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Durand-Eastman Park

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Availability:	Open to the Public
Filed Under:	Paranormal Hot Spots > Haunted Parks
Added By:	Tom G
Added On:	April 23, 2007 - 06:46 PM UTC
Last Modified:	October 08, 2010 - 04:58 PM UTC
Your Rating:	Sign in to add your rating
Average Rating:	3 (1 ratings)
Visited By:	4 Users

Address
1433 Lake Shore Blvd, Rochester, NY 14617, USA (Rochester, New York)

Information
Durand-Eastman Park This park in the Rochester, New York suburb of Irondequoit is named for its founders Dr. Henry Durand and George Eastman, the founder of the Eastman Kodak Company. The two men saw a need for a park that would allow the public to have access to the beach along the shore of Lake Ontario. The two men purchased farm land surrounding Dr. Durand's property and then donated the property to the city of Rochester in 1907 under the condition that property would always be maintained as a public park. The park, located in Monroe County, was dedicated on May 22, 1909 in an event that included a marching band, a mock battle between Native American tribes, and a lacrosse game. Within a few years the park featured a bath house and a zoo containing a small assortment of animals; including bison, camels, llamas, and elk. Neither of these park features has lasted into modern day. Another former feature of the park has caused it to become a focal point of a local legend. A legend that in turn inspired a classic independent horror film in the 1980s. The White Lady of Durand-Eastman Park There are many places around the world that have legends of being haunted by the type of spirit commonly called a "white lady." There is even more than one white lady legend in the state of New York. According to folklore, the white ladies are often the victims of some sort of injustice on the part of a man or men. The ghosts, who often appear in white Victorian dress, are usually a harbinger of death for a cursed family or a spirit that exacts its revenge on random men in its blind rage. The White Lady of Rochester legend is the latter type. Though the tale of her origin has a number of variations, it almost always takes place in the early 19th century. According to some stories, the White Lady is named Eelissa. The woman in the story is often the victim of an abusive husband who eventually left her. In most of the stories, the white lady has a daughter (one version has Eelissa being the mother of a pair of boys as well, but the boys abandon her and their sister just like their father). Due to her past, the mother has a strong distrust of men. The age of the daughter also varies from story to story. In some versions she is a young lady who chooses to leave her mother's home to be with a young man the mother does not approve of. In most tales the daughter is still just a child who either mysteriously vanishes or is discovered to have been raped and murdered. These stories have Eelissa either spending her life searching for her daughter or committing suicide, often in the waters of either Lake Ontario or Durand Lake (a smaller lake within the park). Yet another legend forgoes the daughter entirely and has the white lady as a jilted lover who kills her husband and his mistress. The White Lady is said to take a few different forms and to manifest in a few areas. Sometimes she is a vengeful old crone hunting the shores of Lake Ontario with a pair of spectral dogs (either German Shepherds or Doberman Pinschers). Other times she is youthful spirit who coalesces from the mists of Durand Lake (some stories actually refer to her as the "Lady of the Lake"). In still other tales, Eelissa takes the form of a young woman who shifts into a crone appearance to kill teenage boys who dare to park with their dates along the park's roads. In most tales an old stone wall on the park property is the remnants of the White Lady's former home. The White Lady's Castle The 3 Lakes Pavilion is the site of the wall some refer to as the "White Lady's Castle." According to legend, it is the remaining foundation of Eelisa's home. Some stories claim that the "castle" was actually a hotel at one point. The truth is neither. The wall at the 3 Lakes Pavilion was built in 1911. It was not a foundation, it was a lookout point for the refectory pavilion that once stood a short ways behind it. The refectory pavilion was a covered dining area for parties and picnickers. A canon was once mounted in the middle parapet of the wall. According to some stories, the canon was actually functional and was placed there as a defense against possible invasion by Canadians across the lake. More likely the canon was retired prior to being placed at the park as decoration. The dramatic appearance of the pavilion wall and its placement between Lake Ontario, Durand Lake, and Eastman Lake have likely caused it to become part of the legend. While there is no historical evidence that Eelissa or her family existed, a more likely residence for her would have been the old 19th century cabin that once stood deeper inside the boundaries of what is now the park. The park road that runs closest to the 3 Lakes Pavilion is still called Log Cabin Road to commemorate the structure long since gone. Visitors to Durand-Eastman Park can find photos of the Refectory Pavilion (along with other old photos of the park) posted near the park caretaker station on Zoo Road. Lady in White (1988) The legends of Rochester's White Lady served as an inspiration for filmmaker Frank LaLoggia (Fear No Evil). The director, who grew up in Rochester, spun a semi-autobiographical tale around the White Lady myth to create his horror film, Lady in White (1988). The film stars Lukas Haas (Testament, Mars Attacks, The Tripper) as Franklin "Frankie" Scarlatti, a young boy who solves a supernatural murder mystery during the early 1960s. The Lady in White uses the version of the legend where the White Lady (Karen Powell) discovers her daughter murdered and then commits suicide. The time of the tragedy is changed from the 1800s to the 1950s for the movie. The White Lady's name is also Ann Montgomery in the movie, though her daughter is named Melissa in a possible nod to the Eelissa of legend. The story also has the daughter as the first victim in a string of unsolved child murders leading up to the main character's own encounter with the killer (as well as the ghosts of the mother and daughter). The Lady in White was partly shot on location in the Rochester-area and nearby Wayne County. While LaLoggia had initially chosen the nearby town of Honeyoye Falls as the story's setting, the writer/director ultimately decided to set the film in the fictional Willowpoint Falls. The Honeyoye Falls setting is apparent in the eight-minute sizzle reel trailer that Frank LaLoggia made in 1986 to attract investors to fund the eventual production of the feature length movie. Visiting Durand-Eastman Park The "White Lady's Castle" is clearly visible from Lake Shore Boulevard. There is even a small lot right in front of the pavilion wall in which visitors can park during their visit. Durand-Eastman Park features five and a half miles of hiking trails, shelters and lodges that can be rented for gatherings, a golf course, a playground, and a couple of ponds along with the two small lakes and stretch of Lake Ontario beach. Please check the park's official Web site for further details and hours of operation (see Related Sites below).

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Related Sites
The Lady in White The legend of the Lady in White.
Durand-Eastman Park The official Web site for Durand-Eastman Park. Home of the Lady in White haunting.

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See Also on TheCabinet.com
Blog: Pursuing the Lady in White: Part One (10/23/10)

Available from Amazon.com
The Lady in White
Haunted Rochester: The Supernatural History of the Lower Genesee
Ghost Walk: Chilling Tales From Rochester's Past

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The White Lady's Castle - Durand Eastman Park

The 3 Lakes Pavilion, believed by some to be the foundation of the White Lady's former home.
From: Tom G

Construction of the Refectory Pavilion in 1911. It is now known as the 3 Lakes Pavilion.
From: Tom G

Steps leading up to the 3 Lakes Pavilion.
From: Tom G

A close-up of the "White Lady's Castle" in Durand Eastman Park.
From: Tom G

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The above content is for informational purposes only. Before making any travel arrangements, it is highly recommended that you contact those in charge of the property to check for updated availability and hours of operation. While we do our best to keep this information updated, we cannot guarantee that it is completely valid and up to date. Any destination marked "Closed to the Public" is marked that for a reason and we discourage any visits or attempts to gain access to that facility. Similarly, take note of any "Travel Advisory" that may be associated with a destination. Finally, treat any location and its local residents with respect. Any vandalism and/or unruly behavior is completely despicable and only ruins the experience for future visitors.

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J Smith

May 30 2008, 05:35 AM UTC

I can remember countless Summer nights walking the trails and park roads with friends and family in search of the White Lady. Witnessed the Fog that appeared from nowhere on many nights but never observed the lady or her dogs. The White Lady Castle was a fun place to go into until it was filled in and made a picnic spot. There was a huge pine tree in the park with a white ghostly figure painted on it where we thought the mentioned house that burned once stood.
Edited on: Oct 08 2010, 04:56 PM UTC

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