1. Ghosts Gaga Over Gettysburg: Farnsworth House Inn, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - Average nightly rate $117
Located at the home of one of the most significant and bloody military battles on U.S. soil, the Farnsworth House Inn, built in 1810, welcomes all visitors, reportedly including Confederate and Union ghosts from the American Civil War. Providing ghost tours of the attic and basement, the Farnsworth embraces its ghoulish guests, so visitors should be prepared for some unusual sights and sounds at night. Said one TripAdvisor traveler, "If you want a ghostly experience this is the place to go, I could tell hundreds of experiences I have had myself there!"
2. A Killer Hand: St. James Hotel, Cimarron, New Mexico - Average nightly rate $95
A hotel steeped in frontier history, the St. James Hotel, built in 1880 and once known as the Lambert Inn, has housed a who's who of "Wild West" characters including Jesse James, Doc Holliday, and Billy the Kid. Visitors may still see and hear the spirits of cowboys throughout the hotel, and room 18 remains locked, said to belong to the ghost of Thomas James Wright, who was shot and killed there after winning the deed to the St. James Hotel in a game of poker. Tells one TripAdvisor traveler, "About 3 a.m. we heard a hideous scream that seemed to originate inside our room. Upon immediate picture taking we discovered a vortex (thought by many to be the spiritual presence of a deceased person.)"
3. Spirited San Antonio: Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas - Average nightly rate $175
Built in 1859 across from the historic Alamo, the Menger Hotel is a hotspot for alleged paranormal activity, with numerous reports of ghost sightings of former hotel employees and influential guests. Teddy Roosevelt was one regular at this historic hotel, where he is said to have recruited his famed Rough Riders for the Spanish American War. According to a TripAdvisor traveler, "I did however have a 'strange' experience while I was there. I had brought my laptop to the room and when I came out of the bathroom 'Lips of an Angel' was playing on my laptop!"
4. Boos Cruise: Hotel Queen Mary, Long Beach, California - Average nightly rate $118
What better place to spend a night than a haunted ship? The legendary Queen sailed the Atlantic from 1936-1967 and became an attraction and a hotel for the first time in 1972. In the lower decks, accessible through ship tours, visitors are said to have seen wet footprints surrounding the drained first-class swimming pool, complete with ghosts parading around in vintage swimwear. Remarked one TripAdvisor traveler, "The walls are thin on the ship, so every creak and groan, or door slam (there were plenty all night) kept me awake, convinced my room was haunted."
5. Mass Hysteria: The Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, Massachusetts - Average nightly rate $132
In the witch capital of the U.S., it's no surprise you may find yourself sharing space with a spirit or two. This is especially true at the Hawthorne Hotel, built in 1925, where ghosts are said to fancy visiting guest rooms. One visitor reported uninvited ghostly company, who made himself at home by watching TV and even using the bathroom in the second bedroom. One TripAdvisor traveler said, "We stayed in room 614 next to the most haunted room, turned on the video camera and heard a voice growl 'get out.' We took some pictures and every picture had at least 10 orbs."
6. Myrtles Madness: The Myrtles Plantation, Saint Francisville, Louisiana - Average nightly rate $172
Built in 1796 and reportedly home to at least 12 ghosts, The Myrtles Plantation is often considered one of America's most haunted properties. Supposedly, a mirror encases the trapped spirits of former resident Sara Woodruff and her two children, who leave fingerprints on the glass and occasionally appear in the mirror. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "We heard phantom bootsteps in the gentleman's parlor around 1:30 a.m. and a chair being slid around the floor. I also caught a ghost photo of a man riding a horse around the pond."
7. Stanley Screamer: Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado - Average nightly rate $160
You aren't likely to find Jack Nicholson or Shelley Duvall at this grand old hotel, but you may see ghosts similar to those featured in "The Shining," the movie that made the Stanley Hotel famous. Built by F.O. Stanley, inventor of the Stanley Steamer, in 1909, the fourth floor, once the servant's quarters, is supposed to be particularly ghost-friendly, as guests have reported hearing children's voices in the hallway, despite none being present. Said one TripAdvisor traveler, "Sure it's haunted, too, but that only gives you a nice story to tell when you get home."
8. Queen of the Dead: Silver Queen Hotel, Virginia City, Nevada - Average nightly rate $85
Located in Virginia City where Mark Twain wrote, "A Ghost Story" for the local newspaper, the Silver Queen Inn, built in 1909, has some of its own eerie tales. Many visitors to the hotel claim to have heard the same dispute between a man and woman, who shout obscenities at each other throughout the night. As one TripAdvisor traveler recounted, "At about 2:15 am, my husband shook me awake 'Listen!' he said, 'Do you hear that?' We heard a couple arguing outside our door. He opened the door slowly, the arguing continued but no one there. A pounding on the door an hour later woke us up. Again, no one there."
9. Egads-den!: Gadsden Hotel, Douglas, Arizona - Average nightly rate $70
Named after the Gadsden Purchase, the Gadsden Hotel, built in 1907, was the lodging of choice for ranchers, cattlemen and miners in the early 1900s. Since 1991, the "Gadsden Ghost," often seen in army-style attire, allegedly stays at the hotel, particularly during Christmas and Lent, with additional appearances throughout the year. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "We've had ghost experiences every time we've been to the Gadsden Hotel, but it hasn't been anything dreadful, but rather pleasant and entertaining."
10. 835 Reasons to be Afraid: Inn at 835, Springfield, Illinois - Average nightly rate $162
Bell Miller, the former owner of the Inn at 835, built in 1909, was so proud of her dream home that she never left. Apparently, her ghost still enjoys chatting with guests, removing books from the bookshelves and keeping the place pristine by making small repairs around the house. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "I got into my room and I just had this odd feeling like someone was watching me."
"With many of these historic and charming properties hovering around a century old, they may not be the perfect choice for modern amenities, but are great for a good story and perhaps a fright," said Michele Perry, director of communications for TripAdvisor. "Apparently, these hotels just can't escape their past, or passed guests."
America's Spookiest Hotels
America's Spookiest Hotels
