Take a Tour, If You Dare
America’s a big place, so it’s no surprise that hundreds of haunted locations continue to freak people out to this day. From horrifying hotels to banshee-ravaged rivers, here are some top spots for paranormal activity.
Photo by Samuel Branch on Unsplash
1. The Sallie House, Kansas
It’s no surprise that a house from the 1800s has a ghost story or two—though it’s admittedly worse when the entire place is abandoned. Said to be haunted by the nefarious spirit of a young girl, this house of horrors has appeared in several TV shows and is a hotspot for tourists.
Photo by Jackson Simmer on Unsplash
2. Hotel Chelsea, New York
Stay for the night (if you dare) or book a tour, either way, the historic Hotel Chelsea offers plenty to curious guests. It’s been around for decades and hosted several famous names from Janis Joplin to Mark Twain, but it's perhaps best known for ghostly clientele. Mary, Nadia, and Larry are the most famous names you want to avoid.
Kidfly182 on Wikimedia Commons
3. The Driskill, Texas
Built in 1886, The Driskill remains a famous paranormal hotspot in Texas. There’s poor Samantha, an innocent seven-year-old who plummeted down the grand staircase. There’s also the dreaded room 525 where several young brides took their lives. All are said to be permanent guests.
Spawnzilla on Wikimedia Commons
4. Bell Witch Cave, Tennessee
Ask any Tennessean and they’ll tell you all about the Bell Witch, a malicious shapeshifting entity from the 1800s. She terrorized the Bell family in the 1800s and is said to haunt the karst cave where the family’s farm once stood.
5. Pine Barrens, New Jersey
Shh. Do you see it, hidden among those pines that stretch across seven counties? The Jersey Devil stalks that forest. Born and abandoned as Mother Leeds’ 13th child, the boy sprouted hooves, wings, and horns—and now prowls the Pinelands.
6. The Marshall House, Georgia
The Marshall House has earned quite a reputation throughout the years, which makes sense given that it once served as a hospital for Civil War soldiers. From wiggling doorknobs to locked bathroom stalls, visitors are surely in for some paranormal activity.
Historic54321 on Wikimedia Commons
7. St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida
St. Augustine itself is filled with lore and ghost stories, but its infamous lighthouse is something else entirely. Simply climb 200 stairs for picturesque views and the gentle pitter-patter of three little girl ghosts, all of whom tragically lost their lives in the 1800s.
Jon Zander(digon3) on Wikimedia Commons
8. Hotel San Carlos, Arizona
Not many know the true story behind room 702, but its aura was more than enough to spark ghost stories. If you’re brave enough to stay in the room yourself, try not to panic about the woman in white who stalks the foot of your bed.
Cygnusloop99 on Wikimedia Commons
9. Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Kentucky
A sanatorium from the 1900s? You bet it’s haunted—famously so. Throughout its life, this building housed tuberculosis patients, served as a mental hospital, and was even transformed into a prison. Unsurprisingly, it’s considered one of the most haunted places in America.
Royasfoto73 on Wikimedia Commons
10. Alcatraz Island, California
Speaking of prisons, how could we forget about Alcatraz? It’s the infamous, nearly inescapable prison perched atop Alcatraz Island. It currently stands as a museum and plenty of visitors reported disembodied crying, malicious spirits, and feelings of unease.
Frank Schulenburg on Wikimedia Commons
11. Gettysburg Battlefield, Pennsylvania
When you step onto a literal battlefield, you’re stepping into a piece of history. However, you’re also opening the door to ghostly sightings and distant musket fire. Whether you’re a fan of history or the paranormal, a tour of these grounds has something for everyone.
12. The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” As if Jack Nicholson breaking doors wasn’t scary enough, the Stanley Hotel is no stranger to horror. Between children’s laughter and the hotel’s terrifying room 401, bring a flashlight to bed with you.
Ben Ramirez on Wikimedia Commons
13. Lizzie Borden House, Massachusetts
She was tried, she was acquitted, but many still find Lizzie Borden responsible for the attack on her father and stepmother. While the case is interesting in its own right, Lizzie’s house is the true star of ghost tours and eerie sightings today.
Kenneth C. Zirkel on Wikimedia Commons
14. Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery, Illinois
A haunted cemetery seems a little on the nose, but this gravesite is one of America’s most notorious. Everything from phantom cars to floating lights seem to haunt this place, and it’s hardly a spot for everyday visitors.
Redwoodperch on Wikimedia Commons
15. Winchester Mystery House, California
It only took nine months after Sarah Winchester’s passing for her house to become a tourist trap. Though, with 160 rooms, several thousand doors, and staircases that lead nowhere—who could fault their interest? Oddly enough, that’s the least of your worries as it’s said over one thousand ghosts haunt the place.
16. The Witch House, Massachusetts
When a house has ties to the Salem Witch Trials, you know it’s haunted. Originally owned by Judge Jonathan Corwin, his eerie-looking home is still haunted by all those he wrongfully tried in the 1600s.
SalemPuritan on Wikimedia Commons
17. Fort Knox, Maine
Often considered one of America’s most haunted locations, adventurous tourists flock to Fort Knox every year. Its most famous apparition is a little girl who constantly cries out to her mother, tugging visitors’ hair and reaching out from the beyond.
Leonard G. on Wikimedia Commons
18. Tar River, North Carolina
North Carolinian locals often speak of something far scarier than a ghost. Common folklore claims that a banshee haunts the area, wandering up and down the river. If you ever plan a visit, maybe bring earplugs.
Fredlyfish4 on Wikimedia Commons
19. The Queen Mary, California
You know it’s good when Time magazine hails you as a top haunted location. Brave tourists can see what all the fuss is about by roaming the haunted ship or daring to spend the night there. You’ll be fine—just keep away from boiler room #4.
Thcipriani on Wikimedia Commons
20. Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana
This site has starred in several ghost hunter shows, revered for its history and abundance of ghostly sightings. Locals believe nearly a dozen ghosts haunt the plantation, though some claim the original owner built it on a sacred burial ground and cursed it from the very beginning.
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
