Spooky Solomons

Home
United States
Solomons, MD
Spooky Solomons

Spooky Solomons is Solomons Island, MD's only ghost tour.

07/04/2025

Very proud to support this amazing community!

07/02/2025

I started Spooky Solomons as a way to tell the history and lore of Solomons Island. I did a lot of research and interviews to come up with an engaging way to educate people about how amazing Solomons is.

With that same attitude, I volunteered to lead the annual Solomons Island Fourth of July Celebrations. This was a lot more work than I expected. (And a lot more politics than I expected!) But it is coming together and in just a few days, 75,000 people will visit our little island to listen to awesome music, visit the shops, taste the food from amazing restaurants and vendors, and watch the best fireworks show in the area in one of the most beautiful settings.

I couldn't have done this without our sponsors who donated so generously. Most were extremely kind and supportive. I also couldn't have done this without Brandi Marie and Robert Jeffers. They are so awesome! And of course, a shout out to Vandy Young for her advice and dedication. I also want to thank the Calvert County Government, Calvert County, Maryland and in particular Hilary Dailey for your support, advice, and patience as I figured out what I didn't know!

I hope to see you all down there. I will be manning the Solomons Business Association tent near the gazebo.

Happy Independence Day!!

06/30/2025

Truly remarkable. Brian Haislip Photography is the Ansel Adams of Southern Maryland! Follow him for all the amazing photographs. And for the charity he works on, SOMD Photography, learn about the good he and the team are doing.

06/29/2025

Even before 1867 when Issac Solomon arrived on the island that bares his name today, oysters were a staple in the diet of most southern Marylanders. The boom of Solomons oyster canning facilities helped transform the local economy. Oyster harvesting wasn’t just a trade on Solomons Island—it was a way of life. It shaped the rhythm of the town, funded its churches and schools, and wove itself into the stories passed down at kitchen tables and marina docks. Though the bounty of the bay has faded from what it once was, echoes of that golden oyster age still exist in every step on the island today.

As an aside, what would an oyster ghost look like? My guess is it wouldn't be the shell, but a gooey blob of a ghost. Sadly, despite the huge numbers of oysters killed on the island, I don't have a single ghost oyster story.

06/27/2025

Had a fun tour with a terrific family last night. Ghost tours and family reunions feel like they go together for some reason. It started off hot, and ended hot with lightning. We all kept an eye on the weather and made it back before any thunder could be heard.

The lightning in the distance added to the ambiance.

06/25/2025

What possible reason would a ghost have for needing a death certificate? 😄

06/23/2025

Anyone recognize this historic place on Solomons Island?

‐-------‐-----
If you knew it was Bowen's Inn, you'd be correct. The original house was built in 1888 by Captain James W. Northam. In 1918, Mortimer Bowen and his wife Florence (Flo) purchased and began a massive building expansion that would become Bowen's Inn. The largest and most famous inn, restaurant, bar, and charter fishing/hunting fleet in the area. You might say that Bowen's Inn was an all inclusive joint! People were welcome from all walks of life. From the oysterman who plied the bay, the laborers in nearby oyster houses, to politicians and the Washington DC elite. In fact, Bowen's Inn hosted folks like Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy.

What were the favorite foods? Everyone loved the crab imperial and the fried chicken. But I also found a lot of comments about oyster stew being a big hit.

Sadly, the fine establishment was burned down in 2006. But the Great Granddaughter of Mortimer and Flo, Gwyn Novak, started the equally amazing No Thyme to Cook on the same property. There is no question that Gwyn's ancestors are proud of the legacy of great food and hospitality that they started.

Was it haunted? Of all the Solomons Ghost stories told to me, the stories from the Bowen's Inn were the most frequent and known throughout the town. Do you have a story from the Bowen's Inn that you'd like to share? Put it in the comment or IM with the story (if you wish to remain anonymous).

06/19/2025

Happy Jubilee Day! June 19th is the day we celebrate the ending of slavery in the United States. The abhorrent practice of slavery should never have happened in the first place, and it is a tragedy that it took so long to officially end it. But today, we celebrate and remember the sacrifices for all people to be free.

I also want to point out a connection between the founding of Solomons Island and the ending of slavery. When Isaac Solomon purchased and started building an oyster canning facility on the island in 1867, he did so because he saw the economic shifts happening throughout former slave holding land. Prior to Isaac's arrival, this spit of land was known as Sandy Island. It was just that, sand. But Calvert County was changing rapidly from the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves in 1865. It is this changing economy, a shift from to***co plantations to the water (oysters, crabs and fish) that Isaac hoped would build a town. As more and more locals made their living on the water, Solomons Island Maryland grew to be a major seafood and boat making hub.

Address

Solomons, MD

Website

https://spookysolomons.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Spooky Solomons posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Spooky Solomons: