Across Ontario, there are plenty of stories about strange sightings, restless spirits, and places with a history that shouldn’t be forgotten.
One person who has helped bring many of these stories to light, was author and historian Terence Patrick O’Boyle, better known as Terry Boyle.
His books introduced readers to haunted places across Ontario and inspired many of us, including myself, to visit these places and explore the stories for ourselves.
The Man Behind Haunted Ontario
Born in 1953, Terry Boyle spent much of his life exploring Ontario’s history, folklore, and ghost stories. He worked as an author, historian, journalist, and teacher, and also hosted a couple of seasons of Creepy Canada, a TV show about reported paranormal activity across the country.¹, ²
Boyle’s interest in folklore goes back to his childhood. He grew up hearing stories about little people and leprechauns, which helped keep his mind open to the unexplained.² When he started writing in the 1970s, people began sharing their own strange experiences with him.2 Those stories sparked his curiosity and encouraged him to dig deeper.²
He didn’t just sit back and collect other people’s stories, though. Boyle visited the places he wrote about, talked to owners and staff, researched their histories, and searched for old photographs to help bring their stories to life.² He wrote about all kinds of subjects, from Ontario’s history and folklore to its darker past, but it’s his Haunted Ontario series that has had the biggest impact on my own adventures.
I even have a signed copy of one of his books, that I found second-hand. It’s was a fun little find, since he has been such an inspiration.
I’ve come to rely on Boyle’s books when planning cemetery road trips and researching my Stone Stories. They’re often where I start when looking for somewhere new to visit or a story worth digging into. I’ve also discovered places through his books, that I might never have come across otherwise.
With all the exploring he’s done, you know he has some great stories of his own too. During one investigation, he witnessed an ashtray lift off a kitchen counter, float past his face, and land back on the counter.³ He said he probably wouldn’t have believed it, if he hadn’t seen it for himself.³
Whether you’re a skeptic or not, I think there’s something fascinating about the stories that become attached to places. And while reading about them is interesting, there’s nothing quite like visiting one for yourself.
And Boyle’s books have given me plenty of reasons to get out there and explore.
Inn at the Falls
Located in Bracebridge, Ontario, this historic property has its own share of ghost stories. It’s also one of the locations featured in Boyle’s Haunted Ontario 2: Ghostly Inns, Hotels, and Other Eerie Places.
Some of the stories involve Room 105, which caught our attention when my fiancé and I were planning a visit to Bracebridge.⁴ After reading about the Inn, we decided to book a stay in that very room when we visited in 2021.
We didn’t experience anything supernatural, but we had a great time visiting the Inn, chatting with the staff, and exploring the town. The trip even inspired us to start an annual tradition of visiting haunted locations every October.
It’s become one of my favourite traditions!
Room 105, Inn at the Falls. Bracebridge ON ©2021
Ghost Road
Ghost Road, near Port Perry, is another location featured in Boyle’s Haunted Ontario.
Local legend tells of a motorcyclist who died in an accident involving a wire fence. According to the story, people have reported seeing a headlight approaching along the road, followed by a red taillight disappearing in the distance.2
It’s a really cool feeling to stand in a place that you’ve read about, especially when there are ghost stories connected to it.
Ghost Road, Port Perry ON ©2024
Carling Cemetery
Terry Boyle passed away suddenly on July 11, 2016, at the age of 63.1 His passing was a loss for his family and friends, his many readers, and the wider communities of history, folklore, and paranormal enthusiasts. Following a celebration of his life in Parry Sound, he was laid to rest at Carling Cemetery.1
Carling Cemetery is a lawn park cemetery, so the grave markers lie flat against the ground. I had a bit of trouble finding Terry’s marker at first, but after wandering around for a while, I finally spotted it.
It’s a simple pink granite stone with his name, dates, and the words “a kind, gentle man of vision.” His wife, Allanah Marie O’Boyle, is also named on the marker, although no dates have been added beneath her name.
I brought along a little stuffed ghost to photograph with his marker. I don’t usually bring props or mementos to cemeteries, but it seemed fitting for someone who spent so much time exploring ghost stories. It was my own small way of connecting his work to mine.
I never had the chance to meet Terry in person, but I can’t help wondering what we might have talked about. His books have inspired so many of my cemetery road trips and Stone Stories, and I’ve really enjoyed discovering the places and stories through his work.
Before leaving, I took a moment at his grave to pay my respects and thank him for all the inspiration, and for sharing so many stories with us.
Gravestone of Terry Boyle. Carling Cemetery, Carling ON ©2026
Terry Boyle’s books continue to introduce readers to Ontario’s unusual history and supernatural stories. His work has certainly inspired me to get out and explore, and it’s a reminder that there are so many fascinating stories waiting to be found, so close to home. Sometimes they’re hiding in a haunted inn, along a quiet country road, or a cemetery with a story of its own.
Thank you, Terry, for inspiring me to explore new places, and share the stories I discover along the way.
And, as always, thank you for reading!
References:
- Terry Boyle (obituary) | Logan’s Funeral Home
- Terry Boyle – Ontario Historian and Author of the Haunted Ontario Series | ThatGrrl
- Terry Boyle | The Only Time this Ghost Author saw Something Move | Ghost Walks
- Terry Boyle: Experience Bracebridge | Ghost Walks
