The spooky tiny hamlet in New York with strange goings on where no one really dies

It sounds like something out of a horror movie but a secluded enclave where spirit communicators live in New York is far from that as the quaint village oozes charm.

Lily Dale’s Victorian homes, painted in bold, unconventional hues and adorned with crystals and angel statues, lend the town a whimsical, almost storybook-like quality. This unexpected warmth is further enriched by the shared conviction that the ‘dead never actually die’, a belief that binds the community together.

Nestled in rural western New York, Lily Dale has been a center of Spiritualism since its founding in 1879. This religion, rooted in the belief that human souls persist beyond physical death, shapes every aspect of life in the hamlet. 

As Sage Osa, a medium who has studied extensively at Lily Dale, explains, ‘[Spiritualists] don’t really believe in death, because energy can never be destroyed. So the thought is that we continue to exist even after we pass – we cross to the other side.’

Yet, within the tangible reality of Lily Dale, a crucial question arises: Who has the authority to communicate with the dead?

According to Spiritualist tradition, this ability is reserved for mediums, and Lily Dale strictly regulates their practice. 

Visitors are greeted by a ‘mediums directory’ upon arrival, a list of over 50 certified practitioners authorized to conduct private readings, lead workshops, and connect with ‘Spirit’ – an all-knowing, infinite presence embodying unconditional love, forgiveness, and the mysteries of existence.

Lily Dale acts as a powerful draw for the medium community, not just for certified practitioners but also for those seeking to learn and teach. This global attraction fuels its summer season, the hamlet’s economic engine, bringing in thousands of visitors for workshops, readings, and prominent lectures featuring figures like Deepak Chopra and John Edward. 

Its Victorian homes, painted in bold, unconventional hues and adorned with crystals and angel statues, lend the town a whimsical, almost storybook-like quality

History 

But how did Lily Dale originate, and what factors contributed to its establishment as a Spiritualist center?

Lily Dale’s emergence as a Spiritualist center in 1879 was shaped by a convergence of religious and social movements in 19th-century New York. 

The region, known as the ‘Burned-Over District,’ fostered a wave of new religious ideologies, including Mormonism, Shakerism, and the Oneida Community, alongside the rapidly growing Spiritualist movement.

The Fox sisters’ widely publicized séances, beginning in 1848, propelled Spiritualism into the mainstream, despite Margaret Fox later admitting to fraud. 

Meanwhile, the expansion of transportation networks, such as the Erie Canal and railroads, facilitated the spread of these beliefs.

The American Civil War (1861–1865) further fueled Spiritualism’s appeal, as widespread grief drove many to seek comfort in the idea of an afterlife. 

By the 1870s, Spiritualists and Freethinkers were gathering in the area that would become Lily Dale, organizing summer camps featuring lectures and communal meals. 

Their presence became permanent in 1879 when they formally purchased land.

The Fox sisters’ widely publicized séances, beginning in 1848, propelled Spiritualism into the mainstream, despite Margaret Fox (far left) later admitting to fraud

Nestled in rural western New York, Lily Dale has been a center of Spiritualism since its founding in 1879

Spiritualism, rooted in the belief that human souls persist beyond physical death, shapes every aspect of life in the hamlet

Wealthy supporters like Marion and Thomas Skidmore played a key role in the community’s development. Marion Skidmore, in particular, founded the library, which now holds an extensive collection of occult and Spiritualist texts.

Lily Dale’s rise coincided with the women’s suffrage movement, attracting figures like Susan B. Anthony. The community’s embrace of progressive ideals created a natural alliance with these movements.

Mediumship also provided women with rare opportunities for financial independence at a time when such careers were scarce. 

Considered the spiritual anchors of their households, women found mediumship a socially acceptable profession, and public readings granted them a platform to speak openly.

Residency and membership 

Nestled amid old-growth forest and the Cassadaga Lakes Region, Lily Dale is a quiet, close-knit community of approximately 169 leaseholds within a three-mile radius. 

A welcoming Spiritualist haven, primarily composed of female and white residents, it boasts a population of 

Lily Dale also operates under unique principles: traditional homeownership and death are viewed as illusions, and mortgages are nonexistent within its borders 

The Lily Dale Assembly, the organization governing the community, emphasizes that ‘purchasing a home in Lily Dale is not a typical real estate transaction.’ 

Nestled amid old-growth forest and the Cassadaga Lakes Region, Lily Dale is a quiet, close-knit community of approximately 169 leaseholds within a 3-mile radius

Lily Dale acts as a powerful draw for the medium community, not just for certified practitioners but also for those seeking to learn and teach

Lily Dale also operates under unique principles: traditional homeownership and death are viewed as illusions, and mortgages are nonexistent within its borders

Instead, residents acquire leaseholds, granting them occupancy rights for a specified period, but they do not own the land. 

Residency hinges on membership in the Lily Dale Assembly, which requires affiliation with a Spiritualist church. 

This practice, while potentially seen as discriminatory, is permitted under exemptions to the Fair Housing Act for housing managed by religious organizations. 

Prospective members must demonstrate a year of Spiritualist church affiliation, provide references, pay dues, and undergo a board interview to assess their suitability for the community. 

But earning the title of a Lily Dale-certified medium, however, is no simple feat. Candidates undergo a rigorous testing process, with their evaluation based on how frequently they can demonstrate authentic communication with the spirit world.

According to Lily Dale’s most recent version of it’s ‘mediumship guide’ (2022), beyond letters of recommendation, training verification, an introduction, and a $175 fee, applicants must complete 25 public demonstrations and two ‘Monday Night Circles.’ 

Even then, they undergo graded private readings and public evaluations by assembly members, who judge their ability to communicate with the spirit world.

Reverend Simon Caudullo, a Lily Dale-registered medium who served as president a number of years back, said: ‘It’s a very sacred place, and I feel very privileged to live there, and I feel very privileged to be a medium there.’

Alongside individual readings, visitors can participate in ghost walks, workshops, and Inspiration Stump gatherings, where mediums deliver brief messages to select individuals (Pictured: A vintage photo of the Inspiration stump in the early 1900s)

The Forest Temple offers a free daily message service at 4 PM (excluding Sundays), where mediums deliver messages from Spirit, providing spiritual, emotional, and mental upliftment

In addressing the stringent requirements for registration, Simon asserted: ‘We want to know that the mediums have gone through a process that ensures they are not phony. We don’t want that reputation, and we certainly want to give our guests the best mediums that we can.’

However, this rigorous process has become the center of a legal dispute. Natalie Scobercea, Barbara Robinson, and Linda Struble filed a lawsuit against the Lily Dale Assembly.

The plaintiffs alleged they were unfairly denied registration despite completing the required demonstrations and readings. 

Scobercea, who dedicated over 70 hours to the application, including exceeding the required public demonstrations and Monday Night Circles, was among those rejected.

The core of the dispute regarded a discrepancy regarding the passing score. The plaintiffs claimed the ‘mediumship guide’ specified 82 percent, a mark they met or exceeded. 

However, the Assembly later asserted the required score was 85 percent. 

This rejection significantly impacts their livelihoods, as registration is essential for working within Lily Dale, where mediums can earn substantial fees. 

Scobercea, whose referral-based business relies heavily on in-person readings, told the New York Times that she was forced to step outside of the gates to give a reading.

Lily Dale’s emergence as a Spiritualist center in 1879 was shaped by a convergence of religious and social movements in 19th-century New York

The American Civil War (1861–1865) further fueled Spiritualism’s appeal, as widespread grief drove many to seek comfort in the idea of an afterlife (Pictured: An old photo of people gathering at Lily Dale)

Aside from alleging a breach of contract, lack of good faith plaintiffs also claimed confidential legal correspondence was shared at a social event ‘to the evident amusement of those present’. 

The case was settled in January, with all three individuals now registered as mediums.

There’s a widespread belief among mediums that Lily Dale’s endorsement isn’t the only measure of genuine ability.  

‘The reality is, I feel certified by spirit,’ said Amy Gary, a practicing medium and intuitive of 15 years who first learned how to hone her psychic abilities at Lily Dale. ‘I don’t carry a true “certification” but I could stay busy all the time, and that’s enough for me.’