Spooked: “The Lighthouse – Classic” (April 10, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of Spooked, produced by KQED and Snap Studios and hosted by Glynn Washington (with Zoe Frigno reporting), explores the supernatural legends swirling around the Heceta Head Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast on the Oregon coast. Through firsthand accounts from staff and guests, it investigates the lore of “Rue,” a ghost believed to haunt the property, and the unsettling, inexplicable events experienced by those who have lived or stayed there.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Arrival at the Haunted Lighthouse

• Zoe Frigno recounts her arrival at the Heceta Head Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast, setting a moody, tense atmosphere due to nearby wildfires, ash falling like snow, and a hazy red moon.
• Joined by B&B staff Lena and Rihanna, as well as Rihanna’s partner and child, Zoe hikes up the cliff to the lighthouse at night, emphasizing the location’s eerie beauty.

“Ash was falling from the sky like snow and there was a haze of smoke covering the full moon.” — Zoe Frigno, [04:17]

2. The Legend of Rue

• The B&B, once home to lighthouse keepers and their families, is rumored to be haunted, most notably by a female apparition known as “Rue.”
• Michelle, the B&B manager, describes “Rue” as an old-timey woman often associated with local ghost stories. The name “Rue” allegedly came from a Ouija board session.

“There were stories of people seeing the apparition of a woman wearing old timey clothes. Legend has it that some caretakers … tried to get in touch with her using a Ouija board, and it spelled out R U E. The name stuck.” — Zoe Frigno, [08:50]

• Despite skepticism, Michelle admits experiencing odd phenomena herself, such as objects levitating without explanation.

3. Firsthand Experiences: Skepticism Turns to Belief

• Michelle’s paranormal event: During a wedding service, a bowl of potatoes levitated and dropped to the ground in front of multiple witnesses.

  “The bowl of potatoes basically looked to me like it levitated away from the shelf and dropped to the ground … all of us just paused and looked at each other like, what was that?” — Michelle, [11:02]

• Daniel Walker, former caretaker: Felt a constant “presence” during his first six months and witnessed objects being swept off his nightstand.

  “Suddenly the objects on my end table, box of tissues, my cup just go flying off.” — Daniel Walker, [13:31]

4. Jennifer’s Story: From Skeptic to Witness

• Jennifer, a B&B worker, initially dismisses the ghost stories as local legend, but recounts two chilling personal experiences:
  • The Woman in the Mirror: She sees a dark-haired, 30-something woman in a white blouse sitting pensively in a chair’s reflection. When Jennifer returns moments later, the woman is gone, and no one else is in the house.

    “Out of the corner of my eye, in the very large mirror … I see the reflection of a woman sitting in a chair looking out the window. Her chin is resting on her hand, and she’s very quiet and pensive.” — Jennifer, [15:44]

  • Recognition: Later, she recognizes the woman in a historic photograph as “Jenny,” the actual wife of a lightkeeper, matching the apparition’s description.

    “I absolutely got a shiver up my spine. And I realized that is the woman that I saw sitting in the reflection of the mirror.” — Jennifer, [18:19]

5. Overnight Confrontation with the Unknown

• Jennifer volunteers to stay overnight for security during offseason renovations, bringing her skeptical partner, Steve.

• Strange events escalate:

  • Front door slams and locks itself; keys won’t work until entering through the basement ([24:20]).
  • Unexplained voices: Jennifer twice hears a man and woman’s voices murmuring questions from the parlor ([25:35], [27:20]).
  • Footsteps overhead: Both hear pacing, with increasing urgency and dread ([28:49]–[31:03]).

    “I don’t believe what I’m about to say, but we’re not wanted there. I just feel it on an intuitive level.” — Steve, [31:03]

• Overcome with fear, they flee the house. As they run, their Bluetooth speaker emits loud static — despite being off — until they’re far away ([33:12]–[34:12]).

6. Theories on the Haunting: Who is Rue?

• Jennifer speculates the ghost is not “Rue,” but Jenny, the lonely lightkeeper’s wife, based on her vision and local records ([21:29]).
• Discussion emerges that when things are in disorder or strangers visit, the spirit becomes agitated; several workers report similar experiences of disturbances or helpful tidying.

  “When things are in disarray or a little chaotic around here, that’s when we get participation.” — Michelle, [36:07] “There is a helpful spirit here that is still just kind of taking care of the place and kind of providing hospitality to a certain extent.” — Daniel Walker, [36:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Zoe Frigno reflects:

  “It didn’t feel scary in the house. It was actually really cozy and warm. But just for good measure…To Rue, to Jenny, to whoever might be here, thank you for having me. Your house is beautiful and please don’t scare me in the night.” — Zoe Frigno, [37:59]

• Jennifer on seeing Jenny’s picture:

  “I absolutely got a shiver up my spine. And I realized that is the woman that I saw sitting in the reflection of the mirror.” — Jennifer, [18:19]

• Steve’s moment of belief:

  “I don’t believe what I’m about to say, but we’re not wanted there. I just feel it on an intuitive level.” — Steve, [31:03]

Important Timestamps

• [04:17] – Introduction to the lighthouse’s atmosphere and first hike up the cliff
• [08:50] – Ghost legend origin and history
• [11:02] – Michelle’s levitating potatoes event
• [13:31] – Daniel’s story of poltergeist activity
• [15:44] – Jennifer sees the woman in the mirror
• [22:19]–[34:12] – Jennifer and Steve’s overnight haunting
• [36:07] – Theory: Hauntings occur when the house is chaotic
• [37:59] – Zoe speaks aloud to any resident spirits

Thematic Takeaways

• The episode underscores the lingering effects of isolation, loss, and longing rooted in a place’s history — whether real, imagined, or somewhere in between.
• It raises timeless questions about spirits: are hauntings echoes of memories, manifestations of unresolved longing, or exaggerations of imagination?
• Above all, it’s a reminder that some places seem to hold onto their past, demanding respect and caution from those who visit or disturb what once was.

For those who haven’t listened:
This episode offers richly layered, firsthand ghost stories intertwined with thoughtful reflections on history, community legends, and the unexplained — delivering the eerie, empathetic storytelling at the heart of the Spooked series. Would you dare stay at the lighthouse overnight? The answer may depend on whether you believe in the stories… or have experienced them yourself.