Episode 158: The "Belle" of Rogers County – The Belvidere Mansion

In this episode, we travel to Claremore, Oklahoma, to explore the Belvidere Mansion, a three-story Victorian Gothic "castle" with a history as grand as its four turrets. Built at the turn of the 20th century by wealthy entrepreneur John Melville Bayless, this 9,000-square-foot masterpiece was meant to be a dream home—but it quickly became a site of tragedy and transition.

From its origins as a high-society residence to its stints as a specialized hospital for "blood diseases" and a 12-unit apartment complex, the Belvidere has seen it all. We dive into the life of the ambitious Bayless family, the eerie "Kooky Facts" surrounding the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair materials hidden in the walls, and the heartbreaking string of deaths that left the mansion filled with more than just memories.

The Highlights--

• The Visionary: The story of John Melville Bayless, the man who built Claremore's infrastructure but died just six months before his "dream home" was finished.

• Architectural Salvage: How pieces of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair ended up as permanent fixtures in an Oklahoma mansion.

• The Darker Years: The mansion’s transformation into the Cinnabar Hospital in 1919 and its eventual slide into disrepair as a "condemned hazard."

• The Residents Who Never Left: From the "friendly" ghost of John Bayless greeting guests on the porch to the tragic, lingering presence of his daughter Bland and the "distraught woman" of the 1940s.

• Modern Day: A look at the mansion's rebirth via the Rogers County Historical Society, featuring a tea room (The Pink House), a genealogical library, and a ballroom that still hosts weddings today.

Spook Scale--

We discuss the "hotspots" identified by paranormal investigators, including:

• The Basement: Disembodied footsteps and "ghost stick figures" captured on SLS cameras.

• The Second Floor: The most active area, where visitors report the sensation of a rope burn on their necks and whispers asking, "Who are you?"

• The Self-Flushing Toilets: Because even spirits appreciate indoor plumbing.

Plan Your Visit--

If you’re brave enough to visit the Belvidere in person, here is what’s on the 2026 calendar:

• Dine: Grab lunch at The Pink House (Mon–Sat, 11 AM – 2 PM).

• Events:

• • Stargazers Gathering: March 12, 2026.

  • Nightcap at the Belvidere (Tales of the Macabre): April 26, 2026.

  • Kentucky Derby Garden Party: May 3, 2026.

Sources:

• Rogers County Historical Society

• TravelOK

• Legends of America

• Claremore Museum of History

• Ghosts and Legends of Oklahoma by Mike Ricksecker

• Oklahoma's Haunted Route 66 by Tanya McCoy

• OHS - Claremore