Fall getaways are probably the best, especially the ones involving foliage tours and apple-picking. But let’s be real, what’s the point of traveling on this season if we didn’t go slightly edgier and scared the heck out of our beings.
Whether you enjoy going with paranormal investigators or you are just a fan of a petrifying night ambiance, the best way to get in the Halloween spirit is by booking a room in a haunted hotel… No, sorry, the most haunted hotels in the United States!
Pack your bags (and your bible!), and be ready to visit 10 of the most haunted hotels, and if you dare, book a room in one of them.
Eureka Springs: Crescent Hotel
Crescent Hotel is one of the most haunted hotels in the United States, and the reasons are endless. This place was first opened back in 1886 as a resort, became a conservatory for young women, and then a cancer hospital of a fraud physician in the 1920s.
There are many visitors who claimed to see ghosts roaming around the halls many times, including a stonemason from the hotel’s original construction and one of the cancer patients. However, if you have been there but never witnessed a ghost, you can still go on a ghost tour.
Fall River: Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum
Yes, it is the actual house of Lizzie Borden, the woman who murdered her family with an ax in 1892. The house has become a museum for curious people that still find her story very mysterious and fascinating.
This place was actually where Lizzie stabbed her family to death, which explains why creepy things happen there, like doors moving on their own and mysterious floral smells coming from nowhere. All of these are signs that the Borden’s spirits are still living in the house, probably waiting for their truth to come out.
St. Francisville: The Myrtles Plantation
If you are a supernatural enthusiast with a passion for photography, then don’t miss the opportunity to take pictures of Chloe, the spirit that has been living in the hotel since the 1800s. It is been reported that she used to be an enslaved woman who became a household servant in the home, and she has been caught in many photographs.
The National Geographic Explorer has seen many pieces of evidence and now this plantation is called the South’s Spookiest House.
Stockbridge: The Red Lion Inn
Anyone with a brave heart and courageous soul has to book room 301 in The Red Lion Inn. Everyone noticed that the room is basically a hot spot for supernatural activity. In fact, they have seen a man in a top hat and a little girl carrying flowers, which are the reasons why paranormal investigators consider the inn as their favorite spot in Stockbridge.
Blowing Rock: Green Park Inn
Through the years, Green Park Inn has been hosting many luminaries like Margaret Mitchell, Annie Oakley, and J.D. Rockefeller. But between all of these great events, guests have been encountering many spirits, especially in Room 318.
Many people who stayed there have heard a lot of unusual, creepy sounds. The hotel is very aware of the active supernatural life, which is why it left a ghost log in the lobby for the guests to write down their encounters.
Santa Fe: La Fonda on the Plaza
In 1922, the epic New Mexico hotel, La Fonda on The Plaza was built, but according to history, this place held the first Inn of the city in the early 1600s. Plus, fortune-seekers considered this place as their favorite stopover when they were heading west.
However, there are a few stories about a few spirits that have been living in this hotel for quite a while now, including the spirit of John P. Slough, the territorial Supreme Court’s Chief Justice, who was shot and murdered in 1867 in the hotel lobby.
Also, the spirit of a spectral gambler who threw himself in the well after losing all of his possessions… it has been reported that he rises from the hotel fountain!
Scotland: Dalhousie Castle
The Dalhousie Castle was built in the 13th century, so it is not a surprise that it has many “ghostly” stories hidden in its store. It has been reported that there are many spirits living in the property, and the most popular one is Sir Alexander Ramsay.
Because of William Douglas, Sir Alexander was starved to death and has been roaming around the place since then. Also, you may run into the Grey Lady at night; it is Lady Catherine’s spirit who likes to hang out in the castle’s dungeon.
San Francisco: Queen Anne Hotel
Queen Anne Hotel is an iconic hotel that used to be the girls’ finishing school in San Francisco. But after her death, the headmistress, Miss Mary Lake wanted to stay around, mostly in room 401. She is known to be very kindhearted, which is why she covers the sleeping travelers with blankets and even unpacks their suitcases –that’s a ghost we should all appreciate!
New Orleans: Dauphine Orleans Hotel
New Orleans is holding many haunted locals in its heart, but if we want the scariest, most haunted place, then Dauphine Orleans Hotel is definitely the place we are looking for. The ghost sightings at this luxurious hotel are frequent.
Plus, the spirits come from many different eras, from courtesans (used to work the in the Red-Light District) to Civil War soldiers. So basically, you never know who you are going to meet next!
Colorado: The Stanley Hotel
Just to make your experience a lot spookier, visit The Stanley Hotel that’s located right at the feet of a huge mountain. This amazing hotel is actually considered as one of America’s most haunted hotels. In fact, this place was the inspiration for “The Shining”, the chilling novel by Steven King.
Expect to witness unexplained doors shutting, unusual voices, and pianos playing, especially if you decided to go to the concert hall on the 4th floor. The hotel offers nightly ghost tours and a 5-hour paranormal investigation, so your heart would stop properly (not really!).