We Call It Casper

     I wish I could share more stories with you involving ghost experiences in the Williams Lake area, but they are difficult to find.  Hopefully one day someone reading this will reply with a tale I can share.  I could only find one story so far that takes place in Williams Lake, and it involves a haunted hotel.  I came upon it in the book 'Ghost Stories Of British Columbia,' by Jo-Anne Christensen.

     In the late 80's, or early 90's, Anneke Leupin bought a road side hotel in Williams Lake, British Columbia.  Under her were four trusted staff whom she enjoyed working with.  It wasn't long until they were approaching her with strange stories of what they believed was a ghost that was haunting the hotel.  Leupin was reluctant to believe is such stories, as at the time, she was a non-believer.

     Her staff would tell her that sometimes while cleaning rooms, a t.v. would suddenly and quite loudly, just switch on, and there were times a faucet might turn on full board.  It was quite disturbing to say the least.  On one occasion, two of the staff witnessed an ashtray violently shaking on a table.  On two other occasions, when staff would go down to the supply closet to pick up some clothes hangers for the mysteriously empty closets, they would return moments later to find the rods jangling with hangers.  While on coffee breaks in the laundry room, they'd often hear whistling and footsteps upstairs.  Leupin heard this first hand.

     One experience really convinced Leupin of the existence of ghosts.  One day, while she was in the basement she suddenly felt hands running up and down her waist.  Startled, she turned to see who was there and there was no one.

     Although unsettling, Anneke Leupin and her staff don't believe the spirit means anyone harm.  They call it 'Casper' because to them, it seems friendly.