Spooky Solomons

06/17/2026

I am excited for tomorrow's first Ghosts of the Revolution talk. I think the program will be informative and interesting.

Hopefully with a good amount of patriotism, history, and even some local Revolutionary War incidents!

There are 4 dates to pick from including tomorrow night's. Tickets are still available and seats can be reserved on the Spooky Solomons website.

See you soon!

06/17/2026

Sometimes we've all been there, when you know, you know.

06/16/2026

Sharps Island was once a 800 acre island at the mouth of the Choptank River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Located southwest of Tilghman Island and just east of Breezy Point in Calvert County, it was once home to a thriving farming community.

At its peak, Sharps Island even boasted a three story hotel, boardwalks, entertainment piers, and a steamboat wharf that brought visitors from around the Chesapeake Bay to what was considered a bayside paradise.

Beginning in the late 1800s, severe erosion steadily consumed the island. By the 1930s, the remaining residents had abandoned it. Visitors later traveled there to salvage lumber and other materials from the empty buildings. Before World War II, the U.S. Navy used the island as a bombing practice range. By 1950, only a small remnant of land remained. By 1960, Sharps Island itself had vanished beneath the waters of the Chesapeake, leaving only the lighthouse standing watch over the shoals.

Even the lighthouse earned a reputation of its own. After being damaged by heavy ice, it developed a noticeable lean and became known as the "Leaning Tower of Pisa Lighthouse."

What makes Sharps Island especially intriguing are the ghost stories that surrounded it.

One of the oldest dates to the early 1800s. According to the tale, a young boy was helping his family work in their garden when he stopped to rest beneath a tree near the family graveyard. There, he encountered an elderly man he had never seen before. The stranger led him to a spot in the yard and told him that gold was buried there. The old man claimed he had hidden it long ago and wanted his descendants to have it.

The boy told his father what had happened. Together they dug at the spot and, according to the story, uncovered a substantial cache of gold. With that treasure, the family was supposedly able to purchase Sharps Island and began developing it.

Reports of apparitions and unexplained encounters on the island continued for generations. Some visitors found the stories unsettling, while others considered them part of the island's charm. Tales of the ghosts of Sharps Island became so well known that when the Navy prepared to use the island for bombing practice, the Navy jokingly warned the island's resident spirits before the bombardment began.

Today, Sharps Island is gone. The farms, homes, hotel, and boardwalks have long since disappeared beneath the Chesapeake Bay. But the stories and memories remain.

06/16/2026

Solomons Island sunsets rarely disappoint. For those who are sick of seeing them, sorry/not sorry, I will post a lot more.

Year-round ghost tours of Solomons are great ways to see the sunset!

There are a bunch of tours this month.

Ghosts of the Revolution (no sunsets) at WhataBoba Lusby is on Wednesday, June 17th and Saturday, June 27th.

Psychic Ghost Tour on Saturday at June 27th with Lynn Coffren - Winged Spirit - Evidential Psychic Medium.

Several Historical Ghost Tours to pick from, including June 24th, 25th, and 26th.

06/15/2026

These are so much fun. The historical ghost tour tells the legends and lore. The psychic ghost tour goes beyond what I, as a historical storyteller, can share.

Join Lynn Coffren - Winged Spirit - Evidential Psychic Medium and I on a unique walk around Solomons!

06/15/2026

A lot of great patriotic events happening.

I am excited to present Ghosts of the Revolution this Wednesday at WhataBoba Lusby.

You will need tickets to reserve a seat. There are still a few tickets left for this Wednesday. There are other dates available.

Be part of history in the making as Calvert County prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Through Calvert 250, residents and visitors can enjoy special programs, exhibits and events that highlight the nation’s founding and Marylanders’ lasting contributions. Make it a memorable visit while you’re here. The Calvert 250 committee supports an inclusive, yearlong statewide celebration in 2026.

Check out this week’s events and exhibits:

Ghosts of the Revolution
📍June 17 at 7 p.m. at WhataBoba Lusby presented by Spooky Solomons

America 250 Rock Painting Community Event
📍Tuesdays in June starting June 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Tea Nook at Butterflies & Wishes Tea & Sweets in Chesapeake Beach

Juneteenth Celebration 2026
📍June 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum

Red, White & Bloom-Celebrate America's 250th
📍June 20 from 1-2:30 p.m. at Calvert Library Fairview Branch in Owings

Landmark: Iconic American Views
📍Exhibit at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons through Sept. 20, 2026. Arts Building is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Farmers, Patriots & Traitors: Southern Maryland and the War of 1812
📍Exhibit at Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons; museum is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Community Mural Celebrating Calvert County's Story
📍Mural on display at Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons; museum is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A Scrapbook Journey: The Heroes of the Twin Beaches
📍Exhibit at the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum; museum is open daily 1-4 p.m.

America's 250 Anniversary: Featured Items and Exhibits
📍Exhibit at the Bayside History Museum in North Beach; museum is open Wed-Fri 9 a.m. to noon and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The museum also hosts an exhibit table at the Saturday morning farmers market in North Beach every week.

Step into the Past: The Louis Goldstein Office
📍Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum's Visitor Center in St. Leonard

Visit visitcalvert.com/celebrate250 for the latest event information!

06/15/2026

Solomons Island has seen some unique individuals as residents over the years, one of them was the good Reverend William Wilberforce Costin.

Costin arrived in Solomons in 1920 as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the building that today serves as the Solomons Mission Center. He would spend several years here and, despite his many controversies, seems to have developed a genuine affection for both Solomons and Southern Maryland.

Before arriving in Solomons, Costin had already become well known throughout Maryland as a fiery Methodist minister, prolific writer to the newspapers, and outspoken supporter of Prohibition. He regularly published letters defending the 18th Amendment and condemning its critics. Calling other religions and newspapers that questioned the outlawing of liquor as "godless" and "heathens". Newspapers eagerly printed his opinions, often because they stirred such strong reactions. Some of his statements were even picked up by The New York Times. He also wrote a few books, some of which are available online to purchase.

Costin was also no stranger to controversy within his own church. Shortly before coming to Solomons, he resigned from a Baltimore pastorate after church authorities insisted that clergy should be married. Rather than marry, Costin resigned, touching off a public dispute that attracted considerable attention. He never married.

Yet there was another side to him. While living in Solomons, Costin frequently praised the beauty of Southern Maryland and the kindness of its people. He advocated for bringing electric service to the island and wrote passionately about the area's future.

Perhaps his most unusual act while in Southern Maryland was his attempt to name the waters behind Solomons Island. Costin declared the name "Loch Solivet" for the body of water where, as he described it, three creeks met before joining the Patuxent River. The name never caught on, and today most people know the area as Back Creek.

Obviously he had both friends and enemies, but one thing everyone could agree on, Reverend William Wilberforce Costin wasn't boring.

06/15/2026

One of the best things about telling stories and being out in the community is meeting all of you.

Despite being an introvert, I can honestly say I love the interactions and connections I get to make in our wonderful community.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Betsy today. She shared a great joke with me:

What kind of pants do ghosts wear?
A paranormal jeans.

Here's a few more for you!

Did you hear about the ghost ship?
They're working with a skeleton crew.

What do you call a ghost without any feet?
A lost sole.

What's a ghost pirate's favorite boba tea?
Boo-tea.

I found out my fiancée is really a ghost.
I had my suspicions the moment she walked through the door.

I once told a bad joke about a ghost.
It haunts me to this day.

Why are there so many ghosts hanging around the Tiki Bar?
They're full of boos.

Thanks for stopping by, Betsy, and for brightening our day!

06/14/2026

From my Friday trip to Smith Island with Smith Island Cruises.

Have you heard Marmaduke Mister's story about Blackbeard's buried gold on the island?

While I think it's more legend than history, it's a fun story.

06/14/2026

Solomons Island is always beautiful. Day or night. But after a ghost tour, I just love the feel of the island after the sun has slipped beneath the horizon.