1. The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
The Stanley Hotel has earned its ghostly reputation thanks in part to inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining. Guests have reported hearing children laughing in the hallways when no children were present and even music drifting from the empty ballroom. The hotel itself leans into the spooky vibe with nightly ghost tours, but not everyone can handle staying past midnight. Some people have checked in and almost immediately asked for a refund after hearing unexplained footsteps or doors closing.
Room 217 is said to be the most haunted, with tales of a housekeeper’s spirit lingering after an accident over a century ago. Others claim to have seen shadowy figures hovering at the edge of their bed, only to vanish when they turned on the lights. Even skeptics have walked away a little rattled. The combination of real history and eerie stories makes this a place where guests often pack up early.
2. Crescent Hotel – Eureka Springs, Arkansas
The Crescent Hotel has been dubbed “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” and it has the stories to back it up. Built in 1886, it once operated as a hospital run by a notorious con man named Norman Baker. Patients believed they were receiving cancer treatments but were instead victims of his cruel scams. That history alone unsettles many visitors who sense something off the moment they enter.
Guests report seeing figures in nurses’ uniforms, strange orbs in their photographs, and a man in a Victorian suit roaming the lobby. Room 218 is especially known for paranormal activity, with reports of doors slamming and objects moving on their own. While the hotel thrives on its haunted reputation, plenty of guests have chosen not to stay the night after experiencing the chills firsthand.
3. The Queen Mary – Long Beach, California
The Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner turned hotel, and it’s famous for its ghostly passengers who never disembarked. During its years at sea, the ship saw wartime service, tragic accidents, and plenty of deaths. Today, guests who check in for a unique stay often leave sooner than expected because the paranormal encounters are too intense.
The most haunted areas include the engine room and the pool deck, where visitors claim to hear splashing and children’s laughter even though the pools are long empty. Many people wake in the middle of the night to the sound of footsteps pacing their rooms. Others report sudden drops in temperature and the overwhelming feeling of being watched. For some, that’s a thrill, but for others, it’s a reason to check out early.
4. The Myrtles Plantation – St. Francisville, Louisiana
The Myrtles Plantation is one of the most talked-about haunted hotels in the South. Dating back to 1796, it carries stories of tragic deaths, slave-era hauntings, and the infamous ghost named Chloe, a servant said to have poisoned her master’s family. Visitors claim to see Chloe wandering the property with a green turban wrapped around her head.
Guests frequently report hearing footsteps on the staircase and children’s voices when no one is around. Some have even captured strange figures in their photographs. The combination of southern charm and unsettling spirits makes it a hard place to sleep peacefully. More than a few guests have packed their bags in the middle of the night after witnessing something they couldn’t explain.
5. Hotel Monte Vista – Flagstaff, Arizona
Built in 1927, Hotel Monte Vista has hosted celebrities and travelers alike, but its reputation for ghostly activity overshadows its glamorous past. One of the most famous stories involves two women who were reportedly murdered in Room 306. Guests who stay there claim to feel their presence through eerie sensations like sudden chills and whispers in the dark.
Other paranormal reports include a phantom bellboy knocking on doors and vanishing when guests open them. Some even hear the sound of a baby crying, despite no children being present. The unsettling mix of history and haunting has caused many visitors to abandon their reservations. It’s a place where curiosity quickly turns to fear.
6. The Menger Hotel – San Antonio, Texas
The Menger Hotel has stood near the Alamo since 1859, which means it has seen its share of history and tragedy. With so many stories attached to it, guests often come searching for a brush with the supernatural. Many of them end up leaving quicker than expected after hearing strange sounds echoing through its grand halls.
Sightings include apparitions of Civil War soldiers, as well as a chambermaid named Sallie White, who died tragically in the hotel. Some guests say they’ve woken to find her standing at the foot of their bed, staring silently. Others feel icy drafts or hear footsteps following them through empty corridors. While beautiful and historic, the hotel’s restless spirits make it an unnerving place to stay overnight.
7. The Pfister Hotel – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Pfister Hotel is known for its luxurious interior and ghostly encounters. Built in 1893, it has gained particular attention from professional athletes who refuse to stay there after unsettling experiences. Several baseball players have reported lights flickering, electronics turning on and off, and a ghostly presence in their rooms.
Guests often feel watched or hear strange knocking when no one is at the door. Some even report waking to see a man in Victorian clothing standing nearby, only to disappear moments later. While the hotel offers elegance and comfort, the haunted reputation is strong enough that some sports teams request to stay elsewhere. For the average guest, one eerie night can be enough to make them head home early.
8. Marshall House – Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is already known for being one of America’s most haunted cities, and Marshall House adds to that reputation. Built in 1851, it served as a hospital during the Civil War and later yellow fever outbreaks. Guests often say they hear the sounds of children running in the hallways, along with faucets turning on by themselves.
One of the creepiest details is that during renovations, workers found human remains beneath the floorboards. That discovery alone is enough to spook even the bravest visitors. Many guests report seeing shadowy figures and experiencing cold drafts in their rooms. While the hotel embraces its history, not everyone makes it through the night.
9. The Driskill – Austin, Texas
The Driskill is a lavish hotel that has stood in downtown Austin since 1886, but its luxurious reputation comes with plenty of ghost stories. One of the most famous involves the spirit of a little girl who died after chasing a ball down the grand staircase. Guests say they still hear her laughter echoing through the halls.
Another story tells of a jilted bride who took her own life in one of the rooms, and visitors now report seeing her wandering the corridors. Lights flicker, and people often describe an oppressive feeling in certain parts of the hotel. The combination of elegance and eerie encounters leaves some guests too uneasy to finish their stay.
10. The Heathman Hotel – Portland, Oregon
The Heathman Hotel is unusual because its paranormal activity seems tied to its rooms that end in the same numbers on different floors. Guests staying in Rooms 703, 803, and 1003 often report eerie sensations. Stories include cold spots, objects moving on their own, and the unsettling sense of being watched while trying to sleep.
Housekeeping staff have also shared experiences of rooms being rearranged after they were cleaned. Guests sometimes wake to see shadowy figures standing silently in the corners. The strange consistency across different floors makes the haunting feel especially unnerving. Many visitors simply can’t relax long enough to stay the entire night.
11. Jerome Grand Hotel – Jerome, Arizona
The Jerome Grand Hotel was once a hospital, which sets the stage for many of its ghostly stories. Patients who died there are said to still roam the halls, and the building’s history adds to its chilling atmosphere. Guests often hear the sounds of coughing, moaning, and even hospital gurneys rolling across the floor.
Room 32 is notorious for paranormal activity, with reports of doors opening and closing on their own. Some visitors see shadowy figures moving past their windows despite being several stories up. While the hotel leans into its haunted history, many guests find the real-life chills too much to handle. It’s not uncommon for people to check out early.
12. The Emily Morgan Hotel – San Antonio, Texas
Located across from the Alamo, the Emily Morgan Hotel was once a medical facility, and that history lingers in unsettling ways. Guests often report smelling antiseptic in the halls or hearing phantom hospital sounds. Some even claim to see nurses and patients wandering through their rooms.
The 14th floor is said to be especially active, with people experiencing sudden cold spots and flickering lights. Many who plan to enjoy a historic stay instead find themselves too unnerved to sleep. It’s one of those places where curiosity quickly turns into a hasty departure. The ghosts of its medical past seem unwilling to let go.
13. Hotel del Coronado – Coronado, California
The Hotel del Coronado is a sunny beachfront resort with a dark story attached. In 1892, a woman named Kate Morgan was found dead on the property under mysterious circumstances. Guests believe she never left, and her spirit lingers throughout the hotel.
Her favorite haunting spot is said to be her old room, where visitors report flickering lights, strange sounds, and the feeling of someone sitting on the bed. Some claim to have seen her ghostly figure wandering near the beach at night. While it’s a beautiful vacation spot, many guests feel too unsettled to finish their stay. The contrast between luxury and ghostly presence makes it unforgettable.
14. The Roosevelt Hotel – Los Angeles, California
The Roosevelt Hotel has long been associated with Hollywood glamour, but it also comes with eerie tales. Opened in 1927, it has hosted countless celebrities, some of whom may still linger in ghostly form. Guests claim to see Marilyn Monroe’s reflection in a mirror that once hung in her suite.
Other reports include cold spots in the ballroom and an apparition of actor Montgomery Clift pacing the hallways. Staff and visitors alike have admitted to feeling uneasy in certain rooms. While it remains a hotspot for Hollywood history, it’s also a place where guests sometimes decide a single night is enough. Its mix of fame and fright is hard to shake.
15. The Battery Carriage House Inn – Charleston, South Carolina
The Battery Carriage House Inn is a charming bed-and-breakfast with a reputation for being haunted. Guests often check in expecting southern hospitality but are met with ghostly encounters that send them packing. Some have seen headless apparitions, while others report shadowy figures hovering over their beds.
Room 8 is infamous for ghostly sightings, including a gray figure that appears without warning. Room 10 has its own share of activity, with guests feeling sudden pressure on their chests as if someone invisible is sitting on them. While the inn is lovely, the ghost stories are strong enough to drive even curious visitors away. It’s a place where checking in doesn’t always mean staying the night.