1. Hotel Monte Vista – Flagstaff, Arizona
Built in 1927, this hotel has more than just antique charm—it’s got some real paranormal street cred, according to Roger Naylor and Scott Craven from The Arizona Republic. Room 306 is said to be haunted by a long-term tenant who died there; guests report seeing a rocking chair move on its own and feeling a presence in the room. Then there’s the infamous “phantom bellboy,” who knocks on doors and announces room service—but when guests open the door, no one’s there. It’s not exactly the kind of service people are looking for.
Some guests have checked in excited by the hotel’s vintage vibe but checked out rattled after a sleepless night. Even celebrities who stayed during the filming of nearby Westerns reported weird encounters. It’s not unusual for people to request different rooms—or just bolt entirely. Haunted or not, the Monte Vista definitely leaves an impression.
2. Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
This one’s basically the poster child for haunted hotels, thanks to The Shining. Stephen King stayed here in the ’70s and had a terrifying dream that inspired his novel, and guests ever since have claimed to hear piano music with no pianist in sight. Room 217 is especially notorious—people report belongings being moved and lights flickering. Some visitors get so spooked they check out early, even though the views are beautiful.
You’d think the Rockies would provide calming vibes, but not when phantom children are laughing in the halls at night. The staff is upfront about the hotel’s ghostly reputation, even offering paranormal tours, according to Patrick McGuire from Uncover Colorado. Still, some guests come unprepared for just how eerie it can feel. Let’s just say not everyone makes it till checkout.
3. Crescent Hotel – Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Nicknamed “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” the Crescent has a past that’s practically begging for ghost stories, according to Jeff MacGregor from Smithsonian Magazine. It was once a hospital run by a fake doctor who claimed to cure cancer and allegedly conducted bizarre experiments. People have seen ghostly nurses, heard disembodied voices, and some swear they’ve seen a man in Victorian clothing roaming the halls. Room 218 is said to be especially active, with guests hearing loud banging noises and seeing doors slam on their own.
The vibe here can go from charmingly old-timey to straight-up chilling in no time. Paranormal investigators have documented cold spots, electronic disturbances, and sudden feelings of dread. Some guests have packed up in the middle of the night, too unnerved to sleep. If you’re into history and hauntings, this place delivers—sometimes a little too well.
4. Queen Mary – Long Beach, California
Technically a retired ocean liner turned hotel, the Queen Mary has a reputation that rivals any landlocked haunt, according to Julie Jordan from PEOPLE. Once a luxury ship and a WWII troop transport, it’s now docked in Long Beach and infamous for its haunted staterooms and eerie engine room. Guests have reported apparitions, sudden cold drafts, and mysterious knocks on their cabin doors. One of the most unsettling areas is the old first-class swimming pool, where people claim to see wet footprints and hear splashes—despite there being no water in it.
Some guests have lasted only hours before bailing, creeped out by ghostly whispers or the sensation of being watched. Room B340 is so disturbing it was closed off for years before being reopened to brave (or reckless) souls. Staff say it’s common for guests to ask to switch rooms after just one night. Ghost tours run nightly, but not everyone sticks around long enough to join them.
5. Omni Parker House – Boston, Massachusetts
This grand old hotel has hosted literary greats like Charles Dickens and haunted house royalty like… actual ghosts. People say the original owner, Harvey Parker, never really left—guests have reported seeing him at the foot of their beds. Elevators are known to stop on the third floor without being summoned, and disembodied voices whisper just when you’re about to fall asleep. The 10th floor is especially notorious for late-night footsteps and phantom phone calls.
Even skeptics have left early after feeling watched or waking up to find their belongings mysteriously rearranged. The hotel leans into its ghostly past, but some guests don’t find it quite so charming in the dark. Its long history, dating back to the mid-1800s, only adds to the uneasy atmosphere. Many check in expecting a classic Boston experience and end up fleeing in the middle of the night.
6. Driskill Hotel – Austin, Texas
This 1886 Romanesque beauty looks like a dream wedding venue, but it’s been creeping people out for generations, according to Jake Gripp from The Daily Texan. Guests have seen a little girl bouncing a ball in the hallway, believed to be the spirit of a senator’s daughter who died there. Others have reported smelling cigar smoke from a non-existent source—possibly the original owner himself. Even the grand staircase has a weird energy, with some guests feeling like they’re being pushed as they descend.
Several musicians and politicians have stayed here, but not all had restful nights. A few people have left abruptly, too unsettled to enjoy Austin’s music scene. One bride even fled her suite, claiming she heard whispers and crying in the empty room. Turns out “southern hospitality” can come with ghosts.
7. Congress Plaza Hotel – Chicago, Illinois
This place is sometimes called “Chicago’s most haunted hotel,” and it lives up to the name. It’s got ties to gangster lore—Al Capone is rumored to have stayed here—and more than a few tragic stories. Room 441 is the most infamous, with guests reporting shadow figures, moving furniture, and feelings of being watched. Some have even said they were pushed awake by unseen hands.
It’s not unusual for people to check into that room and demand a change within the hour. The hotel tries to maintain a classy front, but seasoned staff have heard all the stories and know when someone won’t last the night. Even non-haunted rooms seem to carry strange vibes. Some guests are just too creeped out to stay until morning.
8. Marshall House – Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is known for being haunted in general, and the Marshall House leans way into that reputation. It was used as a hospital during the Civil War and again during yellow fever epidemics, so yeah—it’s seen some things. Guests report faucets turning on by themselves, ghostly children laughing in the halls, and the strong scent of medicinal alcohol. Bones were even discovered beneath the floorboards during renovations, which probably doesn’t help.
Despite its beauty and charm, not everyone lasts the night. Some guests leave early, freaked out by the heavy atmosphere and unexplained noises. The building itself creaks and groans like it’s alive. It’s a Southern gem—with a serious side of the supernatural.
9. Mizpah Hotel – Tonopah, Nevada
This historic desert hotel is mostly known for the “Lady in Red,” a ghost believed to be a murdered prostitute who now lingers in Room 502. Guests claim to hear whispering in their ears, find their bags mysteriously unpacked, or spot a figure in a red dress vanishing down the hallway. She’s been known to leave pearls on pillows and tug at guests’ clothes. Romantic? Maybe. Creepy? Absolutely.
Some folks come looking for an old-school Western stay and end up too freaked out to sleep. The isolation of Tonopah doesn’t help—there’s something eerie about the quiet desert night. Many have checked out well before sunrise after one too many ghostly encounters. It’s beautiful, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
10. Hotel Chelsea – New York City, New York
Even before it closed for renovations, this iconic NYC spot was famous for its artistic residents and ghostly happenings. It’s where Sid Vicious allegedly killed Nancy Spungen, and some believe her spirit still lingers. There have been reports of ghostly figures at the ends of beds, lights flickering, and feelings of intense sadness in certain rooms. Some guests say they’ve heard a woman crying and couldn’t find the source.
The building reopened recently, but not everyone stays the night anymore. There’s an air of melancholy and mystery that’s hard to shake. Staff say some visitors leave early without giving a reason—just a nervous smile and a quick checkout. Even amid the noise of New York, the silence in some rooms feels too loud.
11. Silver Queen Hotel – Virginia City, Nevada
This old mining town hotel has all the Wild West charm you could want—and a whole lot of ghost stories, too. The most well-known ghost is a woman who reportedly died in Room 11 and still lingers there. Guests have heard sobbing, seen flickering lights, and experienced doors that open and close by themselves. Paranormal investigators have even claimed to record EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) in the room.
Some visitors love the spooky vibes, but others nope out fast. Staff are used to refunding nervous guests who leave in the middle of the night. It’s a favorite for ghost hunters but a nightmare for anyone hoping for a quiet night’s sleep. Let’s just say it’s more “ghost town” than “getaway.”
12. Battery Carriage House Inn – Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston’s full of ghost stories, and this inn has two of its own: the Gentleman Ghost and the Headless Torso. Yes, you read that right. The Gentleman Ghost tends to be polite—just a quiet presence near the bed—but the torso is something else entirely. Guests in Room 8 have claimed to see a headless figure hovering, groaning, and emitting an overwhelming sense of dread.
Some visitors enjoy the thrill and even book those specific rooms. Others, however, pack up before sunrise, unable to handle the deeply unsettling atmosphere. The inn doesn’t advertise itself as haunted, but word gets around fast. Charleston might be charming, but this place is straight-up spine-tingling.
