Looking to add a spine-chilling twist to your travel plans? Luckily for you, the United States is teeming with haunted places to visit that will leave you feeling equal parts intrigued and unsettled. From eerie hotels to ghostly mansions, these most haunted places in the U.S. (and a couple of cursed objects) should satisfy your appetite for the supernatural.
Whether they're really haunted, we'll leave to the experts, but some destinations undoubtedly have dark histories. First, identify haunted sites; do you prefer staying at luxury hotels with eerie histories or taking a tour? The Omni Shoreham Hotel and the infamous Stanley Hotel (aka Overlook Hotel) offer haunting tales that will keep you on edge. Explore the spectral corridors of The Historic Bullock Hotel and Historic Hotel Bethlehem. Don't miss the Jean Bonnet Tavern and Kehoe House, where ghost sightings are part of the charm. The Blue Anchor and Eastern State Penitentiary are renowned for their shadowy figures and ghost tours. McRaven and The Myrtles Plantation are known to attract paranormal investigators, making them must-visit sites. Finally, venture into the Sorrel-Weed House, the chilling Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum or the West Virginia Penitentiary for a possibly haunting experience. Whether you have an experience or not, these allegedly haunted places and spooky objects in the U.S. are sure to give you goosebumps and perhaps a story of your own!
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 during a 142-period, 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.
Haunted Mirror at 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.” Enslaved people once worked here; their history intertwined with the stories. An allegedly haunted mirror in the house is believed to show figures, although many of the actual history does not match stories such as poisonings. However, strange apparitions have been spotted in the mirror, 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.
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 its 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.
Stop by 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 few ghosts (said to be friendly). 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.
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.
Kehoe House
Savannah, Georgia
Located in historic downtown Savannah, this 13-room inn is a stop on many nightly ghost tours. Tour guides often tell tales of nighttime apparitions and strange noises that happen inside the Kehoe House. Some say the strange goings-on are related to the inn’s former life as a mortuary and boarding house. Book an overnight stay at this AAA Four Diamond bed-and-breakfast to investigate the situation for yourself. Savannah is considered one of America's most haunted cities, so you're in the perfect place to explore Savannah ghost tours and other haunted happenings around town.
Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast/Museum
Fall River, Massachusetts
The six-bedroom house at 230 Second St. is where Andrew and Abby Borden were killed on August 4, 1892. Lizzie, Andrew's youngest daughter, was the main suspect and jailed, but the next year she was found not guilty of the crime. (Post-trial, she moved to Maplecroft, which is now privately owned.) Due to the brutality and ongoing uncertainty of her innocence or guilt, the unsolved crime remains a sensation, even leading to an infamous skipping rope rhyme:
"Lizzie Borden took an axe
She gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one.
Lizzie Borden got away
For her crime she did not pay."
Photographs of courtroom evidence, like the hatchet that was thought to have been the murder weapon, are shown during a guided tour of the infamous house in Fall River.
McRaven
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 detailing the history of the home and the stories of the many spirits (up to 14!) who are rumored to inhabit the property.
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Washington, District Of Columbia
Restored to its former splendor, the Omni Shoreham Hotel — today a AAA Three Diamond property — boasts a history of mysterious happenings, even inspiring haunted hotel stories from AAA Inspectors. 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 in this luxury 1930s hotel.
Robert the Doll at East Martello Museum
Key West, Florida
Robert the Doll, safely ensconced in Key West, Florida's Fort East Martello Museum, is a sight to see. This creepy doll has a reputation for the supernatural that goes back more than a century. According to local legends, bad luck and supernatural phenomena may be on the horizon for anyone who insults, disrespects or otherwise offends Robert. Strange occurrences, ranging from technical glitches to accidents, have been reported by guests who attribute them all to Robert's vengeful nature. Should you go on a tour, it's best to approach Robert with respect and caution.
Sorrel-Weed House
Savannah, Georgia
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.
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 one of the “spirited” rooms at The Stanley Hotel. 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. Don't miss coming in March for a spectacularly weird and wonderful event; Frozen Dead Guy Days, named one of AAA's most weird and unusual festivals in the U.S., celebrates a cryogenically preserved man from Norway with fun things to see in Estes Park like coffin races and live music.
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 former asylum.
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.
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