BOO! Did I scare ya? If so, you should probably stop reading this and find something funny or lighthearted to read instead. Seriously. Check out the adorable puppy stories over on I Heart Dogs. You’ll feel nice and warm inside, instead of cold and frightened. I’m not a fan of being spooked, and just writing this is giving me goosebumps. I hate being scared.
A few years ago (yes, as a grown adult), I went to a haunted house with some friends, and literally left the place in tears. Between my issues with anxiety, claustrophobia and my fear of getting stuck somewhere pitch black, I was quite terrified. I was clasping my friend’s hand so tightly while we went through, I think I probably broke a few bones.
And now I’m married to a man who could sit and watch a Friday The 13th marathon and not flinch, even a little. What? You too? Ok, then you’ll probably be interested in these super spooky places that are known to be haunted. I’m not sure all of these are good for taking little kids to, but your braver, older ones will probably enjoy learning more. Then again, make sure you pack a pair of thick gloves for whoever’s hand you plan to grasp. They’re going to need protection!
source: Stanley Hotel / Facebook
1. Stanley Hotel
Are you a fan of Stephen King’s The Shining? Then you should check out the Stanley Hotel, which inspired the horror flick. When Stephen and his wife visited the Stanley in 1974, he had a paranormal experience while staying in room 417. Things like his belongings being unpacked, lights turning on and off, and children laughing in the halls are all things he claimed to have seen and heard. The hotel plays the uncut version of The Shining 24 hours a day, so you can get the most authentic experience possible.
Get more information about visiting this haunted location on the Stanley Hotel Facebook page.
source: Eastern State Penitentiary
2. Eastern State Penitentiary
Now a National Historic Landmark, the Eastern State Penitentiary was once an overcrowded prison where the inmates were tortured by sadistic guards. When the prison shut down in 1971, the ghosts of the criminals supposedly took over. You can visit the landmark for a ghost tour, or experience the annual haunted house they call Terror Behind The Walls. I mean, come on, doesn’t that sound like fun?
Learn more about planning a visit by heading to the Eastern State Penitentiary website.
source: The Myrtles Plantation / Facebook
3. The Myrtles Plantation
It’s one of America’s most haunted homes, thanks to a slave named Chloe, who was forced to be her owner’s mistress and allegedly poisoned his wife and children with cake. If you choose to stay at the plantation, you should know that tour guide Mark Leonard experienced violent shaking of his bed while staying in the Ruffin Stirling room. There have also been reports of guests being dragged out of bed, pianos playing themselves and a Confederate soldier appearing to say, “Kindly remove yourself from my room.”
Want to experience the spooky plantation yourself? Visit The Myrtles Plantation’s Facebook page to get all the info.
source: Pinelands Adventures
4. The Pine Barrens
If you grew up in southern New Jersey, there’s a chance you’ve heard of the Jersey Devil. The story goes that a woman gave birth to her 13th child, and the baby transformed into a flying beast. The winged creature has supposedly spent over 200 years roaming the haunted forest. Some residents were so scared back in 1909, that schools were shut down and the local mill was closed for several days. Children are advised not to swim in the Blue Hole, which is said to be a bottomless body of water that the baby monster likes to frequent.
If flying monsters are your thing, check out Pinelands Adventures to learn how you can experience this haunted forest.
source: Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast / Facebook
5. Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast
Bed & breakfasts are meant to be places of refuge. Places to go and enjoy a relaxing getaway. This isn’t the case with the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast. Here, you’ll get to sleep in the same room where Lizzie and her parents were murdered, go on a ghost hunt and even attend a seance where people have reported phantom footfalls and unnatural gusts of wind.
Check out the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Facebook page for details about booking your stay (and hopefully your exit).
source: Queen Anne Hotel / Facebook
6. Queen Anne Hotel
When it opened in 1890, it was a school for girls. Now, it is rumored that the ghost of the late headmistress, Miss Mary Lake, haunts the hotel, especially when guests stay in room 410, which was her former office. Unusual behaviors have been reported, like people’s clothes being unpacked for them, or blankets being carefully tucked around guests while they sleep.
If you’d like to visit the 48-room hotel, you’ll find all the details on the Queen Anne Hotel Facebook page.
source: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum / Facebook
7. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
When the words “lunatic asylum” are in the name, do I really need to tell you somewhere might not be a good place to visit? Unless you’re into creepy stuff, that is. At this former overcrowded nut house, patients were locked in cages, chained to walls, given lobotomies and electroshock therapy. Some patients entered the asylum for “woman troubles,” while others were being treated for epilepsy or alcoholism. Today, the lunatic hot spot offers both daytime and evening paranormal tours, and even has an annual Asylum Ball.
Want to get your spook on here? Head over to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Facebook page to see how you can stop by for a visit.
source: Hotel Monte Vista / Facebook
8. Hotel Monte Vista
If you haven’t driven down Route 66, now you have a reason to. The Hotel Monte Vista, which opened in 1926, is reportedly haunted by several former guests, including a bank robber, prostitutes and a boarder. If you stay in room 210, you might meet the bellboy, who likes to call “room service,” and then disappear when the door is opened. John Wayne once visited here and claims to have had a ghost encounter.
Plan your trip down Route 66 after you learn more on the Hotel Monte Vista Facebook page.