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The United States is a place of great things, but did you know that it is also the home of some of the most haunted places? There might be spirits that have stayed in hotels or zoos, or even hotels, or it might be places that make you feel tingly or strange.
If you’re someone who loves a good ghost story, America has no shortage of haunted locations to give you chills. From abandoned asylums to historic hotels, these places are filled with eerie legends and tales of the unexplained. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or just curious, here’s a list of some of the most haunted spots across the U.S. Are you ready to explore the supernatural?
Mono Lake – Bodie, California
In the 1870’s and 80’s, this was a place where gold was found. It had over 10,000 people and is now a historic state park. This town is a place that has shops that are still stocked with supplies, and many people report that there are supernatural things that happen there, such as music playing in bars that are closed up and ghost sightings.
Bonaventure Cemetery – Savannah, Georgia
This place is considered a Southern Gothic area, and it has Spanish moss that is seen over Victorian monuments. Some famous people are buried there, such as Conrad Aiken, Gracie Watson, and Johnny Mercer. People who visit sometimes add toys to Gracie Watson’s grave, since she died as a small girl, and some have said that they saw ghosts near her grave, but also have reported hearing babies crying, dogs barking, and the statues smiling.
Ghost Town – Cahawba, Alabama
This is one of the first famous ghost towns and is found on the longest river in Alabaman. It was a slave burial ground, and there are ghost tours that are followed by stories of paranormal activities, such as floating orbs.
Calcasieu Courthouse – Lake Charles, Louisiana
This is a place where Toni Jo Henry, a former sex worker, was killed by a man in 1940. Three trials took place, and she was the first woman to be put in the electric chair. People believe that her spirit still remains at the courthouse, and they can smell her burning hair, and things happen, like the doors being locked and office equipment being moved.
Eastern State Penitentiary - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Built in 1829, this former prison is infamous for its strict solitary confinement policies. Many believe the spirits of inmates still roam the halls, with visitors reporting ghostly whispers, shadowy figures, and sudden cold spots. Tours of this site include chilling stories of its past and even the chance to explore its haunted cells.
The Stanley Hotel - Estes Park, Colorado
The inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining is, The Stanley Hotel is famous for its paranormal activity. Guests have reported seeing ghostly children playing in the halls and hearing unexplained piano music. Room 217, where King stayed, is particularly known for strange happenings.
The Crescent Hotel - Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Dubbed “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” the Crescent Hotel has a history of ghostly encounters. Built in 1886, it has served as a hospital, a college, and now a hotel. Guests have reported seeing ghostly nurses, a man in a top hat, and other unexplained phenomena. Its nightly ghost tours are a must for visitors.
Dock Street Theater – Charleston, South Carolina
This is one of the oldest theaters in the United States and is known for a fire that burned down the original theater. It was then turned back into a theater later down the road. Nettie Dickerson is a known ghost who is often seen standing on the balcony of the hotel and has been seen moving throughout the second floor of the theater dressed in red.
The Driskill – Austin, Texas
This is a hotel that has brick rooms. It was known for the wedding parties and is a place where ghosts visit. People have reported hearing strange sounds and seeing ghosts hanging around the lobby.
Eastern State Penitentiary – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This is a castle-like penitentiary that was built in the 1800’s. The prisoners lived there alone, and this meant that they ate, exercised, and lived alone. When a prisoner would leave their cell, a guard would cover their head with a hood so that they couldn’t see or be seen. It was later abandoned because it became too crowded and was closed down. This is considered one of the most haunted places, and thousands of people visit there. It has been reported that they have heard laughing, footsteps, and have seen disembodied and shadowy figures.
Emily’s Bridge – Stowe, Vermont
This is a place in New England and is known for the bridges that are covered. Emily’s Bridge is one that was 50 feet long and was a place where a woman committed suicide in the 1800’s. The legend says that the woman was meant to meet her lover to elope, but hung herself from the rafters of the bridge when he didn’t come. Some say that they hear and see Emily’s ghost and that she will claw at cars and will scratch pedestrians, and make them bleed. Others have reported hearing strange voices and footsteps and seeing white images.
Gettysburg Battlefield – Pennsylvania
One of the bloodiest battles was Gettysburg, and it is often considered a haunted place.
Honolulu International Airport – Hawaii
This is an airport that has a ghost called “the lady in waiting.” This is a ghost of a blonde lady who shows up in a white dress at the off-limit areas in the airport. Legend says that the woman fell in love with a flight attendant, and he left her at the gate, and her ghost is still waiting for him to come back. Some people have reported toilet paper rolls unraveling on their own or toilets flushing.
Hotel Monte Vista – Flagstaff, Arizona
This is a place that has many ghost sightings. People who have stayed have heard cries and have seen staff members running upstairs from the basement. Also, two women were said to be thrown from the third floor and are now trying to strangle male guests while they are sleeping.
House of the Seven Gables -Salem, Massachusetts
Famous for the 1692 witch trials, Salem is steeped in supernatural history. From haunted cemeteries to spooky museums, the town offers plenty of opportunities to explore the paranormal. Visitors have reported seeing shadowy figures and feeling unexplained chills in places like the Witch House and Gallows Hill.
The House of the Seven Gables is a house that is often known for seeing ghost sightings and was the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Lincoln Park Zoo – Chicago, Illinois
This is one of the most popular haunted places. It was a cemetery that had over 35,000 graves, and the bodies got moved, but not all of them were moved. This place is said to be one of the most active when it comes to ghosts.
The Lizzie Borden House - Fall River, Massachusetts
The site of one of America’s most famous murder cases, the Lizzie Borden House is now a bed-and-breakfast where guests can stay the night. Visitors report hearing eerie sounds, seeing ghostly figures, and feeling an overwhelming sense of unease. Tours and overnight stays are available for those intrigued by their grisly history.
The Mark Twain House – Hartford, Connecticut
Mark Twain lived in this home in the 1800s, and this is now a museum that shows his life and works. Many visitors have reported hearing strange noises and seeing a woman who is dressed in white. The billiard room is considered one of the most haunted spots, and it is a place where Twain would sit and smoke. Some say that they can smell the smoke when they go into the room.
Masonic Temple – Detroit, Michigan
This place has 16 floors and thousands of rooms, and there are rumors that there are hidden passageways and staircases. Legend has it that Mason went bankrupt when he was trying to get the construction done, and he jumped to his death. This is why some believe that they see the ghosts climbing the steps to the roof of the building.
The Mizpah Hotel -Tonopah, Nevada
This is a building that opened in 1907 and was a luxury hotel. It was restored in 2011, and legend says that a woman died on the fifth floor. People report seeing a lady dressed in red who whispers in men's ears and leaves pearls on guests' pillows.
Ohio State Reformatory – Mansfield Ohio
This was an old reformatory and is known as a six-story cell block. It was part of the filming location for “The Shawshank Redemption.” The place was closed down in 1990 due to inhumane and overcrowded conditions, but more than 200 people died in the building before that happened. Some say that ghosts of some of the former inmates roam the hall,s including an old guard that will still hit people with his nightstick.
One if by Land, Two if By Sea – New York City
This is a place where they say that around 20 ghosts often visit. There is paranormal activity, including lights flickering, picture frames being moved, and plates that moved. Some have seen ghosts, such as a woman dressed in black, and one that haunts the restaurant.
Pine Barrens – New Jersey
This is a million-acre pine forest, and it has been around since the colonial period. This was a place of paper mills and sawmills. People abandoned the mills, and now some ghosts wander the woods. Some have said that there was a creature that was born in the 1700s, and it had leather wings, a goat head, and hooves, and it flew around killing livestock and scaring the residents.
Pittock Mansion – Portland, Oregon
This place was a dream house but the couple that built it only got to enjoy it a few years before they died. Now it is a public place and people have reported smelling roses where there are no flowers and a painting that moves on its own from spot to spot in the house.
Red Online Saloon – Skagway, Alaska
This was a brotherhood for miners that was formed in 1889. It would use dolls to help run it, and 10 dolls would be placed on the bar, which would represent one of the ladies who worked in the upstairs rooms. A customer would pick which doll they wanted and lay it down to show when the worker was busy. When the customer came back down, the dolls would be set back into a sitting position, and clients would know she was available. This saloon is still a bar and restaurant, and the dolls are still on display. Some have reported that a madam from the brothel haunts the place, and they smell perfume in the halls.
The Queen Mary - Long Beach, California
Once a luxury ocean liner, the Queen Mary was now a floating hotel and tourist attraction. It’s also one of the most haunted places in America. Guests and staff have reported hearing phantom footsteps, seeing ghostly apparitions, and even encountering the spirits of passengers who died on board. Its haunted history tours are popular among thrill-seekers.
San Fernando Cathedral – San Antonio, Texas
One of the oldest churches in Texas, and it is a place where construction workers found bones, nails, and a military uniform near the altar that was tattered. Some believe that it belonged to three soldiers who had died. Some see orbs, shadowy figures, and ghosts that stand in the back of the church, including a man dressed in black or dressed in hooded monk-like clothes.
Sheffield Island Lighthouse – Norwalk, Connecticut
This was built in 1868 to help ships to be able to get to Connecticut’s Sheffield Island. This is a 10-room lighthouse, but in 1972, the lighthouse keeper died while watching ships pass. No one is sure why. This is a preserved place, and many have reported hearing music coming from the lighthouse along with cries for help. Some believe this is the ghost of Captain Robert Sheffield who purchased the islands in the 1800s.
The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
The inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining, The Stanley Hotel is famous for its paranormal activity. Guests have reported seeing ghostly children playing in the halls and hearing unexplained piano music. Room 217, where King stayed, is particularly known for strange happenings.
For those who enjoy exploring the supernatural but also want guidance about unseen energies in their own life, visiting a trusted online psychic resource like PsychicOz.com can be just as thrilling as stepping into a haunted hotel. And if you’re curious to dive deeper into expert perspectives on spirituality and psychic phenomena, you can find more insights at ExpertPsychics.com.
St. Augustine Lighthouse -Florida
This has over 225,000 people who visit each year. Many bad things have happened here, including a lighthouse keeper who fell while painting the tower and died. Some have reported seeing his ghost and also the ghosts of 3 young girls who died drowning when they fell into the ocean. Some report hearing children playing there.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – Weston, West Virginia
This was opened in 1864 to help patients and had over 2,400 people at one time, even though it was only supposed to hold 250. There were inhumane conditions, such as no heat and people being kept in cages. The patient became more violent and would start fires and attack staff. It closed in 1994 but is said to be haunted.
Whaley House – San Diego, California
This was built in 1957 by Thomas Whaley. It had the first public gallows. When he moved in, he heard heavy footsteps, and Jim Robinson, a drifter and thief, was hanged at the place four years before it was built. This place was known for tragic deaths and suicides that happened even inside the home. Family members report smelling cigar smoke, heavy perfume, and hearing voices.
The Winchester Mystery House - San Jose, California
This sprawling mansion was built by Sarah Winchester, who believed she was haunted by the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. The house is filled with strange architectural features like staircases that lead to nowhere and doors that open into walls. It’s said Sarah built the house this way to confuse the ghosts.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium - Louisville, Kentucky
This abandoned tuberculosis hospital is often called one of the most haunted places in the world. Visitors have claimed to hear disembodied voices, see shadowy figures, and even encounter the infamous “death tunnel,” where patients were once transported out of the hospital. Guided ghost tours are available for those brave enough to visit.
The Myrtles Plantation - St. Francisville, Louisiana
Known as one of America’s most haunted homes, The Myrtles Plantation is said to be the site of at least 10 murders. The most famous spirit here is Chloe, a former slave who is said to roam the grounds. Guests have reported seeing her in mirrors, hearing footsteps, and feeling a ghostly presence in their rooms.
Alcatraz Island - San Francisco, California
This infamous former prison housed some of America’s most dangerous criminals. Today, visitors to Alcatraz report hearing ghostly whispers, cell doors slamming on their own, and the faint sounds of crying. Some believe the spirits of former inmates linger, trapped on the island forever.
The Bowery Hotel – New York City
This is found on the Lower East Side, and it is full of charming décor. Some report the elevators doing their own thing and seeing spooky things throughout the hotel.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, America’s haunted locations offer a mix of history, mystery, and the possibility of encountering the unexplained. From eerie prisons to ghostly hotels, each of these places has its own chilling story to tell. So, pack your bags, grab a flashlight, and get ready for a hauntingly good adventure. Who knows—you might just experience a ghostly encounter of your own!
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