America’s Most Haunted: 13 Places That’ll Give You the Utter Chills

You’ve seen it in films and read about it in books, but have you ever wondered what it’s like to walk through a ghostly old mansion or investigate an abandoned asylum yourself?

The United States is strangely home to some of the most haunted locations in the world. After two years of vanlifing across the United States, I had my own weird floating light situation near Area 51 and in empty ghost towns that would send chills down anyone’s spine. 

Whether you believe in the paranormal or are just looking for a spooky travel adventure, dare to check out these haunted places in the US. If you’re brave enough to explore the darker corners of the West, they’re sure to give you goosebumps and maybe even a story or two to tell back home!

1. The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel is perhaps one of the most iconic haunted houses in America, made famous by Stephen King’s “The Shining.” Opened in 1909 by Freelan Oscar Stanley, this grand hotel among the beautiful Rocky Mountains has a history of high-society glamour paired with chilling tales of ghostly encounters. King’s spooky stay in Room 217 is said to have inspired the novel, but the hotel’s haunted reputation extends far beyond fiction.

Paranormal Reports: Guests and staff have reported many eerie experiences over the years. Freelan Stanley’s spirit is often seen in the lobby or Billiard Room, while his wife Flora is known to play the piano in the Music Room. The fourth floor appears to be the most active area, with guests reporting sounds of children laughing and running through the halls late at night. Room 217 remains a focal point for paranormal activity, with mysterious movements, lights flickering, and objects being rearranged.

How to Visit: Just an hour and a half away, the Stanley Hotel is a perfect day trip from Denver. There are day tours that focus on its haunted history, or you can stay overnight in one of its many historic rooms.

2. Alcatraz Island – San Francisco, California 

Alcatraz Island, often referred to as “The Rock,” is a historical relic of America’s penitentiary past and one of the most chillingly haunted spots in the country. Located in San Francisco Bay, it once housed infamous criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Operational from 1934 to 1963, its isolated location and inescapable reputation made it a nightmare for inmates.

Paranormal Reports: Many have reported cold spots, unexplained screams and crying, clanging metal doors, and whispers in empty cells. The most notorious area is “Cell Block D,” also known as solitary confinement or “The Hole.” Here, guests have felt unseen hands grab them or seen ghostly apparitions in the dimly lit corridors. Some even claim to hear the ghostly banjo music of Al Capone echoing through the cell blocks.

How to Visit: Catch a ferry from Pier 33 to go to Alcatraz. I thought it was one of the coolest things to do in San Francisco. The island is open for tours year-round, or you can pick up an audio guide while night tours ramp up the spook factor. Book tickets in advance as the ferries fill up quickly, especially during peak tourist season.

3. Winchester Mystery House – San Jose, California 

The Winchester Mystery House is one of the most bizarre architectural structures in the United States. Built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the firearm magnate William Winchester, this mansion was continuously constructed over 38 years, from 1886 to 1922. 

Its oddities, like staircases to nowhere and doors opening into walls, stem from Sarah’s belief that these features would help her evade spirits killed by Winchester rifles.

Paranormal Reports: From mysterious footsteps to cold spots and apparitions, many believe Sarah’s spirits still roam the corridors. One frequent sighting is Sarah Winchester herself, a dark, shadowy figure wandering the house with melancholy.

How to Visit: Located in San Jose, California, the Winchester Mystery House is easily accessible for a day tour. The property has various themed tours, including evening candlelight tours.

4. Queen Mary – Long Beach, California

The RMS Queen Mary is a retired British ocean liner that now serves as a hotel and tourist attraction in Long Beach, California. Originally launched in 1934, this grand ship transported passengers, including celebrities and soldiers, across the Atlantic until decommissioned in 1967.

Paranormal Reports: The ship’s engine room, for one, is said to be haunted by a young sailor who was tragically crushed by a door during a routine drill. The first-class pool area, now dry, is a hotspot for sightings. Many report women in 1930s bathing suits with footprints appearing on the wet deck. Eerie forms of children have also been heard playing and laughing in the nursery.

How to Visit: The Queen Mary can be visited year-round, with various tours highlighting its haunted history. You can even stay overnight in one of the ship’s historic staterooms. Located in Long Beach, it’s a convenient detour from Los Angeles.

5. Goldfield Hotel – Goldfield, Nevada 

The Goldfield Hotel is a decaying relic from Nevada’s gold rush era. Constructed in 1908, this once-opulent hotel once offered luxuries like crystal chandeliers and Italian marble to the elite. Goldfield itself was a booming mining town at the time, attracting prospectors and celebrities alike. However, as the gold veins dried up, so did the town’s prosperity, leaving behind the eerie remnants of its glory days.

Paranormal Reports: Room 109 is said to be haunted by Elizabeth, the mistress of the hotel’s original owner, who died tragically within those walls. Witnesses report seeing her apparition and smelling her perfume. From the basement, many hear unsettling sounds and feel sudden drops in temperature. Flickering lights, mysterious whispers, and even shadowy figures have been documented throughout the building.

How to Visit: In the small town of Goldfield, Nevada, this historic landmark isn’t on the usual tourist trail. Although the hotel is not currently operational, guided tours are available, especially around Halloween.

6. The Whaley House – San Diego, California 

The Whaley House is widely regarded as one of the most haunted houses in America. Built in 1857 by Thomas Whaley, the house has been a family home to a granary, a court, and even San Diego’s first commercial theatre. Its complex history includes public executions on the property and the untimely deaths of several family members.

Paranormal Reports: The ghost of Thomas Whaley himself is often seen standing on the second-floor landing or sitting at his desk. His wife, Anna Whaley, sometimes appears in the garden or wanders through the rooms. The kitchen is said to be haunted by the spirit of “Yankee Jim” Robinson, who was hanged before the house was built. Guests report hearing children running and laughing or seeing objects move on their own.

How to Visit: The Whaley House is open year-round for tours, both day and evening. It’s easily accessible, making it a perfect stop on your San Diego itinerary.

7. Hotel Monte Vista – Flagstaff, Arizona 

Along Route 66 in downtown Flagstaff, the Hotel Monte Vista has been a cornerstone of hospitality since 1927. Funded by local citizens to accommodate the roaring influx of travelers and dignitaries, the hotel quickly became a central hub in the community. Over the decades, it has hosted a myriad of famous guests, from Hollywood stars like John Wayne to eccentric musicians and writers.

Paranormal Reports: Room 306, also known as the “Rocking Chair Room,” has had repeated reports of the chair rocking on its own. Guests in room 220 have been awakened by a phantom bellboy knocking on their door with an eerie message. The ghost of a woman in Room 305 is often described as a former prostitute who met a tragic end.

How to Visit: Easily accessible off Route 66, visitors can book rooms and even request to stay in one of the famously haunted ones. 

8. Virginia City – Nevada 

Virginia City, Nevada, is a Wild West mining town founded in 1859 after the discovery of the Comstock Lode, the richest silver deposit in the United States. This town quickly grew into a mining hub with multi-storied brick buildings, wooden sidewalks, and old saloons. 

Paranormal Reports: The Victorian-designed Silver Queen Hotel is said to be haunted by a woman named Rosie, who committed suicide in Room 11. Guests often describe hearing phantom footsteps and seeing shadowy figures at the Washoe Club, a former social club for affluent miners. 

How to Visit: Virginia City is just a day trip from Reno, Nevada, and there are plenty of guided ghost tours to explore the old mines or walk through haunted hotels. The town hosts special events around Halloween.

9. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel – Los Angeles, California 

Steeped in glamour and Hollywood history, the Roosevelt Hotel has been a landmark since 1927. Named after President Theodore Roosevelt, this opulent hotel quickly became a hotspot for the rich and famous, hosting the first Academy Awards in its Blossom Room. Marilyn Monroe resided here for two years early in her career, and you’ll find Clark Gable and Carole Lombard among the many illustrious guests who frequented the hotel.

Paranormal Reports: This place has been the set for many TV shows and films, including American Horror Story and Roseanne. The most famous ghost story involves Marilyn Monroe’s spirit, who has been seen in the full-length mirror in her old suite. The apparition, believed to be Montgomery Clift dressed in a tuxedo, has been seen pacing the halls of the ninth floor, where he stayed while filming “From Here to Eternity.” 

How to Visit: On the busy Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is a fascinating stop on any LA itinerary. The hotel has tours of its public spaces and a “haunted hallway” that focuses on its ghostly legends. You can even stay in the suite where Marilyn Monroe once lived.

10. Bodie State Historic Park – Bodie, California

In the mountainous region of Northern California, Bodie State Historic Park is a deserted mining town frozen in time. Founded in 1859 after discovering gold, Bodie quickly grew to over 10,000 residents. Once thriving with saloons, hotels, and even a red-light district, the town started to decline by the early 20th century, becoming a ghost town by 1942.

Paranormal Reports: Common sightings include a woman in a red dress, thought to be Evelyn Myers, wandering near her old home. Phantom children play around the schoolhouse. Many also talk about the ghostly figure of a miner still trying to retrieve his lost fortune, appearing near the old mine shafts.

How to Visit: Bodie State Historic Park is open to the public year-round, although access may be limited in winter due to snow. Situated about 75 miles southeast of Lake Tahoe, it’s a worthwhile detour for anyone traveling through the region. You can do a self-guided tour, but rangers also provide guided tours during the summer.

11. San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio, Texas

San Fernando Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States, has seen centuries of historical events, from the Battle of the Alamo to modern-day celebrations. The cathedral’s architecture uniquely blends Spanish Colonial and Gothic Revival styles.

Paranormal Reports: Among the most chilling accounts are sightings of shadowy apparitions both inside the cathedral and in the adjacent square. A ghostly figure of a man dressed in black, who some believe to be a monk, has been spotted often. The cathedral is also said to be haunted by the spirits of soldiers linked to the historic battles fought in San Antonio.

How to Visit: The cathedral is a popular San Antonio tourist destination open daily for visitors to see the interior and attend mass. Join one of San Antonio’s renowned ghost tours, which often include a stop at the cathedral. 

12. The Old Idaho Penitentiary – Boise, Idaho 

Established in 1872, the Old Idaho Penitentiary once housed some of the West’s most notorious criminals. For over a century, the penitentiary was home to notorious figures, including bank robbers and serial killers, until it finally closed its doors in 1973.

Paranormal Reports: Some claim to have seen the specter of Raymond Snowden, often called “Idaho’s Jack the Ripper,” who was executed on-site in 1957. Other phenomena include objects moving on their own, unexplained footsteps, and shadowy figures glimpsed at the corners of one’s vision.

How to Visit: A short drive from downtown Boise, the prison is open year-round for self-guided tours, guided tours, and special events. The penitentiary also hosts night tours and paranormal investigation events.

13. Columbia Gorge Hotel – Hood River, Oregon 

On the cliffs overlooking the Columbia River, the Columbia Gorge Hotel is a historic establishment built in 1921 by timber tycoon Simon Benson. The hotel epitomized luxury, cementing its reputation as the “Waldorf of the West.”

Paranormal Reports: Common sightings include an elderly woman in a long gown from the 1930s, seen near windows or in guest rooms. Visitors report cold spots, lavender perfume smells, flickering lights, and eerie footsteps in empty hallways.

How to Visit: Located in Hood River, Oregon, the Columbia Gorge Hotel is open year-round and offers day tours and overnight stays. 

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