Meet the Spirits of the Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia — Ghosts & Scotch

Last updated on March 24, 2026.

Sometimes the most interesting accommodations are just a short drive from our house. Which is unfortunate because we are unlikely to ever stay there. Whether for convenience or budget, we often choose to stay home rather than exploring the unique places to stay that are within an hour drive. But here is my mission to you: plan a staycation. Search for the hotel, inn, or bed & breakfast close to home that calls your name – and book a night there. Maybe two. Because even though it is just 40 minutes from my house, I had never stayed at the Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia until last month. And what a joy it was to spend the night at the Scottish inn. Filled with great food & drink, Scottish charm, and haunted history, it is exactly my kind of place.

Thank you to Madison County Tourism for planning my trip to Brae Loch Inn, and to the inn for hosting me and my husband for the night.

The History of The Brae Loch Inn

For several years, the names Grey & Pete Barr were nearly synonymous with the village of Cazenovia, as they were the co-owners of the Brae Loch Inn. The brothers worked at an Adirondack resort for one summer, and returned with the desire to open their own restaurant.

The first iteration of the Brae Loch wasn’t actually in Cazenovia, though. It was in Borodino, a quaint hamlet on Skaneateles Lake. Established in 1946, the first Brae Loch operated on a much smaller scale, as a restaurant open in the summer only. Just a few years later, the family moved their operations to Cazenovia.

Originally built in 1805 as the William Burr Estate, it changed its named by just one letter when the Barr family took ownership in 1950. Over their 75 years in business, the Barr family has made updates and expanded on the main building. Changes to the inn can be seen in the photos hanging on the walls of the main floor.

The current owners are Grey’s son Jim Barr and his wife Val Barr. They took over the family business in 1988. Now, the inn continues to serve as lodging with a fine dining restaurant, well-stocked bar, and event venue.

Other members of the Barr family

While Grey and Pete owned the business, they were greatly supported by fellow family members, including Grey’s mom, Eve, and Grey’s stepfather (Pete’s father), Adam “Scotty” Brown. Yes, another famous Adam & Eve.

When Adam passed, his ashes were stored in an urn on the cash register per his request. He wanted to ‘keep an eye on’ the money to make sure no one stole it. When Eve passed, her urn joined his – but they were moved off the register and into the inn’s safe.

Today, Grey’s name still resonates around town. Although he went by Grey, his first name was actually Henry. Travis Barr (Grey’s grandson and Jim’s nephew) and his partner Alex Altomonte have opened the shop H. Grey* just down the street, named in Grey’s honor. The shop features the latest clothing fashions, accessories, and local artisan food. It also houses a coffee shop, H. Grey Social.

Another one of Grey’s grandchildren, McKenzie Houseman, also owns a store down the street from the inn. 20 East* is an adorable little shop stocked with housewares, kitchen supplies, giftables, and plenty of fresh locally-made breads, meats, and produce.

* Both H. Grey and 20 East are participating businesses on the Wandercuse passport.

Overnights at the Brae Loch

The inn at the Brae Loch includes 12 guest rooms between the original part of the house and the expanded section. Each room is equipped with its own bathroom, thermostat, coffee maker, wifi, television, and Tempur-Pedic mattress. Some rooms include a fireplace or hot tub; all rooms include parking and continental breakfast. The Scottish charm continues throughout the guest rooms. Our room featured tartan fabric on the canopy of our bed and restored hardwood floors.

Traveling with your four-legged family member? The Brae Loch Inn has rooms that are dog-friendly! I really enjoyed the painting of a dog above the fireplace mantle in our room.

Dining at the Brae Loch

Upon entering the Brae Loch, visitors can turn right and take the stairs down to the full restaurant and bar. Open to the public, the dining room and menu both have plenty of Scottish touches, nodding to the Barr family’s heritage. Sprawling through several separate rooms in the basement, the restaurant has a warm, comforting atmosphere, with crackling fireplaces and an array of beautiful paintings.

Dining at The Brae Loch is an elevated experience, perfect for what my husband and I were looking for on our anniversary. We opted for a glass of wine and a sweet-and-spicy old fashioned, saving the scotch for after dinner. The American-centric menu has many Scottish influences, including shepherd’s pie, haggis, hand pies, fish & chips, and cullen skink. (Yes, I had to look up what cullen skink was too, so I’ll save you the trouble. It’s a traditional Scottish chowder with smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions.)

The Brae Loch’s signature dish is the ‘Prime Minister’, on the menu since they opened in 1946 and served on Fridays and Saturdays only. The dish includes prime rib roast with mashed potatoes, a vegetable, au jus, and creamy horseradish. The menu also features salads, steaks, pastas, seafood, and more with vegetarian and gluten-free options available.

For folks looking for a more casual dining experience, they can order off of the pub menu while sitting near the bar.

The Brae Loch’s favorite spirit: scotch

Brae Loch has one of the largest – and impressive – selections of Scotch around. Because of this, they have a scotch club. Club members get to enjoy monthly complimentary drams of rare and sought-after scotches, discounts at bottles purchased onsite, and have access to a locker to store said bottles. The restaurant also has scotch tasting events and scotch-pairing dinners. And unsurprisingly, they host a Burns Night every January, honoring the famous Scottish poet.

During our visit, which happened to be on our wedding anniversary, my husband and I enjoyed ending our night at the inn’s bar. It was comforting to know I could enjoy a couple rounds of scotch and just walk upstairs to our room for the evening. The bartender, Dakota, was delightful and knowledgeable about the scotch, whisky, and bourbon selection. He was able to recommend a few options that I truly enjoyed based on my taste preferences. Also, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the prices were very reasonable.

The other Brae Loch spirits

With three-quarters of a century of history, many stories have been shared among staff and guests about strange happenings throughout the inn. So much so that many ghost hunters and paranormal seekers have visited the inn to experience things for themselves.

When on my tour through the Brae Loch, Val shared several stories with me. And now I’m sharing them with you.

In the common areas

One time around Christmas, a man was seen wearing a white shirt, brown-yellow-green kilt, mismatched socks and penny loafers. When he described the man to a staff member, they realized they had perfectly described the outfit that Scotty was wearing when he was cremated. As the family did not want to burn his best clothing, they had cremated him in some of his older, tattier clothing.

Another very interesting tale comes from 2018. This time multiple people reported seeing guests in fine clothes celebrating at a party in the main dining room. Not wanting to interrupt, one couple decided to leave the area and come back later for what they needed. Another couple reported seeing the same party during their breakfast conversations the following morning. But the staff report that there was no party happening that evening. When asked – separately – both couples said they saw the party through the doorway at the bottom of the curved staircase. But that door has been nailed shut since the 1950s…

In the restaurant

Downstairs in the restaurant, guests report their chairs being bumped into and shoulders being touched. People report hearing a child’s voice laughing, crying, and saying things like “Mama” and “I’m cold.”

In the guest rooms

Of the 12 guest rooms, the ones in the original part of the house have the most activity. Guests report seeing orbs and weird flashes of light. One couple reported seeing lights streaming down from their ceiling, through the canopy above their bed. Alarmed, they tried to communicate with the lights, asking them to come down – one for yes, and two for no. And the lights responded.

Ghostly Events at The Brae Loch

As with many places along the Haunted History Trail of New York (and other haunted locations), the ghosts are reported to be more active around Halloween. Many people believe the the veil between the living and the dead is lifted, making communication possible.

During fall, the inn hosts “spirit dinners” where guests are treated to ghost stories over dinner. They’ve also transformed the bar into a “spooky speakeasy”.

Love haunted places? Read about more places I’ve visited along the Haunted History Trail of New York, including more inns, museums, and other landmarks.