Plan the Ultimate Paranormal Road Trip

Haunted Hideaways Across the United States

Discover three well-known haunted buildings scattered across the United States, plus one lesser-known gem in Dayton, Ohio.

As ghost hunters know, there’s more to many places than meets the eye. These four haunted spots have unique histories, eerie legends, and spooky pasts to back up local paranormal enthusiasts’ claims of ghost sightings. Why not go check them out for yourself?

1. The Winchester Mystery House in California

Everything about the Winchester Mystery House is a little spooky, and for good reason. Its owner, Sarah Pardee Winchester, allegedly had it designed and built specifically to appease the angry spirits of those who had fallen dead to the Winchester rifle.

It should thus come as no surprise that ghost sightings aren’t uncommon at the Winchester Mystery House. The most frequently-sighted ghost is that of a mustached man named “Clyde,” often seen attempting to repair the property or pushing a wheelbarrow around.

Even if you don’t see the famed mystery maintenance man, many guests to the Winchester Mystery House report more subtle signs of ghosts, such as tugs at their shirts or skirts during tours or hearing the patter of footsteps in unoccupied rooms. What will you find?

2. Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana

Found in St. Francisville, LA, Myrtles Plantation was initially built in 1796, so it has had plenty of time to generate local legends and accumulate ghostly inhabitants. Visitors often report seeing a phantom woman on a particular balcony and ghostly children playing in the yard.

As the plantation was home to many enslaved people over the years of its traditional use, it should come as no surprise that visitors report malevolent spirits. One ghost, Chloe, was a slave who supposedly poisoned the Woodruff family and was subsequently hanged.

It’s also unsurprising that visitors to the plantation typically report experiencing a feeling of unease, even if they don’t see any ghostly apparitions. Today, ghost hunters can plan a stay at the Myrtles Plantation bed and breakfast in one of the 11 rooms and take a guided ghost tour.

3. Stanley Hotel in Colorado

The Stanley Hotel is one of the Rocky Mountains’ most iconic destinations. Local legends combine with provable facts about the spooky spot to create a unique experience for ghost hunters and skeptics alike.
The Stanley Hotel is a stately, palatial structure surrounded by wilderness, which already creates a perfect backdrop for ghost tales. Steven King popularized the destination after staying in room 217, which he claimed to be haunted.

Though much of The Shining was based on King’s lucid nightmare, the Stanley Hotel also has a dark past based on reality. Many guests report experiencing Stanley’s ongoing presence, and his phantom wife, Flora, supposedly has a penchant for the piano.

4. Witches Tower in Hills & Dales Metropark, Dayton, Ohio

Also known as Frankenstein’s Castle, the Witches Tower in Dayton, Ohio, isn’t as well-known as the first three spots on this list. This lesser-known spot can be a true find for ghost hunters who think they’ve seen it all.
Locals have been telling strange tales about the Witches Tower for decades. Some report seeing eerie figures dancing around fires, while others have found unexplained scorch marks.

The most common sighting is of two ghostly children who appear only when lightning strikes during storms. This apparition makes sense, as a 16-year-old, Peggy Harmeson, can be confirmed to have died in the tower after it was struck by lightning in 1967.