The 24 Most Haunted Hotels in America
Book a room at these haunted properties—if you dare.
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It’s officially fall, y’all! And if Halloween is your favorite part of the season, what better way to celebrate—and get away from it all—than by checking into a haunted hotel? All across America, there are plenty of historic hotels, inns, and B&Bs that boast a ghoulish past—and they’ve opened their doors to take you along for the ride.
If you and your family revel in things that go bump in the night, and are more thrilled than freaked out by unexplained noises and cold breezes coming from seemingly nowhere, you’ll be glad you picked one of these haunted hotels for your next group vacation. Especially because many of the options we’ve rounded up here are also historic hotels, so they also tend to boast vintage decor, antique furniture galore, and other quirky details you won’t find at modern resorts.
Skeptical about having a true paranormal experience? We encourage you to read up on the details of each hotel’s respective ghost stories before you pay them a visit. After all, it’s not just guests that have reported ghost sightings at these haunted hotels; several of the properties themselves play up their spooky histories by hosting ghost-hunting activities and other paranormal experiences.
Still not convinced? There is one more way to find out for yourself whether these hotels really are haunted—book your stay, wander around, and listen closely. You may just encounter a visitor from another realm! And while you’re at it, might we suggest booking a nearby ghost tour to further up the ante, then queuing up a spooktacular ghost movie to cap off the night?
Hotel Chelsea | New York City, New York
New York's Hotel Chelsea has nearly as many famous ghosts as it does famous guests—and their stories are pretty gruesome. Within its red brick walls, Sid Vicious's girlfriend was stabbed to death back in 1978, and even further back, in 1953, Dylan Thomas died of pneumonia as a guest here. If you're cool with A-list ghosts though, by all means, book a room!
Emily Morgan Hotel | San Antonio, Texas
The Emily Morgan Hotel is the "third most-haunted in the world," according to USA Today, and that's really no surprise. The property used to act as a morgue and house psychiatric ward patients.
Anchorage Hotel | Anchorage, Alaska
With an impressive roster of famous guests (Will Rogers and Wiley Post stayed here before their doomed flight, for example) it comes as no surprise that the handsome Anchorage Hotel is rumored to be haunted. Alleged sightings are so frequent that the property maintains a "ghost log" in the lobby.
1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa | Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Heed caution at this grand ole property, particularly in room 218. That's reportedly where an Irish stonemason named Michael plunged to his death while the hotel was being constructed in the 1880s. Guests have seen hands coming out of the bathroom mirror, heard the screams of a man from the ceiling, and witnessed doors slamming shut without explanation.
The Stanley Hotel | Estes Park, Colorado
Paranormal experts (yes, that's a thing!) have proclaimed the Stanley one of the most haunted sites in America. Perhaps that's why famed novelist Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining after staying here? In addition to its luxe amenities, guests can partake in nightly ghost tours.
Congress Plaza Hotel | Chicago, Illinois
While gangster Al Capone is rumored to have lived here for a time, the scariest permanent guest is that of "The Little Boy." He's thought to be the ghost of six-year-old Karel Langer, who was thrown out of a 12th story window by his mother during a nervous breakdown. Hotel employees have experienced the sensation of being chased down the hall of that fateful floor.
French Lick Springs Hotel | French Lick, Indiana
Founder Thomas Taggart is thought to have taken such pride in the grand hotel he built along the therapeutic waters of the Pluto Mineral Springs that he continues to keep an eye on things today. It's been reported that Mr. Taggart takes charge of the service elevator when the property gets busy and holds haunting bashes in the empty ballroom, which the staff has heard through closed doors.
Mason House Inn | Bentonsport, Iowa
The stately Mason House Inn is not only an enclave for ghostly inhabitants (five spirits are said to reside here including an apparition of a young boy on the landing). It's also an outpost for paranormal seekers, with the Inn playing host to ghost hunting courses and retreats throughout the year.
The Brown Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville's premiere hotel wows with grand guest rooms and an opulent lobby. Since the death of original owner John Graham Brown, employees have reported unusual occurrences including elevators mysteriously stopping on the 15th floor, where Brown and his dog once resided.
Place d'Armes Hotel | New Orleans, Louisiana
Centered on a pretty courtyard this property seems harmless. But the idyllic hotel has become a popular stop on ghost tours of the Big Easy thanks to a dark past. Built where a school burnt to the ground during the 1880s, the hotel is supposedly home to many ghosts from the tragedy. Among the most frequently spotted are a distressed little girl and an old man who both seem to vanish into thin air.
Lizzie Borden House Bed & Breakfast | Fall River, Massachusetts
Eerie sightings are the norm at the home-turned-inn of infamous alleged murderer Lizzie Borden. Can't make the trek to Fall River? Login to one of the properties four "Ghost Cams" and checkout the paranormal activities in real time.
The Palmer House Hotel | Sauck Centre, Minnesota
A perennial favorite on Best Haunted Hotel lists, this former saloon and brothel is reported to be regularly visited by at least ten spirits, including one with a propensity for turning faucets off and on. Among the property's many "Haunt Happenings," is an annual paranormal conference.
Mizpah Hotel | Tonopah, Nevada
The 47-room desert oasis features classic furnishings in the guest rooms and slot machines in the lobby. More tempting for some is the "Lady in Red," who many believe is the ghost of a cheating wife who was caught red-handed by her husband on the fifth floor.
The Southern Mansion | Cape May, New Jersey
Ester Mercur, the last member of the original family to live in the mansion, is believed to haunt the beach town resort. Guests have reported both hearing (laughter and rustling petticoats) and smelling (perfume wafting through the corridors) her ghostly presence.
St. James Hotel | Cimarron, New Mexico
If you're looking for A-List ghosts, pack your bags and head to the St. James Hotel, which purports to have the spirits of such Wild West notables as Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, Clay Allison, Black Jack Ketchum, Billy the Kid, and Thomas James Wright roaming its halls.
Rough Riders Hotel | Medora, North Dakota
Named for the cavalry unit led by President Theodore Roosevelt, the Rough Riders Hotel is reported to have a youthful guest of honor. Visitors have claimed to hear a little boy laughing at his own juvenile hijinks, including flushing toilets when no one is in the bathroom.
Skirvin Hilton Hotel | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
It's rare that ghost stories and sports lore collide, but that's exactly what's happened at Oklahoma City's oldest hotel, where multiple basketball teams, including the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls, have blamed hotel hauntings for unexplained losses.
Gettysburg Hotel | Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Given its deadly past it should come as no surprise that many consider Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, one of the most haunted places in the United States. At the Gettysburg Hotel, for example, a Confederate nurse known as "Rachel" is rumored to walk the hallways and neighboring streets in search of soldiers to tend to.
The Geiser Grand Hotel | Baker City, Oregon
This historic property features well-appointed rooms and enough paranormal activity (think faucets turning on by themselves or Gibson Girl-like apparitions) to draw guests from around the globe. Most recently, a Japanese film crew visited the Geiser Grand to capture ghost footage for FujiTV.
Hotel Alex Johnson | Rapid City, South Dakota
In the lobby of this historic property guests will find nods to South Dakota's Native American culture including a chandelier made from arrowheads. But wander up to the eighth floor and they may encounter "The Lady in White," who is believed to be the ghost of a young bride who flung herself from a window in 1970s. The window in the fateful Room #810 has been rumored to open and close without explanation.
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