Smalley Inn Preps for 31 Days of Scares, Spooks

Next week, the goblins and ghouls that have slowly been making their way onto the walls at Smalley Inn will "come alive after 5" each evening.

That's according to manager Anthony Porto, Jr., who has been decorating for weeks. He says that the Carmel eatery's annual Halloween special, a nightly show for diners featuring actors and props, draws folks from all over Putnam, as well as the surrounding counties. He sometimes sees visitors from out-of-state, too.

"People have traveled for two or three hours, from Albany, and even Massachusetts," Porto told Patch, adding that some fright-fans claim the production is better than the one at Jekyll and Hyde in Manhattan.

It's scary enough that Porto issued potential Halloween customers a warning:

"This isn't Chuck E. Cheese, it's not Disney World," he said. "If the kids are afraid, don't bring them. I scare everyone. There's no differentiating."

Smalley Inn has been a staple on Gleneida Avenue in Carmel for more than a century. It was established in 1852, and Porto's family bought it in the 1960s. He said he still receives calls daily from folks who want to stay in the hotel, which has not been in operation for several years.

Rumor has it that the place is haunted. The eatery was featured on an episode of "The Dead Files" on The Travel Channel last month. Porto saw a small uptick in business after the episode aired.

For more information on dining at Smalley Inn during the month of October, call 845-225-9874.