The Haunting of Casa Loma

Rising above the Toronto skyline, Casa Loma is North America’s only full-sized castle—a Gothic Revival mansion built by Sir Henry Pellatt, a Canadian financier and military man who poured his fortune into creating his dream home. Pellatt lived in Casa Loma for less than ten years before financial ruin forced him to sell. Today, the castle operates as a museum and event venue, but staff and visitors report that its former master has never truly left. Casa Loma is considered one of Canada’s most haunted locations.

The History

Sir Henry Pellatt made his fortune in electricity, founding the Toronto Electric Light Company. He was knighted for his contributions to the Canadian military. But his grandest ambition was Casa Loma—a castle that would rival European aristocratic homes.

Construction began in 1911 and cost over $3.5 million (approximately $90 million today). The castle featured 98 rooms, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel to the stables, and elaborate gardens. Pellatt and his wife Mary moved in in 1914.

But Pellatt’s fortune collapsed in the 1920s. The city raised property taxes on the castle to $1 million annually. Unable to pay, Pellatt was forced to sell. His beloved possessions were auctioned. He moved to a modest house and died in 1939, impoverished and broken.

The Ghosts

Casa Loma reportedly hosts several spirits:

Sir Henry Pellatt: The man who built the castle and lost it is the most commonly reported ghost. Staff members have seen a distinguished elderly man in the hallways and the tower, dressed in period clothing. He seems to be inspecting his former home, perhaps unable to leave the place that represented both his greatest triumph and his greatest loss.

Lady Mary Pellatt: Henry’s wife Mary, who was wheelchair-bound in her final years, is reported in the second-floor hall and near her former bedroom. Some reports describe the sound of her wheelchair rolling across floors.

The White Lady: A woman in white is seen in various areas of the castle. Her identity is unknown, but she may represent one of the many servants who worked in the castle during its operational years.

Soldiers: Ghostly figures in military uniform have been reported, perhaps connected to Sir Henry’s military career or to the castle’s use during World War II.

Active Areas

Certain areas of Casa Loma produce more reports than others:

The tower: Pellatt’s private retreat within the castle generates sightings and feelings of presence.

The tunnel: The 800-foot passage to the stables is notoriously uncomfortable, with visitors reporting cold spots, touches, and being watched.

The wine cellar: Strange sounds and apparitions have been reported in the underground areas.

Lady Mary’s suite: The second-floor areas associated with Mary Pellatt produce sounds and sightings.

The Great Hall: Staff report footsteps, voices, and the feeling of eyes watching from empty spaces.

Investigation

Casa Loma has been investigated by numerous paranormal teams. Investigators have reported:

EVP recordings appearing to capture voices

Cold spots and temperature anomalies

Electromagnetic fluctuations in specific areas

Personal experiences including being touched, hearing voices, and seeing apparitions

The castle’s management acknowledges the haunted reputation and offers special ghost-themed events and tours.

The Tragedy

Casa Loma’s haunting may derive from its tragic history. Sir Henry Pellatt created something magnificent only to lose it completely. His wife Mary, devoted to him, died in the castle before the forced sale. The couple’s dreams were shattered by forces beyond their control.

If ghosts are residual emotional energy, or spirits trapped by unresolved attachment, Casa Loma represents an ideal setting. The castle embodies dreams lost, love tested, and ambition ultimately thwarted.

Current Status

Today, Casa Loma is one of Toronto’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Film productions regularly use the castle for period settings.

The haunted reputation has become part of the attraction. Halloween events at Casa Loma draw crowds eager for frights in the Gothic setting. Ghost tours allow visitors to explore the castle after dark.

Assessment

Casa Loma combines the essential elements of a compelling haunting: a magnificent setting, tragic history, documented deaths, and consistent contemporary reports. Whether the spirits of Henry and Mary Pellatt truly linger in their former home or whether the castle’s atmosphere simply inspires such interpretations, Casa Loma has earned its reputation as one of Canada’s most haunted landmarks.

The castle they built stands above Toronto still, a monument to dreams that were too big and a love that perhaps transcends death itself.