Ready to explore the spookiest spots in the U.S.? America’s haunted history has left behind countless places filled with chills and tales that will give you chills. Believe me when I say that these spots are not for the faint-hearted.
These locations are known for their paranormal activity. But what makes these spots stand out is their ability to give people real chills — the kind that stays with you long after you’ve left.
We’ve carefully curated this list based on the most compelling ghost stories and documented paranormal activity. Here’s our list of the most haunted places in the U.S.
1. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park in Colorado
The Stanley Hotel is known for being haunted and inspired by Stephen King’s novel The Shining. Although the movie was filmed on a set modeled after the Timberline Lodge in Oregon, the Stanley Hotel remains famous for its eerie atmosphere. Phantom piano music has been heard in the hotel, and there are also apparition sightings.
Room 217 is particularly haunted, with lights flickering and objects moving. Staff members have also experienced these phenomena, with some hearing children laughing and seeing ghosts of the original owners. The hotel has even hosted ghost tours for visitors.
2. Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Eastern State Penitentiary is well known for its creepy feel; many visitors have heard screams and footsteps and have experienced doors closing on them. Some have seen ghostly cellmates.
The most haunted of all regions within the prison is Cellblock 12, which is a hotbed for Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP). Besides that, people also have also seen and heard things in Cellblock 4 and Death Row of the same facility.
3. Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana
One of the US’s many haunted places is the Myrtles Plantation. Legend has it that a formerly enslaved woman, Chloe, poisoned her owner’s family.
Some guests have seen Chloe’s ghost and the children she killed. Other people report strange handprints on mirrors, cold spots, and children’s laughter. The Myrtles also offers ghost tours for those brave enough to explore its haunted history.
4. Queen Mary in Long Beach, California
Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary — a grand old ocean liner turned hotel that’s as famous for its luxury suites as well as dozens of ghost stories. It was the site of multiple fatal accidents, and some believe many who died are still there in spirit.
The first-class swimming pool and Cabin B340 are haunted spots, with guests reporting instances of paranormal activity. Guests and crew have reported ghostly soldiers marching on the upper decks and mysterious knocks and bangs from below decks.
5. Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky
Once a tuberculosis hospital, Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the most haunted locations in America. Visitors hear patients’ cries and screams, and shadow figures run through the halls. The “body chute” is notorious, with ghost hunters observing eerie sounds and strange lights.
The former sanatorium offers ghost tours to explore its haunted halls, making it one of America’s most haunted places.
6. Bell Witch Cave in Adams, Tennessee
The Bell Witch Cave is associated with the legend of Kate, a witch who hated John Bell and his family. Visitors report hearing voices and experiencing an oppressive aura around the cave, suggesting it is where the spirits reside.
The caves and land are now private property, but guided tours are available for thrill-seekers. The location is a fascinating and terrifying spot for paranormal investigators.
7. Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California
The Winchester Mystery House has some very unique architecture and is built in 1884 by late widow-inventor Sarah Winchester. It is quite famous for all its strange occurrences. Its stairs mysteriously end at the ceilings, doors frequently open to blank walls, and windows reveal unsettling views into other rooms.
Legend says Sarah built the house to confuse the spirits of those who died by Winchester rifles. Ghostly apparitions have been observed, and visitors and staff have experienced strange noises and a spooky presence. Tours are available to explore the unique architectural design and speculate about the ghosts that may be present around the house.
8. Amityville House in New York
The Amityville House, a notorious police case, was a haunted house that became famous in 1974 when Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot his own family. The Lutz family later lived in the house and claimed they were terrorized by the spirits.
The Lutzes often heard odd voices and experienced mattresses shaking violently. However, the experiences of the Lutz family are debated by some. Despite this, the house remains a popular spot for various paranormal groups.
9. Villisca Axe Murder House in Villisca, Iowa
In 1912, eight people (six of them children) were axed to death in this house’s second-floor bedroom. It is now a recognized paranormal location, with visitors seeing apparitions and hearing unexplained things.
Some people have been inside and have told stories of doors opening and shutting by themselves, voices murmuring, and impressions of being watched. The Villisca Axe Murder House still attracts paranormal investigators and thrill-seekers to date.
10. Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts
The Lizzie Borden House, infamous for the 1892 murder of Andrew and Abby Borden, is a haunted location known for its spooky atmosphere. Visitors often report hearing unexplained knocks and seeing objects moving inside the rooms where the murders occurred.
Despite Lizzie’s acquittal, the case’s intrigue and horror have made it a popular spot for ghost hunters. The house offers overnight accommodations, similar to a bed-and-breakfast.
11. Augustine Lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida
The St. Augustine Lighthouse is a historic landmark known for being a ghostly hub in Florida. Both visitors and staff have witnessed ghostly apparitions of two young girls who perished in an accident in the lighthouse.
They usually play in the lighthouse, and there is plenty of giggling and running. Another ghost, that of a former lighthouse keeper, has been seen at the top of the tower, still looking after it. The place currently hosts ghost tours, which enable visitors to walk around the grounds and climb up to experience the haunted spiral staircase at night.
12. LaLaurie Mansion Location in New Orleans, Louisiana
The LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana, is also one of the most haunted places in America. The mansion is where Madame Delphine LaLaurie tortured and killed her slaves in ancient times.
When a fire stopped the atrocities, it exposed the morbid truth, and ever since, it has been said spirits of the occupants are still haunting it. Horrified screams have been heard, and visitors and locals report the ghostly figures of men looking out through the windows.
13. The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia
This old asylum has a past that has a lot of horror in it. There are various sightings of a full-bodied apparition from an older woman, as well as dismembered voices.
Evidence exists in paranormal investigations that hear patients crying out for help and see shadow figures drifting around hallways at night. The property also hosts ghost tours where guests can experience these cryptic sightings for themselves.
14. Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Built-in 1886 as a hospital owned by a quack doctor, the Crescent Hotel has more than its share of haunts. There are rumors that spirits from long-dead patients in the hotel still wander, with Room 218 being the most energetically polluted.
The hotel has paranormal sightings, such as lights flickering on and off and ghost sightings of patients and staff.
15. Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania
One of the best chilling haunts is the Gettysburg Battlefield, where over 50,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in battle. Visitors have reported the sounds of battle, as well as cold spots in this location.
The battlefield is currently public, and is open until dark. Ghost tours are held in the evening for those brave enough to walk where fallen soldiers had once been.