5 of the Most Notoriously Haunted Home and Hotels in America

Oct 31, 2024

We’re closing out a lengthy autumnal celebration of all things spooky here at Classic, with one last guide to spooky travel destinations! Today, we’re sharing 5 notorious places to visit if you’re looking for paranormal activities and ghostly encounters. Halloween doesn’t have to end in October, if you’re brave enough to explore these unique destinations. Book a ghost hunting package, take a self-guided tour, or even book a stay in some of these spine-tingling locations. Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s make like Scooby Doo and the Mystery Machine Crew and get spooky.

And if you really do check them out, of course, we’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Spooky ghost moving alongside a hotel corridor

Biltmore in North Carolina is a sprawling, majestic estate in Asheville built by the prominent Vanderbiut family in the 1800s, completed in 1895. It features an overwhelming 250 rooms, several of which are said to be haunted! Visitors have reported several ghostly sightings throughout the years, the most famous of which is the woman in a pink dress flitting through the halls or sitting in one of the rooms, rumored to have been the ghost of George Vanderbilt’s mistress. You might also see a young boy playing in the gardens, spirits going up and down the stairs, strange smells or cold spots, and strange footsteps echoing.

LaLaurie Mansion in Louisiana is haunted by the ghosts of American history and decades of cruelty and violence towards the slaves who were captured here, leaving it teeming with ghostly figures, tormented souls, and aggressive apparitions. Locals claim the historic mansion is cursed, having been home to the intimidating and unflinchingly violent MAdame Delphine LaLaurie. There are significant reports of moans and wails coming from the room where LaLaurie imprisoned her slaves. Visitors report hearing echoes of footsteps down empty hallways, guides and visitors being physically tapped, poked, and grabbed by unseen spirits, lamp lights flickering on and off, and decades of other paranormal activities. Even passersby report an overwhelming feeling of negative energy and extreme sadness and pain when standing or walking too close to the building.

Winchester Mystery House in California is perhaps the most famous entry on our list, with dozens of ghosts and supernatural occurrences being reported over the years, and rumored to have been built by Sarah Pardee Winchester at the behest of the spirits from beyond! The most famous ghost spotted by tourists is the “wheelbarrow ghost” who carts a wheelbarrow of coal around the basement and Clyde, the spectral figure of a former worker in the home. However, there are so many sightings including strange disappearing shadows in the windows and mirrors, flickering lights, strange footsteps, unnerving sounds, phantom cooking smells, etc, all of which are unusual for a house that no one has lived in since the 90s. Regardless of which stories may be true, both employees and visitors alike have reported paranormal experiences on a consistent basis!

The Stanley Hotel in Colorado is affectionately known by paranormal enthusiasts as “The Disneyworld of Ghosts”, with sightings and reports too numerous to count. Author Stephen King once stayed at this hotel with his wife, and the nightmares which ensued were the inspiration for his infamous novel, “The Shining”. Guests, employees, and ghost hunters have all reported a variety of sightings including disembodied laughter, flickering lights, items moving on their own accord, shadowy figures lurking, doors opening and closing on their own, and more. It’s rumored that the fourth floor may be its most haunted area, but the entire hotel is a hotbed for ghost hunting!

Lizzie Borden House in Massachusetts was the former home of Lizzie Borden and her family, all involved in the infamous 1892 unsolved murder of Lizzie’s father and stepmother and sensational trial. It’s rife with paranormal activity, and has now become one of the most popular haunted houses and spooky Bed and Breakfasts in all of America! You can book a tour of the 6 bedroom home, or opt for an overnight stay in one of the rooms, including the notorious “murder room” if you dare. Visitors have reported it being one of the creepiest places they’ve ever visited. You might encounter the ghost of the Bordens, hear some strange eerie laughter throughout the halls, experience flickering lights, and even catch a glimpse of a few spectral children gallivanting from room to room. You can even book a ghost hunting experience, if you’re brave enough.

Other Notorious haunts you may want to look into: