1. Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania
This crumbling Gothic prison in Philadelphia looks like something out of a horror movie, and honestly, it kind of feels like one too. Built in the 1800s, it was once the most expensive prison in the world and operated under a strict solitary confinement model that drove many prisoners mad. Now it’s a museum, but visitors swear they’ve heard whispers, footsteps, and even distant cries echoing down the cell blocks shares Penn State University.
Some say the ghost of Al Capone, who did a stint here, still paces his cell. Tour guides have reported being tapped on the shoulder with no one behind them, and others refuse to enter certain areas alone. During its annual haunted house events, even actors hired to scare guests say they’ve been genuinely frightened. If walls could talk, these would probably scream says WHYY.
2. The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
This elegant mountain retreat in Estes Park inspired Stephen King to write The Shining, and if you’ve ever stayed there, you might understand why. The grand hallways and antique decor set the perfect scene for a haunting, and plenty of guests say they’ve experienced something supernatural shares CBS News.
Staff often hear piano music coming from the empty ballroom, and Room 217 is especially notorious. That’s where King stayed, and it’s also where housekeepers say objects move on their own. Some even believe the ghost of a former maid still tidies up the room from time to time. Others report children’s laughter echoing through the halls when no kids are around. Haunted or not, it’s definitely a place that makes you sleep with one eye open adds Denver Gazette.
3. LaLaurie Mansion, Louisiana
Deep in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter sits the infamous LaLaurie Mansion, where socialite Delphine LaLaurie was discovered to have tortured and killed enslaved people in the 1830s. The house’s history is so dark that locals still cross the street to avoid walking past it.
People claim they hear wailing at night, and some tourists say they’ve seen apparitions peering out the windows. No one has lived there peacefully for long. Even Nicolas Cage once owned it but quickly sold it, calling it a terrible mistake. Some say the spirits of those wronged still linger inside, seeking justice. It’s beautiful on the outside, but its past clings to it like a shadow.
4. The Queen Mary, California
Docked in Long Beach, this retired ocean liner turned hotel is known as one of the most haunted places in America. It once served as a luxury cruise ship and even a World War II troop transport, so it’s seen a lot of history, both glamorous and grim.
Guests and staff have reported ghostly sightings in the ship’s pool area, including a little girl named Jackie who supposedly drowned there. Others hear knocking from inside walls or catch a glimpse of a figure in 1930s clothing disappearing around a corner. The engine room is especially creepy, with people claiming to hear metal clanging when no one’s around. Some say the ship doesn’t rest easy because so many souls passed through it. Even skeptics admit the energy feels… different.
5. The Whaley House, California
Located in San Diego’s Old Town, the Whaley House is a charming-looking place with a grim reputation. Built on the site of a former gallows, the home has seen tragedy from the start, including the suicide of several family members within its walls.
Visitors often say they feel cold spots or hear heavy boots stomping upstairs when no one is there. One ghost, thought to be a thief who was hanged on the property, reportedly appears near the staircase. Others believe the Whaley family themselves never truly left. Paranormal investigators have recorded eerie voices and unexplained movements. Despite its beauty, there’s something undeniably unsettling about the house. Locals wouldn’t dream of spending the night inside.
6. Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania
This Revolutionary War-era fort near Philadelphia still stands today, and it’s not just known for its history—it’s famous for its hauntings. Built in 1771, it saw battles, prisoners, and countless deaths, and many believe the spirits of soldiers remain.
One of the most frequently reported ghosts is the Screaming Woman, whose cries echo through the grounds, though no one can ever find her. People also report shadowy figures and sudden temperature drops in old barracks and tunnels. Even the staff admit to hearing footsteps when they’re alone. Some say a faceless man appears on the grounds at night. If you go looking for ghosts, Fort Mifflin might just deliver. It’s history you can feel in your bones.
7. Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana
This plantation in St. Francisville is one of the South’s most photographed homes—and one of its most haunted. With a history full of murder, mystery, and slavery, it’s no surprise people say the house is teeming with spirits.
The most famous ghost is Chloe, a woman said to have been a slave who was hanged after poisoning the family. Her image has allegedly been caught in photographs, and guests report seeing her wandering the property in a green turban. There’s also a haunted mirror that some say holds the trapped souls of the Woodruff family. People claim it fogs up with handprints, even after being cleaned. The beautiful house has a heaviness to it that visitors can’t ignore. Some guests cut their stay short after one eerie night.
8. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia
With a name like that, you already know this place has a dark past. Located in Weston, this asylum operated from the mid-1800s to the 1990s and housed thousands of patients—many subjected to outdated and cruel treatments.
Now it’s a popular spot for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers. Visitors claim to hear whispers, banging doors, and screams echoing through the long-abandoned halls. Some have seen figures in hospital gowns or felt unseen hands brush their arms. There are reports of a little girl ghost named Lily who likes to play with toys left in her old room. It’s chilling to think how much trauma those walls have absorbed. Even in daylight, the building feels off.
9. The Bell Witch Cave, Tennessee
This one’s less about a building and more about the land itself. In the early 1800s, the Bell family of Adams, Tennessee, was reportedly tormented by a spirit that became known as the Bell Witch.
She supposedly spoke, moved objects, and even caused John Bell’s death. Today, the nearby cave is said to be a focal point of the haunting. Visitors claim they hear voices or feel pushed by unseen forces while inside. Legend warns that taking a rock from the cave brings misfortune. Locals take those stories seriously, often leaving returned rocks at the entrance. Whether you believe in witches or not, there’s an eerie energy around that cave.
10. The Villisca Axe Murder House, Iowa
This unassuming white house in Villisca was the site of a gruesome, still-unsolved crime in 1912, when eight people, including six children, were murdered in their sleep. The house has been preserved almost exactly as it was, and people say the victims never left.
Visitors report hearing children laughing or crying, doors slamming on their own, and mysterious footsteps in the night. Some even claim to see shadowy figures moving through the house. Paranormal investigators have captured disturbing audio and video evidence. You can stay overnight if you dare, but many leave before sunrise. The silence inside the house is heavy. It’s not just haunted, it’s heartbreaking.
11. Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Kentucky
Once a tuberculosis hospital, Waverly Hills is as massive as it is terrifying. Thousands of patients died there during the height of the TB epidemic, and many were transported through a secret “body chute” to avoid upsetting others.
It’s now one of the most infamous haunted locations in the country. Guests and ghost hunters alike report hearing gurneys rolling down the halls, doors slamming, and disembodied voices. One spirit, known as the Creeper, reportedly crawls along the walls and ceilings. Room 502 is particularly active—nurses are said to have died by suicide there, and their presence still lingers. Even people who don’t believe in ghosts say Waverly feels wrong. It’s a place that leaves its mark on you.
12. The Crescent Hotel, Arkansas
This grand hotel in Eureka Springs looks like something out of a fairy tale, but its history is full of twists and tragedies. Once a luxury resort, it later became a fake cancer hospital run by a con man named Norman Baker in the 1930s.
Patients who died under his care were allegedly buried in the basement, which certainly explains some of the strange sightings. Guests say they’ve seen nurses in old-fashioned uniforms pushing gurneys down the hallway. Others have captured mysterious orbs and figures in photographs. Room 218 is said to be the most haunted, with reports of flickering lights and furniture moving on its own. Even skeptics have walked away spooked. The past clings to this place like ivy on the stone walls.
13. The Tower of London, England
Few places have seen as much bloodshed as the Tower of London. This centuries-old fortress has served as a royal palace, prison, and execution site, and the ghosts that linger are just as famous as the history itself.
Anne Boleyn is said to walk the halls, sometimes carrying her own head. Other guards have reported seeing phantom soldiers or hearing screams in the night. One former sentry claimed to be attacked by a ghostly figure and died of fright days later. People say the air inside feels thick, like you’re never quite alone. Even daytime tours have a sense of unease about them. It’s a place where the past refuses to rest.