American history is woven with threads of mystery and darkness. Beyond the well-trodden paths of famous haunted houses, countless lesser-known locations across the country whisper tales of the paranormal. These spots, steeped in unsettling events from frontier battles to tragic accidents, are said to harbor spirits from another realm. If you’re a fan of ghost stories and seeking chills off the beaten path, you’re in for a treat. Get ready to discover ten spine-tingling haunted hotspots you might not have heard of, each with its own eerie legacy.
10. French Lick Springs Hotel, Indiana
The French Lick Springs Hotel, initially a wellness resort capitalize on natural sulfur springs in the mid-19th century, transformed into a luxury destination under Mayor Thomas Taggart in 1888. With nearly 500 rooms, a spa, and golf courses, it became a Midwest attraction. However, its charm is shadowed by ghostly tales, making it reputedly Indiana’s most haunted place.
The most prominent spirit is believed to be Taggart himself. Employees report smelling his signature cigarette smoke just before his apparition appears, often performing odd jobs he once did. In a truly bizarre sighting, Taggart’s ghost has even been seen riding a horse down a sixth-floor hallway! He’s not alone, though. Guests have also encountered a helpful bellhop spirit, only realizing he’s not a current employee when they spot his face in century-old hotel photographs.
9. Hotel Alex Johnson, South Dakota
Constructed by railroad tycoon Alex Johnson in Rapid City, South Dakota, just before the Great Depression, the Hotel Alex Johnson quickly became successful due to its proximity to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. It has hosted presidents and celebrities, and even featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller North by Northwest. But beyond its glamorous history lies a darker reputation as one of the Upper Midwest’s most haunted locations.
Alex Johnson himself is said to wander the halls, keeping an eye on his prized property from beyond the grave. More unsettling are the stories linked to unsolved deaths at the hotel. Visitors frequently report seeing a little girl running along the 8th-floor hallway. She’s known to knock on doors and then vanish when guests open them. Another chilling presence is the “Lady in White,” believed to be a bride who died mysteriously at the hotel on her wedding night and now haunts its corridors.
8. Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana
While New Orleans is famed for its haunted reputation, the Myrtles Plantation, located in St. Francisville, offers its own brand of Southern spookiness. This former antebellum plantation, now a tourist attraction, claims to be haunted by at least a dozen different spirits. Legend says the Myrtles was the scene of at least ten murders, lending a grim reality to its ghostly tales.
The most famous spirit is Chloe, an enslaved young Black girl. According to legend, after being caught eavesdropping, her owner, Clark Woodruff, cut off one of her ears. Seeking revenge, Chloe allegedly poisoned Woodruff’s wife and children and was subsequently hanged. Her spirit is said to remain, often identified by the green turban she wore to cover her injury. Visitors report sightings and uneasy feelings, making Myrtles a chilling destination.
7. Totten Trail Historic Inn, North Dakota
North Dakota’s Old West history is filled with violence, so it’s no surprise the state has its share of ghost stories. The Totten Trail Historic Inn in Fort Totten, situated on Devil’s Lake within the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation, stands out. Built after the Civil War, one of its early purposes was as an English-only boarding school for Native American children, a place of forced assimilation.
Local lore describes horrific living conditions and brutality at the school, leading to the deaths of many children. Today, their ghosts are said to haunt the inn. Guests report mysterious shadows, doors that open and close on their own, and an unnerving feeling of being watched. Some have even claimed to see apparitions. Another legend suggests a man and woman who died there before a recent renovation also roam the building, perhaps longing for its past state.
6. Stone Lion Inn, Oklahoma
Built in 1907 in Guthrie, Oklahoma, the Stone Lion Inn was originally the grand private residence of the Houghton family. This impressive 8,000-square-foot, four-story home was later sold in the 1920s. For the next sixty years, it served as a funeral home, becoming a prominent memorial spot in Guthrie. In the 1980s, new owners converted it into a bed and breakfast, but its past continues to make its presence known.
One of the inn’s best-known spectral residents is Augusta Houghton, a little girl who died of whooping cough in the home. She’s said to walk the halls, unexpectedly move items, and particularly enjoys swiping toys. The Houghton family patriarch has also been seen, his spirit reportedly smoking a pipe while strolling down hallways. Guests have experienced other strange phenomena, including unexplained children’s noises and even the sensation of a young spirit gently tucking them into bed at night.
5. The Driskill Hotel, Texas
Texas has a strong claim to being one of America’s most haunted states, and Austin’s Driskill Hotel is a prime example. Built in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill, a man known for his loud living and Confederate sympathies, the hotel has a colorful past. Driskill himself lost ownership of the hotel in a poker game shortly after it opened. It’s said his spirit, perhaps forever tormented by the loss, now haunts the property, with visitors reporting sightings of him smoking cigars in guest rooms.
Beyond Driskill, other ghosts reportedly roam The Driskill. Room 329 is said to be haunted by a woman who took her own life there after her fiancé called off their wedding. Another tragic tale involves a young girl, the daughter of a politician, who died after falling down the grand staircase. Guests claim to see her playing with a ball in the stairwell, and her spirit is also linked to a painting on the fifth floor. Even famous figures like President Lyndon Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird, are rumored to spend their afterlife in the hotel’s elegant ballroom.
4. Battery Park and White Point Garden, South Carolina
Stede Bonnet, known as the “Gentleman Pirate” due to his wealthy English background, met a grim end in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1718, Bonnet and 30 of his crew were hanged after a failed attempt to capture the city. As a gruesome warning to other pirates, their bodies were left hanging for days at White Point in downtown Charleston’s Battery Park, eventually rotting under the sun before being tossed into a marsh.
Locals believe this disrespectful burial ensured Bonnet’s and his crew’s spirits would haunt Charleston forever. It’s said their ghosts still glide around White Point Garden. Unsuspecting visitors report seeing mysterious faces peering out from the darkness. In the mist, some swear they see phantom bodies hanging from the trees. Neighbors often hear screams echoing across the park at night, and some even claim to see the executed men’s faces reflected in the water’s edge.
3. St. Albans Sanatorium, Virginia
The St. Albans Sanatorium in Radford, Virginia, began as a Lutheran boys’ school where the intensely competitive academic environment allegedly drove several students to suicide. By 1916, the school closed, and the property was converted into a psychiatric hospital. Initially intended as a humane facility with amenities like a bowling alley and gardens, its reality soon turned dark.
Over decades, patients at the sanatorium endured cruel experimental treatments, including electroconvulsive therapy and forced lobotomies. The facility became dangerously overcrowded and understaffed before finally shutting down in the 1990s. The negative energy from these traumatic experiences seems to have lingered. Visitors report a wide array of paranormal activity: full-body apparitions floating through halls, shadowy figures, objects moving on their own, disembodied voices, and the unsettling sensation of being touched by unseen entities.
2. Bonaventure Cemetery, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia, is renowned as one of America’s most haunted cities, and Bonaventure Cemetery is a jewel in its spooky crown. Made famous by the book and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the cemetery’s atmosphere is undeniably eerie, with sprawling oak trees draped in Spanish moss and graves marked by ornate, cryptic sculptures. The novel’s “Bird Girl” statue is iconic, but many stone monuments contribute to the unsettling ambiance.
Strange occurrences are frequently reported throughout Bonaventure. People claim to hear babies crying near infant graves, and creepy laughs or invisible dog barks are not uncommon. Some observant visitors even say that certain gravestone statues will appear to smile or grimace as people pass by. The most famous spirit is Little Gracie Watson, who died of pneumonia at age six in 1889. Visitors swear they’ve seen her apparition by her grave, and legend holds that the statue above her marker sometimes weeps tears of blood in mourning.
1. Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub, Washington
Not all ghost stories are designed to terrify; some are just part of the local charm! This seems to be the case at Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub in Seattle, Washington. Located in the Butterworth Building near Pike Place Market, this site served as the city’s first permanent mortuary over a century ago. During its time housing the recently deceased, the Butterworth Building saw numerous victims of gruesome accidents, homicides, and suicides.
It’s perhaps no surprise that spirits from this grim past are said to linger, but they seem to be far from malevolent. The pub has embraced its macabre history, and its ghostly residents appear to enjoy the lively atmosphere. Glasses inexplicably slide off tables, and mirrors sometimes shatter without cause. One well-known spirit is a red-headed girl, thought to have died in the 1918 flu pandemic. She reportedly plays pranks on patrons and even makes toys for children. Another friendly ghost, known as Charlie, likes to pop up in the bar’s mirrors, seemingly just to say hello.
These ten lesser-known haunted hotspots offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of American ghost lore. From disgruntled owners to tragic figures and playful spirits, the stories behind these locations remind us that the past is never truly gone. It often lingers, waiting to share its chilling tales with those who dare to listen.
Have you visited any of these eerie spots, or do you know of other hidden haunted gems across the USA? Share your experiences and spooky suggestions in the comments below!
