't open this door that's right here behind me," The inn's current owner Elaine Crane said.

Crain explained that the door is sealed shut with 193 nails. "We know cause we counted them with a stud counter, because Suzanne continues to open doors to prowl the inn and open doors."

It's nothing to see candles lit in the windows to guide travelers on their way, or for tightly locked doors to unlatch and let in the night winds.

Suzanne's footsteps are like the wind on a dark night as she walks the halls and the grounds, forever vigilant, waiting for a weary traveler to spend the night.

Mistress Suzanne still regularly makes herself known at the inn. The most recent incident was Sept. 25. Crain needed to leave the inn but got caught up doing work. She kept getting up to leave, but continued to get tied up. Finally the door to the inn swung open and stayed that way until Crain left.

Every chef likes their kitchen set up their own way. Well, every morning the chef at Rider's Inn finds that someone has been in her kitchen. The spices have been rearranged the same way. The chef puts them back, but low and behold, the next morning they are the way Suzanne likes them.

Suzanne is not hurtful. She is just set in her ways.

See if you can spot Suzanne in our ghost cam and tell us your story.






Click here for a larger image!

Mistress Suzanne has been spotted all over Rider's Inn. She has been seen in her room (No. 11), in hallways, at the side door. Can you see her?

NewsNet5's ghost cam has been set up right outside Suzanne's room looking down the hallway of the inn.

If you see the ghost, capture the image and email it to nn5news@newsnet5.com

Click here to find out how to capture an image
Rider's Inn is having a Halloween party Oct. 27, in honor of Mistress Suzanne. Not only are you invited, but you also can win a party for up to 50 guests and stay in Mistress Suzanne's room on Oct. 31.

For more information on entering the party contest, click here.