1. The Ax Murder House in Villisca, Iowa
Villisca might be a small town, but its infamous Ax Murder House has drawn ghost hunters from around the world. In 1912, an entire family was brutally murdered here, and the crime was never solved. Visitors report hearing whispers, children’s laughter, and even seeing doors slam shut on their own.
2. The Ghostly Hitchhiker of Route 66
America’s favorite road trip route also has one of its creepiest ghost stories. Near Galena, Kansas, locals talk about a spectral hitchhiker who disappears as soon as you pick her up. Some drivers have reported feeling an icy chill when she vanishes from their car.
3. The Bell Witch of Adams, Tennessee
Adams locals will tell you the Bell Witch isn’t just a ghost; she’s a full-on menace. In the early 1800s, this spirit supposedly tormented the Bell family, whispering threats and even physically attacking them. To this day, people claim to hear strange noises near the old Bell farm. Some even avoid the area entirely.
4. The Lady in Black of Fort Warren, Massachusetts
On George’s Island, just off Boston Harbor, Fort Warren is said to be haunted by a woman in black. Legend has it she was a Confederate spy executed for trying to rescue her husband. Visitors report hearing her mournful cries and seeing her ghostly figure wandering the fort.
5. The Whaley House in San Diego, California
Yes, San Diego is technically a city, but the historic Old Town area has a small-town vibe—and a famously haunted house. The Whaley House, built in 1857, was once a courthouse and gallows site. Visitors claim to see shadowy figures, smell cigar smoke, and even hear phantom footsteps.
6. The Haunted Railroad Tracks in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio has a story so chilling it’s become urban legend. At a certain railroad crossing, cars mysteriously roll uphill. Locals say it’s the ghosts of children who were killed in a tragic school bus accident. They push vehicles to “safety,” leaving behind tiny handprints in the dust.
7. The Lemp Mansion in St. Louis, Missouri
This old mansion has a dark history of suicides, financial ruin, and tragedy within the Lemp family. Now a bed-and-breakfast, guests often hear unexplained knocking, see apparitions, and feel sudden cold spots. Locals say it’s one of the most haunted places in the Midwest.
8. The Greenbrier Ghost of West Virginia
This story is so bizarre it’s part of legal history. In the 1890s, a young woman named Zona Heaster Shue allegedly appeared as a ghost to her mother, revealing she’d been murdered by her husband. Her mother’s testimony helped convict him, and people in Greenbrier County still talk about Zona’s spectral appearance.
9. The Phantom Drummer of Northfield, Massachusetts
During the Revolutionary War, Northfield soldiers claimed to hear ghostly drumming in the woods. The sound, said to be from a long-dead drummer boy, still echoes through the trees, according to modern-day hikers. Some say it’s a call to arms from the past.
10. The Lights of Marfa, Texas
Marfa’s mysterious lights aren’t a haunting in the traditional sense, but they’re just as creepy. These glowing orbs appear in the desert at night, seemingly dancing and defying explanation. While some call them UFOs, others insist they’re spirits. Either way, they’ve been baffling locals for over a century.
11. The Wailing Woman of La Llorona in Santa Fe, New Mexico
In Santa Fe, the story of La Llorona—the Weeping Woman—is taken very seriously. According to legend, her cries are heard near rivers as she searches for the children she drowned in a fit of rage. Parents often use the tale to warn kids to stay away from water at night.
12. The Ghost of Chloe at Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana
The Myrtles Plantation, often called one of the most haunted houses in America, has its most famous ghost: Chloe, a former enslaved woman who was allegedly involved in a poisoning plot. Visitors frequently report seeing her green-turbaned figure in photos or lingering near the property’s windows.
From tragic spirits to eerie apparitions, these ghost stories remind us that small towns hold more than history—they hold mysteries that continue to haunt the living. Which of these tales would you dare to investigate?
