Spooky season is upon us! Lovers of the ghostly and macabre are gearing up for Halloween with ghastly decorations and lists of scary movies to watch. Whether or not you believe in the supernatural, every state has its own legends and ghost stories that some locals swear are true. Here are the most haunted place in each state across America, according to its residents.
Alabama
The Sloss Furnaces of Birmingham, Alabama are said to be haunted by the former workers who helped produce iron at the foundry. Urban legends claim the boss, James Wormwood, was a harsh taskmaster and had his workers toil under brutal conditions. Forty-seven people died under his leadership, and Wormwood himself also slipped and fell into the furnaces, ending his life.
Alaska
Alaska is an unforgiving state. It’s not called the Last Frontier just because it sounds cool! The state’s most haunted site is reportedly Kennecott, a remote ghost town that has been uninhabited since the 50s. While the town was buoyed by a successful copper mine in the early 20th century, it was abandoned when the copper veins dried up.
Arizona
Arizona’s Lost Dutchman State Park is allegedly the location of a long-forgotten gold mine under Apache Junction. Local legend holds that adventurers seeking the lost mine who fall in their pursuit of the gold become spirits that haunt the state park and waylay would-be treasure hunters.
Arkansas
The Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs is marketed to visitors as a profoundly haunted site. In fact, the hotel offers ghost tours for visitors and says lucky guests might even catch a glimpse of some famous phantoms, like the “girl in the mist”.
California
The gold rush in the late 1800s reshaped many Western states, including California. Bodie, California is a gold rush town that was abandoned when the gold mines ran out of the precious metal. Bodie is still dotted with late 19th century architecture, and locals insist that the ghosts of its former residents haunt the town.
Colorado
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: St. Elmo, Colorado was a mining town in the late 19th century that became abandoned when the mines shut down. Like Bodie and Kennecott, St. Elmo has been surprisingly well-preserved and now stands as a time capsule for visitors. And, of course, the locals say it’s populated by the ghosts of those who lived there.
Connecticut
The Old Newgate Prison in East Granby, Connecticut is one of the most haunted places in the world according to residents in the area. It was, interestingly enough, the first prison in Connecticut! It shut down in 1827, and the ruins of the building still stand—reportedly echoing the spectral voices of Revolutionary War soldiers.
Delaware
Fort Delaware was constructed during the Civil War and is accessible only by ferry. Union forces held Confederate soldiers prisoner within the fort, and many of them died from starvation or disease during the war. Local legend holds that their phantoms still stalk the halls of this spooky former military base.
Florida
Nothing holds a ghost like a jail, apparently. The Old St. Johns County Jail in St. Augustine is reportedly overrun with the specters of long-dead violent criminals. Visitors can explore the jail, which is now a museum, at night to see if they can lay eyes any of the phantoms.
Georgia
The Southeast can be downright spooky. Visiting Lucas Theatre in Savannah, Georgia will prove that claim! It’s a historic building that is reportedly haunted by more than just a few ghosts. Some visitors have recalled hearing ghostly performances met by a raucous round of applause despite the theater being completely abandoned.
Hawaii
At one point in time, the ‘Iolani Palace was the seat of power in Hawaii and the home of the island’s royal family. These days, the palace is a museum of Hawaiian history, tracking its somewhat troubling path to statehood. Visitors have reported hearing chanting and music in a few rooms, with some saying the ghost of Queen Lili’uokalani haunts the palace.
Idaho
Something about jails makes them common sites for ghosts. Maybe it’s the hold the jails had over the spirits in life, or maybe it’s because people are inherently scared of jails and see ghosts when there aren’t any. In either case, the Old Idaho State Penitentiary in Boise, Idaho is said to be haunted by the phantoms of long-dead criminals.
Illinois
Natives of Chicago, Illinois know the Congress Plaza Hotel as a haunted landmark. The historic hotel was initially built to accommodate visitors to the 1893 World’s Fair, but its reputation turned dark when Chicago serial killer H.H. Holmes used the hotel as the location of his crimes. The ghosts of his victims and other criminals are said to stalk the halls.
Indiana
The Indiana Medical History Museum in Indianapolis is an unassuming structure. It holds replicas of laboratories that were once housed in Central State Hospital. Residents of the area say the museum is haunted by the ghosts of the hospital’s former patients.
Iowa
The Villisca Axe Murder House was the site of a brutal series of crimes when an unknown assailant burst in in 1912 and used an axe to mercilessly attack six members of the Moore family and two of their houseguests. These days, the Villisca house is said to be haunted by their ghosts and guests can book an overnight stay in the home.
Kansas
That’s right, we made it all the way to Kansas before we got a haunted cemetery on this list! Stull Cemetery in Stull, Kansas is said to be overrun with the spirits of the departed. Stull is a mostly abandoned town, which makes its lonely, small cemetery that much more unsettling if you visit at night.
Kentucky
Nothing says “haunted” like a long-abandoned sanatorium. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville once housed over 400 tuberculosis patients and functioned as its own city, completely cut off from the outside world. The place was abandoned in the 60s when a cure for tuberculosis was developed, but locals say many of the deceased patients of the sanatorium still haunt its halls.
Louisiana
Many locals say the entire city of New Orleans is haunted in one way or another. The nexus of the spookiness, though, is St Louis Cemetery No. 1. The historic cemetery is the final resting place of Marie Laveau, a well-known voodoo practitioner.
Maine
Anyone who’s seen a coastal horror movie knows how creepy lighthouses can be. They’re isolated from the world and surrounded by the unforgiving ocean. The Wood Island Lighthouse in Maine is no exception, and residents in the area say it’s haunted by spirits of its former keepers.
Maryland
Antietam was a brutal and bloody battle during the American Civil War. Estimates from the battle hold that around 3,650 soldiers fell in combat during the battle. Visitors to the battlefield in Washington County, Maryland have reported seeing the ghosts of departed Union or Confederate soldiers still lingering around the rolling hills.
Massachusetts
Writer Edith Wharton once lived in a sprawling estate in Lenox, Massachusetts known simply as The Mount. Visitors can explore the gorgeous home, though locals say they should be careful, as The Mount is reportedly home to numerous phantoms and spirits.
Michigan
Spooky conspiracy theories about Freemasons abound, and that’s the case with Detroit’s Masonic Temple, too. The sprawling building has over 1,000 rooms, making it spooky just from its sheer size alone. What’s more, visitors say they’ve see unnatural shadows, heard doors slamming when they’re alone, and felt cold spots that can’t be explained.
Minnesota
St. Paul’s oldest theater is The Fitzgerald, a historic building that Twin Cities locals say is profoundly haunted. Fans of “A Prairie Home Companion” might be familiar with the theater already, as it’s the location where the show is produced. That’s where the ghost story of “Ben,” a specter who was reportedly once a stagehand on the variety show, originates!
Mississippi
There’s nothing like a tavern ghost story. King’s Tavern in Natchez, Mississippi was reportedly home to numerous phantoms, including the specter of its first owner’s mistress. Local legends still surround the historic tavern, though it’s now permanently closed to visitors. That hasn’t stopped enthusiasts from poking around the old building, though.
Missouri
It’s not every day you get to hear about local government and ghosts in the same tale! That’s what makes Missouri’s haunted location, the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City, so intriguing. Legend has it that a construction worker who was renovating the historic building in 2014 saw the ghost of a little girl in the attic. This sparked ghost enthusiasts to speculate she was the phantom of Carrie, a young girl who succumbed to diphtheria in the home in 1882.
Montana
Many weddings and parties have been held at Daly Mansion in Hamilton, Montana. For many of these events, the main draw of the venue is its supposed haunted history. The venue’s staff has reported strange phenomena, such as a gold picture frame constantly removed from the wall and found sitting ominously on the floor.
Nebraska
Ball Cemetery in Springfield, Nebraska could be the oldest graveyard in the state—that is, if one of the gravestones really is from 1869, as it claims. Visitors have allegedly spotted ghosts like a poor woman who tugs at the clothes of passerby. Perhaps the most disturbing tale is that of a towering, rage-filled ghost who kicks over gravestones that miraculously appear upright the next morning.
Nevada
Bowers Mansion in Washoe City, Nevada is reportedly haunted due to the occult activity of its former inhabitants. Eilley Bowers is said to have conducted seances after the death of her husband, Sandy, in an attempt to contact him from beyond the grave. Some locals say she succeeded, and his ghost still roams the mansion’s halls.
New Hampshire
Take a trip to Alton, New Hampshire to visit one of the most haunted places in New England. Alton’s Town Hall is a gorgeous landmark and also the reported site of ghost activity, including bizarre voices, moving furniture, and slamming doors.
New Jersey
New Jersey’s most haunted location isn’t as contained as most other states’. Instead, the Pine Barrens region extends across seven counties and is the site of numerous abandoned towns from a bygone era. In the past, the region was home to paper mills and a robust logging industry, but now locals say it’s just inhabited by specters and the infamous Jersey Devil.
New Mexico
The notorious Luna Mansion in Los Lunas, New Mexico is closed to guests these days. It was once a gorgeous estate home and was later converted into a restaurant. The restaurant’s owners reported strange occurrences within the estate, including a rocking chair that would rock on its own.
New York
Letchworth Village in Thiells, New York was once a psychiatric hospital. The site now sits abandoned and has become a popular destination for ghost hunters. Local legends have it that the abandoned hospital is now haunted by the ghost of patients who died while receiving treatment there.
North Carolina
Hatteras Island is a remote location off the coast of North Carolina. The lighthouse there is allegedly haunted by the spirit of Theodosia Burr, the daughter of Aaron Burr. That’s right, her dad was the man who beat Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Theodosia perished in a shipwreck off Hatteras Island in 1812.
North Dakota
The Dakotas are stunningly beautiful, but their sparse population density makes them somewhat lonely. That’s on full display at Fort Abraham Lincoln in Mandan, an isolated wooden fort constructed by George Armstrong Custer in 1872. Locals say Custer’s phantom still lingers in the eerie building.
Ohio
The Moonville Tunnel in Vinton County, Ohio is a favorite spot of ghost enthusiasts and urban adventurers. It’s been abandoned and unused for decades but was once an important tunnel for local rail traffic. The tunnel is reportedly haunted by the spirits of departed railway workers.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City’s Skirvin Hotel is an intimidating building from the outside. And that’s before you ever hear about the specters that reportedly stalk the halls of the historic hotel. People who have stayed at the hotel have reported seeing the ghost of a woman called “Effie,” who reportedly passed away while staying there.
Oregon
Did you know that there’s a series of secret tunnels under Portland, Oregon? These “Shanghai” tunnels were reportedly used by swindlers to press unsuspecting men into service, sending them to the Far East as deckhands. Legend has it these tunnels are now haunted by the ghosts of these reluctant sailors, angry at having their lives stolen from them.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s infamous Eastern State Penitentiary is one of the most well-known prisons in the world. The imposing structure was abandoned after years of allegations of prisoner mistreatment. Now, you can take nightly tours through the terrifying prison, where locals say you can encounter the ghosts of former inmates.
Rhode Island
The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island is a mansion built for Alice Vanderbilt of the famous American family. While Alice lived there in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it’s now a museum and alleged hub of supernatural activity. Alice’s ghost reportedly still stalks the winding halls of this spooky mansion.
South Carolina
The Poinsett Bridge in Greenville County, South Carolina is the oldest bridge in the state. It’s made entirely of stone—and local legends hold one of the masons who worked on the bridge died during its construction and was entombed within that same stone. His ghost, as well as the ghosts of other people who reportedly died near the bridge, is said to haunt the structure and the surrounding forests.
South Dakota
Deadwood, South Dakota was a famous frontier town in the 19th century. The Bullock Hotel in the historic city is allegedly haunted to this day by the phantom of Seth Bullock, the first sheriff of the outlaw town. Visitors have reported moving objects, running faucets, and other strange phenomena.
Tennessee
If you’re going to haunt a building, choose one with a name as cool as “the Orpheum Theater.” That’s apparently what at least six ghosts decided to do when they took up residence in the storied Memphis theater, where they can be seen sitting in the audience during shows or dancing in the lobby after hours.
Texas
Remember the Alamo? That’s the fort that several famous Texans, like James Bowie and Davy Crockett, defended from Santa Anna’s army until their final breaths. Naturally, local legends say that the spirits of these defeated defenders still linger in the historic Spanish mission.
Utah
Fort Douglas Military Museum in Salt Lake City is located very close to the University of Utah. That makes it easy for students to tour this allegedly haunted museum and meet “Clem,” a ghost that visitors say was a soldier who died defending the fort during the Civil War.
Vermont
Emily’s Bridge in Stowe, Vermont is a covered bridge dating to the 19th century. Local myths hold that the bridge is the final resting place of its namesake, Emily, a young woman who threw herself off the bridge after discovering that her husband was unfaithful. Naturally, her ghost haunts the region to this day.
Virginia
Southern states are rife with haunted Confederate sites, like the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia. Here, locals say that if you visit at night you can catch a glimpse of gray-coated Confederate phantoms, including the ghost of Stonewall Jackson himself.
Washington
Mental hospitals are unsettling places to visit, especially after they’ve been abandoned. The mistreatment of patients makes for compelling ghost stories, too, as is the case with Northern State Mental Hospital in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Local lore maintains that thousands of patients may have died at the hospital from 1911 to 1963.
West Virginia
If you’re noticing a trend, it’s not just you. People often feel that former mental hospitals are haunted. The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia stopped operating in 1994, but it operated for 130 years. During this time, many of the patients perished under reportedly horrible conditions. Of course, their spirits are said to still haunt the abandoned halls of the asylum.
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Wisconsin
If any professional sports team plays an away game in Milwaukee, they’re probably going to stay at the Pfister Hotel. And, while they’re there, locals say they’re likely to hear all kinds of paranormal noises, from whispering voices to unsettling knocking.
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Wyoming
Buffalo, Wyoming is home to the Occidental Hotel, itself a time capsule to the days of the Old West. Numerous big names from the era of cowboys and outlaws frequented the hotel in its heyday, and it’s now rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of Calamity Jane, Butch Cassidy, and Buffalo Bill.
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