PROCTOR, Vt. (WCAX) – Halloween is the spookiest day of the year, but it’s spooky season all year long at Vermont’s only castle.
You’ll see many “haunted” houses decked out for Halloween, but Wilson Castle in Proctor says it’s the real thing – and home to the spirit of one of WCAX’s very own.
While his peers scaled playgrounds, Andy Probst spent his childhood tagging along with his parents to work at Wilson Castle.
“It was a fun place to come and hang out, explore, try to find the secret passageway that my dad would tell me about,” said Probst.
Built in 1885, Vermont’s only castle stands proud in Proctor. Today, Probst follows in his parent’s footsteps as castle director.
“I’m here honestly more than I’m at my house. So it’s a labor of love,” said Probst.
Before it was a coveted tourist site, Wilson Castle was home to radio and WCAX engineer Herbert Lee Wilson and his wife.
Their granddaughter and current castle owner Denise Davine spent every summer there.
“I did feel like a little princess, it was nice. My grandparents let us do pretty much anything we wanted to do after 5 o’clock,” said Davine.
For years, the castle hosted occasional tours.
Then in 2020, a paranormal crew captured video of alleged spirits haunting the halls – and the footage spread like wildfire.
Now, people travel from around the country to catch daily tours, and every weekend is booked with overnight investigators.
Their footage even made Probst believe in something beyond.
“A couple years ago, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s something to this, this is wild.’ The consistency of the evidence that people get is wild,” said Probst.
Probst says there are several spirits active in the castle.
Visitors spot former owner Sarah Johnson in her old bedroom, and some have said to see her son’s spirit, too.
Others claim to have witnessed Grandfather Wilson himself.
“He loves talking about communication radio. That’s kind of his trigger if you mention any of those,” said Probst.
The castle tours help fund the fixing up of Wilson’s resting place. They paid for a roof renovation, window replacements, and many other repairs.
Davine says restoring the castle brings her peace.
“It feels very good because I was worried. How am I going to do all of this and pay taxes and pay employees, and now I can,” said Davine.
Her most dedicated employee, Probst, is proud of the world they’re creating at the castle for their friends who linger in the shadows
“I think they appreciate the fact that I’m here, and they know that I don’t want to get scared, so they leave all that for the people that are here at night. And I appreciate that, thank you guys,” said Probst.
You can tour Wilson castle yourself until November 4 when it settles in for winter hibernation.