Foodies with a lust for the mysteries of the paranormal have an intimate and gourmet setting on the banks of the Susquehanna River to reveal the ghost of Emily.

 The Accomac Inn, said to be among the more haunted places in the state, hosts its annual ghost dinner Oct. 22-23. This four-course, fixed-price meal combines dinner with the stories of John Coyle and the alleged paranormal presence at the inn. The Mason-Dixon Paranormal Society will be at the event, sharing its research regarding a friendly presence within the confines of the Wrightsville restaurant.

"We have an intelligent haunting. This means they can communicate with the ghosts," said Odilia McDonald, general manager of the inn.

The idea for the dinner originated about 10 years ago. The employees of the inn had spoken for years about the different spirits in the building and the various odd occurrences throughout the year.

"Different paranormal groups came in here and finally documented what was happening here," said McDonald. "We wanted to incorporate a meal with an evening where the diners could truly understand the paranormal activity here."

The haunting is said to have started in 1882, when 29-year-old John Coyle Jr., son of the inn's owner, tried to ask out a hired hand, Emily Myers. She had denied his advances before and did again, but this time, her refusal ended in murder as Coyle pulled a gun and shot her 50 feet from the inn. He was caught after 10 days on the run and he was sentenced to death. Despite a retrial, he was found guilty and hanged in 1883. His ghost and Emily's are believed to have haunted the property since then. Steve Foresman, assistant manager and maître d' of the Accomac Inn, said two of the most common odd occurrences are a calculator turning on by itself and the intercom system going off when there is only one person in the building.

Originally, the ghost dinner featured employees sharing the stories with guests. Now the paranormal society explains who they are and their findings at the inn, playing a tape for the guests that highlights voices and noises documented in its different visits to the site. "We can talk about the different experiences we have had while working here, but it is so much more powerful if a group with findings tells the diners about the paranormal," McDonald said.

"We have been to the restaurant several times and can truly say this place is haunted," said Stewart Cornelius, president and founder of the Mason-Dixon Paranormal Society. "I do not know if the ghosts have become more comfortable with us or what, but we are experiencing more every time we return to the site."

Cornelius said Emily has answered their questions at recent visits. "I think the ghost dinner is a great way to bring awareness of us for people who like the paranormal. We make no money doing this and just like to show our data," said Cornelius, who founded the group with Darryl Keller.

The meal will conclude with a chance to see Coyle's grave. The walk is a short climb to the rear of the property. Guests are asked to sign a waiver before the walk, because it is a wooded, uphill path. Coyle's family wanted him buried in Marietta, but McDonald said town officials refused, leading to the single gravestone at the site. "Coyle's father had to sit by the grave for three days to prevent grave robbers from stealing the body," McDonald said.

Ghost dinner, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 22-23
The Accomac Inn
Wrightsville
Cost: $50
Reservations are required
Call 252-1521