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.
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.
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.
The Creepiest Urban Legend from Each State
Ghost stories have a strange power over even the most stoic people. It doesn’t matter how tough you are, some tales just make your skin crawl. Here are the scariest urban legends from each state.
Content warning: The following article contains some rather disturbing urban legends. Read on at your own discretion.
Alabama
People in Abbeville, Alabama tell stories about “Huggin’ Molly.” She’s a ghost who stalks children who stay outside too late at night and grips them in her spectral grasp before screaming in their ears. Interestingly, Molly doesn’t actually harm her victims, she just scares them senseless.
