While many of us had to cancel our travel plans for 2020 and will likely be staying put the rest of the year, I know I’m dying to go on a vacation once there’s a vaccine. And you know what sounds like the trip of a lifetime? A tour of some of America’s most haunted attractions. There are hundreds of haunted houses and buildings throughout this country, spanning New England, the deep south and California. Take a look at 10 of the most haunted places in America in the gallery below, then let us know where you would stay the night in the comments section on social media.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Built between the years 1858 and 1881, this psychiatric hospital operated in Weston, West Virginia from 1864 through 1994. At it’s peak it held 2,600 patients and it’s currently regarded as one of the most haunted former asylums in the United States. It’s been profiled on a number of paranormal television programs, including “Ghost Stories,” “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Adventures” and “Portals to Hell.”
Eastern State Penitentiary
Established in 1829, this prison operated in Philadelphia until 1971. During operation, it held notable crime celebrities, including Al Capone and Willie Sutton. Many prisoners endured cruel punishments during their stay, including an iron gag and an underground hole that provided no light, bathroom, food, human contact and barely any air. It’s been profiled by a number of paranormal television shows, including “Buzzfeed Unsolved” and MTV’s “Fear.”
Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast
From 1874 through 1892, this home in Fall River, Massachusetts belonged to Andrew Borden and housed the Borden family. His daughter Lizzie remains the main murder suspect of his and his wife’s murder in 1892, with their bodies (and an axe) found by investigators in the home. Today, this building is known as the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast and guests can stay in the exact room Lizzie’s stepmother Abby Borden was murdered.
RMS Queen Mary
This British ocean liner sailed within the Northern Atlantic Ocean between 1936 and 1967. It’s permanently docked in California and operates as a hotel, with many guests reporting hauntings over the year. According to The Queen Mary Hotel, suite B-340 is allegedly the most haunted room of the bunch.
The Stanley Hotel
Located in Estes Park, Colorado, this hotel opened in 1909 and inspired Stephen King to write “The Shining” following his stay in room 217. The hotel from the novel is based off The Stanley Hotel and staff, as well as guests, have reported seeing ghosts of the former owners, housekeepers and a child named Billy over the years.
St. Augustine Light
First lit in May 1824, this was Florida’s first official lighthouse and is one of the state’s most haunted landmarks. There are reports of paranormal activity in the lighthouse, as well as in surrounding buildings, with many visitors reporting spooky noises.
House of the Seven Gables
This colonial mansion was built in Salem, Massachusetts in 1668 and is best known for being the setting of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel “The House of the Seven Gables.” The house has allegedly been haunted since its construction and there are many ghostly figures known to occupy this home.
LaLaurie Mansion
This New Orleans mansion was once home to Delphine LaLaurie, a socialite who tortured and murdered her slaves during the 1800s. Most of the paranormal sightings in this hotel come from one of the rooms where LaLaurie held her slaves and visitors report hearing moans coming from within the walls.
Amityville Horror House
In 1974, five people were murdered at a home in Amityville, New York and to this day, people have reported paranormal activity within its walls. The experiences of the Lutz family, who moved into the home in 1975 and left after 28 days of being terrorized by supernatural beings, have inspired a number of films including “The Amityville Horror,” and “The Conjuring 2.”
The Winchester Mystery House
Located in San Jose, California this mansion was built between 1884 and 1922. It was the primary inspiration for Disney’s “Haunted Mansion,” as many spiritual encounters have been reported there. It has also been featured in “Buzzfeed Unsolved” and was shown in the 100th episode of “American Horror Story.”
