Best Haunted Hotels in the United States for a Halloween Trip
While pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating are always fun, why not celebrate Halloween in a unique way? There are several properties in the United States that are not only open to guests. They have also housed some long-term residents. If you’re looking for a truly spooky place to spend Halloween, these haunted hotels are some of the best.
The Menger Hotel – San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is no stranger to ghosts, as there are numerous locations where spirits are said to linger. The Menger Hotel has been dubbed “the most haunted of them all,” and it is unquestionably one of Texas’ top five haunted hotels. It was opened in 1859 and has an interesting history, including Teddy Roosevelt, who used the hotel to recruit men for his cavalry, the Rough Riders. He prefers to spend his time at the legendary Menger Bar. However, there are said to be over 30 different entities here, so you never know who or what you might run into while staying at this grand Victorian-era hotel with an outdoor pool.
The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
The Stanley Hotel, one of the most legendary hotels in the world, is said to have so frightened horror author Stephen King that it inspired the setting for his novel The Shining. Paranormal occurrences such as the sounds of children laughing while running down the halls heard on the 4th floor and appearances by Mr. Stanley (the original owner and inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile) and his wife who are said to walk through the lobby on a regular basis have long been a part of its history. Mrs. Stanley can occasionally be heard playing the piano, and a former housekeeper who died shortly after the hotel opened enjoys assisting guests in Room 217 with unpacking and storing their belongings.
Landmark Inn – Marquette, Michigan
Marquette has been the site of hauntings and ghostly activities for decades, in addition to being one of the best fall foliage getaways in the Midwest. The town is situated on the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Landmark Inn is just one of the haunted places in town, with The Librarian being the most well-known. She committed suicide in the 1930s due to a broken heart after her lover died in a shipwreck. She is still waiting for him to return from the Lilac Room on the sixth floor. A little girl’s ghost is frequently seen on the upper floor of the photogenic Marquette Harbor Lighthouse.
Bisbee Grand – Bisbee, Arizona
This Bisbee Grand, located in Arizona’s oddest town, was built over a century ago to house traveling mining executives. The elegant rooms are now filled with heirlooms, antiques, and several ghosts, including a female dressed in a Victorian-style gown who walks around with a tea tray. She occasionally stands at the foot of the bed, keeping an eye on guests in rooms 2 and 3. You’ll know who it is if you hear the silent piano play notes on its own when everything is quiet.
Hotel del Coronado – Coronado, California
The top-rated beachfront Hotel del Coronado is a National Landmark, known not only for providing an unforgettable stay in a grand 1888 Victorian property, but also for hosting the same guest since 1892. Kate Morgan’s spirit has been haunting people for decades, ever since she was discovered dead on a staircase. Sightings and sounds of a grieving woman, as well as flickering lights and other varying events, have long been reported. The hotel’s Victorian lobby transports guests back to the time she checked in, and guests can also take the guided Haunted Happenings Tour to learn where Kate likes to hide out.
The Gettysburg Hotel – Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The Gettysburg Hotel, located just a few miles from the Gettysburg Battlefield, dates back to 1797, though its hauntings are mostly related to the Civil War. Several times a year, visitors report a friendly encounter with Rachel, a Civil War nurse who wanders the rooms as if she’s still caring for wounded soldiers. Dresser drawers are sometimes said to open and their contents mysteriously removed. Others have reported seeing the ghost of a man identified as Union soldier James Culbertson walking through hotel corridors.
Bourbon Orleans – New Orleans, Louisiana
It’s always a good time in New Orleans. It is home to many haunted locations and hosts a variety of Halloween events. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is known to be haunted by hundreds of ghosts and is a paranormal hotspot. There are haunted former hospitals, historic mansions with ghostly inhabitants, and hotels where strange things happen at night. Many guests have reported seeing a man dressed in Confederate army uniform on the sixth and third floors of Bourbon Orleans in the French Quarter. Others have described encounters with nuns and children. The apparitions of children and women are thought to have occurred during the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Family, when the building housed a girls’ school, medical ward, and orphanage.
The James NoMad – New York
The James NoMad is one of Manhattan’s best hotels and is housed in one of the city’s most iconic structures, known for its Beaux-Arts architecture and as a place where some early 1900s guests never checked out. It was preceded by the Hotel Seville, which opened in 1901. There had been a murder, suicide, and overdose at the time. Today, guests can enjoy streamlined rooms with high-tech amenities, a 24-hour fitness center, an Italian restaurant, and craft cocktails and DJ sets at The Seville, a funky speakeasy-style lounge with a bohemian vibe. While you’re here, you could visit Greenwich Village’s haunted churches or Broadway’s legendary haunted theaters.
The Marshall House Hotel – Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is not only incredibly charming, but it’s also one of the best small towns in the country to visit for Halloween, with ghost tours revealing the highlights. The historic Marshall House Hotel, with its red brick facade and welcoming veranda, is one of them, located just a 5-minute walk from the many galleries, bars, and eateries on famed River Street. Mary Marshall gave birth to it in 1851, and an oil painting of her can be found behind the reception desk. Employees claim she is still greeting guests despite having left a long time ago. There have been numerous strange sights, smells, and sounds, such as marbles rolling down the hall when no one is present.
Queen Anne Hotel – San Francisco, California
The magnificent Queen Anne Hotel, a B&B-style hotel located in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood, is one of the most haunted hotels in the world. Guests can take advantage of a variety of complimentary amenities, including continental breakfast in the salon and afternoon tea and sherry near the baby grand piano in the elegant sitting room. Many people come to see the spirit of a woman who was the Head Mistress of the school that once existed inside the building. Mary Lake’s spirit is occasionally seen keeping an eye on her “guests” as she wanders around, occasionally unpacking and hanging up their clothes. In the middle of the night, she’s even tucked the covers in and around people. Room 410, which was Mary’s office and is now an opulent suite, is said to be the heart of her haunting.
Casa Marina Key West – Key West, Florida
The century-old Casa Marina Key West, located in one of the country’s most haunted cities, is on the National Register of Historic Places and once served as the US Navy office headquarters during the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1940s. The hotel was designed by railroad magnate Henry Flagler, but he died before it could be built, and his spirit is said to live on. Guests can also take a haunted tour of Key West’s cemeteries while hearing ghostly tales of the famous Captain Tony’s Saloon and a legendary “evil” doll named Robert who is said to have haunted residents for over 100 years. The property itself has one of Key West’s few swimmable beaches.