Watching a movie full of ghosts and haunted houses is one thing, but actually going to a haunted house is a totally different ballgame. And believe it or not, there are plenty of haunted locations all around the world.
Including in the United States! Here’s a list of some pretty spooky locations you can visit in time for Halloween (or any other point of the year).
Stanley Hotel in Colorado.
Known as the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining , this hotel is, like, super haunted. In fact, its original owners, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley, can still be seen (and heard) around the hotel, helping guests and playing music.
The Ohio State Reformatory.
This former prison was used as a filming location for The Shawshank Redemption and Air Force One . It’s not only a surprisingly beautiful building, but it’s also super haunted. And bookings are available for tours, too !
The Witch House in Salem, Massachusetts.
The 1692 Salem Witch trials were a huge deal at the time, seeing 19 people executed over accusations of witchcraft. The Witch House is the only building related to the trials that’s still standing, having been home to Judge Johnathan Corwin .
Lake Placid in New York.
This beautiful lake is also home to a tragedy; Mabel Douglass went missing in the lake in 1933, but her body wasn’t recovered until 1963 . The tragedy is also shrouded in mystery, and compounded into the legend of the Ghost of the Lady of the Lake.
The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California.
Sarah Winchester saw the construction and renovation of this house from 1886, all the way to her death in 1922 . As a result, it’s been dubbed one of the most mysterious houses in the world. It’s also a pretty popular tourist destination.
King’s Tavern in Natchez, Mississippi.
Built in 1789, the tavern was the sight of multiple gruesome killings and deaths over its 200+ years of existence. As such, it’s considered one of the most haunted places in America. So naturally, a fun place to visit.
The Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California.
The hotel is home to the ghost of Kate Morgan, a young woman who died of a gunshot wound during her stay in 1892. Though the wound was deemed self-inflicted, her death is somewhat of a mystery.
Armour–Stiner House near Sleepy Hollow, New York.
Not too far from Sleepy Hollow, a place with its own legends, the Octagon House’s unique shape and architecture gave way to numerous rumors. This place seemingly has some kind of a connection to the spirit world .
The Providence, Rhode Island City Hall.
As the legend goes, 12 men lost their lives during the construction of the city hall in Rhode Island’s capital. Others, such as Mayor Thomas Doyle, have died or been laid to rest in and around the building. It’s very widely believed to be haunted.
Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Also known (somewhat fittingly) as ESP, the former prison housed several notorious criminals , including Al Capone. It’s open for tours year-round, but is an especially popular tourist destination in and around Halloween. Because ghosts.
Camp Helen State Park in Florida.
Several ghosts can be spotted at this park , to the point where guided tours were once offered. They unfortunately had to stop the tours nearly a decade ago due to high costs, but the park is still open for visitors.
Lizzie Borden House in Massachusetts.
The Lizzie Borden House is the site of two gruesome murders that took place in 1892. Borden’s parents were murdered with a hatchet, a crime that would go unsolved to this day (though many suspect Borden herself was the murderer). Nowadays, it’s a bed and breakfast (and yes, you can stay in the room where the parents were killed).
Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Wyoming’s capital city is actually home to a number of haunted locations ( which can be seen via a trolley tour ). But the most popular one is the Cheyenne Depot Museum , which has had its fair share of ghosts sightings over the years.
Sica Hollow State Park in South Dakota.
This beautiful state park is also home to plenty of Sioux legends and lore . Its significance in Sioux legends makes it all the more mysterious and haunting as a destination.
Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas
The haunted house gets its name from a young girl named Sallie , who died in surgery by the doctor who resided there at the time. Since then, the people who lived in the home experienced strange and dangerous events, attributed to the young ghost.
Talbott Tavern in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Over the years, this tavern has had a number of supposed ghosts sightings, including small things like orbs . Some even claim to have seen the ghost of Jesse James (the outlaw, not the guy who cheated on Sandra Bullock).
Calcasieu Courthouse in Calcasieu, Louisiana.
The courthouse is haunted by the ghost of Toni Jo Henry , who was convicted of murder in 1942 (and sentenced to death as a result). To this day, her ghost is blamed for tampering with court equipment.
The Landmark Inn in Marquette, Michigan.
The Landmark Inn is home of the Lilac Lady, a heartbroken woman whose lover never returned from sailing on Lake Superior. She died while staying in the hotel’s Lilac Room, hence her name. To this day, multiple people claim to have seen her in the halls.
Brighton Asylum in Brighton, New Jersey.
The asylum’s gruesome history is the reason why people believe it to be so haunted and terrifying. These days, it’s one of the places to be in October, because they really know how to put on a show.
The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas.
Room 525 of the hotel is the sight where two separate women ended their own lives after being left by their grooms-to-be. Each death happened centuries from the other, adding more to the eeriness.
