Tag: Drummer Boy

The Ultimate Creepies

We have to ask, “do you wanna see something really scary?” Fans of the 1983 movie “Twilight Zone” will remember that’s what Dan Akroyd’s character asks his travelling companion while driving down a dark desert highway. To not spoil it for those who have not seen the film, we won’t tell you what happens, but we can assure you, you will jump in your seat or be extremely startled. Kind of like what might happen when you visit some of these hauntingly good locations near some of our favorite glamping spots.

Jerome Grand Hotel (Jerome, Arizona): Who wouldn’t expect a hotel in a ghost town to be a bit more spirited than other hotels? Book a tiny house accommodation at Verde Valley RV Resort and find out what makes the Jerome Grand so spooky. One reason may be that in its former life, the structure was a hospital where more than 9000 people passed away. Have a drink in the bar or dine in the hotel’s restaurant and see if you feel (or see) the spirits. Or better yet, take one of Jerome’s famous haunted tours.

Cottages at Fiesta Key Resort
Cottages at Fiesta Key Resort

Fort East Martello Museum (Key West, FL): There’s plenty of scary doll stories out there from Chuckie to Annabelle, but if you want to get up close and personal, visit the Fort East Martello Museum and take a look at a doll called Robert, who is apparently the main reason the museum is one of the most haunted locations in Florida. He looks harmless enough with his cute little sailor suit and pet dog, but visitors are urged to introduce themselves and ask his permission before they take a picture of him. If not, bad things may happen! Book a stay at one of our Florida Keys locations, Sunshine Key Tiny House Village or Fiesta Key, and say hi to Robert!

Gettysburg (Pennsylvania): Again, as a site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War where more than 50,000 souls were lost it’s not a surprise that the town of Gettysburg and the battlefield itself are super haunted. Some people have said the ghost of Robert E. Lee appears in pictures they have taken when visiting while others hear phantom sounds coming from the battlefield which include screams and cannon fire. There are all kinds of tours to take to see for yourself. Check out getyourguide.com/gettysburg-l32570. Spend a night or two glamping in Gettysburg and make a reservation at Drummer Boy or Gettysburg Farm and brave the nights in Gettysburg if you dare.

Cabin at Medina Lake RV Campground
Cabin at Medina Lake RV Campground

San Fernando Cathedral (San Antonio, TX): Swirling orbs, scary shadows and an apparition of a charging white stallion are some of the things visitors to this haunted Texas location have reported. Conde Nast Traveler named San Fernando Cathedral as one of the 30 Most Haunted Places in the U.S. in 2019. One woman reportedly followed a man who was part of her tour group who she said suddenly disappeared into thin air. Yikes! Book a cozy cabin at Medina Lake and take the 40-mile drive into San Antonio to check out the Cathedral. Watch out for charging horses!

Edgefield Hotel (Troutdale, OR): If you’re looking for a great place to stay outside of Portland, we suggest you book a tiny house at Mt. Hood Tiny House Village in nearby Welches. Other options could include the Edgefield Hotel, but you might want to rethink that considering it’s haunted! Opt for the comfort of your tiny house at Mt. Hood Village but check out the Edgefield if you wanna see something really scary. Guests have said to have felt hands on their shoulders, seen ghost children running the halls at night, and heard a woman yelling “get out.” This place is so scary the developers did a “spirit cleansing” while rehabbing and developing the building that once served as a county poor house (thus the sadness and death associated with the structure).

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5 Things to Do in Gettysburg

Planning a trip to Pennsylvania this summer? If you are, don’t forget to visit historic Gettysburg. In addition to the Battlefield sites, there is a lot more to do in this little piece of Pennsylvania. First things first – book a cabin stay at Drummer Boy Camping Resort. With 95 wooded acres and just minutes from downtown Gettysburg, it’s the perfect spot to soak up nature, history and all the reasons why more than 1 million people visit here each year. Drummer Boy has great cabin and cottage accommodations, a pool and onsite fishing opportunities, and is close to everything. Or, cozy up in a cabin at Round Top Campground, located 15 minutes from downtown Gettysburg. Once you’re settled, here are 5 things you don’t want to miss.

Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum: The site of the 1863 battle which was considered the turning point of the Civil War, the museum provides visitors with so much up-close-and-personal history from the battlefield tour to the exhibits, films, and memorabilia available through the Films, Cyclorama, and Museum Experience. Living History program tours are available weekends from June 10-12 through August 14-16. Children of Gettysburg is a new family-friendly program that provides insight as to what it was like for a child living near the battle. For details, visit gettysburgfoundation.org.

The National Apple Museum: An interesting museum where visitors can learn all about the apple and fruit tree industry in Adams County. FYI, apples are the state’s fourth largest agricultural commodity and Pennsylvania is the fourth-largest apple producing state. The museum includes an assortment of antique picking and harvesting equipment as well as farm implements and a replica of an 1880s kitchen. There is an 18-minute video, “Apples, Apples, Apples.” A summer concert series runs on Friday nights through September 2. There’s also an orchard and gift shop. For information, visit nationalapplemuseum.com.

Cabin at Drummer Boy Camping Resort
Cabin at Drummer Boy Camping Resort

Tours, Tours, and More Tours: Check the website at gettysburgghosttours.com and you’ll find a whole lot more than just ghost tours. There’s the Lincoln Tour which follows the steps of President Abraham Lincoln when he visited Gettysburg to deliver the now famous Gettysburg Address. There’s also the Craft Beer and Spirits Tour which incorporates history, ghost stories and, of course, spirits of the drinking variety. Another fun tour is the Walking Tour of the Taverns of Gettysburg which includes Civil War history, details about the Temperance societies in Gettysburg, and more unusual but true stories. A great site for tours in the area is gbltg.com.

Battle of Gettysburg Anniversary: On July 2, an all-day event to commemorate the 159th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg will be held at the historic Daniel Lady Farm. The event will feature living history activities, battle reenactments, cavalry demonstrations, and tours of the historic house and barn. Visit gbpa.org for details.

The Historic Round Barn and Farm Market: First off, one reason to visit is that this is one of the last surviving round barns in the U.S. Secondly, the fruit and veggies available here, which include apples, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes and more, are amazing. Plus, there are also baked goods to take back to camp from pies to muffins to breads, all sourced locally. And once you’ve eaten your fill and bought all you can, take a minute to just bask in the beauty of the rolling hills of the scenic Pennsylvania countryside. For information and Barn hours, visit roundbarn.farm.

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Women’s History Month

March is the month to celebrate the role of women in American history and their contributions. All around the country, there are heritage sites including monuments, homesteads, works of art, and more that represent these women and their efforts in all areas from nursing and politics to civil rights, women’s rights and in the arts. We’ve listed just a few here and whether you visit now or later, it’s never too late to honor the efforts of these women.

“Gettysburg Civil War Women-s Memorial – Elizabeth Masser Thorn 1” by Amaury Laporte is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

The Gettysburg Civil War Women’s Memorial: This seven-foot bronze sculpture of Elizabeth Thorn is located in Gettysburg’s Evergreen Cemetery. Thorn was six months pregnant at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg. Prior to the war, her husband was the caretaker of the cemetery but when he enlisted in the Union Army, the caretaking tasks fell to Elizabeth and her father. After the battle, the heavily pregnant Thorn buried 91 soldiers and 14 civilians killed in the siege.  The memorial is a tribute to all women who served, and suffered, due to the war.

Cozy cabin at Drummer Boy in Gettysburg, PA.

Stay with us in a cabin at Drummer Boy to explore Gettysburg and see the memorial.

Buildings by Julia Morgan: San Francisco native, Julia Morgan was the first woman to graduate UC Berkeley’s Civil Engineering program in 1894 and went on to become the first licensed woman architect in California. During her career, she designed more than 700 buildings throughout California, most notably Hearst Castle in San Simeon. For a listing of sites and locations of Morgan’s works, visit sf.curbed.com/maps/julia-morgan-buildings-best-sf.

“Sunset at Hearst Castle” by Trey Ratcliff is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Stay with us in a glamping tent at Marina Dunes and enjoy a ride up the California coast to see Morgan’s works in the San Francisco area or down the coast to tour Hearst’s Castle.

Glamping tent at Marina Dunes in Marina, CA.

National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum: According to their website, the museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring the women of the West. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the museum has archival footage as well as artifacts from these trailblazing women. Hall of Fame inductees include Sacagawea, Annie Oakley, Dale Evans, and Laura Ingalls Wilder. For information, visit cowgirl.net.

Stay with us in a cabin at Bay Landing in nearby Bridgeport while you explore the Cowgirl Museum.

Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine: Why is a national park on the list of women’s history heritage sites? Because Beatrix Farrand, a noted landscape gardener, designed the carriage roads in this beautiful national treasure. Also, Farrand created the rock-walled reflections rooms at the garden at the College of the Atlantic in nearby Bar Harbor in 1928. Born in New York in 1872, Farrand preferred to be called a landscape architect. She also designed First Lady Gardens at the White House during the Wilson Administration.

Cozy cabins at Narrows Too RV Resort in Trenton, ME.

Stay at Mt. Desert Narrows or Narrows Too RV Resort while visiting Acadia NP.

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