Is Halloween your favorite holiday? Do you have a dark streak buried deep within you? Are you obsessed with the occult? Do you love a good haunted house? Or are you simply an investor searching for a scary good return?
If the answer to any of those questions is yes, then Auction.com has a listing for you.
On Oct. 28, the historic Village of Johnsonville will be available for purchase through Auction.com.
What makes the Village of Johnsonville different than other properties? Well, for starters, it’s a ghost town. With real, actual ghosts in it.
Located in the Moodus section of East Haddam, Connecticut, the Village of Johnsonville sits on approximately 62 acres of land. The winning bidder would become the proud owner of eight 19th-century structures, a “picturesque pond,” a covered bridge, wooden dam, waterfall and the possibility of a ghost or two, Auction.com said.
The Village of Johnsonville was once a bustling mill town during the mid-1800’s, but fell victim to America’s modernization and was eventually abandoned, until Ray Schmitt bought it in the 1960s.
Rumors have it that the Village of Johnsonville is home to several spirits, most notably the spirit of Schmitt, an eccentric millionaire. Schmitt planned to return the town to its former glory, but died before he was able to complete his plan. The rumor is that Schmitt’s spirit remains on the site to protect the town he loved.
Other rumored residents of the Village of Johnsonville are the spirits of mill workers whose bodies were customarily laid out in the parlor of the stately Johnson House before their burial.
“While there are certainly a wide variety of properties available for sale on our platform, it isn’t every day that an entire town goes up for sale – much less one of historical significance,” said Rick Sharga, executive vice president of Auction.com.
“The whole ‘haunted or not’ discussion kind of takes things to another level altogether, especially at this time of year. But potential buyers can rest assured that there will be no extra charges for any ghosts who may be attached to the property.”
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the property features historically accurate buildings and Billy Joel’s “River of Dreams” music video was filmed over the lake on the property.
“The Village of Johnsonville is considered a special purpose property, given the uniqueness and nature of it,” said Jim Kelly, senior vice president of RM Bradley, which is partnering with Auction.com on the sale.
“Whether the draw is the historical roots, the potential for the land’s usage, or just the eeriness of the stories associated with it, this property is drawing a considerable amount of attention from a large field of potential investors.”
The online auction begins on Oct. 28, with a starting bid of $800,000.
A mere pittance for the investor looking for a scary return on investment.
Check out images of the Village of Johnsonville below. Pictures of ghosts not included.
