1. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
If you’ve ever felt your heart race watching The Shining, you can thank this hotel for inspiring it. The Stanley has long been known for ghostly activity, from piano music playing itself to apparitions appearing in hallways. Guests have reported hearing laughter in empty rooms and seeing the spirits of the original owners, Freelan and Flora Stanley, still tending to their beloved property. Even Stephen King himself had a chilling night here that sparked his imagination for his famous novel.
Room 217 is the most notorious, where a housekeeper supposedly still makes her presence known after an explosion injured her in 1911. Visitors say their belongings move on their own or lights flicker without explanation. The grand halls may be beautiful, but few guests feel completely at ease walking them at night. It’s no wonder the hotel offers ghost tours—if you’re brave enough to take one.
2. The Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Dubbed “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” the Crescent looks like a fairytale castle perched on a hill, but its history is far from charming. It opened in 1886 as a luxury resort but later became a hospital run by a fraudulent doctor who promised to cure cancer. Many patients died here, and it’s said their spirits never left. Staff and visitors have reported ghostly nurses, phantom patients, and even a mischievous spirit known as “Theodora.”
The morgue in the basement still gives off an unsettling energy. Some people claim to feel a hand on their shoulder or see shadowy figures darting down the halls. Paranormal investigators have captured eerie voices and temperature drops. The hotel embraces its haunted reputation with nightly ghost tours—and plenty of guests admit they couldn’t sleep through the night.
3. The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
Once a luxury ocean liner, the Queen Mary now serves as a floating hotel—and one of the most haunted places in America. During World War II, it transported troops and saw tragedy when one of its escort ships was accidentally sliced in half. Many believe the souls of lost soldiers and sailors still wander the decks. Guests have heard mysterious knocks, children laughing near the pool, and footsteps echoing through empty corridors.
Stateroom B340 is particularly infamous. Visitors have described blankets being ripped off, faucets turning on by themselves, and even full-body apparitions. The ship’s rich history makes it a magnet for paranormal investigators. Whether it’s the energy of the sea or the weight of its past, few people leave the Queen Mary without feeling something unexplainable.
4. The Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana
This stately plantation is often called one of the most haunted homes in America. Built in 1796, it’s said to be the site of at least a dozen deaths, including murders and mysterious illnesses. The most famous ghost is Chloe, a former enslaved woman who was allegedly hanged after poisoning the family she served. Visitors claim to see her spirit wandering the grounds in a green turban.
There’s also talk of children’s laughter echoing through the halls and handprints appearing on mirrors. Guests have woken to find doors swinging open on their own or cold spots in otherwise warm rooms. The antique furniture and creaking floors only add to the eerie atmosphere. Even skeptics admit the plantation feels alive with the past.
5. The Jerome Grand Hotel, Jerome, Arizona
Perched high above the old mining town of Jerome, this former hospital turned hotel has a dark past. It opened in the 1920s as the United Verde Hospital and was known for treating miners who suffered gruesome injuries. Many of them didn’t survive, and guests say their spirits still linger. Footsteps echo in empty hallways, and disembodied voices call out in the night.
The third floor, once used for surgical procedures, is said to be especially active. People have reported beds shaking, doors slamming, and even faint cries of pain. The elevator sometimes moves between floors on its own, supposedly guided by the ghost of a maintenance man who died there. For those who love old Western history with a supernatural twist, it’s a chilling destination.
6. The Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff, Arizona
Built in 1927, this historic hotel once hosted Hollywood stars and weary travelers along Route 66. Today, its charm hides a much creepier side. Guests have reported phantom phone calls from empty rooms, glasses moving on their own in the bar, and a ghostly bellboy knocking on doors.
Room 305 is the most famous, where a long-term resident reportedly died years ago and never quite left. Some visitors see a rocking chair moving on its own, while others hear soft whispers. Staff members say they’ve felt watched when no one else was around. It’s the kind of place where a simple overnight stay might turn into a ghost story of your own.
7. The Heathman Hotel, Portland, Oregon
This elegant downtown hotel might look modern, but its hauntings are well-documented. Guests in rooms ending in “03” often complain of strange activity, like objects moving or sudden cold spots. Some even say they wake up to find a translucent figure at the foot of their bed.
The legend goes that a man fell to his death from the window of room 703, and his spirit travels through each floor he passed. People who’ve stayed there describe feeling an oppressive energy that’s hard to shake. The staff handles it all with a polite smile—but even they avoid certain rooms after dark.
8. The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Athletes who stay at the Pfister for games against the Brewers often leave with their own ghost stories. Built in 1893, the hotel is known for elegant décor—and unexplained phenomena. Guests report electronics turning on and off, doors locking themselves, and paintings that seem to follow you with their eyes.
Baseball players have famously refused to stay there after hearing phantom footsteps or voices. Some say it’s the ghost of Charles Pfister himself, watching over his masterpiece. Others think it’s something older tied to the land beneath it. Either way, this hotel blends luxury with lingering unease, leaving many guests ready to check out early.
9. The Marshall House, Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is known for its ghostly charm, and the Marshall House stands out as one of its most active sites. Built in 1851, it served as a hospital during the Civil War and later during yellow fever outbreaks. Guests have reported children running down hallways, faucets turning on by themselves, and mysterious noises in the night.
One of the eeriest discoveries came during renovations when workers found bones under the floorboards—likely from wartime amputations. Visitors often wake to the sensation of someone tugging on their blankets. The hotel’s stunning architecture can’t disguise its grim history, and many guests leave with stories they can’t quite explain.
10. The Driskill Hotel, Austin, Texas
This opulent 1886 hotel has hosted politicians, musicians, and presidents—but also plenty of spirits. The most famous ghost is said to be the daughter of the hotel’s founder, who tragically fell down a staircase while playing with a ball. Guests say they can still hear her bouncing it down the halls late at night.
Others have spotted the ghost of a jilted bride who supposedly ended her life in her room. The Driskill’s grandeur can feel hauntingly still after dark, as if its lavish walls are holding secrets. Even locals admit that walking through its lobby alone at night sends a chill down the spine.
11. The Hollywood Roosevelt, Los Angeles, California
This glamorous hotel has seen nearly a century of Hollywood history—and a few famous ghosts. Marilyn Monroe reportedly appears in the mirror of her old suite, while Montgomery Clift’s spirit has been spotted practicing his trumpet in room 928. The Roosevelt’s Spanish-style charm hides an energy that many guests can feel instantly.
Staff say elevators move on their own and cold spots appear in certain hallways. Photographs taken in the hotel often show orbs or shadowy figures. Even with its lively nightlife, there’s an undeniable otherworldly vibe. The line between the living and the departed feels thinner here than most places in Hollywood.
12. The Omni Parker House, Boston, Massachusetts
Founded in 1855, this historic hotel hosted literary legends like Charles Dickens and Nathaniel Hawthorne. But it’s also home to longtime staff who never seemed to leave, including founder Harvey Parker, who’s said to appear checking in on guests.
Elevators run by themselves, and mirrors sometimes reflect figures that aren’t really there. One guest reported waking to find a man standing at the foot of her bed who vanished in an instant. From whispering voices to flickering lights, the Parker House has an eerie sophistication that keeps ghost hunters coming back. It’s proof that even the most elegant hotels can have a dark side.