Wyckoff Castle, also known as Carleton Island Villa, is described as haunted due to its tragic history and abandoned state. The villa was built in 1894 as a summer retreat but quickly became associated with misfortune, as William Wyckoff, the owner, and his wife are rumored to have died shortly after the home's completion, leading to speculation that their spirits, along with others, linger in the decaying mansion. The most prominent story involves owner William O. Wyckoff, a wealthy businessman, and his wife. Wyckoff's wife is said to have died of a heart attack a month before the villa was finished. Wyckoff himself, after moving in, reportedly died in his sleep from a heart attack on his first night in the mansion. The villa was abandoned in the 1920s and has remained uninhabited and in disrepair for decades. The most common belief is that the spirits of William Wyckoff and his wife still haunt the property, which contributes to the eerie atmosphere. Visitors and locals report feeling a sense of presence, an unexplained thick air, and have heard strange noises like screams, adding to the haunted reputation of the abandoned villa. Even without definitive proof of paranormal activity, the crumbling state of the once-grand mansion, combined with the tragic backstory, gives the property a creepy and haunted feel.