The USA has many haunted places that have scared unexpecting visitors throughout the years. Some of us enjoy the occasional fright and would love to explore the supernatural. So, for those of you who think one day of Halloween is not enough, prepare for some bone-chilling stories as we visit some of the spookiest haunted places in the US!
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Winchester Mystery House, California
The Winchester Mystery House is an old mansion in San Jose, California, owned by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the firearm tycoon William Wirt Winchester. The Winchester House is one of the haunted places in the US that positively lives up to its eerie reputation! It is known as one of the most haunted places in the US. The construction began in 1884 and never stopped building the home until Sarah Winchester passed away on September 5, 1922.
It’s believed that Sarah spent $5 million on construction. Sarah felt her home was haunted by all of the victims killed by a Winchester Rifle. She also thought that the only way to keep the spirits quiet was to keep doing construction. Sarah Winchester may have been correct, because staff and tourists have reported many ghosts in the building since the house was opened to the public in 1923.
Spooky Fact: Besides how it is built, the mansion is haunted by spirits of people murdered by the Winchester rifles. Many believe the house was constructed differently to dupe the ghosts.
LaLaurie Mansion, Louisiana
Are you a fan of the famous tv series American Horror Story? Then you’re probably familiar with the story behind the infamous and spooky mansion.
LaLaurie Mansion exudes spookiness from every corner, though this lavish Creole mansion has more mystery than most in the heart of the city’s French Quarter. It was owned by socialite Madame Marie Delphine LaLaurie, infamous for unique parties and – following a kitchen fire in 1834 – a murder. Local police responding to the fire found the bodies of seven mutilated slaves chained and tortured in the attic. LaLaurie escaped to France, but they can still hear victims screaming in the night, according to some mansion staff.
Spooky Fact: For 200 years, there have been reports of tons of paranormal activity at this mansion, and many believe the home is cursed and one of the most haunted places in the US.
Read More: Shocking Travels to 6 of the World’s Most Haunted Places
Bodie, California
Bodie, California, is a gold-mining ghost town located in Mono County, California. Bodie is a small town situated close to the Nevada border. Bodie became a historical park in 1962. Staffers have been maintaining the town’s history, and now it has become one of the most famous haunted places in the US to visit for ghost town fanatics.
Visitors are strongly advised not to bring any artifacts home from this ghost town. Never bring home broken dishes, nails, or anything antique. Locals believe people who take everyday items from Bodie take home the curse. The park also has rules on what you can and cannot touch. So as long as guests follow the rules, no ghost or curse will come home with you.
Spooky Fact: The town was abandoned by the pessimistic gold rushers who followed William Bodie to the town in hopes of finding gold. Bodie ghost town has been abandoned for more than 150 years. This is one of the scariest haunted places in the US and sure to send chills down your spine.
Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, Fall River, Massachusetts
The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast has the most gruesome history and is one of the most haunted places in the US. However, today guests can sleep exactly where the victims used to live. Andrew Borden then owned the house from 1874 to 1892. His daughter Lizzie Borden was accused of murdering him and her stepmother (Abby Borden) with an ax, but was eventually cleared of all charges.
Lizzie’s sister Emma didn’t return to the house. Neither did Lizzie, who bought a place close by and named it Maplecroft. The old Borden house is a bed & breakfast, and the most popular room is where Abby Borden was found brutally murdered. Through the years, guests and staff have witnessed strange occurrences in the house, such as sounds of footsteps, weeping, opening/closing doors, and noises heard from unoccupied rooms. Try staying at this B&B if you enjoy visiting haunted places in the US.
Spooky Tip: Be warned – they don’t do refunds if you can’t stay throughout the night, so buckle up!
Read More: 6 Spine-Chilling Haunted Places To Explore
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Mackinac Island on Lake Huron is well-known for its beautiful nature. This town is where people explore the historic Fort Mackinac and enjoy famous fudge. Those interested in a frightful adventure will like the Haunted History Tours conducted on the island. The tours take place downtown, where you’ll be thoroughly entertained with the island’s history, ghost stories, legends, and a large Native American burial ground. It’s no wonder this is known as one of the most haunted places in the US.
The ominous Grand Hotel is one of the most haunted places in the US. According to legend, human remains were discovered in the building’s walls. A maintenance man reported a “black mass with glowing red eyes” moving towards him. In addition, tourists noticed a man in a top hat playing the hotel’s piano while a woman wearing Victorian clothing was spotted wandering the halls. Another haunted spot from the 1700s and the 1800s is the Drowning Pool, where seven women were accused of witchcraft and drowned. Visitors report seeing mysterious splashing in the pool and dark figures moving below the surface. This is one of the most haunted places in the US.
Old Abilene Town in Abilene, Kansas
The town of Abilene in Kansas was founded in 1857, although it was known as Mud Creek back then. The name of the small town wasn’t changed to Abilene until 1860. The town flourished over the years, and in the 1890s, Dwight Eisenhower moved there with his family to attend school. The Historic Abilene Inc. Board now oversees the town, and the goal is to reestablish the town to its former glory.
For now, it has become a hub for those fascinated by the paranormal. It’s said that the spirits of the old West live on in Abilene! It has long been known to be one of the most haunted places in Kansas and is definitely one of the most haunted places in the US! Ghost tours happen here regularly, and many visitors have to prove ghosts’ existence in their photographs and videos.
Disembodied voices are heard around town regularly, and visitors have felt cold spots and touched by invisible hands. There are also some reports of ghosts of cowboys and other townspeople.
Read More: 10 Books About Travel To Inspire Your Bucket List
Drish House Tuscaloosa, Alabama
The Drish House has been a site of alleged supernatural events, such as phantom fires and mysterious lights projecting from the house, since the early 20th century. These hauntings are believed to have begun after the owner of the house, Sarah Drish, died in 1884. Sarah’s husband, John Drish, died in 1867 after falling from a stairwell.
After her husband’s funeral, Sarah kept the candles from his funeral in hopes of one day having these same candles used at her funeral. Her family searched for the candles after her death but were unable to find them. This is said to have angered Sarah so much that she has come back to haunt the house, making it one of the most haunted places in the US.
Since the early 20th century, many eyewitness reports have suggested that Sarah haunts the Drish House. The spooky sightings include seeing the third-story tower on fire, with no traces of any fire in other parts of the building. Some people in the past have also seen eerie, ghostly lights coming from the top of the building and moving straight up into the sky. As a result, the Drish House is perceived as one of the most petrifying haunted places in the US.
Spooky Fact: The Drish House was the focal point of the story “Death Lights in the Tower” from the famous book “Thirteen Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey” by Kathryn Tucker Windham and Margaret Gillis Figh.
Owyhee Plaza, Boise, Idaho
Since 1910, the Owyhee Plaza has been a Landmark in Boise, Idaho. It has seen many renovations works over the years, but it still retains its majestic and timeless architecture. From the time it opened until the 1940s, the hotel was considered a hotspot, especially a rooftop garden featuring a restaurant and dance floor with live music. Now the hotel is offering office/retail/living facilities. This one-time hotel is unquestionably one of the most haunted places in the US!
Staff and guests have reported seeing apparitions at the hotel. One of the most spooky stories is from a couple who stayed in room 136. The lady woke up during the night and saw a spirit of a woman standing in her room. She said that she was not scared; in fact, she felt peaceful. She asked the apparition who she was and what she wanted, but the ghost disappeared.
Many other guests and staff have reported similar occurrences in different parts of the hotel. Several people say they feel like someone or something is watching them or hear strange unexplained noises coming from the halls.
Read More: Travels To Australia After The Wildfires
Easton Castle, South Dakota
The Easton Castle is a beautiful Victorian mansion in Aberdeen that dates back to 1888, author L. Frank Baum moved into town and began gathering inspiration for his famous book, The Wizard of Oz. There are speculations that the Easton Castle sparked the idea of Oz. The exterior of the castle was done in yellow brick. The owners of the castle threw many lavish parties, and Baum was a regular guest. His niece, Leslie Gage, who worked as a housekeeper, was said to be the inspiration of the character Dorothy.
By the mid 20th Century, Easton’s mansion owners had died, and their son lived in the castle alone. It started to deteriorate, sparking rumors about hauntings by ghosts of the Eastons, Leslie Gage, and others. According to Chad Lewis and Terry Fisk, the spirit of Baum’s niece is said to be haunting the third floor. The ghost of Mrs. Easton has also been seen, and many footsteps have been reported in the house.
One person said they’ve been chased in the house by a phantom with a knife. In the 1970s, the owners of Easton Castle opened it for ghost tours around Halloween. As a result, the Victorian mansion is known as one of the most haunted places in the US.
Spooky Tip: Easton’s custodians have opened a campground on the property where visitors can set up tents in the mysterious woods.
Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah
Southern Utah University is haunted, and there have been plenty of tales of the paranormal from students and faculty members. One of the most common hauntings is a ghostly pianist who plays “Deep Purple” in Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery. She was supposed to play the song at her junior prom, but unfortunately, died before she had the chance.
This is not the only musical ghost that’s haunting the campus. In Old Main, there’s said to be a ghost named Virginia who plays creepy flute music. Virginia has also been blamed for setting the building on fire in 1948 on the fiftieth anniversary of her death. She was found murdered and draped over a large piece of sandstone at the campus. The same rock was used in the campus building, making it one of the most haunted places in the US.
Congratulations to all the fearless folks who made it to the end of this article! Now take the ultimate challenge and actually visit one of these petrifying haunted places in the US. If you come back from the trip, be sure to share the supernatural details with us…if you do not return, don’t say we didn’t warn you!
WANT TO READ MORE?
Don’t want to visit haunted places in the US? Then, check out 10 Of The Best Disney World Resorts To Visit With Family.
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