Uncover 40 Spine-Chilling Destinations Worldwide That Haunt Even the Bravest Travelers

This former psychiatric hospital, which housed thousands of patients from its opening in 1904, officially shut down in 1996, leaving it an unused and abandoned property. Since then, the massive hospital has gained an eerie reputation, with several visitors claiming to have heard screams and cries near the old Salmon building. While it isn’t open to the public, viewing the hospital’s exterior will still make for quite a creepy experience.

When imagining a military fort, you probably picture a place where tons of soldiers tragically lost their lives, but Fort Knox’s history is a little different than the usual. Although it has never seen battle or bloodshed, it’s said that soldiers who once trained there haunt the fort, leading to the strange footsteps and voices visitors have reported while on tours.

Long abandoned and standing in ruins, this 17th-century fort is said to have been cursed by an evil wizard who couldn’t handle the princess’s rejection. Another curse adding to the city’s chilling reputation is that of an angry holy man, who doomed the fort, and as such, the spirits of former residents reportedly roam the streets. What makes the fort even more haunting is that although the area is open to the public to visit, it’s closed between sunrise and sunset.

Every year for many decades, this Gothic-style castle has welcomed a ton of visitors because of the many ghost stories surrounding it. From the ‘Lady in White’, the ghost of a maid who lost her life due to influenza in the 1900s, to the original owners haunting the halls, the mansion is nothing short of mysterious. Today, those brave enough to explore the castle can do so all year round, and even attend its Legends of Horror event each October.

Dubbed one of Texas’s most famous and most haunted historical landmarks, this 19th-century hotel has quite a notorious history. From the tale of two jilted brides taking their lives in Room 525 to the hotel founder’s spirit wandering around the property, these are just a few of the eerie stories that make Driskill the perfect spooky destination. Along with these stories, some guests have even reported seeing other spirits and experiencing other paranormal phenomena, like the unexplained flickering of lights.

Haunted by the ghost of its original owner and many others from its time as a hospital, this hotel’s haunting actually has quite a sad backstory. It’s said that Thomas Rowe built the palace in remembrance of the love of his life, whom he was forbidden to marry. Interestingly, guests have reported seeing a man in a white suit waiting at the fountain and wandering the halls, with many convinced that the spirit is Rowe searching for his lost love. This story makes the hotel a perfect destination for a ghost tour.

While this 18th-century tavern doesn’t immediately scream “haunted establishment” at first glance, it’s actually one of Maryland’s oldest and most haunted buildings. With stories of a man named George Schmidt haunting the place, to flickering lights, unexplained smells, and randomly moving objects, it’s no surprise that the tavern would make it onto this list.

Known as Manhattan’s oldest surviving mansion, this 1765 house has over two centuries of interesting history. Now operating as a historic museum, it’s said that the ghost of Eliza Jumel, a former resident, haunts the mansion, with visitors and staff reporting creepy voices and cold spots. It’s even alleged that Jumel’s spirit actually revealed itself to a group of schoolchildren touring the house in the 60’s.

Dating back to the 18th century, this cemetery has been dubbed one of the most haunted burial grounds in the country. Popularized by renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, its reputation is certainly chilling. From creepy mist to the infamous “White Lady” spirit, it’s not surprising that Lorraine told the Daily Voice in 2011, “I can tell you that I know for a fact that this place is haunted, it’s one of the most haunted places around.”

Once serving as a psychiatric facility and a quarantine zone for people suffering from the plague, it isn’t hard to believe that paranormal investigators would call Poveglia haunted. With thousands of people likely losing their lives there over centuries, many are convinced their spirits still lurk around the island. Despite the locals disputing claims that it’s haunted, Poveglia remains closed to the public; however, curious visitors can still catch a glimpse of the island from boats.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5