Hey there! Ever been in a place that just feels off? Like, you can’t quite put your finger on it, but something’s not right?
A 2021 poll cited by ScienceAlert reported that 41% of Americans believe in ghosts, and 20% claim to have personally experienced one.
That’s over 50 million people who claim to have had encounters with the supernatural. So, if curiosity and a little thrill are calling your name, here are 12 of the most haunted spots in the U.S. that might make you pause before stepping inside. Ready to see which places send shivers down the spine?
The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
Remember the Overlook Hotel from The Shining? Stephen King got his inspiration right here, and the real place might be even creepier. Guests and staff have reported hearing phantom piano music, disembodied laughter, and seeing figures in their rooms.
The original owners, Freelan and Flora Stanley, apparently never checked out and are often seen dressed in their formal wear. If you’re going to stay here, you should book room 217 for the whole terrifying experience.
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This place was designed to create “penitence” through solitary confinement, which sounds like a recipe for a haunting. For over 140 years, it housed notorious criminals like Al Capone, and the suffering that occurred within its walls seems to have stuck around.
Visitors report hearing whispers, footsteps, and seeing shadowy figures darting through the crumbling cellblocks. An investigation by the Travel Channel even captured what many believe is a spirit telling them to “get out.”
The Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana
This beautiful antebellum plantation is rumored to be home to at least twelve different ghosts. The most famous is “Chloe,” a formerly enslaved person who allegedly poisoned the master’s family and was subsequently hanged.
Visitors and staff have captured a figure believed to be her in photographs, and many report seeing children’s handprints appearing on mirrors after they’ve been cleaned. A 2002 documentary even recorded electronic voice phenomena (EVP) of a voice whispering a child’s name.
The Whaley House, San Diego, California
Officially designated as one of the most haunted houses in America by the U.S. Commerce Department, this place is no joke. The house was built on the site of a public hanging, which is never a good start.
The original owner, Thomas Whaley, and his family are said to still roam the halls, along with the ghost of “Yankee Jim” Robinson, the man who was hanged. People report smelling cigar smoke and perfume, and some have even seen a ghostly dog.
The Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California
When Sarah Winchester inherited the rifle fortune from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, she began building a mansion in San Jose that defied logic and architectural norms.
For 38 years, she oversaw nonstop construction—adding staircases to nowhere, doors that open into walls, and over 160 rooms—to ward off spirits she believed were haunting her. The Winchester Mystery House remains a sprawling, eccentric monument to grief, superstition, and wealth.
Visitors and staff have reported unexplained footsteps, cold spots, and sightings of a woman in black believed to be Sarah herself. The house remains one of California’s most famous haunted attractions and a key site in American paranormal tourism.
St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida
The St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida, completed in 1874, stands on the site of a tragic accident where three young girls—daughters of the construction superintendent—drowned when a supply cart broke loose and plunged into the water.
Visitors frequently report hearing children’s laughter echoing through the tower, even when no one is present. Apparitions of a young girl have appeared near the staircase and surrounding grounds, adding to the lighthouse’s haunted reputation.
Paranormal investigators, including the team from Ghost Hunters, have documented unexplained phenomena such as shadowy figures, cold spots, and disembodied footsteps. Some reports suggest that up to 80% of guests experience something they cannot explain, making the St. Augustine Lighthouse one of Florida’s most active paranormal sites.
The Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, Massachusetts
“Lizzie Borden took an axe…” You know the rhyme, and you can actually stay in the house where the infamous, unsolved murders took place. How fun is that?
Guests have reported hearing a woman weeping, seeing ghostly figures in Victorian-era clothing, and feeling an unseen presence in the very rooms where Andrew and Abby Borden met their gruesome end. It’s one thing to read about a crime scene; it’s another to try to get a good night’s sleep in one.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, West Virginia
This former psychiatric hospital operated from the mid-1800s until 1994. It was designed to house 250 patients, but by the 1950s, it had grown to hold over 2,400, resulting in severe overcrowding and neglect. Records document thousands of deaths, including suicides, murders, and fatalities from inadequate care.
Visitors on ghost tours often report being touched or pushed by unseen forces, hearing disembodied screams, and seeing full-bodied apparitions. It’s an intense experience, so please note that it’s not for the faint of heart.
The Villisca Axe Murder House, Villisca, Iowa
In 1912, a horrific crime occurred here: eight people, including six children, were bludgeoned to death in their beds by an unknown assailant. The crime was never solved, and the spirits of the Moore family and their two young guests are said to remain.
Visitors have captured audio recordings of children’s voices, seen objects move on their own, and felt sudden, extreme drops in temperature. It’s a somber, chilling location with a palpable sense of tragedy.
RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
This retired ocean liner is often referred to as the “Grey Ghost” and is said to be home to as many as 150 spirits. The ship is a hub of paranormal activity, with reports of a sailor who died in the engine room and a “lady in white” seen dancing alone in one of the salons.
Stateroom B340 is so active that it was closed to the public for years. Paranormal investigators are drawn to the RMS Queen Mary, and it’s one of the most frequently studied haunted sites in the United States.
Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
With over 50,000 casualties, the Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest conflict of the Civil War. It’s no wonder that many believe the souls of the fallen soldiers still linger here.
People report seeing phantom soldiers, hearing the sounds of battle, and even smelling gunpowder in the air. The area known as the “Devil’s Den” is particularly active, with many visitors claiming to see the apparition of a Confederate soldier who is surprisingly helpful with directions.
LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, Louisiana
Behind the elegant facade of this French Quarter mansion lies a dark and twisted history. In the 1830s, Madame Delphine LaLaurie was discovered to have been brutally torturing enslaved people in a secret attic chamber.
The horrors that took place here have left a permanent stain, and it’s considered one of the most haunted and evil places in New Orleans. Pedestrians passing by have reported hearing agonizing screams and seeing faces peer out from the windows of the now-private residence.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
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