1. The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
If you’ve ever read The Shining or watched the movie, you already know this hotel has a reputation for giving guests the chills. Located in Estes Park, The Stanley is said to be home to spirits who wander the halls, including the original owners. Visitors often report hearing piano music in the dead of night, even when no one is near the ballroom. Some have even seen ghostly figures at the end of their bed.
The eerie energy is so strong that guests frequently pack up and leave before morning. The creaks of the old wood, shadows that move on their own, and sudden bursts of cold air can be too much to handle. Even thrill-seekers sometimes cut their stays short after a few hours of paranormal activity. It’s one of those places where people book out of curiosity but rarely stay for comfort.
2. Crescent Hotel, Arkansas
Dubbed “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” the Crescent in Eureka Springs is famous for its history as a former hospital run by a quack doctor. Patients were treated poorly, and many didn’t survive, leaving behind restless spirits. Guests claim to see shadowy figures in the hallways and even a ghostly nurse making her rounds.
Some visitors have heard voices calling their names when no one is around. The combination of tragic history and creepy sightings has caused more than a few people to leave in the middle of the night. Many arrive excited for a spooky adventure, only to find the reality is much scarier than expected. If you book here, don’t be surprised if you decide not to stay until sunrise.
3. The Queen Mary, California
This historic ocean liner turned hotel in Long Beach is said to be one of the most haunted places in the country. With its wartime past and countless deaths on board, it’s no wonder spirits seem to linger. Guests often report hearing footsteps in empty hallways and seeing figures dressed in old uniforms. The engine room, where a sailor was crushed, is particularly active.
Many visitors check in expecting a fun nautical getaway but quickly change their minds. Strange knocking on walls, faucets turning on by themselves, and cold spots make sleep impossible. Some even say they felt a hand touch them in the middle of the night, only to find no one there. It’s enough to send even brave travelers back to shore before morning.
4. The Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana
This plantation-turned-inn has a chilling backstory filled with murder and mystery. Legend has it that at least 10 people were killed on the property, and their spirits never left. Guests often see apparitions in old-fashioned clothing and hear voices when no one else is present. The most famous ghost is Chloe, a former enslaved woman whose story still haunts the grounds.
People come here for the history but often leave because of the haunting. Visitors have reported being touched, hearing children crying, and even capturing ghostly faces in photographs. It’s not uncommon for frightened guests to pack up their belongings after just a few hours. Staying overnight at The Myrtles is a test of nerves few are willing to endure.
5. Hotel Monte Vista, Arizona
Located in Flagstaff, this hotel has a reputation for paranormal activity so strong that staff members have grown used to it. Guests report TVs changing channels by themselves and strange knocks on the doors at night. One of the creepiest stories involves a ghostly bellboy who tries to deliver luggage that isn’t there.
Even though it’s a charming old hotel, many people can’t handle the unsettling encounters. Some guests check in only to leave before midnight, unnerved by the whispers and footsteps echoing through the halls. The idea of a bellboy from another era wandering the halls is enough to make sleep impossible. For those seeking quiet comfort, this hotel rarely delivers.
6. The Marshall House, Georgia
Savannah is already known as one of the most haunted cities in America, and The Marshall House fits right in. Once used as a hospital during the Civil War, it’s said to be filled with restless spirits of soldiers. Guests often hear moaning, footsteps, and even the sound of surgical tools clinking. Some have claimed to see apparitions of wounded men wandering the halls.
Not everyone can handle the atmosphere. The thought of sharing a room with the lingering energy of a battlefield hospital has made plenty of visitors pack up early. Cold drafts and flickering lights only add to the uneasy feeling. It’s a place where checking out before dawn feels more like survival than choice.
7. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, California
This glamorous Los Angeles landmark has hosted countless stars over the decades, and some never left. The ghost of Marilyn Monroe is said to appear in a mirror that once hung in her suite. Guests have also spotted shadowy figures dancing in the empty ballroom.
While many come for the history, they don’t always stay. Some have reported hearing laughter in their rooms when they were alone. Others felt sudden temperature drops that made them shiver uncontrollably. The mix of Hollywood charm and supernatural unease has caused more than a few midnight departures.
8. Jerome Grand Hotel, Arizona
This former hospital sits perched on a hill in Jerome, and its history is filled with tragedy. Patients who died there are said to still roam the halls, and paranormal activity is reported almost daily. Guests claim to hear rolling gurneys in the middle of the night and doors slamming on their own.
The unsettling energy is so strong that some people can’t make it through the night. Imagine lying in bed and hearing moans of pain echoing down the hall—that’s enough to make anyone pack their bags early. Even seasoned ghost hunters have admitted to feeling overwhelmed here. For casual travelers, checking out before sunrise is common.
9. The Driskill Hotel, Texas
This Austin hotel is a blend of luxury and lingering spirits. Built in 1886, it has a tragic history of guests dying on the property, including a young girl who fell down the stairs. Guests claim they can still hear her bouncing a ball in the hallways. Others have seen the figure of a man believed to be Colonel Driskill himself.
Many who book a stay expecting southern charm quickly change their minds. The unnerving sounds, shadows, and cold spots prove too much for comfort. Some visitors cut their stay short, unable to relax with the feeling of being watched. The Driskill’s beauty often masks the fact that it’s also a haunted hotspot.
10. The Pfister Hotel, Wisconsin
In Milwaukee, the Pfister Hotel is known for unsettling its guests, especially professional athletes. Several baseball players have shared stories of strange noises, lights flickering, and even objects moving on their own. The idea of spending the night with an invisible prankster is too much for some.
It might look elegant on the outside, but the atmosphere changes once the sun goes down. Guests often feel a heavy presence in their rooms, as if someone unseen is standing nearby. It’s not unusual for people to check in and then flee after experiencing too many unexplained events. The Pfister’s ghosts seem to prefer an audience, whether welcome or not.
11. The Heathman Hotel, Oregon
Located in Portland, The Heathman is best known for its haunted rooms. Guests have reported seeing figures standing silently at the foot of their bed, only to vanish seconds later. Others hear knocking on the walls or find their belongings mysteriously moved.
Even though the rooms are comfortable, the supernatural encounters make it hard to rest. Some guests don’t last the night, unnerved by the feeling of invisible eyes watching them. The hotel’s reputation for hauntings is so strong that many book a stay just to see if they can handle it. More often than not, they check out before morning.
12. The Emily Morgan Hotel, Texas
Sitting across from the Alamo in San Antonio, this hotel has a deeply haunted reputation. It was once a medical facility, and the echoes of its past still linger. Guests have reported doors opening on their own and hearing the cries of phantom patients.
Some visitors come seeking a brush with history but end up too unnerved to stay. The sensation of being touched or watched in the dark convinces many to leave before dawn. The Emily Morgan’s mix of elegance and eerie energy is a lot to take in. It’s the kind of place where curiosity quickly turns into fear.
13. Hotel del Coronado, California
This beachfront beauty near San Diego has a darker side. The most famous ghost is Kate Morgan, a young woman who checked in during the 1890s but never checked out alive. Guests claim to see her roaming the halls, and some have felt her presence in her old room.
Even though the hotel is stunning, the paranormal activity makes it unnerving. Visitors have reported flickering lights, strange drafts, and the sound of footsteps in empty corridors. Some say Kate appears in their dreams while they stay there. It’s no wonder that nervous guests often check out long before the morning sun.