Ghost Hunters Are Flocking to These Haunted Spots for Their Halloween Travel Bucket List

These 7 haunted spots across the U.S. will give you chills! Perfect for thrill-seekers and ghost hunters this Halloween. 🎃 #News #Travel #HauntedPlaces #Halloween

ST. PAUL, MN – Ghost hunters aren’t just chasing shadows—they’re chasing experiences. And as Halloween creeps closer, some of the most haunted spots in the U.S. are becoming must-see destinations for those seeking a thrill. From eerie hotels to mysterious forests, these locations have stories that are far more than folklore. They hold a chilling history that continues to draw in curious visitors from all over the world.

Whether you’re a believer in the paranormal or just want to add a spooky adventure to your travel bucket list, these haunted spots are the perfect places to visit this season. Each one is steeped in legend, ghost sightings, and the kind of mysteries that make you question what’s real. Are you ready to explore the unknown?

The Stanley Hotel – Colorado’s Spooky Landmark

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, has a reputation that sends shivers down your spine. Known for inspiring Stephen King’s haunted Overlook Hotel in The Shining, this real-life hotel has been a destination for ghost hunters and thrill-seekers alike. While the hotel has been around since 1909, ghost stories really took off after King’s novel was published, followed by the release of the 1980 movie adaptation.

The hotel embraces its eerie reputation, even offering guests a “spirited night tour” where some claim to hear phantom footsteps or see unexplained shadows lurking in the halls.

The White House – Presidential Spirits in Residence

The White House isn’t just home to sitting presidents—some say it also hosts former ones who never left. The most frequently spotted ghost is Abraham Lincoln, with sightings dating back to the late 1800s. Jeremiah “Jerry” Smith, a longtime White House employee, claimed to have seen the ghost of Lincoln, as well as Ulysses S. Grant and William McKinley.

One of the more famous Lincoln ghost stories comes from Winston Churchill, who reportedly saw Lincoln’s ghost while staying at the White House. After stepping out of a bath, Churchill is said to have encountered Lincoln’s specter—talk about an awkward meeting!

Howard Street Cemetery – Salem’s Witch Trials Legacy

Salem, Massachusetts, is infamous for the witch trials of the late 1600s, and the Howard Street Cemetery plays a grim role in this chapter of history. Among the 20 people executed during the trials, 81-year-old Giles Corey was gruesomely pressed to death with heavy stones. His execution took place on or near the current cemetery grounds, and rumors of his ghost haunting the area have persisted for centuries.

In 1867, Salem’s seventh mayor, Charles Wentworth Upham, noted the legend in his two-volume book on the witch trials, though he wasn’t convinced of the ghost’s existence. Despite this skepticism, the cemetery remains a popular destination for ghost hunters.

The Pine Barrens – New Jersey’s Devilish Legend

Stretching across seven counties in New Jersey, the Pine Barrens is famous not only for its natural beauty but also for the legend of the Jersey Devil. The creature is said to have been born to a woman named Leeds in the early 1700s, with rumors claiming it’s been terrorizing the area ever since.

Interestingly, the tale of the Jersey Devil was fueled by a feud between Benjamin Franklin and the Leeds family, who were involved in the almanac business. Franklin mocked Titan Leeds, the son of Daniel Leeds, in his Poor Richard’s Almanack, spreading supernatural rumors that would eventually evolve into the story of the Jersey Devil.

RMS Queen Mary – A Ship with Ghostly Guests

Once a luxurious passenger ship and a wartime vessel known as “The Grey Ghost,” the RMS Queen Mary now sits permanently docked in Long Beach, California, serving as both a hotel and a haunted attraction. After its retirement in 1967, rumors of paranormal activity aboard the ship began to surface.

Guests and staff alike claim to have encountered various spirits, including an engineer who died in the engine room, a young girl who drowned in the first-class pool, and the mysterious “lady in white”—a common figure in ghost lore. The Queen Mary continues to be a hotspot for ghost enthusiasts hoping to experience something otherworldly.

Fort Mifflin – The Haunted History of a War-Era Fort

Sitting on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fort Mifflin has seen its share of battles and bloodshed. Built during the American Revolution and later used as a Union prison during the Civil War, the fort was decommissioned in 1962. It now serves as a National Historic Landmark—and a playground for paranormal investigators.

Fort Mifflin offers candlelight ghost tours, where visitors can explore its haunted history. The fort’s “sleep with the ghosts” program allows the bravest of souls to spend the night on site, and some claim to have heard the whispers of soldiers long gone.

The Whaley House – A Family Haunted by Tragedy

In the 1850s, Thomas Whaley built a home for his family in San Diego, California, on land that had a dark past—just a few years earlier, it had been the site of an execution. The man who was hanged, James “Yankee Jim” Robinson, is said to haunt the house to this day.

But Robinson isn’t the only spirit allegedly roaming the halls. The Whaley family themselves are said to linger as well, with Thomas, his wife Anna, and their young son who died as an infant all making ghostly appearances. The house is now a museum, and visitors come from far and wide, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of its famous residents.

Eerie Encounters That Continue to Captivate

From creepy cemeteries to haunted ships, these seven famously haunted locations have cemented their place in American folklore. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the enduring stories tied to these places are sure to give anyone a chill—and maybe inspire a trip to see them for yourself.

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