1. The Mizpah Hotel – Tonopah, Nevada
This former mining town hotel dates back to 1907 and boasts the ghost of a woman known only as the “Lady in Red.” Legend has it she was a lady of the night murdered by a jealous lover on the fifth floor. Guests have reported finding red lipstick on mirrors and hearing whispered goodnights when no one is around. The Mizpah has offered free nights and even gift shop credits to those who brave the haunted fifth floor and document their experience, according to Cordero Gomez from Traveling Fiction.
Some paranormal groups have been invited to stay completely on the house if they promise to share their findings publicly. The old-timey vibe, creaky floors, and vintage decor make for the perfect eerie ambiance. Tonopah’s remoteness adds to the mystique—you’re really out there with just the ghosts and desert. If you’re game for a ghostly rendezvous, the Lady in Red might just help you break even.
2. The Crescent Hotel – Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Billed as “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” the Crescent has a dark past that includes a stint as a hospital run by a fraudulent doctor in the 1930s. Dr. Norman Baker claimed he could cure cancer, but many patients died mysteriously under his care. The spirits of these unfortunate souls are said to still linger in the halls, with guests frequently reporting sightings of a nurse pushing a gurney at night, according to Andrew Mobley from KATV. Occasionally, the hotel runs promotions offering refunds or partial payments to guests who stay and document any paranormal activity.
They’ve even had a “Ghost Hunt Weekend” where participants could earn cash by capturing credible evidence. One infamous room, 218, is believed to be haunted by a stonemason who fell to his death during construction. Lights flicker, doors slam, and some guests have fled in the middle of the night. If you’re up for it, you might leave with both a terrifying story and a check.
3. The Emily Morgan Hotel – San Antonio, Texas
Located right next to the Alamo, this hotel was once a medical arts building—and yes, that includes a psych ward and a morgue, according to Brian Kirkpatrick from Texas Public Radio. Floors 12 and 14 (there’s no labeled 13th, naturally) are reportedly the most active, with ghost sightings, sudden chills, and phones ringing from empty rooms. Some guests even claim to have seen apparitions of nurses and patients walking the halls. The hotel has offered themed haunted packages where brave guests can get discounts or perks for staying in the most haunted rooms.
They’ve also partnered with local ghost tour companies who sometimes cover a portion of the guest’s stay in exchange for documented experiences. The hotel’s gothic architecture only adds to the spooky atmosphere. Even the elevators are said to have minds of their own, randomly opening and closing on floors where no one is waiting. If you’ve got nerves of steel, it might just pay off—literally.
4. The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
Yes, this is the hotel that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining, and it lives up to its spooky reputation, according to Patrick McGuire from Uncover Colorado. Room 217, where King stayed, is particularly active, with reports of items moving and unexplained noises. The hotel leans into its haunted history and has offered free or discounted stays to those who come with ghost-hunting equipment. Guests who collect compelling evidence can sometimes get comped for part of their stay.
There are also regular paranormal investigation nights where participants can win prizes—or even cash—for the best evidence. Staff members have stories of pianos playing by themselves and apparitions in old-fashioned clothing. The concert hall is said to be haunted by a benevolent spirit named Paul who likes to enforce curfews. For horror fans and thrill-seekers alike, this is a bucket-list spot with a possible payday.
5. The Marshall House – Savannah, Georgia
Built in 1851, the Marshall House served as a hospital during the Civil War and again during yellow fever epidemics. Human remains were even found beneath the floorboards during renovations. Guests frequently report ghostly children, faucets turning on by themselves, and doorknobs rattling at night, according to Miguel Legoas of Savannah Morning News. The hotel has hosted ghost-themed promotions where guests could get discounts—or even a refund—if they stayed in the most haunted rooms and reported their experiences.
Local tour companies have also reimbursed a portion of stays if participants contribute to their ghost stories archive. Room 414 is infamous for unexplained sounds and sudden temperature drops. There’s a sense of solemn history here, and some guests have even reported seeing soldiers in Civil War uniforms. If you’re open to eerie roommates, your bravery might just come with a bonus.
6. The Myrtles Plantation – St. Francisville, Louisiana
Often called one of America’s most haunted homes, this plantation-turned-inn is said to be the site of at least 10 murders—though historical records confirm fewer. The most famous ghost is Chloe, a former enslaved woman believed to have poisoned the family she worked for. Guests have caught her image in mirrors and seen shadowy figures around the property. The Myrtles occasionally invites paranormal investigators to stay free of charge in exchange for footage and reports.
Several television crews have captured inexplicable phenomena here, from orbs to disembodied voices. Guests who provide compelling EVP recordings have even had their stays reimbursed. The grand, old architecture and moss-covered trees only add to the sense of eerie timelessness. For those willing to share a bed with spirits, there’s a chance you’ll leave richer—in both cash and ghost stories.
7. The Queen Mary – Long Beach, California
Now permanently docked, this ocean liner turned hotel is said to be one of the most haunted places in the U.S. Its history includes wartime service, tragic deaths, and numerous ghost sightings. The most haunted spot is Room B340, which was closed off for decades due to intense paranormal activity—until it reopened as a challenge room. The Queen Mary has offered incentives like refunds or prizes for guests who dare to spend the night in B340 and document what happens.
Some have captured video of moving objects or recorded bizarre noises that experts struggle to explain. The ship’s long corridors echo strangely, and several areas are off-limits due to safety—and allegedly, spirits. Ghost tours frequently pay guests for high-quality photos or EVP from specific hot spots. If you’re brave enough to board, you might just leave with a spooky souvenir and a bonus check.
8. The Logan Inn – New Hope, Pennsylvania
This Revolutionary War-era inn has been in operation since 1727 and is one of the oldest continually run inns in the U.S. Guests and staff report frequent apparitions, including a soldier in uniform and a woman crying in Room 6. The inn has been featured on ghost hunting shows, and during promotional events, they’ve offered discounted or free stays for those willing to document overnight hauntings. Occasionally, guests who record compelling evidence are reimbursed for their entire stay.
The town of New Hope itself is steeped in history, and the inn’s original beams and fireplaces only add to the haunted vibe. Ghost hunters love the mirror in the hallway where faces are said to appear without explanation. If you’re into Revolutionary War history and ghosts, this is your place. And if you bring the ghost receipts, they might just pay you for them.
9. The Jerome Grand Hotel – Jerome, Arizona
Originally a hospital that closed in the 1950s, this hilltop hotel has retained a lot of its old medical infrastructure—and apparently, its spirits. Room 32 is said to be haunted by a maintenance man who died under mysterious circumstances, and guests report moaning, footsteps, and even wheezing sounds late at night. The hotel has invited paranormal teams to stay for free in exchange for serious investigative work. Some guests have also received discounted rates or gift cards for submitting verified audio or video clips.
Jerome itself is an old mining town turned artsy ghost hub, and the vibe is very much haunted Old West. Staff members have their own chilling stories and have curated guest journals full of spooky entries. There’s even an old elevator that moves on its own—and not just due to old wiring, they say. If you’re cool bunking with a ghost or two, you might not have to pay a dime.
10. The Farnsworth House Inn – Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
This inn is located just steps away from the Gettysburg battlefield and was used by Confederate sharpshooters during the Civil War. Bullet holes from that time still riddle the exterior walls, and some say the spirits of fallen soldiers have never left. Guests frequently report footsteps, whispers in the attic, and the eerie presence of a little boy named Jeremy who likes to play tricks. The inn has occasionally offered ghost-themed packages where guests can earn back their money by recording paranormal events.
Room 7 is notorious for its poltergeist activity—moving objects, flickering lights, and the sensation of being watched. Gettysburg ghost tours often reimburse participants who stay at the inn and capture notable experiences. Even the dining room has been a hotspot, with silverware flying off tables. For Civil War buffs and ghost lovers, it’s a double win with a possible payout.
11. The Shanley Hotel – Napanoch, New York
This quaint hotel in the Hudson Valley looks charming from the outside, but it’s packed with ghost stories and eerie history. Once a bordello and speakeasy, the Shanley Hotel has been featured on paranormal shows for its nonstop ghostly activity. Guests have reported disembodied voices, footsteps in empty hallways, and even children’s laughter when no kids were around. To encourage brave souls to investigate, the hotel has offered discounted—and occasionally comped—stays for ghost hunters willing to share their findings.
Paranormal investigators are a regular presence, and the owners lean hard into the haunted angle. The most notorious room is said to be where a former bordello worker met her untimely end, and guests have woken up to cold spots and whispered names. With EVP (electronic voice phenomena) recordings frequently captured, the hotel keeps attracting thrill-seekers. It’s not a place you go for a good night’s sleep—but if you’re into chills, they might just pay you to stay and document what you find.
