12 Haunted Destinations for the Brave at Heart
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Ghost sightings, unexplained footsteps, weird and unexplained wails or moanings, children laughing and playing in hallways, and weird feelings of uneasiness are what you may experience when visiting these haunted destinations.
While these destinations typically look charming and have so much history to offer, they have almost always witnessed acts of injustice, massacres, bloodshed, or warfare. If you are brave at heart, plan a trip to delve into the history of these destinations, explore the legends of ghost roamings, and maybe meet or see ghosts, as many guests and staff have claimed to have done.
The Stanley Hotel, Colorado, USA
A hotel that offers stunning views of the Rocky Mountains? A good choice would be The Stanley Hotel, but only if you are daring or into the paranormal.
Have you read Stephen King’s bestseller, “The Shining”? The chilling novel is inspired by his experience at The Stanley in Colorado.
The hotel was opened in 1909 to host guests visiting Colorado for mountain retreats. While the Georgian architectural design and historic allure charm guests, the inside is an eerie experience only daring people seek to experience firsthand.
Numerous guests and staff report unexplained sounds, such as children laughing and running down the hallways when no children are present. The most haunting experience would be hearing the ghost of Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson, who is said to play the piano in the music room.
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Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Before its closure in 1971, the inmates of this prison were subjected to solitary confinement and other unimaginably harsh punishments like chaining inmates’ tongues to their wrists. It is said that these harsh conditions are the reason behind the location’s current haunted status.
The prison now serves as a museum, and there are reports of disembodied voices, shadowy figures, and unexplained sounds echoing through the empty cell blocks.
Guests and staff also claim to have captured paranormal photos and recordings, while others report feeling intensely uneasy when exploring the abandoned cells and corridors.
Are you daring enough to test how far you can go? Then stop by the penitentiary’s cell block 12, which is now known for having hosted the most dangerous inmates, including Al Capone, and is now recognized as the most haunted cell.
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Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California
Picture this: you start a business, and it becomes successful. You pass it down to the next generation, and everything seems great until the impact of your business comes back to haunt your loved ones—this is the legend of Winchester Mystery House.
The Winchester Mystery House was the personal residence of Sarah Winchester, the widow of William Wirt Winchester, the son of Oliver Winchester, the founder of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. After the deaths of her husband and infant daughter, Sarah inherited a vast fortune from the firearms company.
Legend has it that a medium told Sarah that she was cursed by the spirits of those whom Winchester rifles had killed and that she should build a house to appease them, and that is how she embarked on building the bizarre Winchester Mystery House in 1884.
Guests of this house are met with eerie bizarreness from the moment they set foot in it. This mansion makes a great treasure hunt for the daring, from numerous staircases that lead to nowhere, doors that open onto walls, and windows that open to other rooms.
Visitors and staff say it is not uncommon to hear footsteps and see ghosts through the vast mansion, which has 47 staircases and 160 rooms. A trip to Winchester Mystery House is never complete without stopping by the most haunted rooms: the Hall of Fires, Daisy Bedroom, and the Seance Room, where Sarah Winchester allegedly communicated with spirits.
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St Augustine Lighthouse, Florida, USA
St Augustine Lighthouse is a popular tourist destination known for its rich maritime history and purported paranormal activities. A lighthouse keeper tragically fell to his death while painting the lighthouse. The keeper’s ghost is reportedly spotted surveilling the lighthouse.
Another legend states that three girls drowned while playing by the lighthouse. Ever since this tragic incident, there have been reports of unexplained noise of children playing in and around the lighthouse.
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The Tower of London, London, UK
Having witnessed some of the most famous executions in the world, anyone into the paranormal would see why The Tower of London is widely described as the most haunted destination in England.
From the outside, the Tower of London is a historical landmark known for being home to many generations of monarchs. While this building is an essential landmark in London’s history, the dark past of the building has kept attracting tourists.
The Tower of London served as the execution site of high-profile prisoners whose ghosts have allegedly haunted the building ever since. Many other prisoners at The Tower of London died under unclear circumstances.
The most famous torture and execution that took place here was that of the second wife of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, whose ghost is reportedly spotted at the premises.
The warders that guard the Tower of London report experiencing unexplained footsteps, eerie noises, and sightings of ghostly figures.
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Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Edinburgh Castle is another destination whose haunted reputation is linked to its dark past. The castle has long served as a royal residence, military fortress, and symbol of Scottish independence.
The castle is also known for being the site of many battles, executions, and civil wars, and it is said the ghosts of the prisoners and soldiers still haunt the site to date. There is also a tale of a piper who mysteriously disappeared while working on the castle’s underground tunnels, whose ghost has reportedly been spotted surveilling the castle.
Despite the stories of being haunted, Edinburgh Castle has remained Scotland’s top tourist destination for ages thanks to its stunning architecture, panoramic views of the city it offers, and its mix of fascinating and controversial history.
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Château de Brissac, France
France is known for its history-filled and charming castles until you visit the Château de Brissac in Brissac Loire Aubance. Well, at first sight, Chateau de Brissac is a French Renaissance architectural marvel with a laid-back ambiance and well-manicured lawns. Wait until you get in and bump into the ghost of the Green Lady that apparently roams through the chateau.
It is said that the Green Lady is the ghost of Charlotte, the illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII, who was murdered in the castle after her jealous husband discovered her extra-marital affair. It is said that the husband moved out shortly after for being unable to stand the loud moans of his murdered wife.
The family of the Duke of Brissac, who now owns the castle, is said to have become accustomed to the Green Lady’s presence, although the ghost continues to scare tourists who visit.
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Leap Castle, Ireland
Dating back to the 13th century, Leap Castle has witnessed its fair share of violence and bloodshed, which are now associated with its apparent haunted status.“The Bloody Chapel” is the most notorious when it comes to ghost sightings in Leap Castle.
Legend has it that a member of the O’Carroll family murdered his brother, a priest, while he was leading mass. The chapel is said to be haunted by the restless spirits of the priest and many other victims of massacres that happened at the castle.
Residents and guests report encountering phantom figures, strange noises, and echoes in the castle’s halls.
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Burg Eltz, Germany
Burg Eltz is a medieval castle on the hills above the Moselle River, overlooking the charming cities of Koblenz and Trier. This castle is known for its picturesque, fairy-tale-like setting, architectural beauty, and fascinating history; the Eltz family has owned and occupied it for over 850 years.
Despite the wars and conflicts the region has experienced, Burg Eltz remained largely untouched and has retained its original character and charm.
Away from its charm, Burg Eltz is steeped in a long string of folktales related to its apparent paranormal sightings and activities. The most popular is the tale of a noble lady, Agnes, who was betrothed to a nobleman but immediately called off their engagement after meeting him. Not willing to take the rejection, the nobleman sent army men to capture Agnes’s castle; she died in a battle trying to protect her territory.
It is said that her moanful spirit can still be heard wailing through the halls, especially in what was her bedroom.
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Poveglia Island, Venice, Italy
Less than half a mile from the charming canals of Venice lies Poveglia Island, which served as the quarantine site for bubonic plague victims and as well as a storage site for Napoleon’s weapons.
It is estimated that tens of thousands of victims died and were buried on the island during the bubonic plague. Later on, a psychiatric hospital was put up on the island. Legend has it that the psychiatric facility mistreated and abused the mentally ill, as well as conducted gruesome medical experiments on them.
It is believed that the island is haunted by the spirits of those who died during the plague and those who suffered and died during the hospital’s controversial operation. There are reports of ghost sightings and eerie wails coming from the island.
While it is illegal to visit the island, you can see it and the decaying hospital and buildings from a safe distance at the beaches in Lido.
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The Alamo, Texas, USA
The Alamo is one of the most historic battlegrounds, not just in the history of Texas but the entire USA. Having witnessed the gruesome Battle of the Alamo during the fight for Texas’ independence from Mexico, the Alamo makes a perfect destination for history buffs.
However, visiting the Alamo is about more than immersing yourself in the battlefield’s history. Tales have it that there is a chance of having a one-on-one with the deceased soldiers’ ghosts. Staff and guests report having spotted spectral figures, strange sounds, and unexplained sensations around the site.
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The Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana, USA
A good reason to visit The Myrtles Plantation is because it is one of the oldest in the south of the United States and has a rich ownership history and involvement in slavery. An even better reason to visit for anyone into the paranormal would be to spot Chloe’s ghosts or at least get a one-on-one with her alleged hauntings.
It is said that Chloe, a slave at the plantation, was caught eavesdropping on her masters’ conversations, an event that led her masters to chop her ear off. Chloe then got her masters’ back by poisoning a birthday cake and consequently killing two of her masters’ daughters. Chloe was later separated from her daughters and killed by her fellow slaves. It is now said that her ghost roams the plantation in search of her lost daughters.
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