I became a spooky traveler not through some childhood fascination with ghosts or a late-night horror binge, but through an uneasy encounter at a roadside motel in Pennsylvania.

The Black Powder Tavern is named in homage to the building's origins, dating back to 1746, as indicated by a plaque outside the restaurant. According to the plaque, former owner Friedrich Wilhelm von Stueben stored black powder in the basement during the Revolutionary War.

In April, I had a dilemma, Traveler. I drove back from an incredible road trip to West Virginia that was nearly perfect. While in almost...