Ottawa Jail Hostel

Ontario · Kanada · Prison

In the hostel inside Ottawa's old jail, hanged assassin Patrick Whelan is said to appear at the foot of guests' beds.

The Carleton County Gaol in Ottawa served as a prison from 1862 to 1972 and is now a hostel where guests sleep in converted cells. It was here that Patrick J. Whelan was hanged in 1869 before more than 5,000 spectators, convicted of assassinating politician Thomas D'Arcy McGee — one of Canada's last public executions. Denied burial with his family, Whelan is said to lie in a secret, unmarked grave on the jail grounds, which legend holds is why he has never found rest. Guests describe a figure at the foot of their beds, footsteps in the death-row corridor, and a sense of being watched in the old condemned cells.

FAQ

Where is Ottawa Jail Hostel located?

Ottawa Jail Hostel is in Ontario, Kanada.

Image: Canmenwalker / CC BY 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons