1. Winchester Mystery House – San Jose, California
This Victorian labyrinth was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the man behind the famous rifle company. Legend says she kept building the house 24/7 to appease the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. It has staircases leading to nowhere, doors that open into walls, and over 160 rooms filled with architectural oddities. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, walking through the house feels like stepping into a fever dream, according to Barry Kramer from Amateur Traveler.
You can take a guided tour and hear about Sarah’s obsession with the supernatural—and her fear of ghosts exacting revenge. Many visitors and staff have reported strange noises, cold spots, and unexplained footsteps. Even skeptics admit something feels… off here. It’s open year-round and even hosts flashlight tours after dark, if you’re feeling brave.
2. The Myrtles Plantation – St. Francisville, Louisiana
This classic Southern plantation is wrapped in moss, charm—and some seriously grim stories. The most famous legend involves a former enslaved woman named Chloe, who supposedly poisoned the family’s children and now haunts the grounds. Whether that tale is true or not, there have been over a dozen reported deaths in the house, and the atmosphere is undeniably heavy. Multiple ghost sightings, from shadowy figures to full apparitions, have made it a paranormal hotspot, according to Mike Huberty from American Ghost Walks.
Guests can stay overnight in the rooms, and many wake up to unexplained noises or cold hands brushing across their skin. The plantation leans into its spooky reputation, but the real-life tragedies behind the stories are even more chilling. It’s been featured on countless ghost-hunting shows, and people keep coming back for more. History, horror, and hospitality all collide here in a truly unsettling way.
3. Lizzie Borden House – Fall River, Massachusetts
You’ve probably heard the rhyme: “Lizzie Borden took an axe…” and this is where it all happened. The house where Lizzie was accused (and later acquitted) of murdering her father and stepmother with a hatchet is now a bed and breakfast. You can sleep in the very room where her stepmother was killed—or sit in the parlor where her father met his end. Unsurprisingly, this place has become a magnet for ghost hunters and true crime fans, according to Julie Jordan from PEOPLE.
People claim to hear whispers, see figures in mirrors, and even feel sudden chills while walking through. The original furniture is long gone, but much of the layout is preserved, giving it a disturbingly accurate vibe. Tours dive deep into the trial, the evidence, and the speculation that still surrounds Lizzie’s innocence—or guilt. It’s both a historical landmark and a murder mystery frozen in time.
4. The Whaley House – San Diego, California
Built in 1857 on the site of a former gallows, the Whaley House has a dark foundation—literally. The Whaley family themselves suffered tragedy after tragedy here, including suicides, childhood deaths, and financial ruin. Visitors and paranormal investigators alike report strange laughter, phantom footsteps, and ghostly figures moving across rooms. Even the U.S. Commerce Department once declared it “the most haunted house in America.”
The home is now a museum where guests can tour the rooms and hear about its long, tormented history. Some claim the spirit of Yankee Jim Robinson, who was hanged on the land before the house existed, still lingers. Others believe Thomas Whaley himself refuses to leave. Either way, it’s not just a beautifully restored Greek Revival house—it’s a hotbed of historic tragedy.
5. Bellamy Mansion – Wilmington, North Carolina
The Bellamy Mansion is a gorgeous antebellum home, but its beauty hides a painful past. Built by enslaved people just before the Civil War, the house’s grandeur came at an immense human cost. The basement, where the enslaved staff lived and worked, is preserved as a chilling reminder of that reality. Though there aren’t many ghost stories here, the weight of history is undeniable.
Tours don’t shy away from the darker parts of the mansion’s story, and that’s what makes it important. It’s not about scares—it’s about confronting what really happened in homes like this. The contrast between elegance and oppression is striking, and the air feels thick with unspoken memories. This mansion disturbs you in a different way—quietly and deeply.
6. The Lemp Mansion – St. Louis, Missouri
The Lemp Mansion was home to the Lemp brewing dynasty—and the scene of multiple suicides within the family. The family’s decline is both tragic and eerie, with four members taking their own lives, three of them in the house itself. Visitors say you can feel the sadness in the walls, especially in the rooms where these deaths occurred. Today, it’s part restaurant, part inn, part ghost tour destination, according to Roy A. Barnes from Travel Thru History.
Some guests claim to hear doors opening and closing on their own, or see shadows dart down hallways. One of the most commonly mentioned spirits is that of a child with deformities who was kept hidden in the attic. The mansion’s history is documented and deeply unsettling, not just spooky folklore. When you visit, the air of sorrow is hard to ignore.
7. The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
This grand hotel inspired Stephen King’s The Shining—and for good reason. King stayed in Room 217 during a snowstorm and had a nightmare that sparked the iconic novel. But long before that, guests reported eerie piano music, lights flickering, and objects moving without explanation. The Stanley leans into its haunted fame with ghost tours and paranormal investigations.
Despite the hotel’s beauty and stunning mountain views, many say it feels unsettling once the sun goes down. The original owners, Freelan and Flora Stanley, are said to still roam the halls. Room 217 remains the most requested—and the most avoided—room in the hotel. Whether you’re into horror fiction or real-life hauntings, the Stanley is a bucket list stop.
8. Pittock Mansion – Portland, Oregon
The Pittock Mansion is perched high above Portland and is absolutely gorgeous—but there’s something oddly cold about it. Built by Oregon pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock, it became a symbol of success…and then, slowly, a house of lingering grief. The couple died within a year of each other, and many believe their spirits never left. Today, strange sounds, moving objects, and ghost sightings have been reported by staff and visitors.
It’s open as a museum with self-guided tours that cover both its architecture and its unexplained phenomena. The haunting here isn’t malevolent—more like melancholy. People have spotted faces in windows, heard music from nowhere, and felt sudden drafts on still days. It’s a place that feels stuck between worlds.
9. The Biltmore Estate – Asheville, North Carolina
The Biltmore might not seem like it belongs on a list of disturbing places—until you dig into its ghostly reputation. This massive estate was built by George Vanderbilt, who died young, leaving the mansion to his widow. Since then, guests and staff have reported hearing his voice calling her name, disembodied laughter, and eerie footsteps in empty rooms. Some say the house’s sheer size makes it feel alive.
There’s no grisly murder or famous ghost story here—just a lingering presence that keeps people on edge. The estate is fully open to the public, and it’s easy to get lost (literally and figuratively) in its echoing halls. The swimming pool area is especially known for strange sensations and voices. For such a beautiful place, it can leave you with an unsettling feeling you can’t quite shake
10. Villisca Axe Murder House – Villisca, Iowa
In 1912, eight people were brutally murdered in this otherwise quiet home, and the killer was never caught. The Moore family and two young guests were bludgeoned to death in their sleep, and the crime shocked the nation. The house has been preserved as it was at the time of the murders—no electricity, no modern updates. Walking through it feels like stepping into the aftermath of a nightmare.
Guests can take tours or even stay overnight, and many report hearing children’s voices, footsteps upstairs, and doors slamming. Some visitors leave in the middle of the night, overwhelmed by the oppressive energy. The unresolved mystery only adds to the creep factor—no one knows who did it, or why. It’s one of the most chilling crime scenes you can still walk through.
11. LaLaurie Mansion – New Orleans, Louisiana
Arguably one of the most infamous homes in the U.S., the LaLaurie Mansion is where Madame Delphine LaLaurie committed horrific acts against enslaved people in the early 1800s. When a fire broke out, firefighters discovered a torture chamber in the attic, and the public was horrified. Though the house has changed hands many times (even Nicolas Cage owned it briefly), no one stays long. It’s not open for interior tours, but the exterior alone draws crowds.
Passersby report chills, shadowy figures in the windows, and overwhelming feelings of dread. Even hardened ghost tour guides admit they avoid lingering too long out front. The true history here is more disturbing than any ghost story. The cruelty committed within its walls left a mark that seems impossible to wash away.
12. Franklin Castle – Cleveland, Ohio
Known as Ohio’s most haunted house, Franklin Castle has a sinister reputation that just won’t quit. Built in the 1880s by Hannes Tiedemann, the house was the site of several family deaths—some under suspicious circumstances. Rumors swirl about secret passageways, murders, and even occult activity. Though many of these stories are likely exaggerated, the house feels like it knows something you don’t.
Over the years, it’s served as a private residence, club, and paranormal investigation site. Ghost sightings include a woman in black, crying children, and unexplained electrical failures. The house recently reopened to the public for guided tours and events, making it possible to finally explore its infamous halls. Whatever the truth behind its legends, Franklin Castle has earned its dark reputation.
