16 Most Haunted Hotels in America To Think Twice Before Staying In
I’ve been to many hotels before, but there’s nothing spookier than the ones with whispers in the halls and odd sounds that send shivers down your spine. From California to Massachusetts, the most haunted hotels in the U.S. come with creepy histories and rumors of paranormal happenings.
If you’re looking for a good scare, these ghostly inns might be the perfect place. But you might want to avoid these hotels if you prefer a more restful night’s sleep without any otherworldly visitors.
1. Green Park Inn, North Carolina
The Green Park Inn keeps a Ghost Log in the lobby, a chilling collection of guest experiences. Many entries mention Room 318, where legend says the heartbroken daughter of the founder, Laura Green, took her own life after being left at the altar.
Guests report seeing a spectral woman in a wedding dress roaming the halls, especially on the third floor. Ghost hunters investigating the Green Park Inn report shadowy figures vanishing into walls, disembodied voices, and electronics going haywire.
2. Stanley Hotel, Colorado
This haunted hot spot was established in 1909 by Freelan Oscar Stanley to recover from tuberculosis in Estes Park, Colorado. But The Stanley Hotel gained fame when Stephen King stayed there in 1974 and was inspired to write the bone-chilling thriller book The Shining, which was the basis for the famed movie starring Jack Nicholson.
In this hotel, Room 217 is said to be haunted by the ghost of Elizabeth Wilson, a chambermaid who was injured in a gas explosion in 1911. Guests reported waking up to find their clothes folded and suitcases organized or even having a chilly presence get into bed with them. Some guests on the fourth floor have reported hearing children’s laughter and feeling mysteriously ill!
3. Pfister Hotel, Wisconsin
They say the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, might be more than just a luxurious place to stay—it’s a haunted hotel built on a former cemetery. Major League Baseball players, actors, and even rapper Megan Thee Stallion have all reported weird things happening in their rooms. People say the spirit of the founder, Charles Pfister, who passed away before the hotel’s completion, still haunts guests with strange electronic glitches.
4. Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
The Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. might be a luxurious stay for the living, but it’s rumored to be a popular spot for the restless dead. Back in the day, suite 870 was an apartment occupied by hotel owner Henry Doherty and his family. Tragedy struck when the housekeeper, Juliette Brown, died unexpectedly.
Shortly after, Doherty’s wife and daughter also mysteriously passed away. Guests in suite 870 (now nicknamed the “Ghost Suite”) have reported some creepy occurrences—mysterious noises, slamming doors, and furniture waltzing around on its own in the dead of night.
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5. La Fonda on the Plaza, New Mexico
La Fonda on the Plaza has all the charm of a beautiful old building—and maybe a few too many permanent residents. The site has been home to inns for over 400 years, dating back to 1607. Guests have reported eerie encounters like shadowy figures, whispers in the halls, and objects moving independently.
From a gambler with a grim fate to a judge with a lobby-bound spirit and a tragic bride, the hotel’s ghostly guests add a chilling twist to its rich history.
6. Omni Parker House, Massachusetts
The Omni Parker House in Boston, Massachusetts, might be the perfect place for your next vacation…if you’re looking for a side of ghosts with your morning coffee. Guests have spotted apparitions on the 9th and 10th floors, while Room 303 is known for random whiskey scents and eerie laughter.
The deceased founder, Harvey D. Parker, is rumored to be especially fond of the 10th floor—a mother and daughter in room 1012 reported him appearing at the foot of their bed, silently asking if they were enjoying their stay. At least he’s hospitable!
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7. Hanover Inn Dartmouth, New Hampshire
The Hanover Inn Dartmouth might be charming with its storied history, but tales of restless spirits linger within its walls. Back in 1934, a college fraternity party turned deadly when a carbon monoxide leak claimed the lives of nine young men.
The house where it happened was demolished, but some believe their spirits linger in this area. Guests and students report apparitions of these young men, along with their dates, partying in hallways or encountering rooms that vanish upon closer inspection.
8. 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, Arkansas
This historic hotel has been around since 1886, and let’s just say it’s seen its fair share of action–not all of it happy. It started as a resort, then turned into a girls’ college, then into a controversial cancer hospital in the 1930s under fraudulent “Doctor” Norman Baker, who touted strange homemade potions as a cure for cancer.
Now, guests share eerie encounters, from full-bodied apparitions to sudden chills. The spirits roaming the inn include Michael, the Irish stonemason in Room 218, or Theodora, forever tidying Room 419, or little Breckie bouncing his ball down the halls.
9. The Hotel Chelsea, New York
The Hotel Chelsea in New York is a hotspot for creativity and…unrest. Its history dates back to 1884 and has been a place for renowned artists, writers, and musicians throughout the years. Some believe this creative energy draws spirits, too.
Famous guests include Mark Twain, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and Andy Warhol. The hotel has its share of tragic histories. One of the most notorious tragedies to happen there was the 1978 violent death of Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of famous punk rock guitarist Sid Vicious. People also say Mary, who hanged herself after losing her husband in the Titanic disaster, still haunts the halls.
10. The Marshall House, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia, the oldest city in the state, holds more than just history—it’s a hub for unexplained phenomena. The Marshall House, dating back to 1851 and once a Civil War hospital, is one of America’s most haunted hotels.
From unearthed Civil War soldier bones to a mischievous child leaving bite marks, the hotel is alive with restless spirits. Even author Joel Chandler Harris is rumored to be tapping away on his typewriter from beyond the grave.
11. Jekyll Island Club Resort, Georgia
Built-in 1887 as a playground for America’s richest families, Jekyll Island Club has tales that are as diverse as they are eerie. One bellman claimed to deliver suits to a coffee-loving spirit rearranging newspapers.
But the most well-known spirit to lurk on the grounds is that of Edwin Gould Jr., son of a railroad tycoon, who tragically lost his life in a hunting accident in 1917. Visitors to his family’s cottage report catching whiffs of Cherokee roses, his beloved flower, lingering in the air around the anniversary of his passing.
12. The Seelbach Hilton, Kentucky
Built in 1905, the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville, Kentucky, is known for its luxurious Beaux Arts Baroque architecture and creepy ghost stories. The most famous Seelbach ghost is Patricia Wilson, a young woman who supposedly threw herself down an elevator shaft in 1936 after her ex-husband died.
Guests have reported feeling a presence in the elevator, sometimes even touching the shoulder, and smelling the faint scent of lilac perfume – Patricia’s signature.
13. Emily Morgan Hotel, Texas
You might think twice before visiting the Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. It used to be a medical facility across the street from the Alamo. People have claimed to see a nurse from the 1920s or 1930s walking the halls, but she vanishes when they try to talk to her.
Elevators mysteriously stop on the 7th floor, which is supposed to be closed off. There have also been reports of electronic malfunctions, unexplained cold spots, and even shadowy figures appearing in mirrors.
Read more about Things To Do in Austin, Texas
14. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, California
Have you ever heard of somewhere being so happy that the spirits just can’t let go? That’s the case with California’s Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. This place is legendary for its resident ghost, Victoria, a hauntingly beautiful woman who loved the Inn so much that she considers it her eternal home.
The story goes that Victoria, who dates back to Sonoma Valley’s founding fathers, celebrated her wedding and countless anniversaries at the Inn.
On quiet evenings when the fog rolls in thick, guests and staff have spotted her spectral figure in a flowing period dress, gliding through the halls.
15. Hotel Monteleone, Louisiana
This 1886 New Orleans gem isn’t just known for its beautiful architecture and lively Carousel Bar—it’s also notorious for being one of America’s most haunted hotels. There’s the story of young Maurice Begere, who stayed at the French Quarter hotel with his parents in the 1890s, fell ill, and tragically passed away.
The 14th floor is said to be a hotspot for Maurice’s ghost. Guests report seeing a little boy wandering the halls; some even claim to hear him whisper, “Mommy, don’t cry. I’m fine.”
16. The Red Lion Inn, Massachusetts
The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, might be the perfect place for a spooky thrill…if you dare to stay. Dating back to 1773, this historic spot isn’t just a hotel—it’s a playground for the paranormal.
Brave souls flock here, especially to the fourth floor, where people have reported seeing a young girl with flowers and a dapper gentleman in a top hat. Even the general manager admits to ghostly encounters with a mischievous boy and his nanny locked in a game of hide and seek that never ends.
Sources: Travel and Leisure, Saving Places, Forbes
