From the infamous Amityville Horror house to the cursed Bell Witch Cave, these haunted locations will surely give you chills.
If you’re looking for a truly haunting experience, visiting one of these famous haunted houses is a must. Many people believe that houses can become haunted when they are built on top of negative energy.
This could be from a traumatic event that occurred at the location, or it could be that the land was cursed. Other people believe that hauntings happen when the person who dies has unfinished business, and their spirit remains earthbound.
The haunting may also be caused by a spirit attaching itself to an object inside the house.
Haunted Houses & Locations
People have many different theories about what makes a house haunted, but everyone agrees that something strange is happening there. If you’re curious about the paranormal and want to learn more about hauntings, check out some of the locations below.
1. The Amityville Horror House, New York
Address: 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York
Website: The real amityville horror facts
The Amityville Horror house is perhaps the most famous haunted house in America. The story goes that in 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot and killed six family members in their home on Long Island. Shortly after, the Lutzes moved into the house and experienced terrifying paranormal activity. They claimed they were terrorized by demonic forces and eventually fled the home. Today, the property is still standing and is said to be haunted by the ghosts of the DeFeo family.
2. The Bell Witch Cave
Address: 430 Keysburg Rd, Adams, TN 37010, United States
The Bell Witch Cave is located in Adams, Tennessee, and is said to be haunted by the spirit of a woman named Kate Batts. Legend has it that Kate was a witch who cursed John Bell and his family after he cheated her in a land deal. The Bell family allegedly experienced paranormal activity in their home, including strange noises and objects moving on their own. After John Bell’s death, his daughter Betsy claimed that she saw Kate’s spirit transform into a cat.
Today, visitors can take tours of the cave and see some of the original items from the Bell family home.
3. The Winchester Mystery House
Address: 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128, United States
Website: https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/
The Winchester Mystery House is a sprawling 160-room mansion located in San Jose, California. The house was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of gun magnate William Winchester. After her husband’s death, Sarah became convinced that she was being haunted by the ghosts of those killed by Winchester rifles. Having begun construction on the house in 1884, she continued working on it until her death in 1922 in an effort to appease the spirits. The house is filled with strange features, such as staircases that lead to nowhere and doors that open into walls. According to some, it is haunted by the ghosts of people killed by Winchester rifles.
4. Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery
Southwest suburban Chicago is home to Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery. The cemetery is one of the most haunted places in America and is said to be the final resting place of many ghosts. Strange lights, ghostly figures, and even a phantom farmhouse have been reported by visitors to the cemetery. The cemetery is also said to be the site of a mass grave of victims of a 19th-century smallpox epidemic.
5. The Whaley House
The Whaley House is an 1856 Greek Revival house located in San Diego, California. The house is haunted by the ghosts of Thomas Whaley, Anna Whaley, and Frankie Whaley, according to legend. Strange noises and smells have also been reported by visitors to the house, as well as the ghosts of Thomas and Anna. The house is also said to be cursed, as there have been several deaths and suicides associated with it.
6. The Myrtles Plantation
The Myrtles Plantation is a historic plantation located in St. Francisville, Louisiana. The plantation is said to be haunted by the ghost of a former slave named Chloe. After overhearing her mistress plotting to kill one of the plantation’s owners, Chloe was poisoned by the mistress. Many visitors have seen the ghost of Chloe haunting the plantation. The plantation is also said to be cursed, as several of its owners have died under mysterious circumstances.
7. The Lizzie Borden House
The Lizzie Borden House is a historic house located in Fall River, Massachusetts. The house is best known as the site of the 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Despite being accused of murder, Lizzie Borden was acquitted at trial. People still believe that she is responsible for the killings despite her acquittal. Both Lizzie and Andrew Borden’s ghosts are said to haunt the house. Visitors to the house have reported seeing strange lights and hearing strange noises.
8. Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania
Hoia-Baciu Forest is a forest in Romania. A strange, otherworldly atmosphere can be found in Hoia-Baciu Forest. Nature lovers and hikers also enjoy the Hoia-Baciu forest. Plants and animals unique to Hoia-Baciu Forest can be found there, including some that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Over a century ago, a shepherd and 200 sheep disappeared in the ancient Hoia Baciu Forest. No one ever saw them again. Recent disappearances have also occurred.
9. Driskill Hotel, Austin, Texas
Throughout the years, the historic Romanesque landmark has hosted many big-name celebrities and politicians. It was opened in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill. Additionally, the hotel has a history of paranormal activity following several deaths, including the so-called “suicide brides,” two honeymooning women who committed suicide 20 years apart in the same room.
10. Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia
Some of Chuuk Lagoon’s islands are haunted by the ghosts of World War II soldiers who died during Operation Hailstone. These soldiers still roam the islands, looking for their lost comrades and trying to find a way back home. Because of its clear water and abundance of marine life, Chuuk Lagoon is one of the most popular diving destinations in the world. The place is also known for being haunted.
The ghosts of World War II soldiers who died during Operation Hailstone still roam the islands, looking for their lost comrades and trying to find a way back home. There is a blurring of the line between reality and legend at Chuuk Lagoon, a place where the past and present collide.
11. St. George’s Church, Czech Republic
During a funeral in 1968, St George’s Church’s roof collapsed, leaving most of the living to abandon it. Many people avoided going inside because they believed it was haunted.
Petr Koukl, a local resident and volunteer caretaker, wanted to raise the funds for its repair in 2012 but did not know how. During his art college thesis, Jakub Hadrava created the installation with his help. Before displaying the models in the church, he covered them with sheets made of plaster.
12. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
The history of Edinburgh is macabre and long. Psychics and ghost hunters often declare Edinburgh as one of the most haunted cities in the world, and learning about its legends and tales is a fun (and sometimes scary) way to get to know it better.
During the 17th century, King James VI became so concerned about witchcraft that he created a frenzy throughout Edinburgh. Those who suffered from mental illness and those with knowledge of science were labeled witches and murdered senselessly.
Reports state that 300 to 500 of these women were dragged to a marketplace on the Royal Mile and burned alive.
13. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia
It was once the most prestigious and expensive prison in the world, but today Eastern State Penitentiary stands in ruin, with crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers.
Throughout its 142-year history, it has witnessed suicides, madness, disease, murder, and torture, making it easy to imagine the spirits of troubled souls roaming the abandoned halls.
Several sources consider the prison, which closed in 1971, to be haunted.
It is said that Cellblock 12 is known for echoes and cackling; Cellblock 6 for shadowy figures darting along walls; and Cellblock 4 for ghostly visions. One of the towers has been reported to have a silhouette of a guard. Footsteps. Wails. Whispers. The same stories, over and over again.
14. Isla de las Munecas, Mexico
One of the main attractions of the channels is the Island of the Dolls, a chinampa in the Laguna de Teshuila.
When it comes to places with a dark and mysterious past, there is just something really exciting about them. Consider The Island of the Dolls. Even before you get to the dark origin story, an island covered with decaying old dolls strung up in trees is pretty creepy.
Originally from Xochimilco, a borough of Mexico City, Don Julian retreated to an island on Teshuilo Lake in the mid-20th century to seclude himself from his wife and family.
Upon relocating to his island, he discovered a chilling discovery: the drowned body of a young girl. Santana Barrera’s life and the shape of the island were forever changed by a doll that floated down the canals shortly afterward.
15. St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida
When its light was removed during the Civil War to disrupt Union shipping, the St. Augustine lighthouse earned a dark place in Florida history. It is reported that visitors have encountered the friendly ghost of Union artillery officer and light keeper William A. Harn.
16. Oriental Theater, Chicago
It is said that almost 600 people died in a fire at the Oriental Theater in the Loop area of downtown Chicago in 1903. Spirits of the dead have appeared in “Death Alley,” the street behind the theater where bodies were piled after the disaster (and a popular stop on many a Chicago ghost tour).
17. Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah
There are mysterious ghost stories shrouding everything from public parks to breweries in Savannah. With its moody Spanish moss and time-worn Victorian monuments, Bonaventure Cemetery evokes reverence quite like a few other city spots. There are many famous figures buried here, such as Johnny Mercer and Conrad Aiken, but it’s the grave of Gracie Watson that you should visit. A life-sized marble statue, representing her short life, rests on a tree stump at her grave, symbolizing her premature death at just six years old.
18. Castle of Good Hope, South Africa
The Castle of Good Hope, built in 1666 near the shoreline of Table Bay in Cape Town, is South Africa’s oldest colonial building. As a military fort and prison during the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902, the site was originally built by the Dutch East India Company as a ship replenishment station.
19. The Forbidden City, Beijing, China
A visit to China’s former imperial palace, which is now a museum, is not complete without a stop at the Forbidden City. Yet it may come as a surprise to you to find out that this popular tourist destination has quite the reputation among those who are interested in the supernatural. In its 600-year history as a palace, the complex was the scene of many murders, whether committed by jealous concubines or by the emperor himself. Since the palace opened to the public in the 1940s, there have been numerous reports of strange phenomena.
20. Leap Castle, Ireland
More gruesome deaths have occurred here than at any Game of Thrones wedding since it was built between the 13th and late 15th centuries. According to legend, one of the O’Carroll clan members plunged a sword into his brother, a priest, as he held mass in the castle’s chapel during a struggle for power. There is a legend that the priest haunts the church at night in the room now known as “The Bloody Chapel.”
According to Leap Castle’s website, the horror doesn’t end there. The Bloody Chapel was renovated in the early 1900s, and workmen discovered a secret dungeon filled with so many human skeletons that they filled three cartloads. Prisoners were dropped through the trap door, had their lungs punctured by wooden spikes on the ground, and died a slow, horrific death.
21. RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
The RMS Queen Mary was a luxury ocean liner between 1936 and 1967, except for a brief tour as a warship in World War II. A sailor died after being crushed by a door in the engine room, and children drowned in the pool during that time. In 1967, Long Beach bought the ship and turned it into a hotel, which it remains today – although the ghosts of the deceased passengers remain free to stay.
22. Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Canada
In Canada’s Banff National Park, this chateau-style hotel was built in 1888 to promote tourism and sell train tickets. Once you’re inside, it gets a bit more Gothic-and not just the architecture. Several resident ghosts have been reported to the Calgary Herald, including one who fell down the stone staircase during her wedding.
A less tragic spirit haunts the hotel, too: Sam the bellman, who worked there until 1975 and claimed to have returned. According to legend, his spirit helps people with their bags before disappearing.
23. Catacombs of Paris, France
Heavy rains in 1780 unearthed and flooded the overcrowded Les Innocents cemetery, resulting in a wave of rotting corpses washing onto the next-door property. A 12-year project was started after this horrifying event to move bodies from Paris’s cemeteries into the city’s former limestone quarries, eventually packing the tunnels with 6 million bodies.
Visitors can tour about a mile of the subterranean labyrinth today, which includes tunnels and artfully arranged displays of bones.
24. Burg Eltz, Germany
There are quite a few myths surrounding Burg Eltz, which date back to 1157. One of the most captivating stories is about Agnes, a young countess who called off her engagement after meeting a fellow noble.
In her attempts to defend her castle, Agnes was killed by the scorned nobleman who laid siege to the castle.
25. Tranquille Sanatorium, Kamloops, B.C.
There’s nothing more foreboding than the sprawling ruins of Tranquille Sanatorium outside Kamloops, B.C. This former tuberculosis hospital later served as a mental institution before being abandoned in the early 1980s.
Paranormal activity, ranging from eerie disembodied moans to orbs, seems to remain, however, as witnesses report off-the-charts paranormal activity. It was possible to tour the eerie location, sure to be one of Canada’s most haunted spots.
26. Al Madam, United Arab Emirates
I find ghost towns to be eerily beautiful, and Al Madam is no exception. The village was probably built in the 1970s and abandoned shortly after—a fact that local legend attributes to djinn (shape-shifting spirits) scaring people away.
27. Poveglia Island, Venice
A quarantine zone for bubonic plague victims, a storage site for Napoleon’s weapons, and an insane asylum in the early 20th century, Poveglia Island is less than half a mile from Venice’s canals. It was home to horrific medical experiments, reports The Travel Channel, and a doctor threw himself from its bell tower to close it forever.
28. Gunnuhver, Iceland
When you learn about the country’s largest geothermal mud pool, Gunnuhver, you will realize that Iceland has an otherworldly quality to it. This slice of Reykjanes Peninsula is named after Gunna, a woman who lived here 400 years ago.
Her spirit returned home after she died of starvation and violently murdered her former landlord and his wife. Priests were hired to deal with the ghost problem for the local townspeople, and he solved it by casting Gunna into a boiling hot mud pool.
29. Crumlin Road Gaol, Northern Ireland
It is said that Crumlin Road Gaol, a Victorian-era prison in Belfast, is one of Northern Ireland’s most haunted places. In the 150 years that the prison operated, it housed 25,000 inmates (men, women, and children). Many prisoners were publicly hung, and their bodies were buried there.
It is believed that the ghosts of deceased inmates still haunt the iron walkways of the institution, which officially closed in 1996.
30. Haw Par Villa, Singapore
Located in Singapore, Haw Par Villa is an old-fashioned theme park from the 1930s. You walk into its Chinese archway entrance and see that the park is surrounded by more than a thousand statues, each strange in its own way.
There are a series of dioramas depicting severe forms of punishment to teach young children about morality in the underworld-themed Ten Courts of Hell.
31. Bhangarh Fort, India
It makes for a curious juxtaposition against the desert landscape of Rajasthan to see the lush ruins of Bhangarh Fort, located just 100 miles southwest of Delhi. A disgruntled sorcerer is alleged to have cursed the oasis after a princess rebuffed his advances.
32. Aokigahara Forest, Japan
In the foothills of Mount Fuji, this forest, at first glance, appears serene but is tainted by its past. According to the BBC, 500 suicides have been reported in Aokigahara since the 1950s, commonly known as the “Suicide Forest.”
In Japanese mythology, the forest is associated with demons, which may explain this trend. Compass errors are attributed to large underground deposits of iron that interfere with compasses and make getting lost easier. Some hikers use tape or string to mark their paths to make it easier to find their way out again.
33. Old Parliament House, Canberra, Australia
In many ways, Canberra is similar to Savannah, especially when it comes to the buildings in the Parliamentary Triangle. Former Prime Minister Ben Chifley died on the night of June 13, 1951, after suffering a heart attack in room 214 of Hotel Kurrajong, a four-star hotel home to some serious A-list ghosts.
The Canberra Times reports that his gray-suited ghost appears from time to time in the same room. Security guards and cleaning staff at the Old Parliament House have reported hearing their names whispered at night.
34. Lord Milner Hotel, South Africa
It may be known for its game reserves, but South Africa has some charming and haunted hotels as well. Matjiesfontein Village is home to the Lord Milner Hotel, located on the edge of the Great Karoo.
It was also the site of subsequent (and controversial) war crimes hearings during the South African War at the turn of the 20th century. Considering the village’s history, it’s not surprising that the Lord Milner Hotel has some paranormal activity.
35. Larnach Castle, New Zealand
A prominent New Zealand politician, William Larnach, lived in this extravagant house between 1871 and 1887. As a 21st birthday present for Kate, Larnach built the ballroom as part of his estate, which is said to still be haunted by Kate, who died from typhoid at age 26.
36. Craigdarroch Castle, British Columbia
One of Victoria’s top tourist attractions, this mansion was built by a coal-mining millionaire in the 1890s. A mysterious piano plays in the castle’s halls when visitors walk through them. A woman in white, supposedly the wife of the first owner, has been spotted standing and looking out of the castle’s windows.
37. Himeji Castle, Japan
The Himeji Castle was built in 1333 and is considered one of the best examples of Japanese castle architecture in the world. In addition, it contains some rather eerie folklore, including the tale of Okiku, a former palace servant with false accusations of stealing valuables. The well in the castle was filled with her dead body, and she was thrown into it. When she reaches nine dishes, she shrieks and returns to the well, haunting the castle at night.
38. Teatro Tapia, Puerto Rico
The natural beauty of Puerto Rico and its rich history make it a perfect place to experience eerie things. Teatro Tapia, a San Juan theater known for its plays, concerts, and paranormal activity, is among the most famous spooky sites on the island.
The theater is haunted by the ghost of an actress who died while performing there. Some visitors have reported seeing her ghost roaming the theater grounds, while others have reported mysterious footsteps, doors swinging open and shut, and an unseen choir of voices.
39. Port Arthur, Tasmania
British convicts were housed at Port Arthur until 1877 when it was abandoned as a penal colony. With methods like solitary confinement and mandatory church services, the “inescapable” island focused on correcting the inmates’ morals during those decades. Since its abandonment in 1979, the settlement has been a destination for curious tourists.
40. Simon McTavish’s Tomb – Montreal, Quebec
The tomb of ruthless 19th-century businessman Simon McTavish atop Mount Royal Cemetery is said to be haunted by his ghost. Using rubble from his demolished home, the mogul was buried years ago. The coffin has even been spotted tobogganing down the hill in the shape of mean old McTavish.
41. Fulford Place – Brockville, Ontario
According to legend, this mansion belonged to wealthy politician George Taylor Fulford, who made millions selling “Pink Pills for Pale People.” After George’s death, Mary began holding regular seances. Mackenzie King, the first Canadian Prime Minister, was a regular attendee! Mary is said to haunt the manor, glaring down from portraits on the walls.
What Is The Scariest Haunted House?
Depending on your perspective, the scariest haunted house may be a small, dark house with creaky floors and strange sounds. In other cases, it could be a sprawling estate with a dark past. Whatever form it takes, the scariest haunted house is the one that feels the most real to you.
For me, the scariest haunted house would be the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. There is a legend that says the ghosts of every Winchester rifle victim haunt this rambling Victorian mansion in San Jose, California.
There are undoubtedly a lot of spirits in that room. A widow who inherited the Winchester rifle fortune (and who was also the heir to the founder’s fortune) kept adding rooms to the house in order to appease the dead.
Is an American Haunting based on a true story?
There is no truth to the story of An American Haunting. This is another PG-13 horror movie about a girl being possessed by demons in the vein of The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
