60 Haunted Places Across the 50 States

Local legend says that a woman who killed herself there in the ‘70s still haunts the halls of this Alaskan hotel.

Before it was a hotel, the Jerome Grand was the United Verde Hospital, where an estimated 9,000 patients died. Tons of guests sign the guest book to record their paranormal encounters. “We ... immediately began receiving reports from guests hearing voices and a (hospital gurney) in the hallways, but no one was there," general manager Chris Altherr has said.

Any hotel with a "ghost tour" department would surely have something eerie lurking in the hallways. Guests have often reported the stench of mysterious pipe tobacco lingering in the air and orbs floating around, according to the hotel’s blog and the director of the ghost tour department.

In his 1962 book, Big Sur, author Jack Kerouac painted a desolate picture of the mountainside town in Northern California.

While the area may be scenic, it does have a mysterious past, especially at Point Sur Lightstation.

According to witnesses, they have seen a gentlemen in a 19th-century keeper’s uniform at the visitors center. The lightstation even offers a “moonlight tour” to visitors who are free to roam the area at night in search of other spirits that haunt the land.

The 160-room Queen Anne-style Victorian mansion in San Jose, Calif., which is filled with elaborate hallways, staircases that lead to nowhere and more doors than one can imagine.

Sarah Winchester moved to California with her sister and niece after her husband, William Wirt Winchester, died in 1881. Construction began on the mansion in 1886, but according to historians, never ended until her death in 1922. She was 82.

What started off as a meek two-story farmhouse ended as a four-story 24,000 square-foot enigma of a residence, leaving Winchester to sink most of her inherited fortune into the construction of the house. Sarah Winchester reportedly believed that if she ever stopped construction on the house, the ghosts would get her.

Legend has it that Marilyn Monroe, who once resided in the building, still roams the corridors of the iconic Los Angeles hotel.

Naturally, the hotel that inspired Stephen King's “The Shining” has some ghost stories of its own. King stayed in what some consider America’s most haunted hotel, in room 217, with his wife and their young son.

Built in 1874 by Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, the three-story, 25-room mansion is where the author wrote "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

While the home has historical significance, it is also a haunted spot.

Visions of a young woman roaming the halls in a white dress have been reported. Many believe she is the author’s late daughter who died on the property.

The "Adelaide" room is the most haunted in this old, Connecticut inn, according to TripAdvisor reviews. One guest wrote that his wife heard footsteps in the hallway but nobody was there, and that "on at least three occasions we both heard someone walking across the floor in the room above us only to find out later that above our room is an uninhabited attic!" 

The beachy bed and breakfast was built by John M. Addy as a summer getaway for his family in 1901. Room 11 is rumored to be the most haunted, often said to be visited by The Addys' former handyman, Paul Dulaney.

The founder of American Ghost Adventures, a popular Orlando tour company, voted the historic Orange County Regional History Center building as one of the most haunted locations in downtown Orlando.

This Savannah hotel was a hospital during the Civil War, and according to its website, guests have reported seeing ghosts in the hallways and hearing children running around at night. Southern Living named it one of "11 of the South's Most Haunted Places" in 2016.

One legend says a woman in a red dress haunts the hotel. Some speculate she was killed there, and others believe she is Madame Pele, the volcano goddess.

The theater has been open since 1927, and is believed to be haunted by "Joe," who served as a projectionist in the 1920s. Guests have reported lights turning off and on, strange noises and doors closing.

The Congress Plaza apparently used to host serial killer H.H. Holmes, who would meet women before killing them. The hotel opened in 1893 and has also been the site of numerous suicides, leaving many possibly restless spirits lurking in the halls.

The Blue Lady is said to haunt Indiana’s oldest inn. Legend has it that the Blue Lady is the wife of Dr. George Story, who founded the Story village in 1851.

One Indiana home has been called “The Portal to Hell” because of strange occurrences like apparitions being seen, furniture being moved on its own and voices heard through the house.  

Captain Charles Austin, a veteran of the Gary, Indiana Police Department had just finished investigating strange occurrences in the house and was in his patrol car, talking on the phone when he told Inside Edition in 2014 "All of a sudden, while I was involved in this conversation, the AM/FM radio went to static and turned up very loud and said, ‘You in there!’ The person on the phone said, ‘What the hell was that?’ I said, ‘I don't know!’"

An exorcism was even performed on the house and Inside Edition's cameras were there as a priest tried to push the spirits out.

The owners and guests believe that a prostitute from the 1920s haunts this Iowa hotel. There have been reports of a mysterious presence, strange noises and sightings of a figure in a lavender gown.

Ida Day Holzapfel was hired in 1916 to work at the Hutchinson Public Library. Years later, library workers reported a ghost in the library. They believed it was Holzapfel, who was known to be extremely dedicated to her job. Some believe she never left.

According to guests and locals, the most famous ghost to visit this Kentucky tavern is outlaw Jesse James. Guests have reported sightings of strange orbs and forks moving without anyone touching them.

Arnaud Cazenave, a French wine salesman, opened the restaurant in 1918. Several waiters at the fancy New Orleans restaurant have apparently seen the ghost of a gentleman in a tuxedo, happily looking around when the establishment is at its busiest.

The Strand’s website claims that it’s one of the most haunted places in America. The Maine cinema opened in 1929 and despite its reputation for hauntings, it's still in operation today.

In 2011, TripAdvisor added the Admiral Fell Inn to its list of Top 10 Haunted Hotels in America. The inn dates back to the 1700s, and staff members have reported hearing strange noises.

Only the brave stay at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum in Massachusetts. In 1892, Borden was accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an ax. She was acquitted, and the mystery remains unsolved. The B&B even allows guests to stay in the bedroom where the couple was murdered.

In 1989, “ghostbuster” Norman Gauthier revealed the Holly Hotel was positively brimming with ghosts and spirits. Ghost-hunting groups make their way to the Michigan hotel to perform all-night paranormal investigations.

Guests and staff members have reported hearing children in the hallways, despite no children being on the premises. There have also been reports of furniture suspiciously moving around while others say they have seen ghosts.

In season 6 of The Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures,” the hosts visit King’s Tavern, the oldest building in Natchez.

Thirty years ago, locals found a bloody dagger in the fireplace, which some say was used in the murder of Madeline, the mistress of the tavern’s original owner. Madeline is said to haunt the tavern.

In 2011, CNNTravel.com named Missouri's Lemp Mansion one of the "10 Spookiest Buildings in the World." The property offers ghost tours to guests looking to hunt for the paranormal.

The Billings Gazette named the Fort Peck Theatre one of Montana’s most haunted places. The theatre was built in 1934, and is said to be haunted by a male ghost in 1930s work attire.

Prism, a ghost-hunting organization, has investigated paranormal claims at this Omaha Irish pub, where patrons are willing to share their spirited stories.

Las Vegas is no stranger to old, haunted buildings. In the 1980s, a horrific fire broke out at the old MGM Grand hotel, killing 87 people. While most of the hotel was rebuilt and named Bally’s, the tower of the hotel where the fire took place still exists. Guests have reported seeing shadows moving in the halls, furniture moving unexpectedly and strange noises.

The New Hampshire inn was built by Valentine Hill in 1649. Apparently, his daughter still roams the property. Despite no records of her life or death, it’s believed that she drowned in a nearby river.

The legend says a ghost named Irene “Trunk Lady” Wright haunts room 10 of this Cape May hotel.

La Fonda is one of the most historic buildings in New Mexico and is rumored to be haunted by several ghosts. These spirits include a gambler who died in 1857, a judge in his black coat and a young, murdered bride.

When many people look for a summer escape, they head to the East End of Long Island and vacation in The Hamptons or Montauk. However, there is a dark side to the glitz and glamour of what the area has to offer.

On the campus of Southampton College, the former Claflin Estate, there is a windmill built in 1712 that is still standing. The windmill, which was once a cottage that once housed playwright Tennessee Williams, is haunted.

According to local lore, the daughter of the windmill’s owner fell down the steps of the structure, broke her neck and died. Students and visitors have reported seeing the girl playing inside the windmill and peering through the blades.

The Morris-Jumel Mansion is allegedly the most haunted place in New York City. It was first made famous by George Washington, who made it his headquarters during the Revolutionary War. It was later purchased by Eliza Jumel, once the wealthiest woman in New York City and also a wife of former Vice President Aaron Burr. And many say she haunts the property.

 

At 129 Spring Street, paranormal enthusiasts can find a beautiful brick well in the basement of the clothing store COS. It's been around since the 1700s and, while unusable, looks just as attractive as the fashions on display. The ghost of a young woman who was killed by her boyfriend on Christmas 1799 reportedly haunts the store.

The Kreischer Mansion located on Staten Island, it has many reported hauntings, many probably directly associated with the notable mob hit and murder that took place there in 2005. People have reported seeing and hearing things at the home. Subsequent owners have also said they've had interactions that have possibly been supernatural.

Over the years, Doyers Street has alternately been dubbed “Bloody Angle” and “Murder Alley” for the amount of killings that have occurred there. Shaped like a serpent slithering through downtown Manhattan, Doyers Street has played host to a massive amount of violence and corruption since the 19th century.

 

The Ear Inn’s building was constructed around 1770 for George Washington’s aide James Brown during the Revolutionary War. The website explains that there are several friendly ghosts that frequent the New York haunt. One, named Mickey, is said to be still waiting for his clipper ship to pull into the harbor.

In the small coastal town of Manteo on Roanoke Island, visitors will find the quaint Roanoke Island Inn that has been standing since the 1860s.

According to the employees at the Inn, the spirit of former owner Roscoe Jones — who checked in but never checked out — walks the area.

Legend has it that Jones, who was fired from the U.S. Post Office, was so ashamed of being let go from his job that he locked himself in his room until he died. After his passing, a man in a postal uniform has been seen entering and exiting the Inn.

Others have reported the sound of footsteps pacing in the halls, vases breaking and radios turning on and off.

Guests of the North Carolina estate have claimed to see George Vanderbilt’s ghost roaming the grounds.

Apparently, this museum for children is home to the ghost of Elizabeth Yunker, who bought the farmhouse with her husband in 1905. Some have reported elevators in the facility running on their own, while others have seen the ghost of a child who drowned in a well.

Destination America’s show “Paranormal Lockdown” investigated the Cleveland haunt in 2016. The castle was built in the late 1800s and is said to be haunted by Emma Tiedemann, who died inside the home when she was 15.

Visitors have claimed to have seen the ghosts of the original owner, John M. Bayless, and his wife, Mary, in the building, which was built in 1902. 

The hotel has been open for more than 90 years and has hosted Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge. Rumors say that a woman in white may have jumped off the hotel balcony and continues to haunt the hotel.

The prison, which closed in 1971, is considered one of the most haunted places in America. The harsh methods of punishment on prisoners would scare anyone, but several people have claimed to hear voices and cackling around the cell blocks. In the 1990s, Gary Johnson, who contributes to maintaining the prison — now open for tours — opened cell block 4 and was overtaken by a force that held him so tightly that he was no longer able to move, according to NPR.

The hotel was built in 1922 and is rumored to be home to many paranormal guests. A former event planner claimed to have seen spirits dancing in the ballroom late at night.

Featured on “Ghost Hunters,” the Magnolia Plantation has been in the same family since 1680. The paranormal investigation resulted in the hunters hearing music and a young girl’s voice, as well as growling and coughing.

On Halloween, The Orpheum Theatre is open for guests looking to explore parts of the building normally closed off to the public. Staff members claim to have seen brides on balconies and kids playing in the middle of the night.

The Tennessee hotel offers ghost tours on the weekends, giving the public a glimpse into the haunted history. Guests have reported moving beds, cold spots, voices, and dark figures.  

San Antonio’s Menger Hotel is thought to be haunted by ex-President Teddy Roosevelt and Sallie, a chambermaid who was killed in 1876 by her husband.

Legend has it that the 11th floor of the historic Utah hotel is the most haunted. A bride who drowned while on her honeymoon in the tub of room 1102 is said to haunt the premises, as well a woman who died in room 1106 during WWII.

It’s said that the Walker House, one of the three buildings that make up The Norwich Inn, is haunted by Ma Walker, who was the proprietor of the inn during the 1920s.

The Abingdon hotel and spa is known to have had ghost visitors since the Civil War. Staff members say they’ve seen ghostly apparitions throughout the property.

This Seattle pub is said to be haunted by a well-dressed man and a little girl with red hair. Staff and patrons have also reported mirrors mysteriously shattering, and hearing strange voices.

The local legend says that the abandoned amusement park is still full of spirits. The park has been empty since 1966, after the death of two young visitors. The park’s rides are additionally responsible for six deaths, according to Visit West Virginia.

The park has been featured on The Travel Channel’s “The Most Terrifying Places in America.”

It’s said that the original owner of the Milwaukee hotel, Charles Pfister, still haunts the property. Guests have reported seeing apparitions, and some MLB players refuse to stay in the hotel when playing the Brewers due to its haunted reputation.

Explored in an episode of “Ghost Adventures,” the Wyoming prison was once the home to nearly 200 inmates. The prison opened in 1901 and officially closed eighty years later, but is rumored to be haunted.

This southern restaurant boasts about its ghosts on its website. According to legend, there’s “the woman who screams and calls out,” as well a crying baby — and sometimes, a reflection of a gaunt, tall, bearded man dressed in black.