What It's Like to Live in a Creepy Town
Locals share the perks and drawbacks of living in 5 spooky cities
By Rachel Wise and Shannon Petrie, FrontDoor.com | Published: 5/10/2010
A full moon rises over spirit-laden Portland, Ore.
An eerie past and frequent reports of ghost sightings have earned Portland, Ore. a reputation as one of the most haunted cities in the Pacific Northwest. Diane Burns has heard her fair share of spooky stories in her 18 years as a Portland resident, but they don't deter her from thinking of the city as a beautiful place to live with lots to offer.
Creepy factor: Some of Portland's spookiest spots are the Willamette River, where a phantom rowboat is sometimes spotted, and Shanghai Tunnels, a network of underground passages connecting the city to the waterfront. According to popular legend, these tunnels were once used to kidnap, or "shanghai," unsuspecting victims to be sold into slavery. Today, the tunnels are open for tours and offer a unique glimpse into Portland's past.
"Although I've never been in those tunnels, people who have say there's something quite unnatural going on there," Burns says.
Getting around: Thanks to a light rail system, an extensive system of bike lanes and a boundary plan that has kept urban sprawl in check, it's easy to get around Portland, which is considered to be one of the greenest cities in the country. On the weekends, Burns says hundreds of cyclists take advantage of the city's bike trails. But locals do frequently rely on their cars as well to avoid Portland's rainy weather.
Owning a home: Burns says $400,000 can purchase a fabulous home in Portland. While she doesn't know of any particular Portland neighborhoods that are thought to be haunted, the city has clusters of old homes that are filled with history. For instance, she and her sister recently sold a house that was built in 1896. While living in the home for five years, her sister would occasionally notice a chandelier swaying inexplicably.
"It didn't frighten her, but it did make her raise her eyebrows and say, 'Hmm,'" she says.
Finding fun: For a relatively small city, Burns says Portland offers a wide range of world-class cultural attractions and dining, including the Portland Opera, the Oregon Symphony and the Laurelhurst Market Restaurant and Butcher Shop, which was voted one of the Top 10 Best New Restaurants of 2010 by Bon Appetite Magazine. From May through October, one of Portland's most popular destinations is the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Many of the city's major events are held here, including the Blues Festival, the Oregon Brewers Festival and the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.
Pittock Mansion, an ornate, 22-room estate known as one of Portland's most haunted locations, is a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike -- Burns takes all of her visitors to see the home. While she has never had a spooky experience herself at the mansion, she's heard stories from those who have.
"I've talked to people who have done volunteer work there, and they've closed windows and found them open again an hour later," she says. "But Pittock Mansion is a beautiful home, so you would think that any ghost residing there would just have the lap of luxury," she says.
Tallying the cost of living: Although Portland's property taxes are fairly high, the lack of a sales tax is a nice perk of living in the city, Burns says. Overall, Burns considers Portland to be a more affordable option than other cities in the western United States.
"It's not San Francisco, it's not L.A., but it's a beautiful town," she says. "When I first came here, I was amazed to see how clean they keep the city streets and how lush the forests are
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