Edgar Allen Poe. Grant Wood. Stephen King. They all saw something about America that was more than a little… unsettling.
But where does the country’s relationship with the spookily supernatural come from? The answer might lie in some of the United States’ most infamous, scary locations.
The Bowery Hotel, New York City
It’s not unusual to encounter one or two unpleasant guests at any hotel (especially in New York). But stories of poltergeists haunting the corridors of the hotel have earned it a spot as one of the scariest hotels in America.
Winchester Mystery House, San Jose
The story of this creepy California farmhouse comes straight out of a horror movie. Sarah Winchester commissioned the construction of the house to protect her from evil spirits after the death of her husband and child. Sarah, a rifle-maker’s daughter, had been told that her loved ones had been killed by the souls of gunshot victims. Development on the house continued for nearly 40 years, only stopping after Sarah too lost her life.
Whaley House, San Diego
Is there a cheerier site on which to build your home than the location of San Diego’s first public execution area? Definitely. But in 1857, that’s just what Thomas Whaley did. It wasn’t long before his home drew some unwanted attention. Thomas claimed to hear footsteps in the house, supposedly of a thief who had been hanged there four years earlier. For generations hence, members of the Whaley family died or took their own lives on the property, which they are said to still haunt to this day.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston
Tens of thousands of “patients” came through the doors of the Trans-Allegheny Asylum for 130 years, right up until 1994. The now-derelict, eerie building once housed almost 10 times more people than it was designed to hold. The desperate conditions led to violence and mayhem, and many still feel that presence in the silent walls to this day.
St Augustine Lighthouse, Florida
Lighthouses have been the site of disturbing scenes long before Robert Egger’s 2019 movie. The St Augustine Lighthouse has borne witness to several tragedies which are said to still be felt by the many thousands who visit each year. St Augustine has seen lighthouse keepers fall to their deaths while painting the tower, as well as a report of three young girls drowning after falling from the cliffs of the lighthouse into the dark waters below.
The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park
Any building that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining has already earned a reputation as a spot for horror lovers. As well as stunning views of the Rocky Mountains, The Stanley Hotel is purportedly a good place to run into some ghosts. If you’re into that type of thing.
Sheffield Island Lighthouse, Norwalk
Many of the places in this list got their creepy credentials from ghost stories going back a century or more. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse, however, only got its scary start in 1972 after the keeper died in unexplained circumstances. Twenty years later, an archaeologist reported hearing distant cries for help at the site, and music that seemed to come from nowhere.
San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio
Although beautiful on the outside, delve into the depths of this Texas church at your own peril. During a renovation in the 1930s, laborers discovered horrific secrets within the walls, such as bones and nails, thought to belong to soldiers at the Alamo. With the discovery came an upsurge in tourism. But many amateur photographers have reported discovering shadowy figures lurking in the backgrounds of pictures, often taking the shape of hooded monks.
RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach
In 30 years as an ocean liner, the Queen Mary bore witness to one murder, multiple drownings, and a sailor crushed to death within its engine room. Now a hotel, guests flock to experience the otherworldly presences that still linger within the bowels of the ship.
Red Onion Saloon, Skagway
This Alaskan brothel-turned-restaurant is a throwback to a different time. But much of its past is said to still remain. A former madam of the brothel known as Lydia is reported to haunt the site, where creepy dolls from the saloon’s former life are still on display.
Pittock Mansion, Portland
The Oregon landmark should be remembered as the legacy of one couple’s love for each other. Henry and Georgina Pittock designed the mansion to be their dream house in the early 20th century, but both died a few years after its completion. Several strange occurrences have been reported by visitors to the now-public building, such as the smell of Georgiana’s favorite flowers, roses, in a room with no flowers. At least that’s kind of romantic.
Pine Barrens, New Jersey
This vast forest was a hub of industry in the early years of colonial America. But when coal was discovered further west, the mills of the Pine Barrens emptied. Once thriving villages became true ghost towns, leaving only a memory of their former glory. The most well-known surviving memory of the Barrens is the story of the Jersey Devil, the winged and hoofed offspring of resident Deborah Leeds, born in 1735.
One if by Land, Two if by Sea, New York City
An opulent, dazzling restaurant… filled with ghosts. To each their own. Despite the likelihood of some supernatural fellow guests, this culinary hotspot remains hugely popular, with tables hard to come by.
Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield
The second Stephen King homage in our list served as the location for the brutal eponymous prison in the film adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption. But the reformatory had a dark past in the years before becoming a Hollywood star. Overcrowding and shocking conditions were responsible for over 200 deaths within the prison, including two guards. Being a famously hard place to leave, it’s likely that several of these souls are still floating behind bars.
The Mizpah Hotel, Tonopah
When Nevada was making a name for itself as a luxury destination, The Mizpah Hotel was one of the main attractions. Its reputation crumbled after news of a woman dying on the fifth floor. The Lady in Red has been encountered by several guests since; they claim to have heard her whisper to them. The apparent apparition is also said to have left them pearls from her broken necklace.
Masonic Temple, Detroit
With more than 1,000 rooms inside, the Masonic Temple can feel like a maze, easy to lose yourself in. This is especially true if you believe the rumors of secret rooms and hidden corridors put in place by architect George D. Mason. Mason was later said to have jumped off the roof of the building due to his growing debt.
The Mark Twain House, Hartford
One of America’s most beloved writers lived in this Connecticut dwelling for 16 years, making it an extremely popular tourist destination. One thing visitors did not expect to experience was the sight of a mysterious woman in white, or the occasional smell of cigar smoke coming from Twain’s favorite billiard room.
Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, Fall River
New England is something of a hotbed for ghostly encounters, but none are more famous than the story of Lizzie Borden. Lizzie was accused of killing her father and stepmother in the house in 1892, only to later be acquitted. Today, guests can choose to stay in the room where the grisly act took place, and have sometimes claimed to hear footsteps, or the sound of Abby Borden crying in the dead of night.
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago
There probably aren’t much worse places you could wish to be haunted than somewhere that also houses large exotic animals. Before becoming a zoo, the Chicago site in Lincoln Park was a cemetery, and some of the bodies were never moved. In its 150 years, zoo visitors have frequently reported sightings of the site’s spectral former residents.
House of the Seven Gables, Salem
The inspiration for a 19th Century Gothic novel and the setting of actual witch trials? Yeah, this has “spooky” written all over it. The house has been a beacon for fans of the paranormal for years, and hosts tours every October.
Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff
Few locations are quite as proud of their connections to the macabre as Hotel Monte Vista. The hotel has a long history of creepy guests meeting terrible fates during their stay, including two women said to have fallen from the third floor who now haunt sleeping male visitors, allegedly including John Wayne.
Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii
There aren’t many haunted airports, unless you include frequent sightings of disheveled and delirious tourists waiting for their delayed flights home. Honolulu International is an exception: it is the home of the so-called Lady in Waiting, who appears in out-of-bounds areas of the airport, waiting on a man who abandoned her at the gate.
Gettysburg Battlefield, Pennsylvania
The Battle of Gettysburg is a pivotal moment in American history, as well as one of the bloodiest. Of the 50,000 men estimated to have lost their lives on the battleground, many are said to continue wandering the fields, having never received a proper burial.
Emily’s Bridge, Stowe
Back in New England, Emily’s Bridge is named for the woman who took her life there in the 19th Century. Like Honolulu’s Lady in Waiting, Emily is said to have been awaiting the arrival of her lover, only to hang herself from the bridge when he failed to show up. Several drivers have claimed to find scratches on their cars after crossing the bridge, with Emily said to remain at her death spot, exacting revenge on all comers.
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia
It was one of the most brutal and barbaric prisons in America. The Eastern State Penitentiary was famous for allowing prisoners no contact with each other, carrying out their entire sentences in solitary confinement. Other forms of punishment included prisoners having their tongues chained to their wrists, and having their heads covered with hoods as they moved from cell to cell. Since closing in 1970, it has become one of the most haunted places in America. A sign of a guilty conscience, perhaps?
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