Haunted Taverns Part 1: Tavern at the Sun Inn in Bethlehem

October is haunted taverns season for this group so we'll kick off the month with some colonial-era history and ghost stories at the Tavern at the Sun Inn in Bethlehem.

The Sun Inn opened its doors to weary colonial travelers in 1760 (construction began in 1758 which is typically cited as the Sun Inn's founding year). It was built by the Moravian community that settled Bethlehem as a "public house of entertainment." Given its location on the way between Philadelphia and New York and the fact that it was the first inn in the new world to offer private suite lodgings, the Sun Inn soon became a favored stop for 18th-century dignitaries.

George and Martha Washington were two of its most famous guests. Martha's suite has been re-created in the Sun Inn's museum. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Ethan Allen, Alexander Hamilton and Marquis de Lafayette (who did not enjoy his short time at the Sun Inn) were some of the other noteworthy guests to stay here.

Some guests apparently never left. The Sun Inn is said to be haunted and hosts Ghost and Spirit Tours every fall. We'll focus especially on those ghost stories including:

• A nurse who died at the Sun Inn in 1897
• A Moravian brother whose ghost remains to guard a secret treasure
• A late local woman who was the driving force behind the renovation and historical re-creation of the Sun Inn in the 1970s and '80s and continues to check in on the goings on there from the afterlife.

Paranormal investigators have identified at least 15 different ghostly entities present in the Sun Inn, making this one of the most haunted places in the Lehigh Valley.

The good news is it's still a functioning tavern with an eclectic menu. So join us for drinks, dinner and ghost stories, starting at 6 p.m. We will have our own private dining room.

Please note, I have added a nominal charge of $6 to attend this meetup. I don't plan to make this a regular thing, but because we have a private room with a set number of attendees, I am trying as best I can to discourage the usual late cancellations and no-shows. Funds will be refunded if you cancel within 24 hours of the event. If you cancel after that, you forfeit the sign-up fee. Funds collected will pay for a shared appetizer course at the dinner and defray the cost of running this meetup group.

As for the dinner itself, we will be able to order off the regular menu and pay by separate checks.

Should be a fun and spooky evening all around. See you there!