spooky places to visit usa

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These Are the Most Haunted Places in the US

We know the United States as the land of spacious skies and amber waves of grain, but it's also the land of ghosts. In the most haunted places in America, lingering spirits roam through the halls of hotels , abandoned asylums, Broadway theaters, and even a city zoo. If you want to get up close and personal with the paranormal, many of these sites offer guided tours through the spookiest of spaces—as well as overnight stays in the most haunted rooms in some of these hotels. (That's one way to capitalize on spirits stuck on our plane of existence, at least.)

If ghosts aren't your go-to travel buddies, fear not. Many of the below sites and the destinations where they are found offer enough culture, history, architectural wonders, and beautiful scenery to keep you firmly planted in this realm. Just be sure not to provoke the spirits as you go about your journeys.

Below, 32 of the most haunted places in America. Happy travels…

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Additional reporting by Randy Kalp and Jenna Scherer.

Bodie, California

In the 1870s and '80s, Bodie boomed when gold was found in the hills surrounding Mono Lake —at one point, it was home to 10,000 people. It's now a State Historic Park , with some parts of the town preserved in a state of "arrested decay"—think tables with place settings, and shops eerily stocked with supplies. It's not surprising that there are many reports of supernatural activity here, including ghost sightings and music playing from shuttered bars. There is also a legend that any visitor who takes anything from Bodie—even a rock—will be cursed with bad luck and health problems upon leaving.

Planning your visit: There are no food shops, gas stations, or other commercial facilities at Bodie in order to, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation , “preserve the ghost town atmosphere.” Prepare accordingly.

Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia

Those of you who remember the '90s will recognize this cemetery as the one featured in the novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil . Like the book, the Savannah cemetery itself has a Southern Gothic atmosphere, with Spanish moss giving shade to time-worn Victorian monuments. There are many notable figures buried here, like singer Johnny Mercer and poet Conrad Aiken, but it's Gracie Watson who most deserves a visit. Having died at just six years old, her grave is marked by a life-size marble statue with her hand resting on a tree stump, symbolizing her life cut short. Many visitors place toys at her grave when they visit, and some have reported seeing the ghost of Gracie near the site. Other spooky accounts of the Bonaventure include inexplicable sounds, like crying babies and barking dogs, and statues suddenly smiling as people approach them.

Planning your visit: The Bonaventure Historical Society offers guided tours and, if you're looking for a particular gravesite, instructions that will point you where you need to go.

Cahawba, Alabama

Alabama's first capital and famous ghost town takes its name from the state's longest river, situated at the confluence of the Cahaba and the Alabama. It was abandoned after the Civil War, and its empty buildings, slave burial ground, and eerie cemeteries are now popular settings for ghost tours and stories of paranormal activity. The most famous tale is that of a luminous floating orb appearing in the former garden maze of Colonel C.C. Pegues’s house, shortly after the colonel had been killed in battle. The phenomenon became known as "Pegues’s Ghost," and still attracts curious visitors to the site today.

Planning your visit: Since Cahawba is a ghost town, you'll want to make your base elsewhere—driving from nearby Selma takes just 20 minutes, and the nearest airport is Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM), about an hour away.

Calcasieu Courthouse, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Toni Jo Henry was a former sex worker who reached national levels of infamy when she killed a man in cold blood in 1940. It took three trials for a jury to convict the "charming" Toni Jo, but she eventually became the first (and only) woman in Louisiana to be executed in the electric chair. However, her spirit is said to have remained in the courthouse, where workers can feel her presence and even smell her burning hair. Many claim she meddles with everyday life at the courthouse to make life more difficult for the employees, locking doors and fiddling with office equipment.

Planning your visit: For your travel companions too creeped our to visit the courthouse? Send them to Lake Charles, North Beach, a naturally occurring inland stretch of white sand that's perfect for picnics, swimming, and, well, long walks on the beach.

Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Since its construction in 1886, the Crescent Hotel has served several purposes: luxury resort, conservatory for young women, junior college. But the strangest mark on its history came in 1937 when it got a new owner, Norman G. Baker. Baker was a millionaire inventor who decided to pose as a doctor (despite having no medical training) and turn the hotel into a hospital that could "cure" cancer. He was eventually exposed and run out of town, though reports say that his spirit found its way back to the site—and gained some otherworldly company, too. The now-operating Crescent Hotel is said to be haunted by at least eight ghosts , ranging from a five-year-old girl to a bearded man wearing Victorian clothing.

Planning your visit: If you really want a spirited night at the Crescent Hotel , you can book Room 218, a.k.a. Michael's Room, the most paranormally active address on the property—and, according to the hotel website, the one most frequently requested by bold and brave guests. (If you need a buddy, the room sleeps two, for what it's worth.)

Dock Street Theatre, Charleston, South Carolina

One of the oldest theaters in America, this site in downtown Charleston has racked up a lot of tumult and history over the years. After a fire burned down the original theater, the Planters Inn was built on the spot; it was converted back to a theater in the 1930s. The most flamboyant ghost here is Nettie Dickerson, who, legend has it, was struck by lightning while standing on the balcony of the hotel. Her shadow has been reported gliding along the second floor of the theater, dressed in a red gown. Also in otherworldly attendance: Junius Brutus Booth, a renowned 19th-century actor (and the father of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth) who used to frequent the inn.

Planning your visit: The Dock Street Theatre is right in the middle of the French Quarter, in Charleston's original walled city. You'll have your pick of restaurants and hotels in the area after catching a show (or a ghost sighting); the elegantly timeless French Quarter Inn is a Readers' Choice Awards favorite.

The Driskill, Austin, Texas

The Driskill is a majestic Romanesque hotel with modern rooms and an iconic brick facade, drawing European tourists and wedding parties since 1886. It's a true Austin landmark—and according to some, a true hot-spot for ghosts. Travelers have noted eerily abnormal sounds through its ornate corridors, as well as phantom sightings of the hotel’s namesake, Jesse Driskill, whose portrait still hangs in the lobby. They say Driskill never recovered from the heartbreak of losing his hotel in a high-stakes poker game, and honestly, we get it: This spot would be a hard one to say goodbye to.

Planning your visit: The Driskill is a stone's throw away from the Colorado River bisecting the city: Just walk down Congress Avenue and you'll hit the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail , which offers fantastic views of both the water and the city.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The castle-like Eastern State Penitentiary took solitary confinement to new levels when it was built in 1829. Prisoners lived alone, exercised alone, and ate alone; when an inmate left his cell, a guard would cover his head with a hood so he couldn't see or be seen. The prison had to abandon its solitary system due to overcrowding from 1913 until it closed in 1970, although the forms of punishment did not get any less severe (chaining an inmate's tongue to his wrists is one example). The site—one of the most haunted places in America—now welcomes thousands of visitors every year, both for its museum and annual Halloween celebrations, which feature 15 haunted attractions within the prison walls. Reported paranormal happenings have included disembodied laughter, shadowy figures, and pacing footsteps.

Planning your visit: The Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc., the nonprofit organization that keeps the Penitentiary open as a tourist site, goes all in on Halloween. If you're visiting in October, be sure to review all the need-to-knows on their site.

Emily's Bridge, Stowe, Vermont

New England is known for its lovely covered bridges, but some are more likely to elicit dread than delight. Take Emily's Bridge in Stowe , for example, a 50-foot-long bridge that is said to be the site of a young woman's death by suicide in the mid-1800s. According to legend, the woman (Emily) was supposed to meet her lover at the bridge to elope, but ended up hanging herself from the rafters when he never showed up. Today, Emily's ghost is said to maliciously haunt the site, clawing at passing cars and even scratching the backs of pedestrians until they bleed. There are slightly less menacing spooks as well, like images of a white apparition and strange voices and footsteps coming from the tunnel.

Planning your visit: If you drive up to the bridge and can't bear to go in? Re-route. In the fall, Stowe is a fantastic place to go leaf peeping , and in the winter, it's one of New England's bona fide ski capitals; the Austrian-inspired Trapp Family Lodge is just 15 minutes away from Emily's Bridge by car, for a safe retreat.

Gettysburg Battlefield, Pennsylvania

The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest in American history, with somewhere around 50,000 young men dying in the three-day conflict. Many of the soldiers never received a proper burial after their untimely deaths, and many believe the souls of these men now wander the battlefield to look for their weapons and comrades.

Planning your visit: If you do choose to wander the fields, the National Park Service encourages visitors to Gettysburg National Military Park to be mindful of deer ticks, especially when the insects are most active in the late spring to early fall. Follow traditional protective measures like wearing insect repellent and pants.

Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii

If flight delays and $13 sandwiches aren't enough to make you fear airports, Honolulu 's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (also called Honolulu International Airport) has an extra feature to strike fear in even the most intrepid of travelers: a resident ghost. Dubbed “the Lady in Waiting,” the apparition is a blonde woman in a white dress who shows up in off-limits areas of the airport. According to legend, the woman fell in love with a man who promised to marry her (while she was still alive, of course), but then he hopped on an international flight and abandoned her at the gate—her ghost is still waiting for him to return. People have reported other strange occurrences as well, like toilet paper rolls that unravel on their own and toilets that flush by themselves. (Although when it comes to airport bathrooms, we've seen a lot scarier.)

Planning your visit: Since the airport's Lady in Waiting is said to show up in places usually inaccessible to travelers, you'd probably be better off actually, you know, leaving the airport and seeing Hawaii. Perhaps a stay at the Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort ? It was voted the best resort in Hawaii in this year's Readers' Choice Awards .

Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff's Hotel Monte Vista has its fair share of paranormal guests who have truly overstayed their welcome, including a long-term boarder who had a habit of hanging raw meat from the chandelier in Room 210; two women who were also thrown from the third floor and allegedly now attempt to asphyxiate male guests in their sleep. There are also reports of an infant whose disturbing cries have sent staff members running upstairs from the basement. (Actor John Wayne even claims to have had a paranormal encounter here.)

Planning your visit: When you need a break from ghosthunting (or ghostbusting), there's plenty to do in Historic Downtown Flagstaff, where the Hotel Monte Vista stands. Among them: Nearby restaurants Atria and Brix are perfect for locavores who love a menu that rotates with the seasons (and none of it hangs from a chandelier here).

House of the Seven Gables, Salem, Massachusetts

No, this house did not steal its name from the classic novel—in fact, it inspired the novel. Aside from being the site of those famous witch trials, Salem also happens to be the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne, who used this 17th-century house as inspiration for his famous 1851 novel, The House of the Seven Gables . Aside from its beautiful-yet-spooky facade, the house is surrounded by tales of paranormal activity and ghost sightings (all based on personal experiences of staff).

Planning your visit: Every October, the house offers spooky tours as well as performances of their “ Haunted Fables at the Gables ." There are daytime options as well as nighttime options for the brave of heart. And late in the month, the programming becomes dedicated to an interactive theater experience called Daemonologie: Sinew & Soul .

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois

Lions, and tigers, and…ghosts? As it turns out, one of Chicago's most popular attractions is also one of its most haunted, with much more than just chimpanzees roaming the grounds. From the 1840s to '50s, the heart of Lincoln Park served as the city cemetery, housing some 35,000 bodies . The cemetery was eventually moved due to its proximity to the city's water supply, and most of the bodies—but not all of them—were moved along with it. If you've ever seen a horror movie, you know that messing with burial grounds is the easiest way to get haunted, and the Lincoln Park Zoo is no exception. As if walking above several thousand corpses isn't creepy enough, famed parapsychologist Ursula Bielski once called the area (in its current state) “without a doubt the most active site I’ve investigated”—and people have reported seeing ghosts there since it opened in 150 years ago.

Planning your visit: The Lincoln Park Zoo is free—no admission fees are required. Opening hours change with the season, so be sure to double check so you don't get locked out of the park (or locked in).

Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, Fall River, Massachusetts

Without a doubt, the most famous haunted bed and breakfast in New England is the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River. For those unfamiliar with the story (or the macabre jump-rope rhyme), police accused Borden of brutally killing her father and stepmother with a hatchet in 1892; she was acquitted of the murders later that year. At the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast Museum, visitors can tour the house or spend the night, even staying in the room where Abby Borden was killed. Guests and employees have reported all kinds of strange activity in the house, including weeping and footstep sounds, an apparition in Victorian-era clothing wandering the halls, doors opening and closing, and muffled conversations coming from vacant rooms.

Planning your visit: Since the Lizzie Borden House has only six rooms available for booking on any given night, you might find yourself with no room at the inn, as it were. Don't fret: Just drive 30 minutes and cross state lines to Providence , Rhode Island, where a bevy of plush hotels like the Graduate await (hauntings not guaranteed).

The Mark Twain House, Hartford, Connecticut

Mark Twain lived in this Hartford house from 1874 to 1891, during which time he wrote both The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer . The landmark now serves as a museum that showcases the iconic author’s life and work. It’s also an excellent place to experience the paranormal, apparently, as visitors have reported things like odd noises and a woman in white (isn’t it always?). The billiard room is considered the most haunted spot in the house—it is where Twain used to sit and smoke cigars, and some claim they can smell smoke wafting through the air as they pass through.

Planning your visit: The Mark Twain House and Museum website highly recommends booking timed tickets in advance of your visit. And if you're looking for another equally historical house tour, the home of the writer and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe is just a one-minute walk away, around the corner from Twain's.

Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan

With its 16 floors, over a thousand rooms, and Gothic facade, the Masonic Temple is one of the most imposing additions to Detroit 's skyline. According to rumors, there's also more to it than meets the eye, like hidden passageways and staircases. The most famous urban myth associated with the Temple, however, is that of its architect, George D. Mason: Legend has it that Mason went bankrupt funding the construction and then leapt to his death from the roof. You'll be hard-pressed to find facts to back up this tale, but it certainly does help explain reports of a ghost climbing the steps to the roof of the building.

Planning your visit: The Masonic Temple maintains an active events calendar for its theaters and ballroom. There are guided tours as well, though they're subject to staff availability,—be sure to consult the calendar and get tickets ahead of time.

The Mizpah Hotel, Tonopah, Nevada

The Mizpah Hotel opened in 1907 as one of Nevada's first luxury hotels, complete with solid granite walls and Victorian-era decor, and it was fully restored in 2011. But the swanky hotel has a history as blood-red as its scarlet furnishings—one it proudly embraces. Legend has it that a woman died on the fifth floor, and her soul never left the building. The "Lady in Red" now reportedly makes her presence known by whispering in men's ears and leaving pearls from her broken necklace on guests' pillows.

Planning your visit: The Mizpah Hotel isn't creepy enough for you? Walk 10 minutes up along Main Street and stop by The World Famous Clown Motel , which is exactly what it says on the tin. If that weren't enough, its tagline is “America's Scariest Motel.”

Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield, Ohio

Opened in 1896, the Ohio State Reformatory is famous for its Gothic facade and ominous six-story cell block. But its greatest claim to fame is when it served as the filming location for The Shawshank Redemption —though, to be clear, the prison was shrouded in terror long before Red and Andy holed up there. The reformatory closed in 1990 due to overcrowding and inhumane conditions, but not before more than a total of 200 people (including two guards) died in the building. Legend says that the ghosts of several former inmates still roam the halls, as well as an old guard who jabs people with his nightstick.

Planning your visit: There are various ways for visitors to experience the hauntings first-hand at the Reformatory, from two-hour guided tours to private paranormal investigations. The site also plays host to an annual music and tattoo festival called InkCarceration .

One if by Land, Two if by Sea, New York City

One if by Land, Two if by Sea has all the makings of a perfect evening: gold chandeliers, fireside tables, upper-crust cuisine… and about 20 ghosts. The spirits are reportedly more playful than malicious—paranormal activities are classic phantom pranks like flickering lights, tilting picture frames, and moving plates. Some of the most famous apparitions guests have claimed to see include a woman dressed in black who walks down the staircase and a Ziegfeld follies girl. Other people claim that Aaron Burr haunts the restaurant—it was his carriage house back in the day, after all. Sadly, there are no reports of him performing any songs from the Hamilton soundtrack.

Planning your visit: Given the fame it has as one of the world's most romantic restaurants, reservations are a must. And for a truly swoon-worthy evening, book a room nearby at The Marlton Hotel , a New York City classic, right off of Washington Square Park .

Pine Barrens, New Jersey

The heavily forested Pine Barrens spans over 1 million acres and seven counties in New Jersey. The area thrived during the Colonial period, host to sawmills, paper mills, and other industries. People eventually abandoned the mills and surrounding villages when coal was discovered to the west in Pennsylvania, leaving behind ghost towns—and, some say, a few supernatural wanderers. The most popular Pine Barrens resident is without a doubt the Jersey Devil. According to legend , the creature was born in 1735 to Deborah Leeds (her 13th child) with leathery wings, a goat's head, and hooves. It flew up the Leeds' chimney and into the Barrens, where it has reportedly been killing livestock—and creeping out South Jersey residents—ever since. ( The Sopranos ' fans will recognize the vast woodlands from the namesake Season 3 episode, which was anxiety-inducing in its own right.)

Planning your visit: To say that the Pine Barrens are huge is to understate the fact. It can be easy to get lost—as TV characters Christopher Moltisanti and Paulie learned the hard way. If you want to go exploring, stay in your vehicle or at the very least stay close to roads and campgrounds.

Pittock Mansion, Portland, Oregon

Oregonian pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock decided to build their dream house when they reached their golden years, in 1909, spurring the innovative design and construction of the Pittock Mansion . Unfortunately, the couple only got to enjoy their home for a few years before passing away—Georgiana in 1918 and Henry in 1919. The building is now a public landmark where some strange occurrences have been reported, such as the smell of roses (Georgiana's favorite bloom) filling a room with no flowers in it, and a childhood painting of Henry moving, on its own, from spot to spot within the house. Clearly, death was not enough of a reason for the Pittocks to vacate their beloved home.

Planning your visit: Be mindful of the Mansion's opening hours , which vary throughout the year. Virtual tours are also offered. In addition to tours, temporary exhibits and permanent collections that celebrate local Oregon history and culture are also on display at the house.

Red Onion Saloon, Skagway, Alaska

Established in 1898 as a brothel for miners during the Klondike Gold Rush, Alaska's Red Onion Saloon had a feature that set it apart from other bordellos: It used dolls to help run its business. (Always a good sign.) Every day, 10 dolls would be placed on the bar downstairs, each one representing one of the ladies working in the upstairs rooms. A customer would choose one of the dolls, at which point it was laid down on the bar to indicate that the corresponding worker was occupied. When the customer came back downstairs, the doll would be returned to her sitting position to let other potential clients know she was available. Fast-forward to 2023, and the Red Onion Saloon still operates as a bar and restaurant (yep, the dolls are still on display), and offers tours of the upstairs rooms, which are preserved as a sort of makeshift brothel museum. As if licentious dolls weren't creepy enough, there are reports of Lydia—a former madam of the brothel—haunting the site, complete with cold spots and lingering smells of perfume wafting through the halls.

Planning your visit: There's no super easy way to get up to Skagway, but it is set along the Inside Passage, a popular coastal route for cruise ships traveling through the North American Pacific Fjordland. If you want to pay a visit, look for a sailing that has a shore day in Skagway.

RMS Queen Mary , Long Beach, California

Aside from a brief stint as a war ship in World War II, the RMS Queen Mary served as a luxury ocean liner from 1936 to 1967. During that time, it was the site of at least one murder, a sailor being crushed to death by a door in the engine room, and children drowning in the pool. The city of Long Beach purchased the ship in 1967 and turned it into a hotel , and it still serves that purpose today—although the reported ghosts of the deceased passengers get to stay for free. (For an extra dose of spine-tingling experiences, see if you can visit the ship's engine room, which is considered by many to be a "hotbed" of paranormal activity.)

Planning your visit: In addition to overnight stays at the guest rooms , there are tours and exhibits on offer on the Queen Mary. An experience called The Grey Ghost Project allegedly takes “a skeptical- and evidence-based approach to investigating the supernatural." The Steam and Steel Tour, meanwhile, brings you close to the ship's massive engine rooms.

San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio, Texas

The oldest church in Texas holds El Mariachi Mass on Sunday, and is a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture. But come nightfall, you'd have to be something of a daredevil to enter its myth-ridden grounds . When construction workers started renovating the church in 1936, they unearthed bones, nails, and tattered military uniforms near the altar, which some believe belonged to three soldiers of the Alamo. Since the disturbing incident, visitors have reported shadowy figures and orbs in their photographs, as well as ghosts in the back of the church itself . Such otherworldly inhabitants include a man dressed in black and figures in hooded, monk-like clothing.

Planning your visit: Be mindful of the mass times and confession hours should you decide to drop by during the day. Once you've paid a visit, head to the San Antonio River Walk , which is right outside the church, for some bites, people-watching, and maybe even a boat tour .

Sheffield Island Lighthouse, Norwalk, Connecticut

Built in 1868 to help ships reach Connecticut's Sheffield Island (a 45-minute ferry ride from South Norwalk), this 10-room, Victorian-style lighthouse has a bit of a troubled past. In 1972, the lighthouse's original keeper died suddenly while watching passing ships with a spyglass; his death was never fully explained. Then, in 1991, an archaeologist working on historic site preservation reported several mysterious happenings, including mystical music coming from the shores, distant cries for help, and the sound of a foghorn—despite there being no foghorn on the island. Many believe the sounds were the work of the ghost of Captain Robert Sheffield, who originally purchased the islands in the early 1800s (and apparently had a knack for weird musical instruments).

Planning your visit: Today, Sheffield Island Lighthouse offers guided group tours from May through September. For a truly picturesque afternoon out on the water, try a sunset cruise that leaves from South Norwalk.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel 's stately Georgian architecture and world-renowned whiskey bar have lured travelers to Estes Park since the hotel opened in 1909. But the Stanley reached new levels of fame after inspiring Stephen King's fictional Overlook Hotel from The Shining . That eerie association aside, many other ghost sightings and mysterious piano music have been connected to the hotel. The Stanley Hotel leans into its reputation quite cleverly, offering nightly ghost tours and psychic consultations from the in-house Madame Vera .

Planning a visit: Estes Park is a popular base for visitors heading to see the majesty of Rocky Mountain National Park , so hiking and outdoor adventuring could easily be bundled with ghostbusting at The Stanley on your next Colorado trip.

St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida

The St. Augustine Lighthouse is visited by nearly 225,000 people annually, but it is just as well-known for its otherworldly visitors. Several tragic events occurred at the now-historic site that have contributed to the alleged paranormal activity. One of the first was when the lighthouse keeper fell to his death while painting the tower; his ghost has since been spotted watching over the grounds. Another event was the horrific death of three young girls, who drowned when the cart they were playing in broke and fell into the ocean. Today, visitors claim to hear the sounds of children playing in and around the lighthouse.

Planning your visit: Stay a while in St. Augustine, voted on of the best small cities in the US in this year's Readers' Choice Awards . There's lots more history to explore in this centuries-old town (founded in 1565 by a Spanish admiral), like the Castillo de San Marcos across the Matanzas River.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, West Virginia

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum opened its doors to patients in 1864, and in the 1950s, the West Virginia facility reached its peak, housing more than 2,400 patients—even though it was designed to hold only 250. The severe overcrowding led to inhumane conditions (like lack of heat and convalescent people kept in cages), and patients started acting increasingly violent, from starting fires to attacking staff members. The asylum finally closed in 1994, but the souls of some patients are said to linger.

Planning your visit: Ghost tours are available for those who dare, but for the rest of us, there are other attractions across the West Fork River that bisects Weston: the Mountaineer Military Museum and the Museum Of American Glass in West Virginia .

Whaley House, San Diego, California

Thomas Whaley built this family estate in 1857 in San Diego , on the former site of the city's first public gallows. Shortly after he moved in, he reported hearing the heavy footsteps of "Yankee" Jim Robinson, a drifter and thief who was hanged on the site four years before the house was built. Whaley's family history ended up being filled with tragic deaths and suicides, many of which occurred inside the home itself. Some of the family members reportedly still haunt the landmark , often accompanied by cigar smoke and the smell of heavy perfume.

Planning a visit: There are day and evening guided tours on offer at the Whaley House; there's even an after-hours investigation package where participants can join “ an actual paranormal investigation ” and get their hands on “ the latest ghost hunting equipment .”

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California

The Winchester Mystery House might be one the most disturbing construction projects in history. Following the death of her husband and child, Sarah Winchester (the wife of a rifle-maker's son) was informed by a seer that her family was killed by the ghosts of gunshot victims. To keep away the vengeful spirits, she commissioned the Victorian fun house-turned-macabre dwelling that you see today. Some of the creepier features include staircases that lead directly into the ceiling, doors that open onto brick walls, and windows that can take you to secret passages.

Planning your visit: Book a guided tour , since you'll probably need it to navigate this M.C. Escher drawing of a house. If you're looking to be truly transported, grab tickets to the Unhinged immersive theatre experience that's on offer during the Halloween season.

The Bowery Hotel, New York City

This iconic hotel in Manhattan's Lower East Side is out of New York's Gilded Age with opulent decor and charming (albeit sometimes creepy) oil paintings throughout the property. But if you're feeling an otherworldly presence when you check in, that may be due to the poltergeists that allegedly make The Bowery Hotel their home. Some say that the elevators go haywire every night at one in the morning thanks to those spooky specters.

Planning your visit: If you want to stay up until 1:00 a.m. to catch the ghouls wreaking havoc, there's plenty to do in the neighborhood to keep you occupied until then. Grab dinner at nearby Momofuku Ko , then catch a performance at The Bowery Electric .

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13 spooky places to visit for thrills and chills.

Get into the spooky spirit with holiday-inspired festivities across the country.

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Where to travel this Halloween

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New Orleans

Louisville, Kentucky

Savannah, Georgia

Salem, Massachusetts

Austin, Texas

Philadelphia

Portland, Oregon

San Antonio

Los Angeles

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ONE CHEL OF AN ADVENTURE

15 spookiest places to visit in the usa.

It’s officially fall, which means it’s not just time to cozy up in a blanket, or watch the leaves fall, or make delicious autumnal treats… It’s also time to get a little spooked! If you’re a fan of all things mysterious, unexplained, and haunted, then I’ve got the list for you. I’ve rounded up the 15 spookiest places to visit in the USA , so you can get in the Halloween spirit and enjoy a good scare!

This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

Spookiest Places to Visit in the USA: Northeast

Lizzie borden bed & breakfast - fall river, ma.

In 1892, Lizzie Borden’s father and stepmother were found bludgeoned to death in their own home. Nearly everyone in Fall River, Massachusetts thought Lizzie was to blame—she had an inheritance to incentivize her, after all. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough evidence to convict her, and Lizzie walked free.

Guests and employees alike report all sorts of strange occurrences in the house, such as hearing footsteps from empty rooms, seeing apparitions, and more. You can still visit the Lizzie Borden House today… and you can even spend the night in the bed & breakfast! Photo from Facebook .

The Witch House - Salem, MA

It goes without saying that Salem, Massachussetts has to make the list of spookiest places to visit in the USA—this is one of the most haunted towns in the whole country, after all! Ever since the infamous Salem Witch Trials in the 1600’s, the town has been filled with reports of spooky sightings, bone-chilling paranormal activity, and strange happenings.

If you’re headed to Salem for some spooks, you can’t miss The Witch House . It’s the only remaining house still directly connected to the Witch Trials and once belonged to the judge (Jonathan Corwin) who was the magistrate of the trials. Afterwards, his family fell victim to the “Corwin Curse,” in which no less than eight of his family members died prematurely! photo source

The Forest of the Jersey Devil - Pine Barrens, NJ

On the one hand, the Pine Barrens is the largest remaining stretch of the pine barrens ecosystem, and is home to all sorts of incredible flora and fauna across seven counties of New Jersey… but on the other hand, it’s also home to the horrifying Jersey Devil . Here’s how the story goes: Deborah Leeds gave birth to her 13th child in 1735, but when the baby was born, it came out with bat’s wings and a goat’s head and hooves.

The creature flew up the chimney and out into the forest, where it’s said to remain today. Residents across several counties in New Jersey have reported sightings for over 250 years now.

Coffin Rock - Burkittsville, MD

While The Blair Witch Project may have ultimately been a fictitious movie and not “found film” as it claimed to be when it was first released, the story of Coffin Rock is supposedly the real deal. In the late 1800’s, a boy went missing from the town of Burkittsville. When a search party went to look for him in the woods, they never returned, but the boy mysteriously reappeared. A second search party then went to find the first and discovered them bound, gagged, and disemboweled on Coffin Rock in the middle of the woods.

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Even scarier? When the second search party returned with more volunteers to remove the bodies, they had all mysteriously disappeared!

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum - Weston, WV

When the asylum opened in the 1860’s, it was intended to house 250 patients in a breezy, light-filled space to help restore their mental and emotional health. However, by the 1950’s there were well over 2,000 patients crammed into the hellish halls, where inhumane treatment ran rampant. People were kept in cages and given electroshock therapy and lobotomies against their will.

Thankfully, the asylum was shut down for good in the 90’s, but you can still visit the crumbling buildings to witness how patients lived in such awful conditions.

Spookiest Places to Visit in the USA: Central

The stanley hotel - estes park, co.

If you’ve seen The Shining, then you’re more familiar with this spooky hotel than you may think. Stephen King based his famous novel-turned-movie off of this ornate resort hotel in Estes Park, CO . And while his story was all fiction, there have been many ghost sightings reported here… including hearing eerie piano music playing at night.

You can book a stay at The Stanley Hotel to experience the creepiness yourself. They offer nightly ghost tours and psychic consultations, as well!

Related Post: Best Things To Do, See, + Eat in Estes Park, CO

Ohio State Reformatory - Mansfield, OH

This Ohio prison was home to a whopping 200,000 inmates over the 104 years it was in operation, and has been famed as one of the most haunted sites in the US ever since. You can tour the prison all year round, but visiting in the fall brings some special spooks.

For those touring near Halloween, you can take part in Escape From Blood Prison , the only prison-based haunted attraction in the US. Get the scare of your life trying to escape the Ohio State Reformatory while undead inmates chase you and blood drips from the walls and faucets! photo source

Spookiest Places to Visit in the USA: The South

Lalaurie mansion - new orleans, la.

Another one of America’s most haunted spots popularized by Hollywood is the spooky LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans (it was featured in the Coven season of American Horror Story!). Madame LaLaurie was a famous socialite in NoLa back in the 1800’s, known for throwing lavish parties and flitting about town like she owned the place. It wasn’t until police responded to a kitchen fire in 1834 that the atrocities occurring in the mansion were discovered… Madame LaLaurie had been brutally abusing enslaved people in her attic.

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After her salacious crimes were discovered, a mob of locals chased her out of town and she ran away to France. For the past two hundred years, all sorts of paranormal sightings have been reported. Another fun fact: Nicholas Cage actually owned the house for some time!

Devil’s Tramping Ground - Bear Creek, NC

Okay, now this one really has me freaked out: there’s this patch of campground deep in the woods of North Carolina where the devil himself is said to pace around at night, dancing and planning ways to wreak havoc on humankind. The crazy thing is, no plants grow along the tramping grounds. There’s normal vegetation all around the strangely barren circle, but the path the devil reportedly walks remains devoid of any plant life.

Even freakier? People have tried to leave sticks, clothes, and more within the circle before nightfall, but they’re all mysteriously thrust outside of the circle by morning.

The Ghost Town of Cahawba - Cahawba, AL

Cahawba was Alabama’s first capital back in the day, but was later deserted after the Civil War depleted resources and money in the south. Filled with creepy and decrepit buildings, slave burial grounds, and huge cemeteries, Cahawba is one of the most famous ghost towns in the entire country.

Many visitors report creepy sightings and strange sounds, but none more creepy than Pegue’s Ghost. People have reported seeing a strangely floating orb in the garden maze of Colonel Pegue’s house, who died after being wounded in the war. photo source: facebook

Myrtles Plantation - St. Francisville, LA

Not only was Myrtles Plantation home to the horrific enslavement of black folks up through the Civil War, it was also constructed on top of a Native American burial ground, and is said to have been haunted ever since its construction. However, the most famous ghost story from Myrtles Plantation revolves around Chloe, an enslaved girl back in the 1700’s.

Chloe had her ear violently chopped off after being caught eavesdropping. As an act of revenge, she poisoned a birthday cake for her enslavers, killing two young girls. She was then sentenced to death, and has since been seen wandering the plantation. You can even supposedly see her in this spooky photograph from 1992 . Above photo by Bogdan Oporowski.

Spookiest Places to Visit in the USA: West Coast

Hotel monte vista - flagstaff, az.

This hotel in Arizona has been home to all sorts of hauntings nearly since its inception. The ghost stories include “The Meat Man,” a long-term boarder who curiously hung raw meat from the chandeliers. He’s said to wake up guests with his cold hands, and the television has acted of its own accord since he died in the room in the 1980’s.

Even famous actor John Wayne experienced a haunting by the hotel’s phantom bellboy, who was known to knock on residents’ doors calling out “room service,” only to be nowhere to be found once they opened the door. Talk about spooky!

Winchester Mystery House - San Jose, CA

Sarah Winchester (daughter-in-law to the famous Winchester rifle-making family) was a bereaved woman who slowly lost her sanity to grief. After her husband and child died, a psychic told her that evil spirits were to blame. To protect herself, she began constructing the Winchester Mystery House —filled with maze-like hallways, stairways that led to nowhere, and secret chambers.

You can still tour the Mystery House today—but be forewarned that visitors have reported seeing shadow figures and apparitions of laborers working on the house.

The RMS Queen Mary - Long Beach, CA

The Queen Mary began her life as a luxury ocean liner in the US and bore witness to many fancy parties and outrageous happenings. During this time, a sailor was mysteriously killed by the engine room door, and several children died in the pool. The ship may have also accumulated more hauntings when it served a brief stint in World War II as well.

The city of Long Beach bought the ship in the 60’s and converted it into a hotel, and you can still stay there today . Just know that some visitors report hearing the screams of children late at night, and the engine room is said to be frequented by paranormal activity.

The Cecil Hotel - Los Angeles, CA

Not to save the wildest one for last, but The Cecil Hotel is extra spooky because it’s story is so shockingly recent. You may have even seen the documentary series on Netflix that covered what happened: Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel . The story revolves around the strange death of Elise Lam, a Canadian student who was caught acting strangely on security cameras hours before being found dead in a sealed water tower on the roof of the hotel.

Prior to Lam’s mysterious passing, the Cecil also housed two serial killers just before their arrest—Richard Ramirez, who killed over a dozen people, and Austrian Jack Unterweger who horrifically killed three sex workers. And in it’s entire history, there have been at least 16 sudden or unexplained deaths at the hotel. photo source

There you have it—the downright 15 spookiest places to visit in the USA . Have you been to any of these haunted locales before? Tell me about your experience in the comments  or send me a DM on Instagram ! 

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The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia, draws ghost hunters looking for spectral forms.

These are the most haunted places in the United States

From abandoned asylums to ghost-ridden houses, discover these haunts' spine-chilling histories.

In the spring of 1692, hysteria descended upon the quiet town of Salem, Massachusetts, snaking through the community like an insidious virus. Over several months, a group of young girls claiming to be possessed by the devil condemned a score of men and women to the gallows in one of history’s most infamous witch hunts.

It’s said many of these troubled spirits still roam Salem today—including Giles Corey, an 80-year-old farmer accused of witchcraft and crushed to death after publicly questioning the girls’ motives. Howard Street Cemetery, where Corey is buried, is one of many sites across the United States believed to host the paranormal.

( Related: Here are 24 spooky places to visit around the world .)

But what draws us to the supernatural? Margee Kerr , a sociologist and the author of Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear , tells the Washington Post that feeling terror when we know we’re safe can bring around a special kind of euphoria and confidence . And some people see ghosts and spirits as proof that the soul can survive the body’s death, psychologist Christopher French explains in The Atlantic .

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, these seven spooky destinations prove that haunting lore is often rooted in very real and traumatizing histories.

The LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, Louisiana

Madame Marie Delphine LaLaurie was a Louisiana socialite known for hosting ritzy soirees in her lavish French Quarter mansion in New Orleans during the early 19th century. Guests gorged on fine food and champagne, unaware of the grisly scenes that unfolded two stories above.

The LaLaurie Mansion looms over the French Quarter of New Orleans.

When local police responded to a kitchen fire in 1834, they discovered the bodies of several horribly mutilated enslaved people in the attic. When the public learned of LaLaurie’s grotesque secret, a mob stormed the house, prompting her to flee to France . Soon after LaLaurie disappeared from New Orleans, people claimed to hear the phantom screams of her victims spilling from the house in the dead of night.

Spooky Fact : In 2014, the infamous murderess was reborn through Kathy Bates in the television series American Horror Story: Coven .

How to Visit : The replica of the LaLaurie Mansion (the orginial burnt down in the fire) is now privately owned and doesn’t offer tours, but several city tour operators, such as Free Tours by Foot and Ghost City Tours , include a stop at the Royal Street mansion on their itineraries.

The Shanghai Tunnels, Portland, Oregon

Portland , one of the most dangerous ports in the U.S. during the early 19th century, was the epicenter of an illicit maritime practice known as shanghaiing , a form of human trafficking.

According to local lore, swindlers preyed upon unsuspecting men in the local saloons, which were often outfitted with trapdoors that deposited the victims directly into a network of underground tunnels. These men were then supposedly held captive, drugged, and eventually transported to the waterfront, where they were sold to ships as unpaid laborers; some worked for several years before finding their way back home. The tunnels are said to be haunted by the aggrieved spirits of the captives who died in the dark recesses beneath the city.

Spooky Fact : The practice of kidnapping men to work on ships came to be known as shanghaiing because the ships they were sold to were often headed to East Asia.

How to Visit : Portland Walking Tours and the Cascade Geographic Society (both currently closed due to COVID-19) offer guided tours of the Portland tunnels, where visitors get a sinister history lesson in the dark. Don’t worry: They provide the flashlights.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

This menacing Gothic-style prison opened in Philadelphia in 1829 and became the first in the U.S. to implement solitary confinement, a hotly debated practice. Prisoners resided in stone cells with virtually no human contact (hoods were placed over their heads anytime they were moved). Proponents of this system believed that solitude would lead to penitence, which would ultimately result in rehabilitation. Critics, on the other hand, believed it incited emotional anguish comparable to physical torture. The so-called “Pennsylvania system” was replicated in several other states and in Europe.

Gangster Al Capone spent a year imprisoned at Eastern State, where he furnished his cell with luxurious antiques, rugs, and paintings.

It is believe the inmates’ ghosts took back the prison after it closed in 1971. Visitors claim to see their apparitions wandering the corridors and hear mischievous whispers in abandoned cell blocks.

( Related: See eerie pictures inside a Namibian ghost town .)

Spooky Fact: In the mid-1800s, thousands of tourists would visit the prison—including Charles Dickens who wrote “The system is rigid, strict and hopeless solitary confinement, and I believe it, in its effects, to be cruel and wrong…”

How to Visit: Eastern State Penitentiary offers daytime tours year-round, as well as special events . Terror Behind the Walls, one of the country’s top haunted houses, has been suspended for 2020 due to COVID-19. But if you’re feeling brave this fall, explore the decommissioned prison—and Alphonse “Scarface” Capone’s cell—under moonlight with Eastern State Penitentiary’s newly launched night tours .

R.M.S. Queen Mary , Long Beach, California

This retired ocean liner sailed the Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. During its first three years at sea, the Queen Mary carried dignitaries and Hollywood celebrities, including General Dwight Eisenhower, Elizabeth Taylor, and Audrey Hepburn. Its days as a luxury ship were short lived, however, and in 1939 it was stripped of its amenities and began its second life as the “Grey Ghost,” a World War II troopship. At the conclusion of the war, it was restored to its former glory and traversed the Atlantic for nearly two more decades.

The Queen Mary is permanently moored in Long Beach, California.

On Halloween 1967, the Queen Mary departed on its last cruise, eventually docking in Long Beach, California , its final resting place. The ship is reportedly haunted by the spirits of those who died aboard, including the young sailor crushed to death by a door in the engine room and a crew member murdered in cabin B340.

Spooky Fact: Winston Churchill signed the D-Day Declaration aboard the Queen Mary during World War II.

How to Visit : The Queen Mary no longer sails the Atlantic, but it lives on as a floating hotel and restaurant on California’s Pacific coast. Follow in the footsteps of its famous passengers and book a room in 2021. Return next year during the Halloween season to join the ghouls, spirits, and undead aboard the Queen Mary when it transforms into the frightening Halloween attraction, Dark Harbor .

Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast, Fall River, Massachusetts

On August 4, 1892, the bodies of Andrew and Abby Borden were discovered bludgeoned beyond recognition in their home. The prime suspect: their youngest daughter, Lizzie.

The Borden case was one of America’s first crimes to unfold under the media spotlight. Despite growing public scrutiny and allegations that Lizzie had financial motives for the murder, she was ultimately acquitted due to lack of physical evidence (and no one was ever charged for the murders). The Borden home has since been converted into a museum and bed-and-breakfast, where guests can see gruesome photos of the crime scene and sleep in one of its reportedly haunted rooms.

( Related: These ghost towns may suprise you. )

Spooky Fact : The 19th-century murder made headlines again when it received a Hollywood makeover in the 2014 movie Lizzie Borden Took an Ax , starring Christina Ricci.

How to Visit : Sleep in the sames rooms where the Bordens took their final breaths at the Lizzie Borden B & B . The museum offers daily tours and a gift shop that sells spooky souvenirs, like an ax-wielding Lizzie Borden bobblehead doll.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

One night in this hotel nestled in Colorado ’s mountain wilderness inspired Stephen King’s best-selling novel turned horror film, The Shining . In 1909, Massachusetts couple F.O. and Flora Stanley opened the isolated resort—and reportedly never left.

The Stanley Hotel inspired Stephen King’s best-selling novel turned horror film, The Shining .

According to staff, Mrs. Stanley can be heard playing her Steinway piano in the music room at night, and Mr. Stanley occasionally shows up in photographs. There have also been reports of bags being unpacked, lights turning off and on, and echoes of children’s laughter heard in the hallways. Paranormal experts hail the Stanley Hotel as one of the nation’s most active ghost sites.

Spooky Fact : Guest bedrooms have a TV channel that plays The Shining on a 24-hour loop.

How to Visit : Book a room at the Stanley and spend a night with the hotel’s permanent guests. Too spooked to spend the night? Book a day tour or brave the tour at nighttime.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, West Virginia

This foreboding asylum began construction in 1858 and opened to patients in 1864. The massive structure was designed by architect Richard Andrews to maximize sunlight and fresh air—it was believed that the building itself would serve as a healing environment.

By the 1950s, the facility—designed for 250 people—housed 2,400 patients in crowded conditions, with afflictions ranging from alcoholism to epilepsy. Patients were physically restrained and often given inhumane treatments, such as electroshock therapy and lobotomies. After more than a century in operation, the facility was forced to close in 1994 due to reforms in mental health treatment and the deterioration of the building.

Hundreds of patients died during the asylum’s tenure, and scores of guests and ghost hunters have claimed to see their shadowy figures roaming Trans-Allegheny’s crumbling halls.

( Related: How did 18th-century vampire hunters identify the undead? )

Spooky Fact: The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is the largest hand-cut stone masonry building in North America, and supposedly the second largest in the world after the Kremlin in Moscow .

How to Visit : The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum offers historical day tours Tuesday through Sunday. Visit during October to participate in ghost hunts , paranormal tours and flashlight tours, or attend the annual Asylum Haunted House .

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15 Most Haunted Places in the USA for Spooky Fun

By Author Meg Frost

Posted on Last updated: November 19, 2023

Categories Georgia , Louisiana , Massachusetts , United States of America (USA)

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Remember when you were a kid and you loved spooky ghost stories, like the ones in Goosebumps or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark ? ME TOO! 

Well guess what? You can totally turn that love of ghost stories and scary young adult novels into a travel plan! 

Check out my list of the 15 most haunted places in the USA, from a quaint, but haunted, Southern town to a seriously creepy and haunted mansion in California.

Alcatraz Island

Just off the coast of San Francisco, California is Alcatraz Island , home to an abandoned federal prison that once housed dangerous criminals, such as Whitey Bulger, Al Capone, and Mickey Cohen. 

Alcatraz Island was also a major part of the Red Power Movement in the early 1960s. 

During this time, Native American tribes banded together to protest anti-Native policies passed by the US government to assimilate Native Americans into Urban areas (and away from reservations).

The policies were basically designed to destroy Native cultures.

A group of Native Americans from several tribes occupied Alcatraz Island for just under 2 years in an effort to reclaim the island from the US government and turn the prison facilities into various learning and resource centers. 

While they were not able to achieve their overall goal, their efforts did help overturn the anti-Native assimilation policies that inspired the occupation.

Alcatraz Island is haunted by deceased prisoners and guards.

Native American legends say Alcatraz Island was home to evil spirits before the prison was built, as well. 

Today you can tour the island and the eroding prison facilities, which are part of the US National Park system.

Viator has a TON of Alcatraz Tour options , some paired with other activities for a discount.

I’m partial to the Alcatraz Tour and Craft Beer Walking Tour – you’re gonna need something to take the edge off after touring this creepy abandoned prison!

Baltimore, Maryland

Gothic literary legend Edgar Allan Poe died an odd and mysterious death in Baltimore, Maryland. To this day, no one knows exactly how the writer died!

Learn more about the dark and creepy writer by visiting the Edgar Allan Poe Home & Museum , where you can see Poe’s home and writing space in Baltimore.

Afterward, head on over to the Maryland Historical Society to browse its collection of Poe-related writings, photos, and other memorabilia.

Then, hop over to the Enoch Pratt Free Library to see even more Poe artifacts.

Last up, pay your respects to Edgar Allan Poe at his grave at the Westminster Hall & Burying Ground in Baltimore, MD.

Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is home to the Eastern State Penitentiary, a prison that was abandoned in the 1970s and is said to be haunted ever since. 

The Eastern State Penitentiary was once “home” to several infamous prisoners, such as mobster Al Capone. 

Today the former prison is a museum where you can learn about its history, its haunted roots, and see art installations. 

During the Fall season, the museum hosts Terror Behind the Walls , which is probably the scariest haunted house in the USA. According to me, anyway.

Franklin Castle

Often referred to as the most haunted house in Ohio, Franklin Castle was originally built as a two-story wooden house known as Bachelor’s Hall in 1860.

It was purchased by Johannes Tiedemann and his wife Louise after the immigrated from Germany to the US. 

After their daughter, Emma, died in the home in 1881, they moved out while transforming the home over two years into what is now known as Franklin Castle, an American Queen Anne Victorian stone mansion.

However, in just a few years, their remaining 5 children, as well as Johannes’ mother, all died in the home. Louise herself died in 1895, as well.

It was established as a historic landmark in 1982. In 2022, it finished a long restoration and reopened as a tourist destination.

It now hosts a variety of tours and events in the home, such as CLUE LIVE, a film and cinema club, and paranormal tours.

Brave visitors can also spend the night in one of 4 rooms available, which include Emma, Johannes, and Louise’s rooms.

The Lizzie Borden House

In the late 19th century, Abby and Andrew Borden, a wealthy couple from Fall River, MA, were brutally murdered by an axe.

Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie Borden, was the prime suspect due to odd behavior and inconsistent answers during questioning by Police.

Lizzie Borden was found not guilty in a trial nearly a year after their death. 

You can tour the house where the Bordens were murdered and even book a night’s stay there . 

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is one of the most haunted places in the USA!

NOLA has its fair share of haunted lore, from Voodoo priestesses to torturous murderers, vampires, and ghosts.

In New Orleans, you’ll find a fair share of ghost tours, graveyard tours, and haunted hotels and homes.

You can also find unofficial tours based on the Anne Rice vampire novels and American Horror Story: Coven .

For more tips on NOLA’s best tours, check out my post about the most unique tours in New Orleans .

Adding to New Orleans’ mysterious vibe are its abundance of psychic shops and long-running practice of Voodoo. 

Psychics are easy to find in the French Quarter, as many will set up tables on the sidewalks throughout this neighborhood. 

Voodoo is a religion with African roots, which has opened it to unfair and racist criticism over the years.

If you decide to learn more about this religion and its practices while in New Orleans, please do so with respect.

Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo is one place where you can get a taste of what Voodoo is. They offer psychic readings, as well.

For more New Orleans tips, check out these posts:

• Top 15 New Orleans Travel Tips for A Good Time
• Best Tours in New Orleans, LA
• Best Bars in New Orleans, LA
• All the Food in New Orleans You Must Try
• Best Places to Stay in New Orleans, LA

Ohio State Reformatory

Located in Mansfield, Ohio, the Ohio State Reformatory in an infamous prison that was run from 1910 to 1990. It was ordered closed due to overcrowding and inhuman conditions alleged by the prisoners.

It was used as the filming location for the 1994 Stephen King film, The Shawshank Redemption starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins.

Visitors can access and tour most of the prison on their own for $25. 

However, guided, themed tours are also available:

• Beyond the Bars : Tour areas not open to the general public, such as the guard tower
• Ghost Hunts : Overnight paranormal investigations of the prison; only available to adults 18+
• Ghost Walks : Nighttime guided tour of the prison
• Hollywood Meets History : Learn more about the prison’s history, as well as its involvement in films and music videos, such as The Shawshank Redemption .
• Old Sparky : Learn about the electric chair and its history in Ohio prisoner executions
• Shawshank Bus Tour : Visit 10 filming locations of The Shawshank Redemption in the area and end with the Hollywood Meets History tour.

It is also home to the annual Parapsycon , a paranormal and psychic convention, InkCarceration , a music and tattoo festival, and the annual Shawshank Hustle , a 7K race.

During the Halloween season, it also hosts a haunted house called Escape from Blood Prison .

The RMS Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, California

The RMS Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, CA was a mail-turned-passenger ship that operated mostly between the United Kingdom and the United States between 1936-1967. 

Upon its retirement in the late 1960s, the Queen Mary reestablished as a tourist destination in Long Beach, CA. 

Legend has it that someone was murdered in one of the ship’s suites and continues to haunt the ship to this day. OOOoooOooOh!

The Queen Mary runs 5 tours, 4 of which are based on the ship’s spooky stories. 

• Haunted Encounters Tour includes a tour of the ship in conjunction with stories about its ghosts! Tours run throughout the day.
• Paranormal Ship Walk runs after dark and is part tour, part spooky story time.
• Dining with the Spirits includes dinner at Sir Winston’s restaurant onboard the ship, followed by the Paranormal Ship Walk.
• Paranormal Investigation includes a tour of the ship’s known paranormal hot spots with professional paranormal investigator, Matt Schultz.

In addition to the spooky tours, the ship puts on the Queen Mary Dark Harbor during the Halloween season.

Dark Harbor includes several haunted mazes aboard the Queen Mary, kind of like a haunted house – but several of them! 

On select dates, there is a theatrical seánce onboard the Queen Mary , as well.

You can learn more about these spooky Halloween attractions on this page .

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem, Massachusetts, is well-known for the late 17th century trials where 20 people were hung to death after being found guilty of practicing witchcraft.

Locations to visit include the Howard Street Cemetery , the House of Seven the Gables (where Nathaniel Hawthorne’s famous novel is set), the Old Burying Point Cemetery , and Proctor’s Ledge .

Today there are several museums in Salem where you can learn more about the Salem Witch Trials, such as the Salem Witch Museum . 

Salem also holds a month-long Halloween celebration filled with parties, a vendor fair, spooky tours, concerts, and a small fair.

For more ideas on what to do in Salem, check out these posts:

• Tips for Visiting Salem in October
• Best Things to Do in Salem, MA
• Best Tours in Salem, MA

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, GA, is a quaint Southern town with a spooky reputation.

The town is home to several haunted establishments, such as Moon River Brewing Company. 

The Moon River Brewing Company is haunted by several ghosts and was featured on several popular paranormal TV shows, such as Ghost Hunters.  

Other well-known haunted locations in Savannah include Bonaventure Cemetery and the Marshall House.

Given its spooky reputation, Savannah has several ghost tours to choose from. I recommend Genteel & Bard’s Ghost Encounter Tour .

Sleepy Hollow, NY

Sleepy Hollow is a village within the town of Mount Pleasant, New York.

The village is home to the famous short story about a headless horseman, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow , by Washington Irving.

This famous short story spawned various reincarnations of spooky films, TV shows, books, and so on. 

Today, the Sleepy Hollow, NY embraces its spooky roots, much like other towns mentioned in this post. 

There’s a Sleepy Hollow cemetery tour, a jack-o-lantern event, an immersive Legend of Sleepy Hollow experience, and other fun, Sleepy Hollow Halloween activities. 

The Stanley Hotel

Visit the impressive Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, which inspired Stephen King to write his first best-selling hardback novel, The Shining , in 1977.

NOTE : The Shining was Stephen King’s third novel, but the first hardback to make the best-sellers list.

The Shining turned into a classic horror film of the same name in 1980.

It was directed by Stanley Kubrick and starred Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.

The Stanley Hotel was rumored to be haunted long before Stephen King used it as the inspiration for his novel-turned-film. 

The rumors almost put the hotel out of business until King’s third novel became a bestseller. 

Today, the hotel embraces its spooky vibe and offers ghost tours of its property. 

If you want to learn more about this haunted hotel, check out Unearth the Voyage ’s in-depth post about the Stanley Hotel , including a few tips about its ghost tours.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Located in Weston, WV, the Trans-Alleghany Lunatic Asylum is a former hospital for mentally ill people that was open from 1864 to 1994. 

It was originally designed to house 250 patients, but at one point during the 1950s, housed as many as 2400 patients. This is most likely due to the fact that during that time, common ailments like asthma were treated as a mental disorder.

In 1913, the hospital’s name was changed to Weston State Hospital, as it was operated the state of West Virginia.

Today, the hospital is run as a tourist attraction under its original name.

Tours include daytime and nighttime tours of several areas of the hospital. It also runs overnight paranormal investigations and ghost hunts, as well as photography tours.

The Whaley House

The Whaley House has a long an interesting history in San Diego, CA. 

Built in 1857, the Whaley House was not only home to Thomas Whaley, his wife Anna, and their family, but also a community gathering place. 

Through the years served as a theater, courthouse, general store, and office space.

The land on which the house was built was also the site where Yankee Jim Robinson, an infamous horse thief, was hanged to death.

After the house was built, the Whaleys’ son, Thomas, passed away from scarlet fever at only 18 months old. 

Today, it serves as a museum that you can tour at day and night. They also host after-hours paranormal investigations, where guests can actually partake in a paranormal investigation of the home.

It is also featured on the San Diego Ghosts & Gravestones haunted tour.

The Winchester Mystery House

After the untimely death of her husband and child in Connecticut, Sarah Winchester fled for San Jose, California.

There she proceeded to spend 38 years building a mansion with 107 rooms on 6 acres of land.

The Winchester Mystery House is full of quirks that seemingly have no explanation, like rooms built without nails, staircases that go to ceilings, a seánce room, and items in sets of 13 (hooks, window panels, etc).

No one knows why Sarah Winchester built the home so large and odd.

But, the speculation is that she did it to please spirits that a psychic said caused her family’s death and continued to follow her.

Winchester passed in 1922, just under 25 years from when she started building the Winchester Mansion.

Today, you can tour the mansion, which is open year round, except on Christmas Day.

Which haunted places in the USA have you been to?

No matter what time of year you visit these haunted places in the USA, you’re guaranteed a spooky good time! 

Let me know in the comments below if you’ve been to any of these places or any other haunted places around the world!

About the author

Meg Frost is a Boston-based travel blogger that helps people embrace technology to make vacation planning and traveling wicked easy, affordable, and fun.

She holds an M.A. in Journalism from Northeastern University and B.S. in Communication & American Studies from University of Miami.

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This post was originally published on October 10, 2016. It was last updated on August 31, 2019.

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From Coast to Ghost: Visiting the Most Haunted Places in the USA

Whether you're a ghost-buster, a thrill seeker, or you're just here for the trick-or-treat candy, a Halloween road trip is the perfect way to mark the most spirited of the seasons.

On our list of America's 30 most eerie escapes you'll find haunted hotels and possessed prisons; abandoned asylums and spine-chilling cemeteries; mysterious mansions and the most ghoulish of ghost towns... all perfect for a supernatural sojourn.

As you'll discover below, there's a spooky spectacle hidden around just about every corner: from kooky California to the creepy Carolinas. So buckle up, grab your favorite Halloween candy, and set out on a haunting adventure - one you just might struggle to forget.

Northwest nightmares: 4 spooky spots to explore

1. northern state ghost town.

Sedro-Woolley, WA

What makes this place spooky: In the midst of a pristine, pastoral landscape, the cavernous buildings of the former Northern State Mental Hospital exude a haunting silence through the crumbling plaster of their walls.

Built in 1912 and shuttered in 1976, the facility has housed thousands of people working through their own demons - some of which are rumored to linger.

Our travel tips: The abandoned grounds of the Northern State Mental Hospital are part of the Northern State Recreation Area, which is open-year round and accessible via a short walk. It is a common hiking area with minimal elevation gain and plenty of trees that are blushing with fall colors.

Some of the remaining buildings are actively used for job corps projects and drug rehabilitation, so day visitors are requested to avoid these areas.

If you want to delve even deeper into the macabre on your trip here, visit the cemetery were over 1,000 people have found their final resting place.

While you are here: This is an ideal fall day trip from Seattle. Just drive roughly 70 miles north on Interstate 5 (I-5), past Mt Vernon, then take Cook Road towards the Northern State Recreation Area.

2. Wolf Creek Inn

Wolf Creek, OR

What makes this place spooky: Along the creaky halls of the Wolf Creek Inn, bold guests have heard an ethereal woman's voice, a piano that wasn't there, and inexplicable slamming doors.

The apparitions here are so frequent and intense that the Ghost Adventurers felt compelled to come and investigate this historic inn, which has been welcoming visitors since 1883.

Our travel tips: The inn is part of the Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage Site that is managed by the Oregon Parks Department and is open to visitors seven days a week. It is also still an operational inn and you can book a night's stay here, if you dare.

There's no fee to take a peek around the inn and there are even some panels outside that detail the history of the inn and significance of the Applegate Trail which it sits on.

On the grounds of the park, you'll also find an old chapel and covered wooden bridge that add to the rustic atmosphere.

While you are here: The Wolf Creek Inn is a 2-hour drive south of Eugene, OR, entirely along I-5. It is about 3.5 hours south of Portland.

Just an hour's drive southeast from Wolf Creek is Ashland, OR, where you can check out a suite of spots rumored to be haunted, including the Allen Elizabethan Theatre and the Ashland Springs Hotel.

3. Alcatraz Island

San Francisco, CA

What makes this place spooky: Also known as The Rock, this former maximum security prison on an island in the San Francisco Bay was notorious for its ignoble detainees such as Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.

Punishment wasn't doled out lightly within these cold, unforgiving walls, and many people claim that the hardened criminals housed here have a hard time leaving the world of living alone.

Our travel tips: You will need to take a ferry to Alcatraz. You can buy tickets and board the ferry along the Embarcadero, near Fisherman's Wharf. It would be wise to get tickets in advance online as Alcatraz is one of San Francisco's most popular tourist destinations. Paid parking is available near Pier 33.

Be sure to bundle up! It can get mighty cold and windy on the Bay as the fall chill sets in.

While you will have to purchase a ferry ticket, the site of Alcatraz, which is now managed as a state park, is free to all visitors from 10am to 8 pm year round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

While you are here: This is an exciting fall day trip from Sacramento. From the state capital, head southwest on Interstate 80, then take the first exit in San Francisco to get to the Embarcadero.

4. Winchester Mystery House

San Jose, CA

What makes this place spooky: This labyrinthine 24,000-square-foot abode built by the heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune has stoked rumors of otherworldly influences since the beginning of its decades-long construction period at the turn of the century.

Was the compulsive construction driven by mania, fear of those who met their demise by a Winchester, or something even more sinister? Hauntings have been reported for years, making it one of the most architecturally unique and haunted homes in America.

Our travel tips: There are privately operated tours of the mansion that keep to a fixed schedule, so it is better to book your tickets ahead of time online so that you can time your visit accordingly.

Tickets are also available at the mansion itself, if you happen to be in the neighborhood and don't mind waiting for the next tour to start. Tours are one to two hours long and there's free parking for guests close to the mansion.

While you are here: The Winchester Mystery House is a 2 hour and 30-minute drive from Fresno via CA Route 99, CA Route 152, and US Route 101.

The spooks in San Jose don't restrict themselves to this less-than-humble mansion. Dottie's Pond, also known as Santa Teresa Spring, was held to have healing properties granted to it by a witch according to the lore of the Ohlone people.

Nearby, you can also wander the Hacienda Cemetery with headstones dating back to the late 19th century, including one for a little boy's arm that was shot off during a hunting accident.

Midwest ghostly grounds: 4 must-visit haunts for a jaunt

5. bachelor's grove cemetery.

Bremen Township, IL

What makes this place spooky: Surrounded by a dense, foreboding forest, this haunted burial ground is infamous for its restless spirits and phantom apparitions, having featured in many a local ghost tale. It's a spine-tingling destination if you dare to explore the darker side of the afterlife.

Our travel tips: Bachelor's Grove Cemetery is located in the Rubio Woods forest preserve, which is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset.

As tempting as it may be to linger after dark to have your own eerie encounter, you will be fined if your car is in the lot after sundown.

Some of the oldest tombstones here date from the mid-19th century, making it a place that might appeal to local history aficionados.

While you are here: Bachelor's Grove is a short road trip from Chicago along Interstates 90 and 57. Once you reach Midlothian, take 147th Street to Ridgeland Avenue, where you'll see signs for the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve.

6. The Congress Plaza Hotel

Chicago, IL

What makes this place spooky: This impressive and stately hotel, first built in 1893, has hosted eight different presidents and less illustrious guests, including Al Capone – who has an uncanny link to multiple haunted hotspots.

It is said to be the most haunted hotel in Illinois and the paranormal activity here is so strong at times that staff have had to seal off certain rooms - particularly Room 441, where a female specter is said to roam.

Our travel tips: The premises of the hotel are only open to guests. If you balk at spending a night here or already have accommodations elsewhere, you can reserve a spot at their afternoon high tea to take a peek inside their haunted halls.

You couldn't find a better location for exploring downtown Chicago, as the hotel sits directly across from Gant Park and Monroe Harbor.

While you are here: A fall road trip to Chicago is full of colors and plenty of other spooky haunts. From Milwaukee, it's only an hour and a half drive south along Interstates 94 and 90.

While you're here, check out some of Chicago's other sites with grizzly history, including the James M. Nederlander Theatre where the cries of the 600 victims of a tragic fire can still be heard in an alley, and the H.H. Holmes' Murder Castle, where one of America's first serial killers lured many of his victims during the 1893 World's Fair.

7. Ohio University

What makes this place spooky: While a place of learning can be intimidating, few are as straight-up spooky as Ohio University.

In addition to murmurs that the West Green was constructed upon a Native American burial ground, the ornate set of buildings currently known as The Ridges were formerly the Athens Lunatic Asylum for over 100 years.

Our travel tips: Ohio University is a public institution with gorgeous tree-lined paths and tails throughout that you can walk at you leisure.

At The Ridges you can visit the Kennedy Museum of Art as well as go on curated walking tours of the former asylum grounds hosted by the Athens County Historical Society and Museum.

Walking tours are usually held on Saturdays between 2pm and 4 pm; check the historical society's website for more details and to book you moderately priced tickets in advance as they sometimes sell out.

While you are here: Athens, OH is a 3 hour and 25 minute drive from Cleveland. One of the most direct routes is via Interstate 77 South. Take this to Parkersburg, then hop on US Route 50 West towards Athens.

8. The Ohio State Reformatory

Mansfield, OH

What makes this place spooky: While you might recognize the gray masonry walls of this former prison from the “Shawshank Redemption”, which was filmed here, you might not know that over 200 people, both prisoners and guards, lost their lives here between 1910 and 1990 when it closed its doors due to complaints of inhumane conditions.

Many claim that faint echoes of the brutal punishments received here, as well as heinous acts, can be heard amidst the iron bars of the supposedly empty cells.

Our travel tips: The Ohio State Reformatory welcomes visitors every day from 11am to 4pm, and they have extended weekend hours of 10am to 4pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

They offer self-guided tours as well as guided ones, ranging from $17 to $35. It is best to book your tickets ahead online as you plan your trip as the tour timings vary.

In addition to the purportedly petrifying elements here, the Ohio State Reformatory is a well-preserved example of the Romanesque Revival architectural style and is a treasure trove of historical insights.

While you are here: Mansfield sits roughly between Cleveland and Columbus. It's a 1 hour and 15 minute drive south along Interstate 71 (I-17) from the former and a 1 hour drive north along I-71 from the latter.

Southeast specters: 5 paranormal pit-stops

9. st augustine lighthouse.

St Augustine, Florida

What makes this place spooky: This beckon of light in northern Florida has a surprisingly dark history stemming from a tragedy on July 10, 1873 when three little girls at play lost their lives in an accident.

Legend has it that one of these girls, named Eliza, and the spirits of former keepers still linger, leaving visitors with spine-tingling encounters and unexplained phenomena.

Our travel tips: This visually striking lighthouse is a popular tourist spot in St. Augustine. It is open most days from 9am to 6 pm, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

General admission is $15 for adults and $13 for children under 10. They also offer a range of guided tours priced between $20 and $40. By far the eeriest is the Dark of the Moon Ghost Tour which lets you explore the haunted tower at night. All tickets can be booked ahead online.

While you are here: This is an exquisitely mysterious day trip from Jacksonville, FL. Just hop on Interstate 95 South and drive for roughly 50 minutes until you reach coastal St. Augustine.

While you're here, get your fill of spooks from the sea at the St. Augustine Shipwreck Museum.

10. Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp

Cassadaga, FL

What makes this place spooky: At the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, eerie encounters with wandering spirits and ethereal energies are not uncommon.

This little town, not far from the joyful cheers of Disneyworld, offers its own variety of otherworldly amusement and is often touted as the psychic capital of the world.

Our travel tips: This town fully embraces their band and has a variety of historical and paranormal tours on offer, they even have a special Halloween edition of their Encounter the Spirits Night Tour. All tours can be booked ahead of time online and range from $15 to $30.

If you have always felt a calling towards the more mysterious and symbolic side of life, they also host a wide range of online and in-person workshops on a variety of topic from spirit animals to tarot.

While you are here: Cassadaga is only a 30-minute drive north of Orlando along Interstate 4, making it a wonderful addition to the standard amusement park tour for families with more eccentric tastes.

11. Bonaventure Cemetery, Moon River Brewing Company, The Marshall House

Savannah, GA

What makes this place spooky: Savannah is home to a host of haunts, owing to its long, and sometimes grim history as a city deeply involved with slavery in the US.

The wind sounds a bit different, as it winds through the mossy trees of the Bonaventure Cemetery and the fixtures don't seem do fixed at the Marshall House; this is a haunted road tip for those who relish all things that go bump in the night.

Our travel tips: The Marshall House once served as a hospital for wounded Civil War soldiers and now operates as an inn. It could be the perfectly petrifying base for a ghoulish trip like this.

The Moon River Brewing Company is housed in a building from the early 19th century that has been a post office, bank, bar, and lumber warehouse. Many tours include it for its long history of hauntings, but you can also mosey on down here for their daily happy hour from 4pm.

While all cemeteries can cause one's hair to stand on end, the very bearing of Bonaventure Cemetery piques the imagination and has been privy to a wide range of paranormal activity. Anyone is welcome to respectfully walk the grounds here from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

While you are here: This is another great fall road trip from Jacksonville, FL; just head north on Interstate 95 for about 2 hours.

There are a whole bevvy of ghost tours that cover multiple sites in Savannah, including Genteel & Bard's Savannah Dark History and Ghost Walking Tour, the 90-Minute History & Haunts Candlelit Ghost Walking Tour, and the Sixth Sense Savannah Adults-Only Walking Tour.

12. Oakland Cemetery

Atlanta, GA

What makes this place spooky: The red-brick threshold of this somber yard looms large over all who pass through it. Being the largest and oldest cemetery in Atlanta, it is home to crumbling headstones and gothic mausoleums, among other reminders of a bygone era.

There's even a sleeping lion who looks over the mass grave of thousands of unknown Confederate soldiers who some say are still engaged in a supernatural battle against the North.

Our travel tips: The cemetery is free to visit and open from dawn to dusk daily.

If you'd like a more in-depth experience here, consider going on a guided tour, starting at $12 per adult. Check their events calendar, as they do occasionally offer after-dark tours of these bone-chilling grounds.

While you are here: For a particularly scenic fall road trip, consider driving to Atlanta from Nashville, TN. It takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes along Interstate 24 East and Interstate 75 South.

As a major city in the South, Atlanta has more than a few possessed places. While you're here consider stops at the Fox Theater, Lake Lanier, and the Ellis Hotel for a more complete experience of the city's paranormal offerings.

13. LaLaurie Mansion, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, Hotel Monteleone, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar

New Orleans, LA

What makes this place spooky: The Crescent City is a well-known hub for the macabre and mysterious.

Eerie encounters can be had at a whole range of locations from the LaLaurie Mansion, where a horrific atrocities were committed against enslaved people, to the uncanny apparitions of a long-deceased founder at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar.

Prepare for no shortage of spine-tingling tales on this timely road trip to New Orleans.

Our travel tips: The LaLaurie Mansion is one of the most famous haunted houses in the South. Almost all of the ghost tours in New Orleans make it a point to stop here, so look into which one best suits your itinerary.

Unfortunately, you can only see the outside of the building, so feel free to simply go on a self-guided tour around the neighborhood.

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar is among the oldest purveyors of spirits of all varieties in the French Quarter. They're open from 10 am to the wee hours every day.

Both the living and dead of NOLA have been coming through the gates of the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 since 1789 – this is also the final resting place of voodoo queen Marie Laveau.

People are free to stroll the crumbling headstones and unique mausoleums here between 9am and 3:45 pm daily.

While you are here: All these spooky spots in New Orleans are about an hour's drive from Baton Rouge along Interstate 10.

Southwest spirits: 12 eerie escapes for your bucket list

14. amargosa opera house.

Death Valley Junction, CA

What makes this place spooky: If an opera house in the valley of death doesn't send a shiver down your spine, then we don't know what will!

This desolate gem from the roaring 20s, seemingly frozen in time, was lovingly preserved by former performer Marta Becket, who can't seem to leave the stage despite leaving her body in 2012.

Our travel tips: The Amargosa Opera House is actually a working motel in this sparsely populated desert outpost.

Given the sheer intensity of the desert heat, the fall is an ideal time to visit this part of California.

Note that there's no gas station in Death Valley Junction. One of the closest is just under 30 miles to the southwest in Shoshone, CA.

While you are here: Of course, being on the edge of Death Valley National Park, this is a great spooky stop to include on a trip out here from Los Angeles, which takes between 4 and 5 hours, largely following Interstate 15 and CA Route 127.

Here, where the dead outnumber the living, you can see the final resting place of former residents beneath the parched earth at the Death Valley Junction Cemetery.

15. The Padre Hotel

Bakersfield, CA

What makes this place spooky: With halls that look like they were inspired by “The Shining,” the eerie aura of the Padre Hotel in Bakersfield is palpable to many visitors.

Here, guests have encountered inexplicable sounds, shadowy apparitions, and unexplained events, making it a destination for ghost hunters and aficionados of the supernatural.

Our travel tips: The Padre has been welcoming guests from 1928 until today, despite a series of tragic events which have happened here.

If your knees quiver at the thought of spending a night here, you could also casually visit to take a look at the lobby or have a delicious lunch at their restaurant, the Belvedere.

While you are here: Bakersfield is an easy, 2-hour drive from Los Angeles along Interstate 5, once you get past the Tinsel Town traffic.

16. Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

Los Angeles, CA

What makes this place spooky: The golden age of Hollywood has left a scandalous mark on the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Some guests report hearing the trumpet of Montgomery Clift, who stayed in room 928 for a prolonged period, and other have seen the ghost of the archetypal troubled starlet herself, Marilyn Monroe.

Our travel tips: You can book a night at this luxury hotel in the heart of Hollywood or come here on a guided tour and learn all the ins and outs of the troubled tales surrounding it.

We also heartily recommend checking out any of their delectable restaurants and prohibition-era-style bar.

While you are here: The mild fall weather of southern California is perfect for laid-back road trips. Hollywood is roughly a 2 hour drive north of San Diego along I-5, though this timing is heavily dependent on traffic and can take up to 4 hours.

17. The Queen Mary

Long Beach, CA

What makes this place spooky: The Queen Mary ship had a varied history, which saw her decked out as a luxury ocean liner and served in WWII.

Since 1967 this iconic ship has been docked in SoCal, but crew members and passengers from the past, including a mysterious lady in white, have made multiple appearances over the years. This ship's spooky status has even inspired a recent horror film, “The Haunting of the Queen Mary.”

Our travel tips: The Queen Mary is a multi-purpose space that houses a hotel, several world-class restaurants, and can even be rented out as a wedding venue.

They have tours with different themes, including one that highlights its haunted history. Tours are usually scheduled between 11am and 6pm and range from $20 to $55. There's day as well as overnight parking which costs between $18 and $30 (calculated at the time of writing).

Leaning in to its reputation as a ship full of spine-chilling apparitions, The Queen Mary hosts a “Shaqtoberfest” from September 28th to October 31st, which they describe as an immersive Halloween festival.

While you are here: From the pleasant to the paranormal, a road trip from Santa Barbara to the Queen Mary in Long Beach is full of contrasts. Driving south along US Route 101, then along Interstate 405, the drive should take around two hours, traffic permitting.

Long Beach has an eclectic vibe of its own, distinct from the other hamlets that make up the greater Los Angeles area. This includes creepy and uncanny places beyond just the Queen Mary.

Be sure to include stops at the Pike, Deforest Park, and Rancho Los Cerritos, where the graves of 50 Native Americans were unearthed in during the construction of a golf course.

18. Whaley House

San Diego, CA

What makes this place spooky: It might be hard to believe that famously sunny San Diego has a dark side, but a trip to the Whaley House is an eerie experience for those who dare to explore its haunted halls.

Steeped in tales of tragic deaths and ghostly visions, this historic mansion in Old Town San Diego has borne witness to intense events that continue to impact its aura.

Our travel tips: Whaley House is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm, welcoming visitors for a casual peep or a wide variety of guided tours. You don't need to book any of the daytime tours ahead of time, but for some of their nighttime offerings, including an after-hours paranormal investigation, it's best to book ahead of time online.

These specialized tours can get pricey, as much as $94, but this covers a group of up to 8 people and you actually will get to see paranormal investigators at work!

While you are here: In case you were making a Halloween trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, this might be a sinister addition to your itinerary. From Anaheim, head south on I-5 for 1 hour and 20 minutes and you'll find yourself at the doorstep on one of the most haunted homes on the West Coast.

19. Bird Cage Theatre

Tombstone, AZ

What makes this place spooky: What better place to explore the darker side of the Old West than Tombstone, AZ? With its chilling history of lawlessness, gunfights, and paranormal phenomena, the Bird Cage Theatre has startled visitors with ghostly laughter, phantom music, and spectral figures complete with cowboy hats and garter belts.

Our travel tips: With its salacious history as a saloon and brothel, many of the Bird Cage Theatre's tours are aimed at adults, but they do have a 6:15pm tour, which if open to accompanied children 7 and over.

The other tour times are 8pm and 9:30pm. All tickets are $35 and can be bought at the theater itself, though you can also call them if you'd really like to book your ticket ahead of time.

While you are here: Tombstone is a manageable 1 hour and 15 minute drive from Tucson along Interstate 10 East and AZ Route 80 East.

With a name like “Tombstone,' it would be surprising if there was only one haunted spot here. Fortunately for all you thrill seekers, there's a host of haunts to visit here, including the Boothill Graveyard, The Crystal Palace Saloon, and the O.K. Corral.

20. Jerome Grand Hotel

What makes this place spooky: Looming like a ghostly sentinel atop a ridge in the Verde Valley, the Jerome Grand Hotel was once an asylum for the mentally ill.

As it was slowly renovated to become a hotel in 1996, construction workers and early guests reported hearing the rustling of restless spirits, including what sounded like a rolling gurney along the hall at night; perhaps the last remnants of people who had been committed here decades prior.

Our travel tips: As the only full-service hotel in Jerome, it makes sense to stay at the Jerome Grand Hotel unless this is a pit stop on a longer trip. In case it is, you can also step in to check the vibe or even stay for lunch at the Asylum Restaurant.

If you do have the nerve to stay overnight and you want to ensure a fright, then ask to stay in room 32, purportedly the most haunted in the building.

While you are here: This is a highly recommended haunted road trip to take from Flagstaff, AZ; it's just a 1 hour and 25-minute drive south along AZ-89A.

21. Yuma Territorial Prison

What makes this place spooky: Built in 1876 to contain stagecoach robbers and gunslingers of the Wild West, the Yuma Territorial Prison saw over 100 inmates perish during its brief 33 years of operation.

Labyrinthine stone walls and the stark, desert surroundings, heighten a sense that some of them might be lingering in the shadows as you try to keep your cool on the museum tour.

Our travel tips: The prison is on the National Register of Historic Places and currently managed as an Arizona State Historic Park. They are open year round, except for major holidays, though they have slightly more limited hours in the fall and winter, welcoming visitors from 9 am to 4pm.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 7-13. Children under 6 are free.

There's a 3,600-square-foot museum with prison artifacts and other interesting exhibits in addition to hiking trails and adorable picnic spots overlooking the Colorado River.

While you are here: Yuma is just barely in Arizona and sits a stone's throw from California. Being roughly equidistant from Phoenix and San Diego, a road trip from either takes between 2 and 3 hours along Interstate 8.

22. Fox Tucson Theatre

What makes this place spooky: Guests and staff alike have reported eerie happening beneath the grand, art deco marquee of the Fox Tucson Theatre.

One of its most notable otherworldly inhabitants is the semblance of a man who roams the lobby asking people for change – though people kind enough to oblige are surprised when their spare coins tumble through his hand to the floor!

Our travel tips: In addition to a vibrant performing arts schedule, the Fox Tucson Theater also hosts ghost tours during late September and October. Check their website for the most up-to date information and to book any tickets in advance.

While you are here: This is another short road trip you can do on a spare fall day in Phoenix. Tucson is just a 1 hour and 45 minute drive southeast along Interstate 10.

23. La Fonda on the Plaza

Santa Fe, NM

What makes this place spooky: Any establishment over 400 years old is bound to attract a spook or two.

At La Fonda on the Plaza, one particularly pernicious spirit seems to be that of the Honorable John P. Slough, a former judge who used to dress in a long, black coat, and has been seen by bewildered staff entering a stairwell before vanishing entirely.

He's far from the only apparition here, yet we have a feeling that judges can be particularly frightening from beyond the grave.

Our travel tips: As a four-star hotel in the heart of Santa Fe, La Fonda is a wonderful place to stay regardless of one's interest in the guests of the disembodied kind.

Guests are offered a complimentary art and history tour which takes place from 10:30am to 11:30am, Wednesday through Saturday.

They have a La Fonda Ghost Tour that you can book in advance as part of the deluxe package.

Another option is stopping by here for refreshment at their atmospheric rooftop bar or delicious southwestern fare at one of the on-site restaurants.

While you are here: We recommend taking a quick, yet spooky, road trip here from Albuquerque. It's just over a one-hour drive north along Interstate 25.

La Fonda isn't even the only haunted hotel in Santa Fe. Another historic and possibly possessed accommodation is the Drury Plaza Hotel, which used to be a city hospital.

24. Pioneer Living History Museum

Phoenix, AZ

What makes this place spooky: With buildings that date back to the late 1800s and reports of spectral apparitions and mysterious voices, the Pioneer Living History Museum is a place where history and the supernatural seamlessly intertwine.

Explore a world of grit that goes beyond the grave among the intriguing wooden buildings of this place frozen in time.

Our travel tips: The living museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday year round with morning hours between 7am and 11am during the warmer months and longer opening hours from 9am to 4pm from October 4th through May. Tickets for adults are $12 and children ages 5-16 are $10.

While the official address is in Phoenix, Pioneer is a 90-acre open-air museum about 25 miles north of downtown Phoenix.

While you are here: From Flagstaff, a road trip to Pioneer can be done in a day or as part of a longer trip to Phoenix. Just hop on Interstate 17 and head south for 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to the dusty roads of this frontier town.

25. The Flamingo Hotel and Casino

Las Vegas, NV

What makes this place spooky: The Flamingo Hotel and Casino carries a haunted history going back to its very inception.

Rumors of mob-related activities, mysterious deaths, and ghostly sightings of its mobster founder, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, in the Presidential Suite, make it a place where the illusions of Sin City take on a more sinister dimension.

Our travel tips: This hotel is still fully operational and occupies a prime location on the Strip. It boasts a wildlife enclosure in their courtyard which is home to a variety of exotic birds, including bright pink flamingos.

This Casino is also one of several featured on the Vegas Ghost Walk in case you want to hear every salacious and spooky detail of haunted hotels on the strip.

In addition the Flamingo, Bally's Las Vegas, the Luxor, and the Venetian are rumored to house ghouls as well as gamblers.

While you are here: Most SoCal drivers think almost nothing of heading out to Las Vegas, though it is a 4-hour drive through an expansive desert. With a good playlist or spooky podcast, the time on Interstate 15 just flies by.

Northeast legends: 5 dream (or nightmare) destinations

26. fort william henry.

Lake George, NY

What makes this place spooky: This historic fort, originally built by the British in 1755, is the site of a gruesome massacre during the French and Indian War, is said to be haunted by the anguished spirits of soldiers and settlers.

Perched upon an eerily serene lake, Fort William Henry beckons history buffs and ghost hunters alike with its chilling tales of the past.

Our travel tips: The grounds of the fort are open daily from 9:30am to 9:30pm, but the museum exhibits and guided tours have more restricted hours, especially in the cooler months. There is parking for visitors nearby.

One of their most popular offerings is the Haunted History Tour, which is best to book online. If you're a military history aficionado, you might also be interested in the live musket and canon demonstrations that take place every two hours between 10am and 4pm from September 5th through October 29th.

While you are here: A gorgeous trip that will delight the senses, as your spine tingles at the thought of your destination, is from Burlington, VT along US Route 7 and VT Route 22A South. This route is alive with fall foliage and takes just over 2 hours to drive.

27. Amityville Horror House

Long Island, NY

What makes this place spooky: While this Dutch colonial house in a quiet suburb seems to be nothing more than its curb appeal, it was the site of a grisly sextuple homicide in 1974 involving an entire family.

When another family moved in a year later, they only lasted a month within its tortured walls before fleeing due to paranormal annoyances. Thus began the legend of the Amityville Horror House.

Our travel tips: Unfortunately, you can only admire America's most haunted house from the curb as it is privately owned by people who are not interested in entertaining the curious public.

While you are here: Amityville could be an oddball stop as part of a larger trip to New York City from Philadelphia. Traffic permitting, the drive between these two East Coast cities takes 2 hours and 15 minutes along Interstate 95.

Long Island is home to many creepy locations, including the Fire Island Lighthouse, Raynham Hall in Oyster Bay, and the Stony Brook Village Country House Restaurant.

28. Eastern State Penitentiary

Philadelphia, PA

What makes this place spooky: With its radiating arms of crumbling cell blocks, the Eastern State Penitentiary is the very image of a haunted prison.

During its 142 years of operation, the convicts housed here were subject to obscure forms of torture with the aim of keeping them isolated, such as being required to wear hoods covering their faces at all times.

Compounded by a prevalence of physical and mental illness, the facility was plagued by death in all its gruesome forms – and some say that these tortured souls have never quite been able to give up their solitary days of penance.

Our travel tips: The prison is currently run as a historic site and is open for daytime tours between 10am and 5pm.

All through October they offer a special series of Halloween Nights tours which occur four times every evening between 7pm and 9pm. Tickets for this even varies between $39 and $59 depending on whether you visit on a weekday or on the weekend.

Eastern State marks the third place connected with the infamous Al Capone on our list. This is the first prison the mobster ever set foot in and they maintain the cell where he was held for 7 months.

While you are here: For those of you in New York looking for a riveting fall road trip, the Eastern State Penitentiary is just under a 2 hour drive along Interstate 95 South.

29. Danvers State Insane Asylum

Danvers, MA

What makes this place spooky: When looking at old pictures of Danvers State Hospital, one might think it was a stately home of a hall of an Ivy League university. Little would one suspect its dark history of mistreatment of the mentally ill.

Here, lobotomies were regularly carried out, and people who required medical help were left to rot in their cells. Its haunted credentials are further bolstered by the fact that it was built in 1874 on a site associated with a judge in the Salem Witch Trials.

Our travel tips: Despite its architectural and historical significance, several buildings of Danvers were converted into residential apartments in 2006. Then, in a mysterious twist, there was a large fire that burnt a significant portion of the remaining buildings to the ground in 2007.

Some surmise that this was an act of vengeance from the beyond.

Due to the compassionate actions of a community member, the cemetery associated with the hospital was restored and many names of once forgotten patients recovered from records.

You can visit the cemetery on 1101 Kirkbride Drive to pay your respects and see if the departed have any final messages.

While you are here: Danvers is an easy day trip from Boston. Just head north along US Route 1 for 30 minutes and take the Maple Street Exit. It's also very close to Salem, the final destination on this list, so you could also include it as a pit stop en route to that supremely haunted place.

30. Salem Witch Trials Memorial

What makes this place spooky: Perhaps America's most infamous tryst with the paranormal, today we look back at the horror of the Salem Witch Trials as an example of the terrifying evil that resides in the hearts of apparently ordinary people.

At the memorial, 20 granite benches, etched with names, testimonials, and gruesome means of death stand as a testament to the lingering energy of the tragedy and create an eerie atmosphere, reminding visitors of the dangerous panic that once plagued this town.

Our travel tips: The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is outside and open to visitors year-round. The nearby museum has many fascinating exhibits and is open from 10am to 5pm and the entrance fee is $17.50 for adults and $14.50 for children 3-14 years old.

During the season of spooks throughout October, there's a wide variety of witch-themed events in Salem, such as the Official Salem Witches' Halloween Ball. Check the town's website for exact times and details.

As you can imagine, the time around Halloween is peak tourist season for Salem, so make sure to book any tickets and accommodations far in advance if you want to make this trip in October or early November.

Many visitors to the memorial today feel moved to leave flowers and other totems of sympathy on the stone benches for the women and men who were senselessly murdered by their fellow community members.

While you are here: Salem draws tourists from all over the eastern seaboard and beyond. It is only a half an hour outside of Boston and is even a possible day trip from Providence. Simply follow Interstate 95 North for 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach this occult town by the sea.

*Prices are calculated at the time of writing for all the spooky places above

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13 Haunted Places You Can Visit in the U.S.

Updated : June 14, 2024

AAA Travel Editor, Katie Broome

Looking to add a spine-chilling twist to your travel plans? Luckily for you, the United States is brimming with haunted destinations that will leave you feeling equal parts intrigued and unsettled. From eerie hotels to ghostly mansions, these 13 haunted places will satisfy your appetite for the supernatural.

The Blue Anchor

Delray Beach, Florida

With a centuries-old façade and interior details shipped straight from London, this British pub is a favorite local watering hole. It’s also said to be haunted by the ghost of Bertha Starkey, a Londoner who lived above the bar at its original location in England. According to the story, Bertha met an untimely death at the hands of her husband. The owners of The Blue Anchor report hearing her footsteps and the sounds of banging pots and pans after hours.

Eastern State Penitentiary

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This former prison housed more than 75,000 inmates over a period of 142 years, from 1829 to 1971. Though no executions ever happened at the Eastern State Penitentiary , eerie noises are sometimes heard in the hallways. You can explore the castlelike structure for yourself on a daytime tour.

If you're looking for spooky things to do in Philadelphia during Halloween, a trip to this penitentiary may be a good option. Read More

The Historic Bullock Hotel

Deadwood, South Dakota

Built in 1895 by the first sheriff of Deadwood, Seth Bullock, this historic hotel is said to be frequented by the ghost of the sheriff himself.According to 's website, things sometimes move without explanation thanks to the resident ghost. The second and third floors are where Seth’s presence is said to be the strongest.

Stay a night or two and see for yourself. Even if you don’t get a visit from Seth roaming the halls, you may be visited by Lady Luck in the hotel’s on-site casino.

Historic Hotel Bethlehem

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Guests of the Historic Hotel Bethlehem have reported seeing flickering lights and strange reflections in mirrors inside this 1920s hotel. Most hauntings occur in Room 932, the property’s so-called “room with a boo.” Other spots around the hotel — including the lobby, the kitchen and the restaurant — are rumored to be inhabited by a handful of friendly ghosts.Reserve a night or two at this AAA Three Diamond hotel and you’ll join the likes of famous guests Henry Ford, Winston Churchill and Amelia Earhart. Book Now

Jean Bonnet Tavern

Bedford, Pennsylvania

You’ll sense the history of the Jean Bonnet Tavern as soon as you walk in — from the exposed chestnut beams to the stone walls and fireplace. But you may also sense something else.

The circa 1760s tavern, once owned by a scout of George Washington, is said to be home to a friendly ghost who sometimes makes its presence known. Guests and staff have reported feeling an unexplained touch while at the bar. They've also caught glimpses of patrons wearing pioneer-era clothing. Read More

Kehoe House

Savannah, Georgia

Located in historic downtown Savannah, this 13-room inn is a stop on many local ghost tours. Tour guides often tell tales of nighttime apparitions and noises that happen inside the Kehoe House. Some say the strange goings-on are related to the inn’s former life as a mortuary.Book an overnight stay at this AAA Four Diamond bed-and-breakfast to investigate the situation for yourself. Savannah is a spook-filled city in its own right, so you're in the perfect place to explore other haunted happenings around town. Book Now

Vicksburg, Mississippi

If you’re into both Civil War history and the paranormal, the McRaven house deserves a spot on your travel list. Said to be the “creepiest place in Mississippi,” the 1797 home served as a Confederate field hospital during the Civil War. It has also been the place where many former residents have died.

Haunted tours are led by costumed guides who explain the history of the home and the stories of the many spirits (up to 14!) who are rumored to inhabit the property. Read More

The Myrtles Plantation

St. Francisville, Louisiana

This 1796 plantation home, nestled under a thick canopy of live oaks, is said to be “one of America's most haunted homes.” Strange apparitions have been spotted in photographs and during paranormal investigations.Guided mystery tours of The Myrtles Plantation take place on Friday and Saturday nights and offer the chance to hear ghost stories and learn the history of the mansion. Private group tours are also available. Read More

Omni Shoreham Hotel

Washington, District Of Columbia

Restored to its former splendor, this luxury 1930s hotel — today a AAA Three Diamond property — boasts a history of mysterious happenings. The appropriately named “Ghost Suite” is where the hotel’s original owner once lived with his daughter and housekeeper. The daughter and housekeeper are said to have died in the suite, and guests will often see lights turn on and off in the room and feel unexplained breezes. Book Now

Sorrel-Weed House

Featured on many TV shows about the paranormal, the Sorrel-Weed House offers the chance to experience what is said to be “one of the most actively haunted locations in the country.” On nightly tours, you’ll hear about the history of the property as well as the strange experiences and sightings that have happened inside. Book an after-hours investigation to explore the property on your own with the use of ghost-hunting equipment. Read More

The Stanley Hotel

Estes Park, Colorado

A stay at this 1909 hotel near Rocky Mountain National Park is allegedly what inspired Stephen King’s famous horror novel “The Shining.” You can stay the night in the Stephen King Suite (Room 217), or opt to stay in another of The Stanley Hotel 's “spirited” rooms. These rooms are said to have high paranormal activity. Guests have reported items being moved, lights turning on and off and the sounds of children playing and laughing.If you’d rather not stay overnight, book a Stanley Hotel ghost tour. The Stanley Hotel Tours offers walking tours that will explain the history and folklore of the hotel. Book Now

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Weston, West Virginia

Formerly known as the Weston State Hospital, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum housed more than 2,400 patients at its peak in the 1950s. It was also used as a psychiatric institution in the Civil War-era.

While the facility closed down in 1994, today it is open for history tours as well as ghost tours and overnight paranormal investigations. Apparitions and unexplained voices are sometimes detected in the halls of the form asylum. Read More

West Virginia Penitentiary

Moundsville, West Virginia

Rusty doors, peeling paint, damp corners and dark hallways — the inside of the Gothic-style West Virginia Penitentiary sets the scene for a spooky experience. Guided tours introduce visitors to the retired prison, which closed down in 1995 after a court said its small cells were “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Nearly 100 men were executed in the facility, leading many to believe the prison is haunted. Nighttime tours allow you to explore on your own with investigative equipment. Read More

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20 Most Haunted Places in America and the Ghosts That Call Them Home

Your next trip might just take a turn for the paranormal.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

These days, it seems like every historic U.S. city has a ghost tour to feed our appetite for real-life paranormal thrills. The most intrepid travelers plan an entire trip around the possibility of a spine-tingling encounter. Tragic past events have allegedly caused spirits to linger in hotels, restaurants, parks, and airports, but even if you don't see or hear anything at these haunted places, you'll have a memorable time learning about the area's dark history.

"Haunted locations can often seem like cliches, even to those uninvolved in the field. And who can blame them - a creepy old mansion, a derelict asylum, a tattered hospital. Most anyone in the general public could guess at their histories and come out at least half accurate. What intrigues me are the stories that nobody could possibly conceive; the locations none of us saw coming," said  Conner Gossel , paranormal investigator and historian, in an interview with  Travel + Leisure . To Gossel, it's those unique narratives that make a haunted place really stand out.

Discover 20 of the most haunted places in America, where you can get properly spooked and maybe return home with your own supernatural tale.

Meet the Expert

Conner Gossel is the history buff and paranormal investigator behind the Haunted Historian podcast and Instagram account, which tell the stories behind some of the world's spookiest places.

New Orleans

lightphoto/Getty Images

With dozens of reportedly haunted places, New Orleans is one of the country's most haunted cities. By paranormal standards, NOLA has it all: churches haunted by the spirits of former priests, former hospitals visited by soldiers who died but never truly passed on, and homes filled with ghosts of previous residents — not to mention the vampire stories. The city also has its share of notable ghosts, including that of William Faulkner, which is sometimes spotted at the author's former home-turned-bookstore, Faulkner House Books . Old Absinthe House , open since the early 1800s, is supposedly haunted by Voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau, Andrew Jackson, and pirate Jean Lafitte, among others. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is another paranormal hot spot, said to have hundreds of ghosts.

Pawleys Island, South Carolina

UWMadison/Getty Images

South of Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island draws sun seekers to its less-busy stretch of sand. However, there's a darker side. The town has more than its fair share of ghost stories, the most famous being of the Gray Man. Said to appear on the beach before devastating storms, the apparition sometimes approaches people and warns them to flee. It's believed that if you encounter this spectral beachcomber, you'll be spared from the wrath of the incoming hurricane.

To complete your ghost-hunting itinerary, stay at The Pelican Inn, said to be haunted by its former owner who was also a former Confederate soldier. At All Saints Church, where some graves date from the 18th century, you can pay your respects to Alice Flagg, a young broken-hearted girl whose ghost is known to wander about town and in the marshes. Visitors often leave a token on her grave to make a wish.

Jill Birschbach/Getty Images

A disastrous fire, a notorious serial killer, and mob history all contributed to Chicago's reputation as a haunted destination. The Iroquois Theater was the site of a fire that killed hundreds in 1903, and some say the alley behind the theater is still haunted by those unfortunate patrons. H. H. Holmes, the country's first serial killer, murdered dozens (if not hundreds) of women in his infamous "Murder Castle." The building is long gone and the site is now occupied by a post office, where some workers still report odd experiences in the building's basement. The site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, often attributed to Al Capone, reportedly has some residual paranormal energy, too. These are just a few of the many haunted sites in the Windy City — check out a ghost tour for more.

Pine Barrens, New Jersey

Stanley45/Getty Images

In South Jersey, the Pine Barrens is a nature reserve notorious as the home of the Jersey Devil . The legendary creature is said to be a demon with bat wings and hooves, born to a local woman in the 18th century. Over the past few hundred years, stories have periodically surfaced about its attacks on livestock and people. In addition to being stalked by this shadowy monster, the area is considered one of the most haunted places in America because of its abandoned factories and towns . It was also the location of a 1928 plane crash that killed a Mexican pilot on his way from New York City to Mexico City. His ghost is said to wander the crash site.

Savannah, Georgia

Mbell/Getty Images

Savannah, Georgia, is often ranked among the most haunted cities in the U.S. Historic homes, inns, and restaurants are rumored to house the spirits of former residents and visitors. In fact, those looking for a thoroughly spooky weekend in Savannah can opt to stay at an allegedly haunted hotel and eat at restaurants still frequented by spirits that never fully left the earthly realm. Moon River Brewing Company is known as the most haunted place in town, featured on both Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters . Guests have reported seeing a lady in white on the stairs and spirits have been known to mess with the staff.

The Pirates' House , now a family-friendly restaurant, was once a boarding house popular among sailors. Some were reputedly kidnapped from its basement, and their spirits are thought to visit the restaurant today. Finally, The Marshall House is known as one of the most haunted hotels in the U.S. , thanks to its history as a hospital during the Civil War and yellow fever epidemics. Guests have reported seeing apparitions in the hallways and hearing ghost children running down the halls at night, among other mysterious happenings.

"A haunted destination that often flies under the radar in Savannah is The Graveface Museum," said Gossel. "The building houses artifacts of the occult, the personal belongings of serial killers, and a one-of-a-kind journey through all things spiritual and morbid. It's the only location I've encountered in my 11 years of investigating whose energy almost caused me to become sick and lose consciousness. The owner is incredibly kind and nonchalant about the paranormal activity inside; including the apparition of a man with no legs who is often seen floating down the stairs."

The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California

rboncato/Getty Images

This famous ship is not just a historic landmark, it's also the most haunted hotel in America . The ocean liner sailed for three decades from the 1930s until the ’60s before retiring. Now permanently docked in Long Beach, California, it welcomes both daytime and overnight visitors. The hotel capitalizes on its spooky vibes by offering ghost tours that highlight the many spine-tingling tales of onboard happenings, from spectral stateroom visitors to mysterious figures in the engine and boiler rooms. One of the creepiest sights is the first class swimming pool, which remains empty due to California laws, and is one of the areas where the most sightings have been reported.

St. Augustine, Florida

Smithlandia Media/Getty Images

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is a hotbed of ghost activity. The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is supposedly haunted by girls who drowned there in the 1870s. Visitors have also reported paranormal experiences at Castle Warden, a Moorish-style home built in the 1880s that now houses the first permanent Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum , established in 1950. The city has several other haunted locations; you can explore the darker side of St. Augustine on a ghost tour — some even bring along EMF meters to track paranormal activity.

Shoshone Ice Caves, Idaho

Earth to Sarah/Visit South Idaho

In the backcountry of Idaho, 16 miles north of Shoshone, the state's longest lava tube is a four-and-a-half-mile-long cave. When the site was discovered in the 1880s, the caves were full of natural ice, and thanks to a restoration effort to replenish it after overexploitation, you can see the icy phenomenon during a guided tour . In addition to the attraction's interesting history and geology, there have been reports of paranormal activity. Visitors have heard footsteps and voices in the darkness, and some say it's the ghost of a bear or even a Shoshone princess who was buried in the caves centuries ago.

Portland, Oregon

David GN Photography/Getty Images

Portland, Oregon, might be best known for its incredible craft beer scene and artsy vibes, but the city is also one of the best destinations for ghost hunters. The Shanghai Tunnels are perhaps the most notoriously haunted site in the city — in the late 1800s, the city was a major international port, and underground tunnels were created to transport (often illegal) goods across Portland. According to local lore , residents hanging out in bars were kidnapped and taken through the tunnels to waiting ships, never to be seen again. Some say the victims' souls still haunt the bars above ground.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

Courtesy of the Stanley Hotel

Instantly recognizable by devoted horror fans, the Stanley Hotel was the inspiration for Stephen King's novel "The Shining," which was later adapted into one of the most iconic horror films of all time. Although the movie actually filmed the exterior shots of the fictional Overlook Hotel at the Timberland Hotel in Oregon, the events of the novel were inspired by King's actual visit to the Stanley Hotel. The author stayed in Room 217 with his wife and the couple were the hotel's only guests.

Besides being the inspiration for a story that would induce millions of nightmares around the world, the hotel has its own haunting tales that have nothing to do with King or Kubrick, which you can learn about on the night tour . These include a former housekeeper who likes to unpack people's luggage and has a dislike of unmarried couples and Paul, a ghost that haunts the concert hall, where visitors have heard a voice yelling "get out" late at night.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

iStock/Getty Images

Areas where historic tragedies took place are often considered paranormal hot spots, and the site of the Civil War's bloodiest battle is regarded as one of the world's most haunted places. Some report seeing the ghosts of soldiers on the battlefield. The local inns and a nearby farm are also believed to be haunted. Visitors can take a ghost tour to learn more about the history of Gettysburg and the tragic spirits said to still wander these grounds.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles

Courtesy of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

With a storied past combining Hollywood legends and broken dreams, it's hardly surprising L.A. has its share of paranormal activity, especially at iconic homes and hotels. One of the most notorious sites is the Hollywood Roosevelt, where Marilyn Monroe was a long-term resident. According to guests staying in her favorite room, Suite 1200, the tragic star sometimes appears in the mirror as a ghostly figure — but she's not the only A-List phantom. Guests have sensed the presence of Carole Lombard, Errol Flynn, and Montgomery Clift. There are also non-celebrity ghosts, like Caroline, a small child who plays and roams the halls of the hotel looking for her mother, and a man in a tuxedo who hangs around the ballroom.

Washington, D.C.

Philip Yabut/Getty Images

The U.S. capital has seen its fair share of history, so it makes sense that Washington, D.C. is the setting for several ghost stories. In fact, many say the White House is one of the most haunted houses in the U.S. President Lincoln's ghost has been spotted in the Lincoln Bedroom; President William Henry Harrison, who died in the official residence, is said to have returned in the afterlife; and first ladies Dolley Madison and Abigail Adams supposedly still linger, tending to the home. D.C. ghost tours take visitors through other allegedly haunted locations, including the National Building Museum, the Congressional Cemetery, and official government buildings.

USS Lexington, Corpus Christi, Texas

This aircraft carrier saw action in the Pacific during World War II, but now sits in Corpus Christi Bay. Since it opened as a museum in the 1990s, staff and visitors have reported strange noises and sightings of uniform-clad ghosts — which is hardly surprising given the vessel's many battles and lost lives. Every October, the ship hosts a haunted house event that includes actors and a ghost tour where you can hear more about these onboard paranormal encounters.

San Francisco

Kelly Griffin/Travel + Leisure

Prominent landmarks with dark histories make San Francisco one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. China Camp State Park, the USS Hornet, and the Mare Island Naval Shipyard are all said to be haunted, but the number one phantom hot spot has to be Alcatraz. It's widely believed there are a few ghosts lurking in the infamous island prison. The spirit of Al Capone is perhaps the most notorious, and some say you can still hear him playing his favorite banjo tunes.

The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina

One of the main attractions in Asheville, North Carolina, the enormous Biltmore Estate is still owned by the famously wealthy Vanderbilt family, who owe their fortune to their 19th-century shipping and railroad empire. The mansion, which was completed in 1895, holds the title of the largest privately owned house in the country at nearly 179,000 square feet. Many believe some of the family's ancestors still haunt the halls and rooms, such as the ghost of Edith Vanderbilt who can sometimes be heard calling out for her husband George, whose ghost is also said to hang around his study.

Salem, Massachusetts

Best known for the witch trials that resulted in the execution of 19 people, Salem, Massachusetts, has a long-standing reputation as one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. Some say the ghosts of those killed during the trials linger to this day — Lyceum Hall (now Turner's Seafood) is allegedly haunted by the first victim of the trials, Bridget Bishop, and Howard Street Cemetery is haunted by Giles Corey, who was tortured to death after being accused of witchcraft. Learn more about Salem's spooky side on one of the many ghost tours offered.

Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland

Ed Freeman/Getty Images

As the site of over 3,500 deaths from both sides, you can count on some lingering souls on this Civil War battlefield. The most haunted location in Antietam is Sunken Road, also known as Bloody Lane. It was here that the soldiers faced off at close range with advanced weapons and the bodies piled up. Visitors along this trail have reported eerie occurrences like the smell of gunpowder or the sight of men in uniform who vanish into thin air. There have also been reports of strange experiences at Burnside's Bridge, where many of the bodies were buried.

San Antonio, Texas

In San Antonio, the Battle of the Alamo led to thousands of casualties, and Alamo visitors and employees have reported seeing the ghosts of soldiers and hearing mysterious rally cries. The nearby Emily Morgan Hotel is one of the country's most haunted hotels , too. The property was once a hospital, and some guests report seeing the apparition of a woman in white in the halls.

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii

400tmax/Getty Images

If you're just landing in Honolulu, ghosts are probably the last thing on your mind. Despite the buzz of excitement from incoming tourists, the airport is said to be haunted by a ghost dubbed the "Lady in Waiting." According to the legend, she was jilted by her fiancé, who took off on an international flight, and shortly after she took her own life. Now, she is spotted all over the airport milling around the gates, hoping for his return. Other ghostly reports at the airport include toilets that flush on their own and "the choking ghost," who tends to sit on the chests of sleeping passengers, leaving them waking up gasping for air.

Related Articles

The Spookiest Road Trips in the United States

Astrid was the Senior Special Projects Editor at TripSavvy.

Summer is finally over, and with crisp air, vibrant fall colors , and pumpkin spice lattes, comes the arrival of every Halloween lover’s favorite time of year: spooky season. Autumn may be the perfect time to hit the road for leaf-peeping, cider trails, and wineries, but as the fall chill sets in and the crunch of dead leaves collect on the ground, it’s also the best time of year to hop in the car and scare yourself silly. 

The good news for horror enthusiasts is that there’s no need to travel to Trannsylvania to visit some seriously spine-tingling destinations. From Salem, Massachusetts, to Alcatraz Island, the United States is full of haunted history and creepy legends. So why not take advantage? After all, with plenty of frightening things going on in the world these days, it’s much more fun to focus on ones in the past or in your imagination.

Salem to Boston

Undoubtedly the most well-known spooky destination in the United States, Salem, Massachusetts , is where this route begins. Immortalized by the witchcraft hysteria of 1692, history buffs and Halloween lovers alike will enjoy a visit to the Salem Witch Museum to learn about the infamous events that took place there, as well as the Witch Trials Memorial, where you can remember the 20 young victims of the trials. Next, head north to Dogtown in Gloucester, a mysterious ghost town that became a hotspot for vagabonds after it was abandoned in the 1800s. The townspeople were rumored to practice witchcraft; to this day, you can find odd words and phrases—“Help Mother” being one of them—carved into boulders in the vicinity.

Head southwest to Fall River to see the infamous Lizzie Borden house , where America’s most gruesome axe murders took place. It was here that Lizzie Borden was accused of butchering her father and stepmother in broad daylight, though the case has never been solved. Nearby, take a stroll through Freetown-Fall River State Forest , also known as the "The Cursed Forest of Massachusetts.” Legends surrounding this forest include UFO sightings, witchcraft and human sacrifices, ghostly orbs, unexplained disappearances, and even stories of a race of troll-like creatures who call the forest home. End your trip at Boston’s Cutler Majestic Theater. Numerous ghost sightings have been reported here, including sightings of stagehands and theater patrons from centuries past still sitting in their seats, waiting for a show.   

Philadelphia to Evans City

This frightening road trip starts at one of the country’s most infamous haunted destinations, the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia‎. This famous prison, which once held criminals along the likes of Al Capone, was known for its extreme approaches to isolation and solitary confinement, causing many prisoners to lose their sanity. To this day, angry spirits are said to haunt the prison, with many visitors experiencing the feeling of being pushed, shoved, and followed as they walk past the prison’s cells. Next, head west to the Pennhurst Asylum in Spring City. Nicknamed “The Shame of Pennsylvania,” this former hospital for the mentally disabled was the site of horrific abuse towards its patients. To this day, visitors who enter claim to see visions of nurses and children, and have reported leaving with unexplained marks and scratches across their arms.

In Stewartstown, head to Hex Hollow, where Nelson Rehmeyer was murdered by a local man named John Blymire, who believed Rehmeyer was a witch who had placed a hex on him. After the murder, Blymire and two accomplices set Rehmeyer’s house on fire, but the house survived and remains standing to this day. Visitors who drive past report feeling a deeply sinister atmosphere surrounding the house. After, head to the legendary Gettysburg , the site of the notorious Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, which resulted in more than 55,000 casualties. The spirits of Union and Confederate soldiers are still said to haunt the battlefield. In Altoona, make a pit stop at the Mishler Theatre , where the theater’s owner, Isaac Mishler, is often seen roaming the theater during productions, leaving a trail of cigar smoke behind him. Finally, end your trip at the Evans City Cemetery , where you can visit the graveyard—and recreate that epic opening scene—where "The Night of the Living Dead" was filmed. 

Asheville, North Carolina, to Charleston, South Carolina

The Carolinas may be known for their beauty, but both states are also steeped in haunted history. Begin this route at Asheville, North Carolina’s Omni Grove Park Inn , where a young woman in a pink dress fell to her death sometime in the 1920s. Often seen by guests wearing a pink ball gown, the friendly Pink Lady is said to appear when children are around, and is known to try and hold their hands or tickle their toes. Next, head to Abbeville, South Carolina’s infamous Abbeville Opera House , and look up to the balcony, where you’ll find one chair that stands out from the rest of the building’s modern refurbishments. The chair is left there for the ghost of a young actress who died in the middle of a performance and is said to haunt the opera house to this day.

The city of Charleston has no shortage of hauntings. Your first stop should be the Old City Jail , where criminals deemed too dangerous for society were housed in the 1800s and are still said to wander to this day. Grab lunch at Poogans Porch , where multiple accounts of ghost sightings and bizarre happenings, such as water faucets, radios, and lights randomly turning on, are said to occur. Finally, end your trip at White Point Gardens , where numerous pirates were executed and buried in the nearby marsh. Visitors often report seeing ghostly orbs, feeling cold spots throughout the park, and seeing apparitions of pirates waiting for their ship to return.

San Antonio to El Paso

Mark A Paulda  / Getty Images

Begin your Texas trek at Woman Hollering Creek off Interstate 10. The creek is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who drowned her children and continues to walk the riverbanks, searching for them. Spend some time walking around and you may hear her loud wails of anguish—but don’t get too close to the water, as she may pull you in. Next, head to the haunted railroad track at the intersection of Shane and Villamin in San Antonio. In the late 1930s, a school bus was hit by a speeding train, killing 10 children and a bus driver. The crash’s only survivor drove to the train tracks to end her life out of guilt, but felt her car being pushed off the tracks before the next train came. It is said that anyone who parks their car on or near the railroad tracks will start to feel their vehicle being pushed away, as the children make sure no one meets their same fate.

In Marfa , head down Route 67 to experience the country’s most famous ghost lights. Discovered in the 1800s, visitors from all over Texas and beyond travel to see these glowing orbs that are often spotted floating over the town. While some attribute the lights to reflections of car headlights, others say that the lights are the remnants of UFOs or a sign of paranormal activity. Finally, drive to El Paso to experience the 16th century tale of La Llorona, the grief-stricken Mexican woman who drowned herself and her children in the Rio Grande. Visitors who have traveled to the river where she drowned report horrific wailing in the dead of night followed by an apparition of a woman in a white gown with long dark hair. Locals are warned against going near the river at night, fearing that the spirit may possess their bodies.

San Jose to Bodie State Historic Park

Northern California’s spookiest road trip begins at San Jose’s Winchester Mystery House , one of the most infamous haunted houses in America. Constructed by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the rifle’s inventor, it is said that anyone killed by a Winchester rifle haunts the house to take revenge on the family. Further up north in San Francisco, no haunted road trip is complete without a visit to one of America’s most well-known prisons, Alcatraz Island . Nicknamed The Rock, the former military fortress—surrounded by shark-infested waters—was used to confine some of history’s most dangerous criminals, including James “Whitey” Bulger, murderer Robert Stroud, and again, Al Capone. The prison is a hotbed of paranormal activity, with many employees reporting apparitions, floating lights, and freezing cold temperatures in several cells, even in the heights of summer.

Next, head to the Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee. These abandoned former train tunnels were originally built in the 1860s and were named after the Donner Party, a group of explorers en route to California who were stranded in this region due to heavy snow and notoriously resorted to cannibalism for survival. Walking through the tunnels today, visitors report experiencing a cold and sinister atmosphere. End your trip in Bodie State Historic Park , nestled in the Basin Range of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. This once bustling mining hub from the 1800s was completely abandoned in 1915, when it became a ghost town. It is said that anyone who takes anything from the town, even something as small as a pebble, is cursed with bad luck until it’s returned.

Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Denver, Colorado

Begin your route at the Atlas Theater in Cheyenne, Wyoming. A National Historic Landmark, the theater has gained a state-wide reputation as a ghost hunter’s paradise, with reports of several ghosts haunting the second floor, as well as observations of moving objects, floating orbs, and the sound of voices when no one is around. Next, head to the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church bell tower, the site of a truly gruesome murder cover-up. Two Swedish workers hired to construct the tower disappeared here without a trace in the early 1900s. It was later revealed that one worker had slipped and fell to his death and the other, afraid of deportation, hid the man’s remains in the tower wall and fled town. To this day the church’s organ will play and bells will ring by themselves.

One of the best-known hotels in America due to its status as the inspiration behind the hotel in Stephen King’s "The Shining," The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, has fielded reports of paranormal activity since the 1970s. Guests at the hotel have experienced ghost sightings in almost every room, with closet doors opening and closing, lights flickering on and off, and apparitions following guests to their beds. If you’re brave enough to spend the night, get your camera ready and be prepared for some surprise guests appearing in the background of your selfie. Finally, back in Denver, take a break at Cheesman Park, one of the city’s most beloved green spaces. Few may know, however, that it was built over a cemetery for unclaimed bodies. Visitors to the park have reported sudden overwhelming feelings of sadness and despair, and have claimed to witness apparitions and shadows treading behind them during morning runs.

Los Angeles to Death Valley National Park

There’s no better place to kick off your southern California haunted road trip than the City of Angels. While it may be best known for the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry, Los Angeles has a haunted past. Spooky spots include Pasadena’s Colorado Street Bridge, the site of hundreds of suicides, the Rosenheim Mansion, best known as the “Murder House” from "American Horror Story," and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel , where the ghosts of Old Hollywood are said to still hang out. The Hollywood sign itself has a dark history; in 1932, aspiring actress Peg Entwistle jumped off the “H” and reportedly haunts the sign’s surroundings to this day. 

After exploring Los Angeles’s terrifying history, drive out to The Padre Hotel in Bakersfield for more ghostly encounters. A fire in the 1950s killed several children who have been spotted running through the halls to this day. Skeptics should check out the child-size handprint in the hotel’s cafe; it continues to reappear even after being painted over several times. End your trip at the beautiful Amargosa Opera House , located on the eastern outskirts of Death Valley National Park. There have been numerous reports of unexplained phenomena here, from strange smells, the sound of babies crying, and even a ghost cat that interrupts performances in the theater. The property also includes a hotel, sections of which used to be a morgue for miners during the Gold Rush. Nicknamed “Spooky Hollow,” visitors who explore its hallways report glowing orbs and a deeply eerie atmosphere.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Omaha, Nebraska

This Midwestern journey begins in Milwaukee, at Shaker’s Cigar Bar , once operated by Al Capone as a speakeasy and brothel. Unsurprisingly, Capone’s shady dealings meant that many mobsters suddenly “disappeared” here, and visitors to this day have reported many run-ins with ghosts of those who lost their lives at the infamous bar. In 2001, human remains were found packed into the building’s walls. Next, head west to Cresco, Iowa, to the Cresco Theater & Opera House , where visitors have witnessed what appear to be apparitions of vaudeville performers on the stage. Another spooky figure has been spotted sitting in the theater while the lights are off, disappearing when anyone tries to approach.

One of the most infamous haunted houses in the midwest, Iowa’s Vilisca Axe Murder House was the site of the 1912 murder of eight people in their sleep—six of whom were children—by an unknown axe murderer. Today, visitors report hearing children laughing, doors opening and closing by themselves, and feelings of being pinched as they walk through the house. End your trip at Omaha’s Hummel Park , notoriously surrounded by spooky folklore and urban legends. The park has long been believed to be a hotbed of satanic activity, with the bodies of several missing persons being discovered there and visitors reportedly seeing spray-painted pentagrams on park property. Others say that the park is home to a colony of albino cannibals who have been spotted in the park’s dense woods. Even worse, a rickety staircase in the park is nicknamed the “Stairway to Hell,” and somehow always seems to have more steps to count going up than going down. The city of Omaha closes the park early from October to April to discourage Halloween enthusiasts from spending too much time there.

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Get spooked this season at these 8 “haunted“ places in the USA

Oct 26, 2022 • 5 min read

The iconic Stanley Hotel, Stephen King’s inspiration for “The Shining,” remains as eerie as ever © Helen H Richardson / The Denver Post via Getty Images

While many celebrate Halloween with seasonal (and very fun!) kitsch at pumpkin festivals and costume parties, others take the season to the next level, connecting with the spirits at the heart of what this otherworldly holiday is about. 

If you are one of those people who seek out the eeriest, most unsettling places (and we’re here for it), we bet you’ll love this roundup of places all over  the USA  that claim to be haunted.

The Whitney House restaurant in Detroit, Michigan

Spirits both liquid and ethereal are included with your meal at The Whitney restaurant . One of Detroit ’s most upscale dining destinations is also one of its most haunted spots, known for many strange encounters throughout its famed dinner service. If you’re lucky enough to snag a reservation, look out for tableware that has been known to move, eerie footsteps heard on the restaurant’s grand staircase, and a few shadows of David and Flora, the ornate mansion’s original owners.

The Marshall House, Savannah, Georgia

If you’re on the hunt for a hotel with amenities that tap into another dimension, the Marshall House in Savannah should be at the top of your list. The inn occupies a building dating back to 1851 – and is notorious for being haunted. With a previous history as a hospital for Union soldiers and then yellow-fever patients, the Marshall’s rooms and hallways are known for many paranormal occurrences. Guests often report strange encounters throughout the building, the sound of ghostly children running through hallways and sink faucets that mysteriously turn on. 

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

The inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining , The Stanley Hotel ’s haunted lore is alluring indeed, with guests checking in to spend the night among the spirits that roam its halls. Visitors often report the presence of ghosts of service workers past, while plenty of creaky wood gives a thrill to those in search of hair-raising encounters. A warning: screams are a bit of a challenge here, as the hotel’s high elevation (7522ft) puts you in dizzyingly thin air.

Huguenot Cemetery , St Augustine, Florida

The oldest city settled by Europeans in the USA,  St Augustine  dates back to 1585 – so you better believe there are spirits that linger throughout the area. Start with a tour of the Huguenot Cemetery, a hallowed ground since 1821, where many victims of yellow fever were laid to rest. The cemetery is estimated to hold 436 bodies, a number capped in 1884 when it reached capacity – and ghost sightings are reported at all times of the day and night. Be on the lookout for the cemetery’s most famous ghost: the spirit of Judge John B Stickney, a beloved St Augustine denizen who died of yellow fever in 1882. 

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

In operation as a jail from 1829 through 1971, the  Eastern State Penitentiary  in Philadelphia now operates as one of the region’s most renowned haunted-house experiences. Tours of the building highlight the many famed criminals who once were confined within its thick walls, including Al Capone and Willie Sutton (who almost escaped via a tunnel). Halloween Nights are among the most popular times of year to visit – though the presence of prisoners past is reported year-round. 

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, CA

In 1881, a widowed Sarah Winchester became heir to the Winchester Rifle fortune after her husband, William Wirt Winchester, died of tuberculosis. Sarah had lost her young daughter a few years earlier; reportedly, the grief-stricken Sarah then consulted a medium, who instructed her to move out west and create a home for herself and the souls of those killed by Winchester rifles – lest they haunt her forever. 

Construction on the now-famous mansion in San Jose, California began in 1884 and continued over the course of 38 years, resulting in a 24,000-sq-ft Queen Anne–style house that today remains at once an architectural marvel and conundrum, with 160 rooms, 47 stairways and fireplaces, six kitchens and 13 bathrooms (though only one was functional, supposedly to confuse the spirits).

The structure was not built according to a plan, and the resulting house has a number of strange features, including stairs to nowhere, interior windows and more. Upon Sarah’s death, the house continued to confuse outsiders – and today, only the grounds are open for tours. Join the Walk with Spirits tour around the estate to hear more on the supernatural aspects of this sprawling property.

St Louis Cemetery No 1, New Orleans  

Dubbed the City of the Dead, St Louis Cemetery No 1 is the oldest active cemetery in New Orleans . Opened in 1789, the cemetery is supposedly home to 100,000 “residents,” housed in more than 700 above-ground tombs. Those laid to rest there include the famous voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, along with several other notable figures from Crescent City’s history. 

Wander the maze-like pathways of the burial ground, taking in the elaborate mausoleums, the worn lists of names and, of course, the site’s extensive history. You might even get to meet one of St Louis’ residents.

Note that unaccompanied visits to St Louis Cemetery No 1 are not permitted. You must visit with a licensed tour guide approved by the New Orleans Archdiocese .

Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville, KY

When it opened in 1910, Waverly Hills Sanatorium was a state-of-the-art tuberculosis hospital designed to keep patients in isolation from the rest of the general population. The building was originally designed to hold 50 to 60 patients, but when the need became greater, its capacity expanded to more than 400.

The sanatorium was so insular it had its own zip code and post office, even growing its own food and raising its own livestock – for once doctors and patients alike arrived to Waverly, they became “permanent residents” there. Once the cure for tuberculosis was found in 1961, the hospital was decontaminated and converted into a geriatric-care facility until its closure in 1981. Today, the sanatorium is regarded as a highly haunted location, with spirits of patients wandering the halls and occasionally making themselves known.

This article was first published Sep 11, 2019 and updated Oct 26, 2022.

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16 eerie ghost towns in America you can actually visit

You might actually see a spirit at these long-forgotten, abandoned ghost towns in America

Photograph: Visit California

America is home to hundreds of ghost towns and abandoned settlements. While they’re dotted across the county, they are ubiquitous in regions like California, Nevada and Colorado that experienced the boom and then bust of industries like mining.

Visiting ghost towns in America is a chance to step back in time, taking in life as it once was. Picture tumbleweeds rolling down Main Street, once-bustling stores now sitting in eerie silence, and faded signs that hint at lives lived long ago. You can wander through old homes, buildings and streets to get a snapshot of the past, taking in stories of pioneers, prospectors, and dreamers. Like the name suggests, you may even spot a ghost along the way.

If you're interested in a glimpse into the past, we've rounded up the most fascinating ghost towns in the US to discover America’s hidden history. If spooky travel is your thing, don’t forget to visit the scariest real-life haunted houses , take yourself on a ghost tour or pay your respects at the most hauntingly beautiful graveyards .

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Ghost towns in America

1.  centralia, pa.

An underground mine fire gone seriously wrong led to this modern ghost town northwest of Philadelphia. In 1962, a fire accidentally spread to the town's old, underground mines, creating sinkholes that spewed smoke and toxic fumes across the community. In 1983, most of the town was evacuated, and in 1992, its real estate was claimed under eminent domain and condemned by the state (delivering the final blow, the ZIP code was officially recalled in 2002). Even though Centralia's fire is still burning today—and expected to burn for another 250 years—four residents still live in the doomed town as of 2020 (sounds like they’re playing with fire, if you ask us). Only five homes remain standing in this town. 

2.  Custer, ID

The population of this gold mining town, located deep inside Idaho's Challis National Forest, peaked in 1896. Home to a massive stamp mill, it had eight saloons and a tiny Chinatown complete with laundry services, a shoe store, and a joss house (a Chinese place of worship). But just 15 years after its boom, Custer's mills shut down and its residents had no choice but to leave their remote mountain home; by 1911, just two families remained. However, most of the town still stands, and in 1981 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Its buildings are open seasonally for visitors and the original school now serves as a museum.

3.  Bodie, CA

This Gold Rush-era town near Yosemite has stood eerily untouched for almost 100 years. Although it already showed signs of decline with dwindling numbers at the start of the 20th century, a series of fires forced the remaining residents to flee the town, leaving it almost exactly as it was in the early 1900s. Dinner tables are still set, shops are still stocked with supplies, and the schoolhouse still has lessons on the chalkboard. Be warned: bad luck is said to befall anyone who steals anything from the site while visiting. 

4.  Kennecott, AK

This preserved-in-time copper mining town is located at the end of a 60-mile-long dirt road in the middle of Alaska's Wrangell–St. Elias National Park (the largest national park in the USA). In its heyday, from around 1910 to 1940, Kennecott processed nearly $200,000,000 worth of copper. By 1938, however, the mine was empty and the Kennecott Copper Corporation abruptly abandoned the operation, leaving everything behind. Today, with St. Elias Alpine Guides, you can take a two-hour guided tour (the only official way to get into the town with its 14-story mill). Make sure also to visit the Root and Kennecott glaciers, too.

5.  Rhyolite, NV

This ghost town near Death Valley National Park was once a bustling ore mining community. In 1904, gold was found within its quartz (rhyolite is a silica-rich volcanic rock that contains quartz, hence the town name), and the game was on with 2,000 claims in a 30-mile area. Soon, Rhyolite boasted a hospital, an opera house, and a stock exchange. In 1906, Charles M. Schwab spent several million on its Montgomery Shoshone mine. Unfortunately, following the 1907 financial panic, businesses were shuttered and residents began to move out. In 1916, light and power were turned off, and the town went ghost. Today, Rhyolite is perhaps best recognized as the set for ScarJo's 2005 sci-fi thriller The Island .

6.  Cahawba, AL

Cahawba was the state's first capital from 1820 to 1825, situated at the junction of two rivers. After the war, the legislature was moved to Selma and the town lost business and population—and periodic flooding wreaked havoc. Today, it's visitable as Old Cahawba Archeological Park, which honors the history of the Native American presence there and the years when many freedmen and women lived there. You can see abandoned streets, cemeteries and building ruins—just make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the ghostly 'orb' that's been known to appear in the garden maze at the home of C.C. Pegues.

7.  Glenrio, NM/TX

Straddling the border between New Mexico and Texas, Glenrio was an action-packed stop on Route 66 for decades. From the 1940s until the 1960s, the tiny town's gas stations, diners, bars and motels were packed with road-trippers passing through the Southwest. But when I-40 was built in the 1970s, drivers no longer stopped in Glenrio, and the town fell into disrepair. Not all is lost, however: the Glenrio Historic District includes 17 abandoned buildings.

8.  St Elmo, CO

Like many ghost towns in the US, St. Elmo (originally called Forrest City) was once a thriving gold and silver mining community. When the gold and silver ran out and disease stalked the town, the population dwindled. The nail in the coffin ended the train service to Chalk Creek Canyon in the '20s. Surprisingly, a general store and Ghost Town Guest House are still operating, which means visitors can spend the night in this ghost town even if the scene is a little  unlively .

9.  Nelson, NV

Early Spanish settlers found silver in Nelson (then Eldorado) in the 1700s. It took another hundred years for other prospectors—many of them Civil War deserters—to find gold, creating the largest booms Nevada had ever seen. All hell broke loose when they did: disputes over the Techatticup Mine, the town's most notorious site, frequently led to murder. Nelson's mines remained active through the 1940s. An infamous 1974 flash flood destroyed the town of Nelson's Landing, five miles away. Nelson's buildings remain today—the ghost town is now a popular location for photo, film, and music video shoots.

10.  Bannack, MT

Paranormal enthusiasts may already know about this desolate former mining town in Montana—it’s featured in the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures . The Gold Rush-era city was known in its time for being a little rough (holdups, robberies, and murders were well documented on the route to nearby Virginia City) and the sheriff of Bannack was a rumored outlaw. The town was abandoned by the 1950s, but more than 50 of its original 1800s structures still stand and can be explored now that it's a state park.

11.  Santa Claus, AZ

Sure, the middle of the Mojave Desert isn’t the first place you’d look for jolly old Saint Nick—and yet that didn’t stop this now-abandoned town in Arizona from dedicating itself to all things Christmas. Realtor Nina Talbot founded the town in 1937 to attract buyers to the desert, and while Santa Claus was popular with tourists for a bit, all the Christmas spirit wasn't enough to convince enough folks to move in. The decline of Route 66 sounded a death knell for the playing of Jingle Bells. You can still see rundown red-and-white buildings and forlorn tinsel for yourself (it’s not maintained, but you’re free to visit).

12.  Thurmond, WV

In the early 1900s, the railroad kept this West Virginia town humming as a thriving depot for coal. Thurmond had it all as a major stop on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway—hotels, banks, a post office, and more. Sadly, the Great Depression, followed by the invention of the diesel train in the 1950s, ended Thurmond's prosperity. Today, the National Park Service has restored the depot, and the town is on the National Register of Historic Places; you can take a self-guided tour of the now quiet town. Reach it by driving seven miles down a narrow, winding road.

13.  Calico, CA

Calico once thrived with its busy silver mines, beginning auspiciously in 1881. But in the mid-1890s silver lost its value and the inhabitants skedaddled. Walter Knott purchased some of Calico’s buildings to disassemble and move them to Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park near Disneyland. He returned to buy and restore Calico itself, which he later deeded back to the county; it’s now a county regional park that’s an accurate-looking ghost town if not wholly literal. There were once 500 mines here and now you can tour the Maggie Mine and 30 structures—shops, saloons, schoolhouse—and stay in a tent, bunkhouse or cabin overnight. In late October, watch for the “Ghost Haunt” weekend events.

14.  Goldfield, NV

This was your authentic Gold Rush mining camp, established in 1902, which was once the largest city in Nevada. The mines went bust and a flash flood spelled the town’s decline ten years before a fire put things to a conclusive end. Yet, about 250 people still live here among the remnants of the town with saloons, slanting homes, deserted hotel and shacks. It’s worth a visit to poke around this “living ghost town;” we especially recommend the said-to-be-haunted Mozart Tavern, where locals treat visitors with special kindness. Paranormal ghost tours take place here regularly, and the Goldfield Days in August temporarily fill the town back up to its boomtown population.

15.  Goldfield, AZ

There’s more than one Goldfield Ghost Town in the U.S., and this one in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains may provide less of that quiet contemplation of ruin and abandon than a ghost town usually provides; things are hopping here and the latest addition is a zipline. But there are tours of a legitimate century-old mine, a narrow gauge railroad, a walking ghost tour at night, seasonal historic gunfights over the contents of a Wells Fargo box, the typical gold-panning, and the not -typical chance to talk with a ‘floozy’ at Lu Lu’s Bordello. Bring the kids?

16.  Castle Dome, AZ

This place is enormous, with 80 buildings and 300 mines (not all are safe to enter). It represents a salvaging of the once-booming mid-1800s settlement (only seven buildings are original), with reconstructions harking to the gold and silver mining claims enacted here. The tales here are impressive, with an 1863 mine owner attacked by 180 Apaches and left in an arroyo to be half-eaten by coyotes, and the wild chain of events that followed, including an opium overdose, a stagecoach robbery and a fellow being shot trying to stop a lynching. There’s much more: an $800 million fluorescent minerals wall and a doomsday cult that wintered here, but we’ll just say it’s worth the visit.

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6 Most Haunted Cities In America (If You Dare To Visit)

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• The most haunted cities in the USA provide a unique historical perspective as well as ghostly encounters and paranormal phenomena.
• Each haunted city in America goes beyond typical tourist attractions, offering everything from haunted hotels to streets where ghosts are reportedly seen after dark.
• Respect the past and the lingering stories in these cities, from Salem to Portland and beyond, when visiting.

Ever walk down a street and feel like something's...off? Like maybe the past isn't quite gone? That's the vibe in some cities – places that aren't just your average tourist traps. These are the spooky, spine-tingling kind – haunted cities, places with a spooky reputation that goes way beyond Halloween decorations.

So, what makes a city haunted? It's not just about haunted American national parks or spirits screaming in graveyards (although that can happen). It's a whole creepy atmosphere. Haunted cities offer a unique perspective on history. So, if you're looking for a travel experience that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions, America's most haunted cities might be the oomph your vacation needs (if you dare to visit!).

7 Most Haunted Hotels In America (If You Dare)

From ghostly guests to eerie events, America's most haunted hotels are not for the faint of heart. Ready for a spooky stay?

6 Boston, Massachusetts

Where history whispers and shadows linger.

Boston oozes a certain ‘ je ne sais quoi ’ vibe that lingers long after your visit. Think cobblestone streets lined with gas lamps or stately brownstones with meticulously manicured gardens.

However, beneath that polished exterior lurks a past as rich and chilling as a graveyard breeze, earning it a reputation as a major hub for hauntings.

You might want to check out some of the best ghost tours in Boston that combine history with horror. You could uncover more than what you’ve read!

7 Haunted Southern Towns To Visit After Dark

From haunted hotels to Civil War battlefields with lingering souls, get spooked in some of the most haunted towns in the South.

5 Portland, Oregon

Where the scent of coffee carries a scent of the past.

Forget stuffy museums and predictable tourist traps. Portland, Oregon, is known for its quirky charm, vibrant coffee scene, and… ghosts? Yes, beneath the layer of artisanal coffee shops and hipster havens lies a history ripe for hauntings.

Polybius arcade machines disappeared from the arcade market, but an online version of the game is available for those who want a bite of the creepy lore. Play at your own risk!

4 Salem, Massachusetts

Where history hasn’t stopped haunting the present.

Salem practically whispers "haunted" in the breeze. This historic town is synonymous with the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692, a dark chapter in American history that continues to cast a long shadow. But the hauntings of Salem go beyond the documented trials.

14 Spine-Chilling & Captivating Facts About Salem, Massachusetts

Salem, Massachusetts is primarily known for the Witch Trials, but that is not the only unsettling fact about the town.

3 Chicago, Illinois

Where the wind carries the hauntings of the past.

Chicago boasts more than just blustery weather. Beneath the towering skyscrapers and the dazzling lights lies a darker side, a history rife with tragedy, violence, and the whispers of the past.

2 San Francisco, California

A city where fog meets phantoms.

San Francisco boasts a rich history that goes beyond cable cars and sourdough bread. This vibrant city is shrouded in a mist of mystery, its storied past leaving behind a legacy of restless spirits and haunted locations.

From infamous prisons to bizarre mansions, San Francisco offers a unique blend of history and the paranormal.

14 Haunted Theme Parks That Were Abandoned

There's nothing scarier than an abandoned amusement park; a twisted version of a once-joyous place; these spots are totally haunting.

1 New Orleans, Louisiana

Where ancient voodoo meets the modern way of life.

New Orleans is a city steeped in a rich and vibrant history – and a healthy dose of the spooky. From the pulse-pounding rhythms of voodoo to the grand above-ground cemeteries, New Orleans wears its haunted past on its moss-draped sleeve.

Check out some of the best ghost tours in New Orleans for a thrilling and spooky vacation experience!

Haunted cities offer a unique perspective on history, a chance to brush shoulders with the echoes of bygone eras. So, if you're looking for a vacation that goes beyond the typical postcard sights, consider a haunted city!

From Boston's revolutionary battlefields to New Orleans's voodoo-infused streets, these destinations offer a thrilling mix of history and the paranormal. Just remember, with great hauntings comes great responsibility. Be respectful of the past and the people whose stories linger within these cities.

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The 17 Most Haunted Places In Idaho (Visit if you dare.)

Post Summary: The Most Haunted Places in Idaho

Potatoes and sapphires are what Idaho state is known for most. But little do most people know, there have been hundreds of hauntings in Idaho that make for exciting and spine chilling thrills.

Yes, these places are popular to visit in the autumn season, but we’re here to help you celebrate with the most haunted places in Idaho year round!

Keep reading if you’re hyped for the spooky season, fall adventures, and some seriously scary stories!

The Most Haunted Places In Idaho

Just remember, if you want to explore abandoned buildings in Idaho state, make sure to not trespass. We DO NOT condone breaking and entering, or going where you aren’t legally supposed to be. Be safe!

1. Old Idaho Penitentiary

Since its establishment in 1870, the Old Idaho Penitentiary has had over 10,000 convicts live in its walls…and not all have left.

There have been over 100 deaths on the premises of the Old Idaho Penitentiary, including 10 executions, and 110 deaths due to old age, illness, or murder (not including undocumented deaths due to poor conditions)!

No wonder it’s on the list of most haunted places in Idaho!

The Old Idaho Penitentiary is no stranger to paranormal activity . The most haunted area being House 5 where Idaho’s “Jack the Ripper,” or Raymond Allen Snowden, was executed in 1957.

It is said that his ghost haunts the Old Idaho Penitentiary, even after its closing in the 1970s!

Visitors also testify hearing phantom footsteps and disembodied voices , feelings of ghost’s hands on them as they walk around the cells, and seeing shadowy figures around the jail.

Plan a trip here: 23 Incredible Things to Do In Boise, Idaho

2. Haunted Mansions of Albion

The Haunted Mansions of Albion in Albion, Idaho is the largest indoor/outdoor haunted production in the Pacific Northwest . It’s also one of the most haunted houses in Idaho!

As you make your way through the Haunted Mansions of Albion, you can expect tons of jump-scares, freaky creatures, and possibly some supernatural occurrences as well.

Be sure to get your ticket to the Haunted Mansions of Albion soon, as they do sell out!

3. Spirit Lake

Found among the dense forests of North Idaho, Spirit Lake is known for its numerous bike trails, serene views, and vibrant deciduous trees.

However, concealed within its deep waters, Spirit Lake holds secrets of its eerie past.

Spirit Lake is one of two lakes in the world that have a completely sealed bottom , meaning no water escapes, making it the perfect location to trap souls and spirits!

Local legend has it that two people of the Kootenai tribe were trapped in a case of forbidden love.

Because of this, the couple vowed eternal love, drowned themselves in the lake , dying together rather than living a life apart.

The Kootenai tribe renamed the lake from “Clear Lake” to “Tesemini,” or “Lake of Spirits” after this event.

Nobody found the lovers among the lake. People say their phantoms can be seen on moonlit nights , drifting across the misty lake in a canoe.

Plan your next trip: The Ultimate 1 Week North Idaho Road Trip

4. Idaho Hotel

During Idaho’s gold rush in the 1800s, tons of transient guests stayed at the Idaho Hotel in Silver City, Idaho and it is now the oldest running hotel in Idaho!

From the testimonies of the thousands of guests that stayed in the Idaho Hotel, it is no secret that it is one of the most haunted hotels in Idaho.

Since the time when many people were coming through the mining town to strike it rich, there have been tons of eerie sightings and happenings at the Idaho Hotel.

Many guests of the Idaho Hotel have felt unexplainable sensations in Room 27 where a past owner committed suicide, seen an old man in a duster coat wandering around the stairwell and young children in old-fashioned clothing playing in the street, and experienced the mysterious flickering of lights throughout the hotel!

There was even a shootout between two men in front of the Idaho Hotel ! Some people say their spirits still roam the building!

Want to test your luck at this haunted hotel in Idaho? Make a reservation here .

5. Owyhee Mountains

Located near Murphy, Idaho , the Owyhee Mountains are one of the most remote and isolated places in Idaho.

As we all know, paranormal activity flourishes in these kinds of places , and the Owyhee Mountains are no exception.

Many who visit the Owyhee Mountains (especially at night) experience strange happenings among the volcanic terrain!

According to Shoshone and Bannock legend, the Owyhee Mountains were home to strong and vicious cannibalistic dwarves that stand at two feet tall with long tails that wrap around their bodies to hide their appearance!

Since Idaho was booming with mining operations in the 1800s, many settlers did not heed the Native peoples warning to avoid areas within the Owyhee Mountains and their children frequently went missing when the dwarves would lure them into the woods.

Plan a trip nearby: How To Reach Leslie Gulch in Eastern Oregon

6. Haunted Walking Tours

Sometimes ghosts don’t just appear for you, but must be found. Which is why Haunted Walking Tours in Idaho Falls are a popular activity during the time of Halloween!

Ghost Walk provides you with opportunities to experience hauntings yourself. Walk through Ghost Alley and other haunted locations located in Idaho Falls !

October sells fast, so be sure to get your $15 ticket for your ghost tour soon (wheelchair friendly)!

7. Stricker Ranch / Rock Creek Station

In 1865, the Stricker Ranch (aka Rock Creek Station) was a common stop for weary Oregon trail travelers.

Since the Oregon Trail wasn’t an easy journey, many people died along the way . (Remember, “ You have died of dysentery! ”?)

The Stricker Family Ranch was the host for a lot of last-minute burials of those unlucky travelers!

The spirits of those who died in this area now haunt the location and become especially agitated at night.

Today, the Idaho State Historic Society preserves remnants of the Stricker Ranch.

8. Scarywood Haunt (Silverwood)

If you’re a fan of the thrill of haunted houses, take that experience and multiply it by ten. What do you get? Scarywood .

During the entire month of October , North Idaho’s Silverwood turns into the haunted theme park, Scarywood, and it is one of the biggest attractions in the PNW during the spooky season.

When roaming through the dark park, you can expect nine different scare zones and tons of freaky creatures, so you must never let your guard down!

Get your limited-supply tickets here ($48-68, depending on day of visit) and plan to visit Scarywood this October from 7PM-12AM, Thursday through Saturday!

9. Mesa Falls

Mesa Falls near Ashton, Idaho is a beautiful waterfall and river. It was created by volcanic activity long ago.

Locals say there is a spirit of an Indigenous Shoshone girl that haunts the Lower Mesa Falls ever since she accidentally drowned herself when she was trying to save someone from the river.

People sometimes say they can hear beating drums around Mesa Falls. Others have even seen her spirit dressed in white!

Love history? Read more fun facts about Idaho here!

10. Idaho State Tuberculosis Hospital

The Idaho State Tuberculosis Hospital (now known as the Gooding University Inn and Resort ) is a haven for paranormal activity.

The building was originally a hospital specifically for patients suffering or dying from tuberculosis . Though, many locals suspected that it became a mental institution when the hospital closed its doors.

Among many other supernatural experiences in the building, visitors and staff of the Idaho State Tuberculosis Hospital have seen full bodied apparitions , shadowy figures, voices in rooms with nobody in them, doors banging, and random knocking!

If you’re brave enough to visit this haunted hospital in Idaho, you can go on a ghost hunt and even stay overnight!

Don’t have the guts to check it out yourself? Here’s a documentary about ghost hunters who were.

11. Shoshone Ice Caves

The Shoshone Ice Caves are a 1,000-foot deep lava tube that holds a temperature between 24-32 degrees all year long.

For years, people have claimed hearing heavy footsteps and voices inside the Shoshone Ice Caves .

Is it a cave bear? Or the buried Native American princess, Princess Edahow? Nobody seems to know much about these haunted places in Idaho…

Take a tour of the Shoshone Ice Caves and make your own guesses to what makes these haunted places in Idaho so eerie.

While you’re here, we recommend taking a side trip to Craters of the Moon too. They have another cave to explore!

Even more nearby caves to explore: Tea Kettle Cave near Twin Falls, Idaho

12. The Brig at Farragut State Park

Made of concrete blocks, the Brig at Farragut State Park was an old military jail building and naval center that once was booming in operation.

During World War II in 1945, the Brig was used as a prisoner of war camp . It held over 900 Germans who were often made to shovel snow in the deep winter.

Many visitors of the Brig at Farragut State Park testify seeing apparitions of a balding man in prisoner’s garb near the building and objects moving for no reason.

Today, you can camp at the sight and it’s a popular location for sledding and skiing during the cold months.

Little do visitors know, they might be in the midst of much more frightening things at work than just visiting a historic sight…

13. The Haunted Mill

Located in Teton, Idaho, The Haunted Mill gives off super chilling vibes.

Originally in the early 1900s, The Haunted Mill was a flour mill and culinary water supply for the nearby town of Teton.

Since it became open to the public in the late 90s, it has been a haunted touring location that is extremely popular in Eastern Idaho in October. ( Tickets are $15-25 on weekends, starting at 7:30PM)!

During your tour, expect to see the original mill grounds , including the original log granary, an underground mine, a maze, waterfall, and suspension bridge!

Don’t be shocked if you see monsters or creatures during the tour or experience any of the terrifying beings from the many legends of the area.

14. Lake Coeur d’Alene

Many visitors and local Idahoans adore the beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene , which is the second largest lake in Idaho!

Many people go to Lake Coeur d’Alene for boating, swimming, or hiking and biking on popular trails. However, the lake is supposedly haunted by a fish-woman who churns up water and scares visitors.

Local residents and visitors of Lake Coeur d’Alene share experiences of unexplainable noises and the figure of the fish-woman emerging near a large, pointed rock in the lake.

Turbulent winds sometimes agitate the usually calm waters and a huge horned creature appears, occasionally lifting boats out of the water!

Is this Idaho myth true? We’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Learn more about this local Idaho legend and other haunted places in Idaho here !

15. Idanha Hotel

The historic Idanha Hotel in Boise, Idaho was built in 1900 to accommodate the booming town. It was originally used to house the state’s influential people and other important travelers.

The Idanha Hotel symbolized westward expansion and was frequented by those traveling by the Transcontinental Railroad.

Despite its hopeful beginnings, the Idanha Hotel has had a mysterious story since the start .Especially during its construction when workers reported strange activity.

Specifically, the Idanha Hotel’s bellman was gunned down at the hotel. It is said that his ghost moves the elevator up and down by itself!

Residents of the Idanha Hotel have also mentioned spotting the bellman’s ghost around the building and eerie instances of lights turning off and on by themselves.

Even freakier, a spirit of a woman who was murdered and buried in the Idanha Hotel’s basemen t supposedly lingers in the lower levels of the building.

If you’ve got the guts to stay at the Idanha Hotel (which is now an apartment building ), be prepared for some strange encounters!

Plan a trip here: 23 Incredible things to do in Boise, Idaho or discover 10 epic day trips from Boise !

16. The Bates Motel

Located in Coeur d’Alene, The Bates Motel is known for inspiring the popular horror movie , Psycho . It is rumored that the author of Psycho , Robert Bloch, stayed in the hotel in the 50s!

People often associate the name of the hotel with the stabbing of Norman Bates in Psych o . However the real Bates Motel is not as scary as the film.

However, it is recognized as one of the most haunted hotels in Idaho!

The Bates Motel was o riginally made for officer barracks in the before and after World War II. Randy Bates bought it after the war.

People say Rooms 1 and 3 are the most haunted . Sand staff and guests alike frequently complain about feelings of being watched, flickering lights, items moving on their own, and suddenly feeling extremely cold!

17. List of Ghost Towns In Idaho

If you’re up for more unique adventures around the state of Idaho, ghost towns are the way to go!

Here’s a list of some of the most popular ghost towns in Idaho:

• Bayhorse Ghost Town , nearby Challis, Idaho
• Silver City Ghost Town , nearby Bodfish, Idaho
• Burke Ghost Town , nearby Wallace, Idaho
• Rocky Bar Ghost Town , nearby Featherville, Idaho

Do you know of other haunted places in Idaho that aren’t on this list? Share them with us in the comments!

More Idaho Adventures

9 Incredible Things To Do In Sun Valley in the Fall

How To Get To Bonenville Hot Springs in Idaho

7 Magical Things To Do in McCall, Idaho This Winter

12 of the Scariest Small Towns in America as Voted by Travelers

E xploring new places can be an exciting and eye-opening experience, but sometimes it can be downright creepy. Recently on an online platform, people have shared some small towns across the United States that have left a lasting impression on travelers due to their eerie atmosphere and strange occurrences.

1. Colorado City, AZ

Brace yourself for a chilling encounter in Colorado City, AZ, warns a lone adventurer. This fearless soul cautions that if you pass through this small town, you may be shadowed by several white SUVs. The eerie sensation of being trailed by unknown parties can be likened to a scene straight out of a horror flick. Other commenters agreed with this statement and had similar experiences while driving through. They suggested it is due to the town having a “cult” of sorts.

2. Hillsville, PA

One user shared an intriguing story about Hillsville, PA, known as “Zombieland.” According to local legends, the town has a haunted bridge, graveyard, and murder house. To begin the journey, one must light a torch in the woods, adding to the spookiness of the experience. The user mentioned visiting the town in high school and described a creepy underpass adorned with hundreds of statues of Mother Mary. To reach the top of the hills, one must drive up what feels like a 90-degree incline, making the journey even more eerie. 

3. Rulo, NE

Are you brave enough to explore Rulo, Nebraska, a small town with a dark, haunted past? An intrepid explorer describes this place as eerily empty, with numerous abandoned buildings. But what makes Rulo truly unsettling is its history as the home of a Christian Identity cult led by the infamous Michael Ryan. The cult’s atrocities, which included torture and murder of its members, have forever marked this town as a place with a disturbing past.

4. Skidmore, MO

Visit Skidmore, MO, but be prepared to encounter an unsettling history that still lingers. The town was once plagued by a bully named Ken McElroy, who terrorized residents with theft, rape, and intimidation. Eventually, the townspeople took matters into their own hands and gunned him down outside a local bar. Despite this, the memory of this event lingers, and visitors may notice an eerie vibe from the locals. Perhaps they are still affected by the unwanted attention and notoriety the town has garnered. Whatever the reason, the dark history of Skidmore will leave a lasting impression.

5. Orangeburg, SC

According to an explorer, Orangeburg, SC, is a small town that can leave visitors with an uneasy feeling. Despite being there for work, the town’s eerie quietness gave off a post-apocalyptic vibe, leaving the traveler feeling depressed. The hotel they stayed at was filled with drug activity, and the voyager even had to switch hotels in the middle of the night due to feeling unsafe. The week dragged on, and the sightseer left as soon as possible, relieved once they hit the highway. Orangeburg, SC, may only be suitable for some, as the oppressive atmosphere can be overwhelming. Several other commenters agreed with this and said they had similar feelings about Orangeburg. 

6. Cairo, IL

Cairo, Illinois, is a town that left a road tripper feeling uneasy after passing through it several times with their truck driver boyfriend. The town’s spooky and dark atmosphere was punctuated by the fact that the only open place was a Subway restaurant with all the lights in the parking lot turned off.  Upon further research, they discovered that a flood had devastated the town years before, leaving behind a desolate and eerie place that left them feeling discomfort.

7. Newtown, MO

A traveler recently visited Newtown, MO, and what they found there was far from comforting. The town’s eerie atmosphere was evident when they arrived, with perfectly lined trees, no noise, and identical houses made to look like they were from a bygone era. The downtown area was equally strange, with animal statues and buildings that resembled the Parthenon. This artificial, unnatural feel some travelers feeling like they were in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

8. Hawthorne, NV

Another adventurer shared that Hawthorne, Nevada, is a small town shrouded in mystery and unease. The town’s naval base and rumored submarine tunnel to the Pacific Ocean only added to the unsettling vibe. When the traveler stopped for gas, they couldn’t shake the feeling that the locals were watching them. Hawthorne, Nevada, is not a place for those seeking peace and tranquility.

9. Many, LA

Embark on a journey to Many, Louisiana, but beware of the creepy ambiance that surrounds this small town. While the town boasts delicious Mexican food and a welcoming atmosphere, things get dark once you leave its confines. The roads leading out of town are in disrepair, and it can take up to 30 minutes to reach the highway. Along the way, you may come across abandoned houses hidden in the woods and wild dogs roaming. Some areas, such as Coushetta, are too dangerous even for the locals to venture into. With no cell service and a map that doesn’t match reality, the unsettling atmosphere around Manly will leave you feeling unease.

10. Samoa, CA

A visitor to Samoa, California, has described it as one of the creepiest small towns they have ever visited. The eerie energy of the place left a lasting impression on the traveler, who compared the atmosphere to the works of horror masters Stephen King, David Lynch, and John Carpenter. The unsettling vibe of Samoa, California, was so intense that the visitor invited others to confirm their feelings about the place.

11. Carpenter, WY

Carpenter, Wyoming, is a small town that left an unsettling impression on an explorer passing through. The desolate atmosphere of the town, coupled with the eerie vibes, left the traveler feeling uneasy. They only encountered a young girl outside the town hall, who stared at them with shaking heads as they drove by. This unsettling encounter only added to the mysterious vibe of Carpenter, Wyoming.

12. Gary, IN

An adventurer recently shared their harrowing experience passing through Gary, Indiana, which left them with an unnerving feeling. The GPS had rerouted them through a neighborhood where they encountered a car burning for quite some time, yet no one was around. This unsettling scene convinced the traveler that Gary, Indiana, may be a town best avoided by those looking for a peaceful and safe journey.

Source: Reddit

Americans’ Top 14 Picks for the Best Small Towns in the United States

From the historic and quaint to the scenic and charming, plenty of small towns across the country offer unique experiences and attractions. Now I will explore some of the best small towns in the USA based on recommendations from people who have visited them.

Read more: Americans’ Top 14 Picks for the Best Small Towns in the United States

10 of the Best Places To Travel in the U.S. According to Americans

With endless travel options, narrowing down a destination is a tricky practice. Fifty states, melting pots of culture, various languages, and beautiful scenery are among the offerings in the US. Ten seasoned travelers shared their favorite places to visit in the U.S.

Read more: 10 of the Best Places To Travel in the U.S. According to Americans

10 of the Worst Cities in the U.S. According to Americans

Some cities in the United States may be less desirable to visit than others, due to crime rates, infrastructure, and cleanliness. Recently on an online platform, Americans have shared their views on the worst big cities in the USA and why they believe so.

Read more: 10 of the Worst Cities in the U.S. According to Americans

3 Days in Denver – The Perfect Itinerary for 1st-Time Visitors

This Denver itinerary will give you a great sampling of the highlights of Denver for a first-time visitor. From fantastic restaurants and breweries to hiking and wild immersive art installations – there is something in here for everyone!

Read more: 3 Days in Denver – The Perfect Itinerary for 1st-Time Visitors

10 of the Worst U.S. States To Visit According to Americans

Many Americans have traveled across the country and have opinions on which state is the worst to visit. Some states have been deemed less desirable than others, whether it’s due to a lack of attractions or cultural diversity, high cost of living, or just an overall creepy vibe. Let’s see what Americans have shared on an online platform discussion.

Read more: 1 0 of the Worst U.S. States To Visit According to Americans

The post 12 of the Scariest Small Towns in America as Voted by Travelers appeared first on Outdoor Yak .

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People Revealed The Creepiest, Cult-Like Towns Across The United States, And Personally, I'd Take Note Of These

"It looked like the set of a Twilight Zone episode."

BuzzFeed Staff

Recently, Reddit user _Persona-Non-Grata posed the intriguing question , "What are some mysterious, cult-like, bad-vibes towns across the USA?" to the people of AskReddit . Suffice it to say, as someone who's been on many roadtrips, I just had to know what they said. Check it out:

Note: Some of these stories contain mentions of racism and sexual assault. Also, apologies if your hometown is on this list...but, maybe you agree with what these people experienced.

1. "Powers, Oregon — Stopped in the diner for coffee once on a drive-thru. I shit you not, like straight out of a movie, the other patrons just turned and quietly stared, not touching their plates, until we left."

— SkylieBunnyGirl

"Holy shit I can finally share my Powers, Oregon story! My girlfriend and I were doing a trip down the coast, and on our way back to I5 for the return trip, we went over a dirt road pass near the Rogue River and ended up driving through Powers. Same shit as you, but one of the properties we drove by on the way out had a massive Trump sign erected on 4x4s. The dam sign had three dead sheep hanging from their necks on the bottom! I’m kicking myself for not getting a picture, but after seeing that, we wanted to GTFO."

2. "Clearwater, Florida — I had known it was the HQ for Scientology but had never been there. Last month, I was visiting family in Florida, and my best friend lives a few towns over from Clearwater. He took me to a place that entailed driving through downtown Clearwater. It is impossible not to notice that every building had brand new paint, all the shops looked sparkling clean, and there was not a soul to be seen. All the neighboring towns had hundreds of people milling about, but Clearwater looked like a ghost town. It looked like the set of a Twilight Zone episode."

— PirateJohn75

3. "Moscow, Idaho — Moscow has a cult-like church with thousands of followers. Their leader, a self-ordained pastor, has publicly stated he wants to take over the town and turn it into a theocracy. They are deeply misogynistic (marital rape isn’t 'possible') and have a history of sexual abuse within their group. Their members keep running for local office and failing, but they are buying up all the property in town and moving in people from all over the country to attend their private school, theology 'college,' and church. Moscow also happens to be the town where the four University of Idaho students were murdered in 2022."

— Dessert_Hater

4. "Seabrook, Washington — It is idyllic. Perfectly idyllic. Too much so. Strong Stepford Wives vibes. I read somewhere that it was inspired by the town in The Truman Show ."

— lotsalotsacoffee

"The idyllic facade is made creepier by the fact that it's located minutes from Taholah, an impoverished reservation town that's literally sinking into the ocean. Driving through both towns is a weird contrast."

— AndronicustheGreat

5. "Rural Wyoming — Man, this was years ago, but it was around 1998 or 1999, when I was 9 years old. My family drove us to Mount Rushmore from Denver. We stopped off the highway in a random Wyoming town with a population of just over 100. We had a choice between two restaurants and entered one. Straight from a horror movie, when we walked in, the entire restaurant, packed with most of the town, fell silent. We ate, and everyone was staring at us. My sister and I believed they were going to murder us. We left, and it turns out our parents also thought we were going to be murdered."

— Starbucks__Lovers

6. "Colorado City, Arizona — Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints stronghold. Lots of inbreeding ."

— thebadhedgehog5

7. "Northern Minnesota — We were looking at buying 40 acres on I believe Upper Red Lake. We entered a diner at about 6 p.m., it was dark out, and everyone stopped and stared. We were seated, ordered drinks, and noticed how silent it was. No chatter, and everyone was staring at us. Dad left a 20 on the table, and we left before ordering food. Suuuuuper bizarre."

— Previous-Ad3017

8. "Dodgeville, Wisconsin — Some friends and I experienced the same kind of thing in a bar/bowling alley in Wisconsin on our roadtrip to House on the Rock. We decided to go out for bowling, and when we walked into the bar in the front, it was like it went from bustling to very hushed, and everyone was watching us. The bowling alley in the back was totally deserted and eerie. It was super awkward to be the only people playing, and I swear anytime we glanced behind us toward the bar, we'd catch everyone staring. We all agreed it was one of the creepiest experiences we've had."

— TheRipsawHiatus

9. "Ithaca, New York — I can’t explain it, but Ithaca gives off old money, 'we-are-very-nice-and-well-educated-progressives-who-happen-to-hold-a-yearly-lottery-to-see-who-gets-sacrificed-to-appease-the-ancient-one' vibes."

— mister_sleepy

10. "Amboy, California — Was a Route 66 boomtown, with a railroad stop. When I-40 was opened, bypassing Amboy, it withered and died. Only it didn't give up the ghost. Some famous murders occurred in that town (if you can call it a town, it's only three buildings at a crossroad). Legend has it that Charles Manson and the Manson family would frequent the diner in the 1960s as it was the closest part of civilization to their commune. The last time I was there was about 25 years ago, driving through. There's not a lot of traffic that drives through obviously, but there are people that live there, and as God is my witness, every time I've driven through, those people are outside in the scorching Mojave heat of the day staring you down as you drive past."

— Resident_Job3506

11. "Vernonia, Oregon — I was 19 and had to pay a speeding ticket up there...this was 1994. I had long hippie hair, walked into the local dinner, and everyone stopped and looked at me and my friend...it was damn eerie. Before we walked in, you could hear the conversations from outside, but that stopped once we got in. We were going to get breakfast, but after that just got coffee and left and waited at the courthouse in my buddy's car till they opened. Never been back."

— Defender_XXX

12. "Skidmore, Missouri — Hands down the most DEPRESSING town I have ever driven through. There’s this feeling you just can’t shake while you’re there."

— kenan__rockmore

"An incredible number of shockingly brutal or very mysterious crimes for such a tiny hamlet. Most famous was the vigilante murder of Ken Rex McElroy  (pictured above), but there's also Branson Perry and Bobbi Jo Stinnett just for starters."

— Polyphemus117

13. "Centralia, Pennsylvania — It's a ghost town that is still on fire today (from a coal mine fire that started in the '60s). Though, they ruined the graffiti highway. I don't know if anybody still lives there today; when I went last, there were a handful of hangers-on."

— faceeatingleopard

"One of the last guys left had a doc made about him. His job is to mow the cemetery on top of the hill, and the park across the road from the old row house he lives in, which sits all by itself now because everything else on the street was torn down. I also watched an urban exploration vid of a guy going through the final mayor's house, and it was like everything left in that guy's house stopped existing after 1970."

— toastmn7667

14. "Collinsville, Oklahoma — It has a diner where the local chapter [of the KKK] meets or, at least, used to meet every week. Used to have racist signs on the edge of town. It is one of the most racist places I've ever had the misfortune of finding myself."

— blackforestham3789

15. "Cairo, Illinois — It is creepy AF. At one time it was a very important commercial center because of its river location. Now it’s practically deserted and has really creepy energy. You can still see glimpses of how it might have been bustling and charming back in the day."

— jendickinson

"My history seminar class focused on writing a report on Iowa volunteer infantry regiments during the Civil War. The regiment I was assigned to research participated in the major campaigns of the Western theater, with some of its companies occasionally assigned as police garrisons in Cairo, among other locations. From their records, it seems that Cairo has a long history of racist violence and Confederate sympathies."

— Norskamerikaner

16. "Crestone, Colorado — It's easily the most bizarre place I've been to in the US. Lots of shoeless hippies, 'spiritualists,' cult members/followers, and the like. Just a weird vibe all over. Some of the people are nice, and there are some good artists there, but there's also a main square/park where you'll almost always see these desperate, strung-out people with an overloaded car just sitting in the park like, Well I'm here, what next? There's also an alien landing site nearby, or at least that's what it claims to be."

— BrandonLouis527

" Love Has Won . Docuseries on Max (pictured above) about this shit. Super weird. I can’t unsee some of it, so I’m not sure I’d recommend it. But it's wild how gullible humans can be for the most random things."

— R_S_Dub79

17. "Gold Bar, Washington — Beautiful view of the Cascade Mountains. Meth and white supremacists everywhere."

— bluegiant85

18. "Mora, New Mexico — It's pretty damn scary to outsiders. Lots of rural mountain towns that are isolated from tourists can be strange. I've spent a lot of time in West Virginia and Arkansas, but rural NM is probably the most hostile place to outsiders I have been."

— Marcoyolo69

19. "Opp, Alabama — This town is well-known for closing all local federal buildings (besides schools, this includes libraries, banks, courts, etc.) and local businesses on Wednesday. This town was popular during the US slavery era as it has a train that runs through it. Each Wednesday, the city square would be packed with visitors and locals who were there to buy slaves. To give 'honor' to the tradition, the city still closes and shuts everything down on Wednesdays. I should mention that I haven’t lived there since 2014."

— CailousCancer

20. "Vidor, Texas — It's just east of Beaumont, and it's still a sundown town. Local infrastructure vendors, i.e. Telco, power, etc. know to send only white workers to that town for safety. I've been through once, and it just feels off, but I was also traveling with a Black friend."

— Ok-disaster2022

"I worked on a door-to-door sales team, and we got sent there because we happened to be all 'white' at the time. Spoiler: We weren't all 'white,' and our crew included several Latino members. Someone spoke in Spanish, and we were detained by the most overtly racist cops I have ever met and literally escorted out of town. Freaky shit."

— tossaway78701

21. "Ravenden, Arkansas — I have never been, but my girlfriend took a wrong turn driving through the state and stumbled into this place. In the dark of night, she came across its defining feature: a 12-foot-tall statue of a raven. If you look up this statue on its own, you’ll find it has been burned down twice, but they keep rebuilding it. Again, I have never been, and by all means, it seems nice on Google Maps street view. But the history is a little funny, and if my girlfriend is to be believed, the statue can be a bit freaky late at night."

— PopsicleIncorporated

22. "Lynden, Washington — A HIGHLY Christian town comprised of mostly Dutch families. No liquor stores. No weed stores. Illegal to mow your yard on Sundays. I've lived maybe 10 minutes away from it for about 20 years now and only go out there for the fair."

— RankedAverage

23. "Tonopah, Nevada — The Clown Motel, located next to the Tonopah Cemetery, is a popular place to stay because of all the reports of being haunted by 'ghost clowns' and miners who were killed in the 1911 Belmont Mine Fire ."

— Fuck_You_Downvote

24. "Breezewood, Pennsylvania — I got stranded there once after wrecking the family car on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It’s the town from the meme about how awful American urban planning is. Basically just a series of roads and strip malls. I went into the hotel bar where we were staying the first night and this shirtless redneck was so drunk he could barely stand. He had his trashed wife and two crying kids there with him. Some truckers at the bar were talking about where to score meth. I walked up to the bar’s jukebox out of curiosity, and the shirtless redneck threatened to kick my face in if I played any nonwhite music. Except he used more offensive language."

— CactusBoyScout

25. "Ocean Grove, New Jersey — They call it 'God's square mile on the Jersey Shore' so at least you know it's culty going in. Lovely old houses with the creepiest Stepford vibe I've ever encountered. They close the beach on Sunday mornings and actually enforce it, or try to. The whole town was founded as a Christian camp, and to this day there are tents that families use as their summer homes. I think they're owned by the church, but the right to rent them is passed down from generation to generation. I live across the lake in Asbury Park, which is known for its gay community. There are footbridges over the lake connecting the two towns, but Ocean Grove puts gates on their side that they lock at night to keep us deviants out. You can still get from one side to the other, but you have to either walk along the boardwalk or go all the way out to the main road."

— everylastlight

26. "Waco, Texas — Just has a weird energy about it."

"I worked at a sandwich shop in north Texas in my late teens/early 20s, a few hours drive from Waco. One night, just before closing, this guy pulls up in an older Camaro, all alone, no one with him, and comes in to order a sandwich. I notice he just seems a little off. Like, his eyes weren’t quite right. It was a strange feeling. He orders his food, and while it’s being made, he is fidgety and kind of mumbling to himself. To break the tension a little, I ask where he’s from, and he turns his head quickly toward me and sharply says, 'We’re from Waco.' He went out to the parking lot and proceeded to argue with himself, spiked his sandwich to the ground, and took off."

27. "Cushing, Oklahoma — I was visiting a distant relative a few years ago, and we drove through at night. The streets were lined with MAGA and Confederate flags. We stopped for gas, and a white man came outside and stared at us. My friend was not white, I was. I made him sit in the car with the door locked while I pumped gas. We tried to leave quickly. As we drove down the main road, we saw a Nazi flag on a window storefront. As we passed, I realized it was a shrine to Donald and Melania Trump complete with mannequins, makeup, wigs, American flags, and a sign that said 'Make America Great Again.' As we almost got out of town, there was a rundown house spray painted with the words 'lock her up.' It was fucking surreal and terrifying."

— Tricky-Gemstone

28. "Island Pond, Vermont — It's home to one of the Twelve Tribes communities. Twelve Tribes is a fundamentalist Christian cult known for its misogyny, racism, child abuse, and workplace exploitation. They operate the Yellow Deli restaurants."

"As a Vermonter, I was scanning the thread just waiting for this one to come up."

— Idkman2019

29. "Elko, Nevada — Stopped at a bar there on a roadtrip. Seemed like a fun place from the outside. Some woman walks up to us and says, 'Hi! I'm so and so... What are you doing here? You're not from around here...' Got lots of stares. Went to a casino across the street to escape. The casino was completely empty but lit up. Felt almost post-apocalyptic except for one janitor. We noped the hell out of there fast. Felt like something really bad was going to happen. We decided not to find a local hotel and bounced. This was in 2010."

— therealfuriousd

30. "Gallup, New Mexico — Drove through on Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago and stopped for gas for five minutes and almost got robbed. I would recommend you ~gallup~ on through if going that route and get gas before or after. Creepy vibes pulling in. Later found out it has one of the highest per capita crime rates in the country."

— average_dudereino

"I stopped here as a young solo female traveler. One of those experiences I look back on and am grateful nothing bad happened. There was a dark, very sketchy vibe."

— OkLoss994

31. Finally, "Noxon, Montana — Father of a 6-year-old and thought we'd try an Easter egg hunt in a place we've never been and do lunch. Pretty big hunt with lots of eggs. Well organized and overall kind of awesome. Afterward, the kids brought the eggs they found to the front and exchanged them for candy. I'm in the line with my excited little guy answering a ton of questions and generally just trying to keep my bundle of squirrels in check. Wasn't paying attention much as we worked up to the table. I look up as the kid hands his eggs up to...a lady in a Daily Stormer hoodie. Daily fucking Stormer."

"She listened as he chatted away with sincere kindness. After the eggs were counted, it was off to the candy exchange. Her husband maybe? Giving the kids high fives and passing out heaps of candy. SS lightening bolts up both sides of his neck. Some runes on his hands, but by that time, it was apparent we were in the wrong neighborhood and it was time to go. Plastered a smile on my face, grabbed hold of a little hand, and we scooted. On the way out, signs were everywhere from conversations to dress to cars in the lot, but I had missed everything. TL;DR We crashed a Neo-Nazi Easter egg hunt in Noxon, Montana. "

— bluesmokeproductions

Note: Some responses have been edited or length and/or clarity.

Have you had a similar creepy experience while traveling through the United States? What mysterious, cult-like, or bad-vibes town have you been to? Tell us about it in the comments below or via this totally anonymous form , and maybe there will be a part two.

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Haunted Places in Moscow, Ohio

Stepstone Church - Immaculate Conception Church

Butler, kentucky.

Some reports say this church still stands, and others say it has been torn down. But rumor has it that whatever its state, it is haunted by four teen girls who some men hung on a cross in the loft before setting fire to the church. Witnesses have heard girls ...

Meldahl Locks and Dam - Foster Dam

Felicity, ohio.

Visitors to Meldahl Locks and Dam, aka Foster Dam, at mile marker 436 on the Ohio River, have witnessed the presence of many spirits here, said to be folks who committed suicide or died accidentally here over the years.

Dead Man's Curve

Bethel, ohio.

This intersection has been the site of numerous accidents, usually people who lost control at the curve (hence the name). People report seeing a male hitchhiker who has no face. Submitted by Chris Berglund

Greenup Street Water Tower

Alexandria, kentucky.

The apparition of a man in workman clothing has been standing underneath the water tower by local residents. He vanishes when approached, and appears to be confused or lost. (Submitted by Callum Swift)

Owensville Town Hall

Batavia, ohio.

This historic building was formerly a church, and during the civil war, a cavalry was met by resistance from an old man with a shotgun inside the building, adding some additional history to the hall. However, it is not his spirit who is known to haunt the building, as ...

Bobby Mackey's Music World

Newport, kentucky.

This night club is sometimes called "the most haunted night club in America." The building was once a slaughterhouse, but it has an even darker link. Alleged Satan worshippers Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling were said to have killed Pearl Bryan in 1897; her headless body was found near the ...

Narrows Road

Erlanger, kentucky.

A phantom officer in a '50s police car haunts Narrows Road, locals say, pulling over living drivers late at night. The ghost is said to be the lingering spirit of a cop who was hit and killed by a car here while making a traffic stop in the 1950s. Some ...

Sherman Tavern

Dry ridge, kentucky.

The Sherman Tavern is a historic former tavern built in 1812, which is in the process of being restored by local residents. It was a former stage stop for cattle drovers and American Indians. People restoring the historic building have reported seeing the apparitions of Confederate soldiers, and African American ...

Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home

Covington, kentucky.

This historic home was formerly a boarding house for students at a nearby mortuary college, and is rumoured to be haunted. Staff claim to have felt a strange in the building after dark, and have seen a shadowy male apparition on the landing. (Submitted by Callum Swift)

Christopher's Bed and Breakfast

Bellevue, kentucky.

This bed-and-breakfast inn was originally built as a 19th-century church. Among the unusual things that happen here: Apparitions have been spotted on the stairs, the piano plays by itself during the night, and disembodied voices and footsteps have also been reported.

Baird House Inn

Ripley, ohio.

This historic house inn may no longer be in operation, and is now a private residence. The inn was a popular stopover for travellers on the river, and since it was built in 1825, has had a colourful history. Guests and staff at the former inn have reported hearing ...

Rankin House

Rankin House belonged to abolitionist Reverend John Rankin, and he was said to put a bright light in his attic window to symbolize to runaway slaves that it was safe to seek shelter here. Apparitions of slaves are said to appear on Jacob's Ladder near his house on moonless nights.

Allendale Tunnel

Elsmere, kentucky.

Legend has it that a man hanged himself years ago in this tunnel, and the hook still protrudes from which he hung his rope. Witnesses say they have seen his apparition hanging here or walking in the tunnel and heard his screams.

Taft Museum of Art

Cincinnati, ohio.

The Taft Museum of Art, built in 1820 by Martin Baum, is said to be haunted by several ghosts. Annie is the most famous, the wife of Charles Phelps Taft, half-brother of President William Howard Taft. They are the ones who donated the building to the city in 1932. Annie ...

Imogene Remus, wife of notorious bootlegger George Remus, is rumored to haunt their former home. When George went to prison in the mid-1920s, Imogene sold all the furnishings in their mansion and many of his distilleries, essentially closing his business, and filed for divorce. On October 6, 1927, they were ...

Spring House Gazebo

In 1927 a wealthy and prominent business man and bootlegger murdered his wife Imogene in broad daylight and in front of a dozen witnesses (including her daughter) in the park's gazebo. She was on her way to the courthouse to divorce him and apparently, this was too much for ...

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

A ghostly Lady in Green walks the Hall of Mirrors and the mezzanine. She was seen often by construction workers in 1983, while the hotel was undergoing renovations. Legend has it that she was the wife of a worker who was killed during the hotel's construction in 1930. So the ...

Cincinnati Art Museum

The Cincinnati Museum of Art is not only renowned for its prized art collection, it is also well known for the various paranormal occurrences there. The first apparition seen here is the seven foot tall figure of a misty black figure with no face, who has reportedly materializes from a ...

Cincinnati Music Hall

Haunts have been reported at this historic music hall since the 1870s. It is said that when an elevator shaft was installed in 1988, bones of both children and adults were found under the building.

Cincinnati Union Terminal and Museum Center

The ghost of a former security guard who was murdered there still haunts the building at night, rattling the door knobs and checking the locks on the doors. A World War I plane exhibit is haunted by the ghost of a pilot. Visitors have reported seeing the ghostly aviator in ...

Sedamsville Rectory

Over a century old, the rectory is believed to be haunted. Witnesses working on building renovations have seen eerie mists and shadows under the doors of empty rooms. Some say one ghost who resides here is Father Donald MacLeod, who wrote "The History of Roman Catholicism in North America." In ...

Cincinnati Zoo

The ghost of a lioness has been heard following visitors and workers in the zoo late at night. Green eyes are also seen in darker buildings or at the end of corridors. (Submitted by Callum Swift)

Stenton House - Cornell Place Apartments

There have been numerous deaths reported in these historic apartments. Disembodied footsteps and ghostly voices are heard in the old building when on one is around. (Submitted by Callum Swift)

Spring Grove Cemetery

Spring Grove Cemetery is said to have a haunted bust on a gravestone located in Lot 100. It is said to turn its head and watch those who walk past.

Big Bone Lick Park

Union, kentucky.

Folks visiting the park have reported disembodied whispers, eerie figures, strange noises and an evil spirit who is said to linger in the nearby woods.

Westwood Town Hall

The late-1880s Westwood Town Hall used to hold a volunteer fire department in the basement, a jail, meeting rooms, and an auditorium. Legend has it that it's haunted by a deceased security guard named Willy who hanged himself in his apartment on the premises after losing his job. He is ...

Phillips' Folly

Maysville, kentucky.

Phillips' Folly is a three-story brick house begun around 1828 by Williams B. Phillips. Its nickname came about when Phillips vanished when only the frame had been built, leading folks to believe he had run out of funds for the project. Phillips came back a few years later and finished ...

Aberdeen Baptist Church

Aberdeen, ohio.

The apparitions of young children have been seen inside the church building and in front of it by passing motorists and parishioners. Screams come from inside the church during the night. (Submitted by Callum Swift)

Hebron Lutheran Cemetery

Hebron, kentucky.

There has been many sightings here, and I have personally been here multiple times, and have had many experiences. When you approach the crematorium, you can always smell something burning, even if there is no one there. As well, when approaching graves, you can feel a chill and sometimes ...

Chateau Laroche - Loveland Castle

Loveland, ohio.

The Historical Loveland Castle & Museum, aka Chateau Laroche, is said to be haunted by many ghosts, including one who liked a particular willow tree and a girl in a long dress who walked on water. A Viking in a long dark cloak has been seen as well.

Rohs Opera House

Cynthiana, kentucky.

The current Rohs Opera House (pronounced ROSS) opened in 1941 with a showing of Down Argentine Way. Ticket price was $.05 for adults. It was originally built in 1871 as Aeolian Hall, a live production theatre located on the second floor. A silent movie projector was eventually added to bring ...

Kings Island Amusement Park

Mason, ohio.

Kings Island, an amusement park that opened in 1972, is rumored to have an 1840s graveyard called Dog Street Cemetery on the premises. But most witnesses feel that the park's haunts are victims of accidental deaths, like the 1976 tragedy when a Lion Country Safari Ranger was killed by a ...

Peters Cartridge Company

Maineville, ohio.

Peters Cartridge Company, built in 1916, produced gunpowder and ammunition, including bullets and cannonballs for the Union during the Civil War. It is said to be haunted by workers that were killed in accidental explosions during the 1940s. Witnesses have reported footsteps and apparitions seen through the windows at night.

Banana Leaf Modern Thai

The building is rumoured to be haunted by the apparition of a woman murdered over a century ago. Her ghost has been seen in the dining room on the upper floor of the restaurant. (Submitted by Callum Swift)

The Precinct Office Center

West union, ohio.

This historic former jailhouse is now the county office, but has a haunting dating back to the turn of the nineteenth century. Prisoners were reportedly frightened by a apparition robed in white, who repeatedly floated past their cells without making a sound before vanishing. This manifestation has made various ...

Whisky's Restaurant

Lawrenceburg, indiana.

This restaurant began as two private houses that were combined to make a button factory. A former resident, an elderly lady died in the room now called the Malt Room, and her spirit is believed to remain here. A waitress reported feeling a tug on her apron when no one ...

The Screaming Bridge of Maud Hughes Road

Moscow, ohio.

Maud Hughes Road has a haunted bridge known to locals as the Screaming Bridge. Locals say it has been the site of at least 36 deaths through accidents and suicides. Witnesses have reported apparitions, mists, hooded figures, strange lights, and a phantom train on the tracks below. There are many, ...

Greendale Cemetery

Greendale, indiana.

White or gray apparitions have been seen, and locals say that passing the graves belonging to the Tebbs family will give you chills and an uneasy feeling of being watched. Cold breezes have been reported here on hot, windless days.

Golden Lamb Inn

Lebanon, ohio.

Ten presidents, including John Quincy Adams, have stayed at the charming Golden Lamb Inn, in operation since 1803. Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain also are among its former guests. The rooms also are named for past guests, and rumor has it that the Harriet Beecher Stowe room is rich ...

The Big Green Castle

Harrison, ohio.

This Victorian manor house is now a private residence, but back when it was abandoned and for sale, residents reported seeing figures in period clothing looking out of the windows and seeing lights moving around the house. (Submitted by Callum Swift)

Snow Hill Country Club

New vienna, ohio.

Snow Hill Country Club, built in the 1820s as a home for the Harris family, became a country club and golf course in 1924. "Dinner and a Ghost" events have been held there to introduce visitors to its haunts, which are said to cause electrical problems, weird sounds and smells, ...

Wickerhamm Inn

Peebles, ohio.

At this 1800s building, a murder is said to have led to the haunting that occurs here. The place was a tavern until the 1850s, and so the legend says, a stagecoach driver was murdered and beheaded here in a 1820s robbery. Although there were bloodstains on the floor and ...

Schenck Mansion

Vevay, indiana.

A ghostly Lady in White in Victorian attire haunts the second floor of this 1874 bed-and-breakfast building, originally built as a mansion of a home for Benjamin Franklin Schenk. She is said to walk the hallways, taking no notice of anyone around her. Guests also have reported hearing voices, footsteps, ...

Sorg Opera House and Mansion

Middletown, ohio.

The opera house is haunted by the ghost of former residents, who can be heard walking around the house and talking late at night. The ghost of an actress in a red dress has been seen in the dressing rooms, but she vanishes when approached. She has also been heard ...

Hammel House Inn

Waynesville, ohio.

The inn has been declared one of the most haunted buildings in Waynesville. The most haunted room at the bed and breakfast is Room #004. The shadowy apparition of a young merchant who was murdered in the inn has been seen here, as well as in the dining room of ...

Mount Unger Cemetery

Otway, ohio.

Local legends say Mount Unger Cemetery is visited by the spirit of a man who hanged himself here after having murdered his wife.

Town Hall Theatre

Centerville, ohio.

The Town Hall Theatre, according to witnesses, has a sensitive ghost who doesn't like it when the plays put on here have profane language or nudity. The spirit is said to act up during such performances in order to show his displeasure. There is also alleged to be an apparition ...

Florentine Hotel and Restaurant

Germantown, ohio.

The 1816 hotel and restaurant is haunted. Staff and diners have experienced an eerie presence on the third floor, and the mezzanine is haunted by a poltergeist that causes the chandeliers to swing to and fro. (Submitted by Callum Swift)

Normandy United Methodist Church

Dayton, ohio.

Normandy United Methodist Church is housed in a building that was once a mansion. But the mansion's owner never left, according to some, and she still haunts the church. Her perfume has been smelled late at night by the cleaning crews when no one else is in the building.

Buffalo Trace Distillery

Frankfort, kentucky.

The late-18th-century distillery on the site of an ancient buffalo crossing offers ghost tours by appointment; many characters from its long history are said to walk the grounds.

» Cemeteries near Moscow, OH » Find museums in Moscow, OH

India Modi's Moscow Summit With Putin Seen Key for Ties in China's Shadow

India Modi's Moscow Summit With Putin Seen Key for Ties in China's Shadow

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022. Sputnik/Alexander Demyanchuk/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

By Krishna N. Das and Nidhi Verma

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A visit to Russia by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expected within days, could help dispel worries that New Delhi is getting too close to the West and further away from Moscow, ceding space to China, analysts said.

No dates have yet been set for the visit, although it has been confirmed by both sides. Indian media said Modi will be in Moscow next week, around the time of a NATO summit in Washington, at which Ukraine will be one of the main issues.

While the West has tried to isolate Putin, China, India and powers in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America have continued to build ties, with official figures showing rising trade with Russia.

"It will be a good opportunity for Moscow to project in the media the image of President Putin receiving a leader of a country like India in the context of the Washington summit," said Aleksei Zakharov, a Moscow-based expert on India.

"India's objective is to ensure that Russia is not in China's corner and that, even if it does not explicitly support India, it maintains a permanent neutrality in the India-China territorial disputes."

Ties between India and China have been frosty since a deadly border war in 2020.

The leaders of Russia and India have held annual summits since 2000 but the last in-person meeting was in 2021, when Putin visited Delhi.

The next meeting had been due in Moscow in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, but it did not happen, while Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping elevated their ties, pledging a "new era" of partnership in May.

The two are meeting at a security summit on Wednesday in Kazakhstan, to which Modi has sent his foreign minister.

India has also been seeking to distance itself from its largest arms supplier, Russia, as the Ukraine war hobbled the latter's ability to supply munitions and spares.

The dearth of Modi's visits to Moscow had given "rise to speculation that there was some kind of drift in the Indo-Russia relationship," said analyst Nandan Unnikrishnan, of the Observer Research Foundation think tank in New Delhi.

"So I think Modi's visit will put an end to that kind of speculation," he said. "And we don't want to spoil our relationship with any party, whether it's Russia, the United States, or anyone because of another relationship."

India's foreign ministry declined to comment.

At a regular press conference last week, it said, "We have a very well established bilateral summit arrangement with the Russian Federation ... and are also preparing to hold the next summit."

On Tuesday, the Kremlin said deepening trade and economic ties would be a key theme of Modi's visit which was in the "final stage" of preparation.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said regional security and global security issues always figured high on the agenda of such meetings.

India, which has stepped up purchases of Russian oil shunned by the West, is expected to seek a discount higher than the current rate of $3 to $3.5 a barrel during the visit, sources said.

It will also seek formal approval for a unit of Oil and Natural Gas Corp to retain its stake of 20% in the Sakhalin 1 oil project in Russia's far east.

The unit, ONGC Videsh, and the oil ministries of India and Russia, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

India has also been keen to boost exports of pharmaceutical, machinery and other goods to Russia. Two-way trade jumped 33% to $65.7 billion in the last fiscal year that ended in March, with India's imports accounting for $61.43 billion.

(Reporting by Krishna N. Das and Nidhi Verma in New Delhi; Additional reporting by Aftab Ahmed in New Delhi and Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

Photos You Should See - June 2024

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Ukraine war latest: Anti-Putin Russian group involved in setting fire to Russian warship, official says; China 'could end war with one phone call'

Vladimir Putin has arrived in Astana for a security summit that will include regional and security defence talks, as well as meetings with the Chinese and Turkish leaders, the Kremlin said. Listen to a Daily podcast on Kim and Putin as you scroll.

Wednesday 3 July 2024 15:24, UK

• Five killed and 47 injured in Russian attack on Dnipro
• Anti-Putin Russian group involved in setting fire to Russian warship
• Russian president arrives in Kazakhstan for talks with Xi Jinping and Erdogan
• A phone call from Xi to Putin 'could end war'
• Exclusive : Russia, Glasgow and why the cost of living crisis came to an end
• Sanctions against Russia failed, Moscow's UK ambassador tells Sky News
• Your questions answered: Has the West been honest about Ukraine's failures? | Is Kyiv next?
• Listen to the Daily above and tap here to follow wherever you get your podcasts
• Live reporting by Katie Williams

We'll return tomorrow with the latest updates on the war in Ukraine.

Follow the Sky News website in the meantime for major developments overnight.

Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv has come under attack again this afternoon, according to regional governor Oleg Sinegubov.

Mr Sinegubov said "at least three strikes" were reported by security forces in a northeastern district of the city.

Two private houses were destroyed and a child was rescued by emergency workers, he said, while a grass fire broke out at another home.

No casualties have been reported, Mr Sinegubov said.

Moscow has stepped up its attacks on Kharkiv since it opened a new front in the northeastern region nearly two months ago.

Vladimir Putin told Chinese President Xi Jinping that their countries were acting in their own interests and not against any other state as they met at a security summit in Kazakhstan.

It's the second meeting between the two leaders in as many months.

Mr Putin also met Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan earlier at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The growing security and defence club, whose members include Iran, India and Pakistan, is part of Moscow and Beijing's ambition to counter the influence of the US and its allies.

It's also seen as a means to project their influence across Asia.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is "tired" of his prime minister, Denis Shmyhal, and plans to sack him, according to a report.

A source close to the Ukrainian president  told Ukrainska Pravda  the leader was "tired of Shmygal".

His feelings about Mr Shmyhal were "evident from his attitude at meetings".

"He doesn't even really listen to him any more," they said, adding that he was looking for someone with more "creative solutions and proposals".

Another reportedly high-ranking source said there had been two events that provided cause "to dismiss Mr Shmyhal in the last two months".

They suggested Mr Shmyhal could be replaced by Ukraine's economy minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

The number of people wounded in Russia's daylight attack on Dnipro city has risen to 47, the prosecutor general's office has said.

A 14-year-old girl is among those injured but the total number of victims is still being established, the office said.

The attack left at least five people dead.

Three Ukrainian drones struck an area near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, its Russian-installed management has claimed.

In a Telegram post, the plant's management said drones hit an electricity substation, damaging the facility and injuring eight staff.

The power plant - the largest in Europe - has been occupied by Russian forces since early in the war.

Russian state news agency TASS reported earlier today that drones had hit the plant itself.

Sky News cannot independently verify either claim.

People living in Dnipro have described their shock as Russian missiles and drones hit the city in broad daylight.

The attack has killed at least five people and injured dozens more.

"Inside, everything is damaged, outside everything is also damaged. I've got jitters on my body, my hands... it's all very complicated and scary," said Olha, the manager of a cafe that was hit.

She said some of her staff were injured and concussed. 

Georgyi, an older man who had a bandaged nose and blood on his face, said: "There was such a strong explosion that the wave hit me and I fell."

Dnipro city mayor Borys Filatov said this morning's attack also caused damage to nurseries, schools and hospitals, and sparked several fires.

Ukraine's military spy agency says a joint operation with a pro-Kyiv Russian group led to a Russian warship being set on fire in the Baltic Sea earlier this year.

A fire broke out on the Serpukhov missile ship, which was stationed in the Kaliningrad region, on 7 April.

The GUR military spy agency claimed responsibility shortly after.

In an update today, agency head Andriy Yusov said the operation was conducted in tandem with the Freedom of Russia Legion - a group of Russians opposed to Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

"As a result of the sabotage, [we] managed to ruin the ship from inside and completely destroy communication and its means of automation," the legion said on its Telegram account . 

NATO members have agreed to provide €40bn (£33.9bn) worth of military aid to Ukraine next year, a Western European diplomat has told the Reuters news agency.

It comes ahead of a meeting of NATO allies in Washington next week, where support for Ukraine is expected to be a major topic.

Secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg had urged members to keep military aid for Kyiv at the same level as in the years following Russia's invasion, adding up to around €40bn per year.

Leaders will reportedly sign off on the pledge for 2025 at the summit next week.

Russia has sentenced a 19-year-old to 12 years in prison for allegedly donating money to Ukrainian forces, according to media reports.

Russia's security service (FSB) said the teenager had helped the Ukrainian army buy drones and food for troops.

He was arrested at an airport as he tried to leave Russia, it said.

"The Rostov regional court found the man guilty and sentenced him to a punishment in the form of 12 years in a strict penal colony," the Russian state-owned RIA news agency quoted the FSB as saying.

Russia has been cracking down on dissent in the country, particularly since the invasion of Ukraine, with arrests, trials and long prison terms now more commonplace.

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