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All the United States New York State New York City Nyack The Ghost of Nyack

The Ghost of Nyack

Haunted Victorian house that inspired a legendary "Ghostbusters" court ruling.

Nyack, New York

Added By
Nick Jackson
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  http://www.mentalfloss.com/wp-content/uplo...
  http://www.mentalfloss.com/wp-content/uplo...
The house is pale blue as of December 2018.   ickaimp / Atlas Obscura User
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There are entire websites devoted to the many supposedly haunted buildings in and around Nyack, New York, but the most famous site is the large Victorian house at 1 LaVeta Place, at a dead end on the Hudson River.

During the 1960s, the 7,000 residents of the tiny village knew that the 5,000 square foot house was haunted, but nobody bothered to tell the Ackley couple before they decided to move in.

Helen and George Ackley, who lived in the home for more than 20 years, reported that they had seen a ghost in the house on at least one occasion and that they would be awoken every morning by a shaking bed, but otherwise lived in peace with whatever spirits resided in their home. When they decided to move and sold the house in 1990, they didn't bother to tell the new buyers about the ghost problem.

With $32,500 in escrow, Jeffrey and Patrice Stambovsky backed out of the contract when they learned that the house was haunted. When the Ackleys refused to refund the deposit, the Stambovskys sued, leading to what would come to be known as the "Ghostbusters" ruling. The New York Appellate court ruled that, because a routine home inspection would never uncover it, sellers must disclose that a house is haunted to potential buyers.

While it isn't often cited in other rulings, the Stambovsky vs. Ackley decision has been widely taught in law school classes because of its unique holding.

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Added By

nbj914

Edited By

ickaimp

  • ickaimp

Published

August 6, 2010

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Sources
  • https://www.lohud.com/story/money/real-estate/homes/2019/09/24/singer-rapper-matisyahu-selling-nyack-house/2423193001/
  • Mental Floss: America's Most Haunted: Six Seriously Spooky Sites: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19738
  • Kavanagh Transit Systems: The Ghost of Nyack: http://ktransit.com/Kavanagh/Ghost/ghost.htm
  • Ghosts of America: Nyack, New York Ghost Tales: http://www.ghostsofamerica.com/1/New_York_Nyack_ghost_sightings.html
  • Nyack Paranormal Investigations: http://nyackparanormal.com/
The Ghost of Nyack
1 LaVeta Place
Nyack, New York, 10960
United States
41.096308, -73.91563
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Mount Moor Cemetery

West Nyack, New York

miles away

Clausland Mountain Tunnels

Nyack, New York

miles away

Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate

Sleepy Hollow, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Nyack

Nyack

New York

Places 2
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Mount Moor Cemetery

West Nyack, New York

miles away

Clausland Mountain Tunnels

Nyack, New York

miles away

Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate

Sleepy Hollow, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Nyack

Nyack

New York

Places 2
Stories 2

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The Wonderful World of Selling Your Haunted House

haunted

By Dan Nosowitz

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