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Halloween isn’t just about dressing up and devouring candy by the pound. It’s also the perfect excuse to explore some of America’s most haunted places. Why settle for a theme park haunted house when you can visit these historic sites allegedly frequented by ghosts?

From haunted prisons to eerie hotels, the United States is full of places where you’ll see light bouncing and flickering across every creaky floorboard. Whether you’re a full-on ghost hunter or just love a good spine-tingling story, these 10 spooky spots will add a little extra chill to your Halloween season. Just be sure to pack your brave face.

Salem, Massachusetts

Just a 30-minute train ride north of Boston, the town of Salem is practically synonymous with witchcraft. If you’re into the paranormal, the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 are the tip of the iceberg. The town has taken advantage of its creepy history, turning it into a Halloween hot spot. But it’s not just the witch trials milestones that will give you goosebumps; The whole town looks like it is haunted. Some visitors report ghostly sightings nearby Old Burying Point CemeteryWhere the accused and accused of the infamous trial rest in comfort – or perhaps in turmoil.

A visit should be at the top of your list Witch House. It is the last remaining building in Salem with a direct connection to the Diane Trials. Also, stop by Salem Witch MuseumWhere you can sit in the dark and listen to the tragic stories of the persecuted. If you’re in town this fall, Salem Haunted Happenings Festival Throughout September and October hosts magic shows, markets and family-friendly events.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

If Halloween is your excuse to see an abandoned prison, so be it Eastern State Penitentiary Should be at the top of your list. This 19th century prison in Philadelphia was built to isolate its inmates in complete silence (think solitary confinement but 100 times worse). Prisoners were forced to wear hoods when leaving their cells to ensure they never saw or spoke to another human being. It’s no surprise that some former residents are rumored to have overstayed their sentences … in ghostly form.

Visitors often report eerie footsteps, shadowy figures and eerie laughter echoing down empty corridors. Also, the jail is converted into one every October Interactive haunted house With five different fear zones. Imagine being chased by ghosts down a crumbling cell block. Be sure to get the VIP tickets, which give you access to the speakeasy in Al Capone’s cell and two complimentary drinks.

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia, is often described as one of the most haunted cities in the US, and for good reason. Beneath its charming square, draped in Spanish moss, lurks a past full of war, fire and, of course, ghosts. The city’s spooky reputation comes from its history, including Revolutionary War and Civil War battles and yellow fever epidemics, all of which left their spectral imprint on the city.

Almost every street and square in Savannah has a ghost story, but none is more famous than one involving ghosts. Sorrel Weed House And Bonaventure Cemetery. The Sorrel Weed House is known for ghostly apparitions, strange shadows, and the sounds of voices echoing in the hallways. Bonaventure Cemetery, immortalized in the book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”, is not only beautiful but is said to be home to lingering spirits. Tours here take a deep dive into Savannah’s spooky history, and it’s easy to see why some say the city never sleeps—at least not quietly.

Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, Massachusetts

Who is up for spending the night at the scene of a brutal double murder? Lizzie Borden was accused of murdering her stepmother and father in 1892 (although she was acquitted). Today, the Lizzie Borden House Operates as a bed-and-breakfast, where guests can stay in the room where Abby Borden met her untimely end. (Rates start at $260 per night.) Too scared to spend the night? is also trips At home and during the day Themed dinner Evening of choice.

If you choose to spend the night, you may hear cries and scattered footsteps, experience fire alarms going off in the middle of the night for no reason, or see doors opening and closing independently. The bravest visitors claim to have seen a woman dressed in Victorian-era clothing wandering the halls. If your idea of ​​a good night’s sleep includes the possibility of a haunted roommate, this is the place for you.

St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida

The oldest city in the US is naturally full of haunted history, but St. Augustine Lighthouse Stands out for its eerie atmosphere and tragic stories. Built in the 1800s, the lighthouse is said to be haunted by the spirits of two young women who drowned nearby. Visitors often report hearing laughter and seeing shadowy figures walking up and down the steps of the lighthouse.

Gives a beacon Ghost tour at nightAnd many brave souls have reported cold spots, flickering lights and a vague feeling of being watched. One of the most infamous spirits is the “Man in Blue”, a former lighthouse keeper who tragically died while painting the tower.

Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

You may know it as the hotel that inspired “The Shining,” but The Stanley Hotel is quaint enough without Stephen King’s added embellishments. Located near the scenic Rocky Mountain National Park, this historic hotel has been offering ghost sightings and eerie piano music since 1909. (Rates start at $229 per night.)

Guests and staff alike have reported seeing the ghosts of former residents and hearing phantom keys playing piano late at night. Stanley leans into his reputation, offering nocturnal ghostly tours and psychic advice with his house medium Madame Vera. Bring your hiking boots; You may need to leave a ghost or two behind.

RELATED: 6 Things I Saw During My Stay at the ‘Haunted’ Stanley Hotel

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco

Alcatraz The former is more than just a maximum-security prison; It is also a spooky tourist attraction that will send shivers down your spine. Located on an island in San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz was home to some of the most famous and dangerous criminals in US history, including Al Capone. But now, it’s the spectral prisoners who seem to be garnering the most attention.

Ghostly apparitions, reports of cell doors closing by themselves and mysterious screams are common among visitors. Take that Night tour For the complete horror-film experience.

Related: From Coronado to Alcatraz: Your Guide to California’s Coastal Islands

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

The site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, Gettysburg Said to be one of the most haunted places in America. More than 50,000 soldiers died during the three-day battle in the southern Pennsylvania town in 1863, and it seems that not all of them advanced. Ghost hunters love Gettysburg, and there are plenty Paranormal Tours Which will guide you to the scariest places in the city.

The most notorious places for hauntings include: Devil’s DenWhere ghost soldiers are often seen, and Jennie Wade HouseWhere the only civilian killed during the war reportedly still roams.

Queen Mary, Long Beach, California

Queen Mary A floating hotel and former luxury liner with a long and quirky history. During World War II she was used as a troop ship and countless people died aboard. Today, the ship is moored in Long Beach, Southern California, where guests report everything from nightly ghostly sightings to mysterious knocks. (Rates start at $166 per night.)

Ghostly hot spots include ship’s engine rooms and first-class swimming pools, where ghostly swimmers have been seen doing laps long after the pool has been washed away. Even the ship’s crew acknowledges its gruesome history, offering Midnight Ghost Tour And seances For visitors brave enough to see the paranormal. From September 20 to November 2, the ship and the surrounding harbor host the Dark Harbor A Halloween festival with haunted mazes, live entertainment, themed bars and carnival rides.

Boston

Boston has more than just Revolutionary War history. If you know where to look, you’ll also find scary stories that will give you chills. for example, Omni Parker HouseThe oldest continuously operating hotel in the US, notorious for hauntings. Guests claim to see ghostly figures such as Charles Dickens (who stayed there) and original owner Harvey Parker, checking in on guests late at night. Elevators? They stop at random floors to keep things creepy. (Rates start at $179 per night.)

to wander Freedom TrailWhere ghosts of patriots and redcoats can appear in places like the Granary Burying Ground. The officer Lantern Tourwhich covers the grisly history of the Freedom Trail, is offered on select nights in September and October. Or head to Boston Common after dark – rumor has it, the shouts of British soldiers can still be heard. And for the brave, at the haunted Fort Warren George Island Tortured by the “Lady in Black”, a Confederate spy who met a gruesome end there. Boston’s history may be iconic, but its ghost stories really keep things alive. Well, sort of.

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