Community News

Fort Ontario State Historic Site hosts “Murder, Mystery and Mayhem” lantern tours on Wednesdays from Sept. 25 through Oct. 30.

Each event begins at 7 p.m. inside the old stone fort located at 1 E. Fourth St. in Oswego.

Enjoy a night of fascinating and sometimes gruesome tales of life at Fort Ontario and discover why so many spirits seem to linger there. The tour is guided by costumed interpreters, featuring 20 stories from the Fort’s past. A limited supply of candle lanterns will be provided, and participants are invited to bring their own lanterns or flashlights.

“Murder, Mystery and Mayhem” is not recommended for children under age 13, as some stories include adult content. Tours take place outdoors, rain or shine, after dark and encompass 1.5 miles of walking on uneven terrain, so participants are asked to dress accordingly.

Tickets are $20, and advanced registration is recommended. To reserve a spot in a tour, call Fort Ontario at 315-343-4711. Tickets at the gate will be offered first come, first serve until the tour is at capacity.

For more information about the lantern tours, call 315-343-4711 between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Fort Ontario State Historic Site is open to visitors Wednesday through Sunday.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by 78 million people annually. 

For more information on any of these recreational areas, visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NYS Parks Explorer mobile app or call 315-474-0456.  Also, connect on Facebook, Instagram and X.