There’s about to be a new haunted destination on the block. The Bell Mansion in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is transforming into an event center for everything from weddings and meetings to yoga classes and paranormal investigations.
The former mansion has had quite an interesting history, too, so it wouldn’t be surprising if it was haunted. During a tour with Fort Wayne NBC, the new manager, Nick Carboni, and his girlfriend Angie Sturm said they know it’s haunted.
Carboni is also a paranormal investigator. He shared a video from an investigation Olde World Paranormal Society of Fort Wayne conducted inside the building. Sturm said she was a skeptic a year ago, but after hearing disembodied voices and EVPs while being inside the mansion, she’s since become a believer.
The Bell Mansion History
It’s a really pretty venue. Wane.com explained that the 128-year-old Richardsonian-style building made of Indiana limestone was built between 1893 and 1895. Its first resident was Robert Clark Bell, who died in the home in 1901. Perhaps he’s one of the restless spirits who dwell there? But there’s a reason to think why there might be more too.
In 1904, Bell’s widow sold the mansion to businessman William Nobel. In 1926, Nobel sold it to William R. Klaehn, who turned it into a funeral home, which eventually became the Klaehn, Fahl, and Melton Funeral Home. For 92 years, that’s what it was used for.
The former funeral home/Bell Mansion went on the market in 2018. In 2020, Belle Castle Enterprise, an investor, purchased it with an eye on restoring it and opening it as an event venue.
The Bell Mansion in 2022
However, in addition to hosting events, they also hope to refurb the upstairs so those bedrooms could be used as overnight rooms again. Sounds like the making of a possible new spooky stay to me too!
It may also get a name change from the Bell Mansion to the Bell Castle. They’re aiming to be open for business by late spring or early summer 2022, so we may hear more about this place. Especially if it starts hosting events.
However…even though the venue may not be opened yet, it may be open for tours.
Bell Mansion Tours
On their website, it says tours will begin Jan. 2, 2022. They offer a few different types, including Historic Tours, Ghost Tours, and Paranormal Investigations.
They even include a compilation video of spirit box, rempod hits, and orbs that Olde World Paranormal Society of Fort Wayne caught.
For More Info
Visit thebellmansion.com.
Check-In
Which paranormal TV show do you think the Bell Mansion will lose its virginity to? (Not that it hasn’t been investigated by paranormal groups, but as far as I know it’s never been on an episode of a major show like Ghost Hunters or anything.)
I didn’t see anything about any of the activity being dark or demonic, so I doubt we’ll see it on something like Ghost Adventures. But maybe one of the other shows?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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Isn’t it a gorgeous building? I can totally see Amy and co from Kindred Spirits investigating.
Oooo! I wonder if they will?! That’d be exciting…and perhaps prescient on your part!