20 Haunted Spots In America That Will Give You The Creeps


20 Haunted Spots In America That Will Give You The Creeps


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. 

HaunttPhoto 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. 

Jackson-Simmer-Bvy24Bv 2Xs-UnsplashPhoto 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. 

Hotel Chelsea November 2022 003Kidfly182 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. 

Driskill Hotel 20160907220958Spawnzilla on Wikimedia Commons

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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. 

1024Px-Bell Witch CaveWww78 on Wikimedia Commons

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. 

1024Px-2014-08-29 11 51 25 View North-Northeast From The Fire Tower On Apple Pie Hill In Wharton State Forest, Tabernacle Township, New JerseyFamartin on Wikimedia Commons

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. 

Marshall House Historic Savannah Hotel-6Historic54321 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. 

St. Augustine Lighthouse 4Jon 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. 

Hotel San Carlos - South East Corner - 2009-12-08Cygnusloop99 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.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium 2018Royasfoto73 on Wikimedia Commons

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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. 

1024Px-Alcatraz Island As Seen From The EastFrank 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. 

Gettysburg Battlefield, Pennsylvania, Us (97)Bubba73 on Wikimedia Commons

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. 

The Stanley SignBen 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. 

Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, MassachusettsKenneth 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. 

1024Px-Bachelors Grove 2008 EntranceRedwoodperch 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.

1024Px-Winchester Mystery House (Front)Spiel on Wikimedia Commons

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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. 

Salem Witch House IiSalemPuritan 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. 

FortknoxemplacementsLeonard 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.

Tar River 1Fredlyfish4 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.  

Rms Queen MaryThcipriani 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.

1024Px-Myrtles PlantationBogdan Oporowski on Wikimedia Commons