1. Resurrection Mary, Chicago
If you’ve ever driven along Archer Avenue near Chicago, you may have heard about Resurrection Mary. The story goes that motorists sometimes pick up a young woman in a white dress who asks for a ride, only to vanish once the car passes Resurrection Cemetery. It’s one of the most famous “vanishing hitchhiker” tales, with sightings reported for decades. People swear they’ve seen her pressing her hands against the cemetery gates, leaving burn-like marks.
Locals tell the story as if it happened to a friend of a friend, making it feel even creepier. Some cab drivers even refuse fares in that area late at night. Whether she’s a lost soul still trying to get home or just a well-spun legend, the tale has endured long enough to keep drivers watching their rear-view mirrors nervously.
2. The Weeping Woman of Stull Cemetery, Kansas
Stull Cemetery is infamous for being called one of the “seven gateways to hell.” Beyond that already terrifying label, there’s the legend of a woman who is said to wail among the graves. She supposedly lost her child tragically, and now her cries echo through the tombstones. Visitors report hearing sobbing when no one else is around.
The cemetery has been the subject of countless stories, from satanic rituals to appearances by the devil himself. While much of it is probably teenage exaggeration, the atmosphere there is undeniably eerie. Locals avoid it after dark, and even curious ghost hunters often leave with a sense of dread they can’t quite explain.
3. Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery, Illinois
Bachelor’s Grove has become a hotspot for paranormal investigators, and with good reason. Countless reports mention ghostly figures, strange lights, and even phantom vehicles appearing on the overgrown paths. One of the most famous photos ever taken of a supposed ghost shows a woman in white sitting on a tombstone there.
The cemetery has a long history of vandalism and urban legends, which only add to its aura. People say they’ve seen an entire ghost house that vanishes when you get too close. Whether it’s just tricks of the mind or something otherworldly, Bachelor’s Grove still lures in thrill-seekers who leave with stories of their own.
4. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, California
Being the resting place of stars naturally comes with ghostly stories. One of the most famous is the supposed apparition of Rudolph Valentino, who people claim still roams the grounds. Another tale involves a mysterious “Lady in Black” who appeared for years to leave roses at Valentino’s crypt.
Visitors have also reported music drifting from nowhere near the graves of musicians. Because the cemetery still hosts events and screenings, guests sometimes wonder if they’ve brushed past a spirit while searching for their seats. Hollywood may be known for make-believe, but this cemetery’s legends are chilling enough to blur the line.
5. Greyfriars Kirkyard, Scotland
In Edinburgh, Greyfriars Kirkyard is more than just historic—it’s notorious for terrifying hauntings. The most famous involves George Mackenzie, a ruthless figure from the 17th century. People say his spirit, known as the “Mackenzie Poltergeist,” attacks visitors, leaving bruises and scratches.
Ghost tours often take brave guests through the mausoleums, where sudden cold spots and feelings of being watched are common. Some people have fainted mid-tour, convinced they encountered something malicious. The sheer number of reports has cemented Greyfriars as one of the most haunted cemeteries in the world.
6. Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris
Père Lachaise is world-famous for its beautiful tombs and celebrity residents like Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde. But beneath the charm lies darker tales. Visitors claim Morrison’s spirit lingers near his grave, sometimes seen as a shadowy figure leaning against a tree.
Others speak of whispers in the crypts or the feeling of unseen hands brushing past. With thousands of ornate graves and winding paths, it’s easy to feel disoriented. That disorientation, paired with the legends, makes it feel like the dead may actually still walk there at night.
7. Union Cemetery, Connecticut
Union Cemetery has a reputation for being one of the most haunted cemeteries in the U.S. The star of the stories is the “White Lady,” a ghostly figure spotted floating along the road and among the gravestones. Drivers report swerving to avoid her only for her to vanish instantly.
Some paranormal investigators have tried to capture her on film, claiming success with eerie images. The cemetery is locked at night, but that hasn’t stopped thrill-seekers from sneaking in. Those who do often leave convinced they brushed against something supernatural.
8. Highgate Cemetery, London
Highgate Cemetery is known for its Gothic beauty, but its legends lean into horror. In the 1970s, reports spread of a vampire-like figure lurking among the tombs. People described a tall, dark presence with glowing eyes that sent shivers down their spines.
It became such a sensation that rival groups of vampire hunters actually staked out the cemetery. Some even claimed to have driven a stake into a coffin to stop the creature. While the vampire legend may be more fiction than fact, Highgate’s brooding architecture makes it easy to believe in monsters.
9. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans
This cemetery is as famous for its legends as for its above-ground tombs. The most chilling involves Marie Laveau, the “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.” Visitors claim her spirit still roams the grounds, granting favors to those who mark her tomb with X’s.
Some have reported seeing a woman in a colorful headwrap walking among the graves before disappearing. Others swear they hear chants when the cemetery is otherwise silent. With New Orleans’ mix of culture and mysticism, it’s no surprise this site is steeped in haunting lore.
10. Howard Street Cemetery, Massachusetts
Located in Salem, this cemetery is tied to the infamous witch trials. Legend says Giles Corey, who was pressed to death with stones for refusing to plead, still haunts the grounds. Witnesses describe a heavy, oppressive feeling when near his grave.
Stories go further, suggesting Corey’s ghost appears before disasters in Salem. Supposedly, he was seen just before the Great Salem Fire of 1914. His restless spirit is said to embody the injustice he suffered, a chilling reminder of the town’s dark history.
11. Bonaventure Cemetery, Georgia
Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery is picturesque during the day, but at night, the stories turn eerie. The most famous ghost is that of little Gracie Watson, a child who died in the 1880s. People claim to see her statue crying tears or hear the laughter of a young girl when no one is around.
Visitors often leave toys at her grave, only to find them mysteriously moved. Others have reported flickering lights and strange shadows dancing between the elaborate monuments. The beauty of the place only makes its legends more unsettling.
12. La Recoleta Cemetery, Argentina
In Buenos Aires, La Recoleta Cemetery is filled with elaborate mausoleums. Among its many stories, one of the creepiest is of Rufina Cambaceres, a young woman who was allegedly buried alive after being mistakenly pronounced dead. Scratches were reportedly found on the inside of her coffin.
Today, visitors sometimes claim to see her ghost wandering the pathways, as if still trying to escape. Whether or not the tale is true, it’s become part of the cemetery’s chilling folklore. It’s enough to make anyone glance twice at the ornate tombs.
13. St. Mary’s Churchyard, Whitby
Whitby, England, is already tied to vampire lore thanks to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But St. Mary’s Churchyard adds its own layer of spookiness. Locals say spirits wander the clifftop cemetery, especially on foggy nights when the sea crashes below.
Visitors sometimes report ghostly figures staring out toward the harbor. The combination of literary history and real ghost tales makes it one of the eeriest burial grounds in England. Standing there, it’s not hard to imagine why Stoker found inspiration in Whitby.
14. Waverly Cemetery, Australia
Perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the ocean in Sydney, Waverly Cemetery has both beauty and dread. Some say the ghosts of shipwreck victims linger here, wandering the rows of graves. Others claim to see strange lights bobbing over the water.
The sounds of footsteps and voices have also been reported, even when no one else is nearby. The contrast of crashing waves and eerie silence makes the atmosphere unforgettable. It’s the kind of place where the view is breathtaking, but the legends make you shiver.
15. Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague
This centuries-old cemetery is crowded with thousands of graves stacked layer upon layer. Its legends speak of spirits unable to rest, roaming through the uneven stones. Visitors have described cold gusts of wind on still days and the sense of being followed.
Some say the spirits are guardians, watching over the sacred ground. Others believe they are restless souls disturbed by centuries of upheaval. Either way, standing among the tilted stones and crooked paths feels like stepping into another world—one where the past hasn’t quite let go.