N 35° 05.8AB W 106° 40.2CD final coords. You will be wandering all over Old Town working on this and probably simultanously working several other caches in the area. There is nothing physical at any of the ghostly sites so you can devote yout time on them to letting your imagination run, enjoying the ambiance and the architecture and maybe seeing a ghost yourself. You will have two non-ghostly stops to get the info you need to get the final coords. At the main plaza, you need the distance between the sign at the cannons and the west side of the gazebo. No need for exact measuring, you can eyeball this easily. Your choices are approximately 86 ft or 14 ft. That is AB. West of the intersection of Charlevoix and Romero is the plaza with a statue of Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdez. In front of the statue, there are two beige cubes. How far apart are they? Your choices are 93 ft or 27 ft. That number is CD.
Listed below are the coordinates for several haunted places for you to stop and see.
#A01 - The Old Town Fountain
N35° 05.797 - W106° 40.237
The original San Felipe de Neri Church was originally built in 1706 just to the south of you. (The church was moved across the street to its current location in 1786, after being flooded out twice.) Albuquerque's first cemetary was placed on the north side of the original church, right where you're standing now. Be careful where you step, for there are several intact graves below this plaza. Researchers claim to have been able to communicate with these forgotten spirits using a recording technique referred to as EVP.
#A02 - The Old Manuel Springer Mansion
N35° 05.750 - W106° 40.220
The building on your south used to be a brothel and then a speakeasy during Prohibition. A secret customer entrance was in the back of the building in a dark alley. One night somewhere in the late 1800s, two of the working women inside got into a fight. Scarlet ended up dead. To this day her spirit still inhabits this building. She has been seen on several occasions walking naked, except for a garter, along the upper balcony overlooking the plaza. On a couple occasions, she has also been seen in the back alley. Those fortunate enough to see her say that she is stunningly beautiful.
If you go into the main entrance to this store and venture straight back, you will come across a door with a glass window. Look out the window and you'll be able to see the old entrance courtyard to the mansion, and the double wooden doors leading to the back alley. In the spot you're standing now is where Scarlet died.
#A03 - A Haunted Restaurant
N35° 05.752 - W106° 40.184
I don't know who is haunting this restaurant, but spirit activity has been reported in the back dining room. Disembodied voices and footsteps have been heard by employees after closing. If you find out more, please let me know so I can add to this description.
#A02A - Entrance to the alley
N35° 05.731 - W106° 40.174
Optional. Venture westward down this alley if you wish to see the double wooden doors of the Manuel Springer Mansion and possibly even Scarlet. Beware, however, if she tries to lure you into the courtyard, for you'll find nothing there but her wrath over her gruesome death.
#A04 - The Old Bottger Mansion
N35° 05.669 - W106° 40.171
This old mansion is haunted by at least four ghosts. One is reported to be old Charles Bottger himself. Then there are the Sighing Woman, a Grandmother, and the Lover Ghost. The Lover Ghost likes to come into the bed of women who happen to be sleeping alone. This mansion is now a luxurious bed-and-breakfast. Care to try your luck here some night? I heard that Halloween is especially fun.
#A05 - The Servants Quarters
N35° 05.747 - W106° 40.141
The buildings around you were originally the servants quarters for the Armijo Hacienda. Later on the south side rooms were converted into a school house. It is believed that the spirit of a young boy still lingers here. He moves objects around at night and occasionally helps himself to the candy bowl. Note. At night you may not be able to get all the way up to the waypoint as the gates may be closed.
#A06 - The Old Armijo Hacienda
N35° 05.756 - W106° 40.167
To the east of you is a restaurant located in the main house of the old Armijo Hacienda. This building has more spirit activity in Old Town than any other place. There are at least four ghosts that haunt this building. The most prevalent is Victoria, a small girl often seen in a pretty white lacy beaded dress. She doesn't talk, but usually just sits as if waiting for someone. Another spirit is Elizabeth, a bride ascending the staircase. She is commonly seen holding a small baby. The third is George who likes to play practical jokes by mimiking the voice of someone else nearby. The fourth is the Upstairs Ghost.
#A07 - Honeymoon Row
N35° 05.772 - W106° 40.113
The buildings on the east and west sides of you used to be the old stables for the Armijo Hacienda and the Herman Bueller Mansion (now the Hacienda Restaurant). Because it was quiet, dark, and secluded, along with lots of loose hay, it was used by lovers for a clandestine interlude. Back in the 1880s, one of the Armijo daughters was be married in a large wedding gala. On the eve before her marriage, however, she happend to come back here and caught her fiance with another woman. Furious, she grabbed an ax and hacked her fiance, killing him with 28 blows. To this day if a couple happen to be out here after midnight and involved in romantic activity, the Hatchet Lady (as she's called now-a-days) becomes infuriated and is likely to appear.
#A08 - The Old Casa de Ruiz Hacienda
N35° 05.832 - W106° 40.189
The restaurant on your north side is all that's left of the old Casa de Ruiz Hacienda. It is the oldest residence in Albuquerque that's still standing. One of the original owners of the house was a woman involved in witchcraft named Sarah. Well, Sarah's spirit has never left the house and still lingers on to this day. At first, when the house was being converted to a restaurant, Sarah did not like it and hindered the remodelling. However, the owners finally were able to convince her that their efforts would preserve the house. So now, Sarah is more helpful, but still gets upset when things aren't done her way.
By the way, this is a very good restaurant where a lot of the locals go. Wander on through it. The staff will be happy to talk to you about Sarah.
#A09 - Haunted Shops
N35° 05.839 - W106° 40.152
These shops are a relatively recent addition to Old Town. However, they are certainly old enough to harbor a spirit. The ghost here is the spirit of a man who loved laying adobes and applying stucco. And that is precisely what he's doing when seen by the occupants. At first I thought what a pitty that he still has to work in the afterlife. However, he's doing what he loves, so that's not so bad. Another spirit, or maybe the same one, frequently rearranges the furniture in the upstairs appartment. The current tenant takes it all in stride and just moves it back.
#A10 - Capilla de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe
N35° 05.862 - W106° 40.135
Here you will find a small chapel hidden away from the crowds. One of the more interesting places in Old Town. Many of the Albuquerque locals don't even know this place exists. On at least three occasions, a mysterious Lady in Black has been seen in here praying and sobbing. She sits in the pew at the far right corner. No one knows who she is or what her story is. I talked to the Cat Lady about this chapel and she claims that for some reason animals won't enter it. She inadvertently tried to bring one of her friendlier cats inside once, and it went into hysterics. I wonder what that's all about?
#A11 - The Old Chavez House
N35° 05.890 - W106° 40.170
The building just to the north of you was built about 1785 by Jose Chavez as a family home. Later on it used to be a brothel and a gambling casino. Now it is a restaurant. This place is inhabitied by a female ghost who usually hangs out in the Santo Room. Although never seen, guests and employees frequently feel her presence when a cold chill causes the hair on the back of their heads to stand up. She likes to move chairs around and start fires in the kiva fireplace. Even when there isn't any wood in the fireplace, a strong aroma of freshly burning wood can be smelled.
GCG6FV - Our Lady of the Tree
N 35° 05.813 - W 106° 40.174
While you're down this way, I highly recommend you stop by to visit the Our Lady of the Tree virtual geocache. This is not a part of your ghost tour, but is an interesting stop anyway.
I hope you've enjoyed your tour and some of the local lore.
If you want to find out more, I encourage you to visit this web site: Tours of Old Town.
If you decide to go on one of those tours, you'll get a lot more information than I've been able to give you here.