The Dakota: reputed hauntings after high‑profile deaths

The Dakota apartment building at the northwest corner of Central Park has been associated with reports of hauntings and bad luck in local lore. John Lennon was shot and killed outside the building on December 8, 1980, a widely documented event that contributes to its reputation. The building has also been the residence or site of death for other notable figures, and tour guides and some residents recount unexplained occurrences. These claims are part of folklore around the building and are disputed by skeptics.