For some thrill-seekers, the idea of staying overnight in one of the world’s most haunted hotels is both terrifying and exciting. Whether it’s the impact of movies like The Shining—which drew inspiration from Colorado’s real-life Stanley Hotel—or the chance of a spooky encounter in a shadowy corridor, many travelers consider “paranormal activity” a must-have hotel feature.
And that’s perfectly fine. After all, travel is all about seeking new experiences. Fortunately, for those who love a good scare, numerous historic hotels across America have reported ghost sightings and strange occurrences. At the Roosevelt in Hollywood, people have claimed to see Marilyn Monroe’s ghost, while Civil War soldiers have been spotted at Savannah’s Marshall House. Overseas, where many hotels are centuries old, guests might even find themselves sharing a room with the spirits of royalty or World War II prisoners.
Feeling curious? These 25 hotels are among the creepiest real-life haunted houses you can visit this Halloween—or any time of year—if you’re brave enough.
Holbrooke Hotel, Grass Valley, California
Originally built as a saloon during the Gold Rush in 1852, the Holbrooke Hotel is one of California’s oldest operating hotels. As a California Historical Landmark, it has a rich history perfect for legends: it survived multiple fires, hosted U.S. presidents, sheltered famous artists like Mark Twain, served as a workplace for “ladies of the night,” and even welcomed notorious stagecoach robbers like Black Bart. Unsurprisingly, the Holbrooke is also known for its ghost stories. Guests and staff often report strange sightings, including 19th-century cowboys smoking cigars and women in Victorian dresses wandering the halls. Although recently renovated by San Francisco’s Acme Hospitality, many areas—especially the basement speakeasy’s cellar and the back annex—still give off a spooky vibe. Rumor has it that guests in rooms 9 (Black Bart’s favorite) and 14 often hear bumps and thumps at night, and some have even seen objects moving on their own.
The National Exchange, Nevada City, California
Nevada City is often called one of California’s most haunted places. Back in the mid-1800s, it was a bustling hub during the Gold Rush, attracting miners, merchants, artists, bootleggers, performers, and bandits all hoping to strike it rich. It’s no surprise that the town’s grandest historic hotel, The National Exchange, is at the center of many ghostly tales. Guests have reported sudden cold drafts, tapping sounds on their headboards at night, and even the sensation of something touching their skin. If that’s not chilling enough, bloody handprints that appear and vanish have been seen in Room 48, and some visitors have spotted a woman with a slashed neck sitting at the lobby bar. The most common apparition is a young girl named Elizabeth, dressed in Victorian clothes, often seen running down the beautifully wallpapered halls. Ghost hunters can join a “Haunted by History” tour led by the hotel’s history expert, Anthony Roumanis, who also offers a candlelit version each October.
The Don CeSar, St. Petersburg, Florida
With its pink Gatsby-era facade and pristine white sand beach, the Don CeSar doesn’t seem scary at first glance. But the more you learn about this luxurious coastal hotel, the more fascinating it becomes. Built in 1928 as a tribute to “Lucinda,” the lost love of real estate mogul Thomas Rowe, who died in the…In 1940, a man named Rowe lost his beloved Lucinda. Legend has it that he still wanders the grounds searching for her—and some guests believe he may have succeeded. There have been sightings of a ghostly couple holding hands on the property, making this hotel one of the state’s most romantic, if haunted, destinations.
The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, has drawn visits from paranormal investigators and mediums. They report the most activity on the fourth floor, and both cleaning staff and guests have seen a ghostly young girl carrying flowers and a man in a top hat. Some guests have even woken to the feeling of someone standing at the foot of their bed. Spooky!
London’s chic Cadogan Hotel in Chelsea is known for attracting celebrities, and it’s also famous for its hauntings. Oscar Wilde was arrested here in room 118 in 1895, but it’s his friend, actress Lillie Langtry, who is often spotted in the hotel’s restaurant, especially around Christmas when it’s less crowded. She once owned the property and died in 1929.
Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn in California is said to be haunted by the friendly ghost of its founder, known as “Grandpa Deetjen.” Set designer Ellen Brill reported hearing footsteps and a slamming door during her stay. The cozy, wood-paneled rooms add to the eerie vibe, and nearby Point Sur Lighthouse offers ghost hunts and moonlight tours, rumored to be home to the spirits of sailors.
In Austin, Texas, The Driskill is a top spot for ghost hunters. President Lyndon B. Johnson, who had his first date here and celebrated his 1964 election victory in the ballroom, is said to roam the hotel. Other spirits include a child who died on the grand staircase in 1887 and two jilted brides who took their lives in Room 329 decades apart. Paranormal investigators have recorded the sound of a bouncing ball and a giggling voice.
The Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio was built in 1924 as a medical facility, with floors 12 and 14 serving as hospital and surgery areas. Guests have reported seeing a woman in a white dress and receiving mysterious midnight phone calls with no one on the line. The hotel is next to The Alamo, a historic site also rumored to be haunted.
Boston’s Omni Parker House, one of the oldest hotels in the U.S., is home to at least two ghosts. The spirit of its founder, Harvey Parker, is said to roam the halls, ensuring guests are comfortable.Many guests enjoy their stay, while others are convinced that the ghost of Charles Dickens still lingers on the third floor near a room he once occupied.
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
As one of Washington, D.C.’s most historic hotels, the Omni Shoreham is also rumored to be one of its most haunted. A well-known story from the early 20th century tells of a young girl and a maid who died mysteriously in one of the suites. Since then, guests have reported strange, unexplained noises coming from that part of the hotel.
Crescent Hotel & Spa, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Built in 1886 and once a cancer hospital in the 1930s, the Crescent Hotel in the Ozark Mountains is often called one of the world’s most haunted hotels. Visitors have described feeling eerie touches, seeing odd shadows, and hearing whispers during their stay. The hotel even holds yearly paranormal conferences led by its “Director of Ghosts,” featuring experts like Larry Flaxman. Commonly spotted spirits include Michael, an Irish stonemason who fell to his death near Room 218 during construction, and Theodora, a patient who searches for her keys outside Room 419.
Hotel del Coronado, San Diego, California
San Diego’s most famous ghost is said to reside at the historic Hotel del Coronado, which opened in 1888. The spirit is Kate Morgan, who checked in 1892 to wait for her con artist husband—who never arrived. Four days later, she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase leading to the beach, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Her ghost, often seen in a black lace dress on the beach or in her former room (3327), is said to leave her initials mysteriously appearing on the ceiling.
The Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago’s Congress Hotel is hard to miss, with its grand presence on Michigan Avenue hinting at 19th-century elegance inside. But visitors may be surprised by its empty ballrooms, staircases, and restaurants, which ghost tour guides describe as “very creepy.” This may be due to the dozens of spirits said to haunt the over-100-year-old building, including a Spanish-American War veteran who shot himself before his wedding in 1900 and a depressed mother who jumped from a 12th-floor window with her children in 1939.
The Place d’Armes Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana
Built where a school burned down in the 1788 Great New Orleans Fire, the Place d’Armes is considered the city’s most active haunted hotel. Guests have reported sightings of a bearded old man who nods at them before vanishing, and one woman even claimed to have had conversations with him.
The Langham, London, England
At the Langham, a man in Victorian eveningwear is said to appear in Room 333—but only in October. Other reported spirits at this Marylebone hotel include a soldier in uniform, a German prince, and Napoleon III, who is believed to haunt the basement.
Chateau Marmont, West Hollywood, California
As the birthplace of Hollywood, Los Angeles is known for its hauntings, with ghost tours available year-round. It’s no surprise that West Hollywood’s nearly century-old Chateau Marmont is also part of the city’s spooky lore.One of the city’s most famous haunts is the Chateau Marmont, which has long attracted A-list celebrities like Katharine Hepburn and Lindsay Lohan. However, comedian John Belushi, a Saturday Night Live star, checked in and never left—he died of a drug overdose in his room in 1982. His body was discovered in Bungalow 3, a site now known for strange happenings. In 1999, a family staying there noticed their two-year-old son laughing by himself. When asked why, he said, “The funny man.” Later, while looking through a book of celebrity guests, the boy pointed to a photo of John Belushi and identified him as “the funny man.”
The Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles, nearly a century old, hosted the first Academy Awards and has welcomed figures from Ernest Hemingway to Brad Pitt. Over the years, guests have reported seeing Marilyn Monroe’s ghost in her old suite’s mirror and hearing the faint sound of a trombone, believed to be played by actor Montgomery Clift’s spirit. Others have encountered “shadow people” and the ghost of a young girl named Caroline.
The Millennium Biltmore in downtown Los Angeles stands out with its elegant Spanish-Italian Renaissance design, marble lobby, and gold-accented ballrooms. It’s also linked to the infamous 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia, as it was the last place she was seen alive. Many believe her spirit, dressed in 1940s-style clothing, roams the halls, especially on the 10th and 11th floors.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Henderson Castle Inn is a 25-room Victorian mansion that looks like it’s from a horror film, perched on a hill next to a graveyard with a towering structure and spires. It’s said to be haunted by its original owners, Mary and Frank Henderson, a Spanish-American war veteran who loved the home, and a little girl who died after falling from scaffolding and breaking her neck.
Aspen’s Hotel Jerome is known for more than just snow; it has a darker history. In 1936, a ten-year-old boy drowned in the hotel pool while his family stayed in room 310. Since then, his shivering, wet ghost, nicknamed “Water Boy,” has been seen leaving wet footprints throughout the hotel. Some employees avoid the third floor, and local artists have created tributes to him displayed in the lobby bar.
The Jekyll Island Club Resort in Georgia, once a retreat for wealthy families like the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, opened in 1888. Visitors today might sense the presence of past guests, such as financier J.P. Morgan, whose ghost is said to enjoy a cigar outside his former Sans Souci Cottage.
The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee is so eerie that even tough MLB athletes have publicly admitted being spooked there, underscoring its reputation as a truly haunted historic hotel.This Milwaukee hotel is said to have some serious hauntings, and the main suspect is believed to be the ghost of its original owner, Charles Pfister. Baseball players visiting to compete against the Milwaukee Brewers have reported flickering lights, furniture moving on its own, and radios switching on and off. As Cincinnati Reds player Brandon Phillips recalled, “I walked into the room and sat on the bed. Suddenly, the radio turned on by itself. I shut it off and hopped in the shower. When I got out, the damn thing was on again.” It’s not just athletes, either—many guests, including actor Joey Lawrence and rapper Meghan Thee Stallion, have shared eerie experiences at the hotel. Local legend suggests the land, where the hotel was built in 1893, might have once been a burial ground.
The Hotel Chelsea in New York City was once home to famous residents like Patti Smith, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, and Madonna. But two of its well-known tenants never really left. Although the hotel closed for renovations in 2011 and reopened in 2022, former residents and staff have long reported paranormal activity linked to Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious—accused of murdering his girlfriend Nancy Spungeon there—and poet Dylan Thomas, whose plaque outside reads, “Dylan Thomas lived and wrote at the Chelsea Hotel and from here he sailed out to die.”
At the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa in Oahu, Hawaii, the 1905 sudden death of Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University, made global news. Stanford, who was recovering from a strychnine poisoning attempt while vacationing in Honolulu, passed away in her room at the Moana. Since then, there have been claims that her ghost still roams the seaside hotel, with guests and employees reporting sightings of her wandering at night, seemingly searching for her room.
La Fonda on The Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico, may have been built in its current form in 1922, but the site has reportedly hosted an inn since the city’s founding 400 years ago. Unsurprisingly, many spirits are said to inhabit its Pueblo-style stairways and halls. Notably, staff and visitors have described a man in a long black coat stomping around before vanishing—believed to be the ghost of Judge John P. Slough, who was killed at the hotel during a violent territory dispute in 1867. With so many ghostly sightings reported in and around the hotel, La Fonda even offers its own tours of the city’s most haunted spots.
The Marshall House in Savannah, Georgia—one of America’s most haunted cities—is rumored to be inhabited by spirits from its days as a Civil War hospital. Guests have reported ghostly apparitions in hallways and foyers, along with unsettling events like faucets turning on by themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and clear FAQs about the worlds most terrifying haunted hotels
General Beginner Questions
1 What makes a hotel haunted
A hotel is considered haunted when there are persistent reports of paranormal activity such as unexplained sounds ghostly apparitions objects moving on their own or feelings of being watched often linked to its tragic or violent history
2 Are these hotels safe to stay in
Yes physically they are as safe as any other hotel The danger is the fear of a supernatural encounter not physical harm from a ghost These hotels are businesses that rely on guests
3 Im a skeptic Would I still enjoy staying at one
Absolutely Many people visit for the unique history architecture and the thrill of the story You can appreciate the creepy atmosphere and folklore without believing in ghosts
4 Whats the most famous haunted hotel
The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park Colorado is one of the most famous as it directly inspired Stephen Kings novel The Shining
5 Can I visit these hotels without staying overnight
Yes many offer historical tours ghost tours or have restaurants and bars you can visit to experience the atmosphere without booking a room
Specifics History
6 Which haunted hotel has the most violent history
The Crescent Hotel Spa in Eureka Springs Arkansas is a strong contender It was once a fraudulent cancer hospital where many patients died under mysterious circumstances and their spirits are said to remain
7 Is there a haunted hotel known for a specific ghost
The Queen Mary in Long Beach California is famous for the ghost of a young girl who drowned in the pool and is often heard crying as well as a Lady in White who rooms the halls
8 Are there haunted hotels outside of the US
Yes many For example the Ancient Ram Inn in England is considered one of the UKs most haunted buildings and the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Canada is known for several friendly ghosts
9 Whats the oldest haunted hotel on these lists
The Ancient Ram Inn in WottonunderEdge England dates back to 1145 making it a top candidate for one of the oldest and most intensely active