Travis is an almost thirteen-year-old boy sent to rural Vermont after being expelled from his summer camp for playing mischievous pranks. He teams up with his younger sister to cause trouble and stave off their boredom in the remote countryside. Though initially excited to fake a haunting to drum up business for the inn, he quickly finds himself frightened and responsible for a very real paranormal situation.

Corey is Travis's twelve-year-old sister and his eager partner in pulling pranks. She possesses a flair for the dramatic and loves telling scary stories, despite easily becoming frightened by horror movies herself. Eager to help increase business for her grandmother's struggling inn, she takes the lead in dressing up in a white nightgown to fake a haunting, accidentally triggering a chain of real supernatural events.

Grandmother is the highly rational, skeptical owner of the Inn at Fox Hill. She struggles to attract guests to her remote rural property and completely dismisses the local lore about it being haunted. She attempts to find logical explanations for all unusual events, from escaped peacocks to childish pranks, and frequently threatens Travis and Corey with strict punishments for misbehaving.

Miss Ada is the wicked former overseer of the property when it functioned as a poor farm. Dressed in a severe black gown, she possesses a hard, pale face that perfectly mirrors her dark inner nature. She exhibits a terrifying pride in her ability to inflict pain and break the spirits of the vulnerable people placed under her authority.

Cornelius is Miss Ada's round-faced brother who co-managed the property during its time as a poor farm. He lived a life of extreme luxury and comfort by secretly hoarding the funds intended to care for the destitute residents. He actively encouraged his sister's cruel punishments while ensuring he avoided any physical labor himself.

Henry is the short, bearded caretaker and handyman at the inn who resembles an ancient garden gnome. He carries a permanent frown and maintains a deeply taciturn demeanor. He harbors a strong dislike for the modernization of the inn and actively warns the children to stay away from the haunted grove, believing some places are better left to ruin.

Martha is the strict, standoffish cook at the Inn at Fox Hill. She wears her gray hair in a tight knot and maintains a severe countenance, rarely engaging in friendly conversation with the guests or the children. Despite her gruff exterior, she harbors a deep, multi-generational connection to the spirits resting on the property.

The Jenningses are a middle-aged couple visiting the inn specifically to experience paranormal activity. Despite dressing in normal hiking gear and looking perfectly ordinary, they act as enthusiastic ghost hunters. Their eagerness to encounter spirits drives them to invite other paranormal enthusiasts to the property after Corey tells them a fake ghost story.

Tracy is a sixteen-year-old high school student who works at the Inn at Fox Hill for the summer. Initially bold and unafraid of the paranormal, she actively attempts to spot the local ghosts, believing they cannot hurt the living. Her reckless bravery is severely tested when she encounters a genuine supernatural presence in the grove.

Miss Eleanor is a self-proclaimed psychic and ghost hunter who dresses eccentrically in dark gauzy layers and heavy jewelry. She quickly declares the inn's paranormal activity to be legitimate and attempts to call upon the spirits. Her dramatic methods and confident proclamations constantly clash with the pragmatic skepticism of the inn's owner.

Chester is an amateur ghost investigator who drives a novelty hearse and wears a Grateful Dead cap over his long gray ponytail. He eagerly unpacks his ghost-hunting equipment to document the hauntings for his own fame. He quickly draws the ire of Grandmother with his invasive investigative tactics and lack of respect for personal boundaries.

Caleb is the ghost of a pale, freckled ten-year-old boy dressed in ragged clothing. As the de facto leader of the shadow children haunting the inn, he acts as their primary spokesperson to the living. He speaks with wisdom well beyond his years and possesses a deep understanding of the cruelties he endured at the poor farm.

Ira is a dark and melancholy ghost boy roughly the same age as Caleb. He is polite and instantly apologizes for frightening the inn's guests. Despite his tragic circumstances at the poor farm, he maintains a deeply compassionate soul and holds onto a remarkable capacity for sympathy.

Seth is a precocious seven-year-old ghost with tangled red curls and two missing front teeth. He completely embraces his reputation as a "bad one" and refuses to apologize for playing mischievous tricks on the living. His stubborn nature masks a fierce loyalty to his fellow children and a refusal to break under cruel conditions.

Joseph is the historical helper who worked at the poor farm under the direction of the Jaggs siblings. He followed Miss Ada's cruel orders without question, acting as an enforcer of her harsh punishments upon the helpless residents.

Mr. Nelson is a long-time frequenter of the Inn at Fox Hill. He strongly disbelieves in ghosts and becomes quickly annoyed by the chaotic presence of paranormal investigators disrupting his peaceful vacations.