Robert Oakes

Robert Oakes writes books about ghosts, leads tours in haunted places, and sings original songs. He has written three books, The Ghostly Tales of the Berkshires (2023), Ghosts of Northwestern New Jersey (2022), and Ghosts of the Berkshires (2020), all published by Arcadia Publishing. He has also released numerous recordings, both as a solo artist and as part of the folk duo Oakes and Smith. Since 2010, Robert has led immersive ghost storytelling experiences at historic locations in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, including Ventfort Hall, Edith Wharton's The Mount, and Herman Melville's Arrowhead. He has also given talks and readings for both children and adults at many libraries, schools, and cultural centers. Robert was featured on the October 2025 edition of the Risk! storyteller podcast. He has also appeared on Syfy’s Ghost Hunters, Jeff Belanger’s New England Legends series on PBS, and The Apple Seed show on BYUradio and has been featured in The Boston Globe, The Berkshire Eagle, and numerous other media outlets. Robert earned his master's degree from the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English and has taught elementary, middle, and high school English, as well as adult writing workshops.