lemiThe land of the free—for good reason! Home to some of the world’s most famous landscapes, cityscapes, and great escapes
United States of Spooks
United States
Halloween is upon us! It’s the time of the year when ghouls are welcome to wander the streets (so we’re told), right beside costumed kids searching for candy. To celebrate the spooky holiday, we’re pointing our ghost detectors to America’s eeriest spots! Here, specters roam the space every day of the year, making themselves known only to lucky visitors. Build up your courage—you’re going to need it!
Keep an ear out for clanging cell blocks, hurried footsteps, and freaky laughter at Eastern State Penitentiary! The massive Gothic-style prison is infamous for being the first to implement solitary confinement in the country. It was also known for conducting severe torture practices towards its inmates. After its shut-down in 1970, it’s believed that many unrested spirits remained in the premises, unable to find peace from the horrible conditions that led to their deaths. Horror fanatics should time their visits during the Fall season when the jail (now a museum) hosts “Terror Behind the Walls,” America’s largest haunted house!
- +1 215 236 3300
2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- https://www.easternstate.org/
Before docking in Long Beach, California as a floating hotel, The Queen Mary served as a luxury ocean liner and a World War II ship. Its rich history has seen many lives and deaths; and a number of its undead passengers have chosen to stay on-board. Book a cabin to possibly share a room with a ghost! Cabin B340 is your best bet for an encounter, since it’s rumored to have been the setting of a murder in the past. There are also day tours available, in case you’re not up to stay the night. Try to sneak a peek into the engine room—it’s a hotbed for paranormal activity!
- +1 877 342 0742
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California, USA
- https://www.queenmary.com/
Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum is America’s most notorious B&B famed for its morbid backstory. In 1892, Lizzie Borden was accused of hacking her parents Andrew and Abby to death with a hatchet. She was eventually let go due to lack of evidence and the murder remained unsolved. The spirits of Andrew and Abby continue to haunt the house, showing themselves as apparitions dressed in Victorian-era clothing or making disturbing wailing noises. Guests may brave an evening in the room where Abby was murdered; or, opt for an hour-long tour around the museum. Grab an ax-wielding Lizzie bobblehead from the gift shop before you go!
- +1 508 675 7333
230 2nd Street, Fall River, Massachusetts, USA
- https://lizzie-borden.com/
Enjoy your beer at Moon River Brewing Company, but stay alert for a few uninvited tipplers! During the Civil War, the brewery’s building operated as a high-end hotel with a reputation for violence. Brawls were a frequent event and they often ended in demise. Catch souls looking to regain lost time as they linger by the sidelines. Famous ones include Mrs. Johnson, a lady in period clothing strolling upstairs; and, a taunting figure hiding in the basement named Toby.
- +1 912 447 0943
21 West Bay Street, Savannah, Georgia, USA
- http://wordpress.moonriverbrewing.com
Ghostly shadows are a usual sight at Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. The mental hospital was designed to fit only 250 people but in the 1950s, 2,500 patients crowded the rooms. Some of them were even forced to stay in cages! Many convalescents were also given inhumane treatments like electroshock therapy and lobotomy. Go on a day tour to learn about the facility's history; or, search for ghouls in the night on a ghost hunt! Check out their website for special events (such as their Halloween Haunted House) before you visit.
- +1 304 269 5070
71 Asylum Drive, Weston, West Virginia, USA
- http://trans-alleghenylunaticasylum.com
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Perhaps America’s most haunted home, Whaley House Museum teems with paranormal action. Built on San Diego, California’s first gallows, the site tells stories of the lives taken by public execution. Souls of criminals like “Yankee Jim” Robinson are known to still roam the area. The residence was also witness to tragic events surrounding the Whaley family, specifically the suicide of their matriarch Anna. Once you smell cigar smoke and heavy perfume around the house, you’ll know they’re with you!
- +1 619 297 7511
2476 San Diego Avenue, San Diego, California, USA
- https://whaleyhouse.org/
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People come to The Stanley Hotel for Colorado’s largest whiskey selection; but, they stay (or maybe leave) for the mystery that linger in the halls. The Georgian-style structure gained traction after it inspired Stephen King’s best-selling novel-turned-film, “The Shining” (1980). While we can’t promise that you’ll see a pair of creepy twins, several ghostly manifestations are reported here. Watch out for flickering lights, echoes of children’s laughter, and the sound of piano music during your stay. For an even spookier experience, join the Night Spirit Tour where you’re taken to the hotel’s most active paranormal spaces!
- +1 970 577 4000
333 Wonderview Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado, USA
- https://www.stanleyhotel.com/
- Check rates and book
A day at Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court is much more than just paperwork and convictions. The soul of Toni Jo Henry, the first (and only) woman in Louisiana who died on the electric chair, meddles with everyday life. Hear her screams and smell her burnt hair as you go through your errands. Toni Jo regularly locks doors and tinkers with office equipment, so excuse a few minor hitches from the staff!
- +1 337 437 3550
1000 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
- https://www.calclerkofcourt.com/
Book a night at Crescent Hotel & Spa to come face-to-face with other-worldly friends! Since its construction in 1886, it became a luxury resort, a conservatory for young women, and a junior college. However, its strangest incarnation was as a hospital that could “cure” cancer. It was opened by Norman G. Baker who posed as a doctor (without any professional medical background) and conducted cruel untested treatments. Baker, his patients, and a few more disturbed spirits incessantly rover the hotel. Catch a glimpse of them on one of the hotel’s daily ghost tours. You’ll be taken to the basement which served as the then-hospital’s morgue!
- +1 855 725 5720
75 Prospect Avenue, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA
- https://www.crescent-hotel.com/
- Check rates and book
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