Places To Visit If You Like A Good Ghost Story
There are lots of reasons people travel. Mostly, people like to travel to get the experiences that they might not have other places in the world. There are thrill seekers, people who like to relax, and those who like history.
But what about those people who like a bit more of a paranormal thrill? For those people, there are some places they can visit where they are sure to come back with more than a story or two about encountering something otherworldly.
Tower Of London, England
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1066, so you can imagine that it has seen its fair share of history, most of it very gruesome. It was used as a prison and execution site. It was the spot where Henry VIII infamously executed two of his wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
It's not surprising that The Tower of London is home to the many ghosts of its victims. The paranormal activity is now a selling feature, with ghost tours offered every night.
Forsyth Park, Savannah, GA
Savannah has always had a reputation for being a haunted city, and Forsyth Park is no exception. Don't let the picturesque view fool you. Just below the park are tunnels that are spread throughout the whole city, but the ones under the park are particularly suspicious because of all the botched autopsies that took place. The tunnels under the park connected to the nearby Chandler Hospital.
It's not known who the specters that haunt the park are, but they've become famous for their quick appearances and disappearances, making it hard to trust what you see there.
Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton-Under-Edge, England
Ancient Ram Inn is actually ancient. It dates back to 1145 and was built on what is believed to be a pagan burial ground. It has been used for a variety of different things, like a priest's house, a house for masons and slaves, and an inn. As you can imagine, this place has racked up a lot of history.
There are at least 20 known otherworldly visitors that haunt the halls of Ancient Ram Inn, including an incubus, a high priestess, and even some ghostly children. These hauntings are so terrifying that people have been known to leap from the windows to escape.
Borgvattnet Vicarage, Ragunda, Sweden
The structure was built in 1876, but there were no reports of anything strange happening until the 1960s. It's not really known what changed, other than the building now being used as a bed and breakfast for those who really do want to get away from it all.
Guests have reported everything from hearing music that comes for nowhere, to hearing footsteps and hearing women crying. The building is so haunted that the people who own it will hand out certificates to people who actually manage to stay the night.
Castle Of Good Hope, Cape Town, South Africa
The Castle of Good Hope was built in 1666. It was originally built by the Dutch East India Company as a replenishment station for passing ships. It later served as a prison and military fortress during the Second Boer War, from 1899 to 1902. Considering that the building is equipped with a torture chamber, it isn't surprising that there have been many reports of ghosts.
One of the most famous is Governor Pieter van Noodt, who was cursed by a gang of men he sentenced to hang. Governor Pieter van Noodt died of a heart attack that very night.
Xunantunich, Belize
Xunantunich is buried deep in the jungles of Belize. The ancient Mayan ruin has sat abandoned for the past millennium. Sadly, it's thought that the ancient civilization disappeared after an earthquake and wasn't discovered again until it was dug up by archaeologists in the 1890s.
Unsurprisingly, the ruins are a hotbed of activity, but the most famous ghost is that of a woman who is said to have glowing red eyes and long, dark hair. It's not known who she might be, but she goes by the name of Stone Lady.
Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania
Hoia-Baciu Forest is a hotbed of paranormal activity. It's been called the "Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania" and is spooky all the way to the crooked trees that make up the forest. In 1968, it's said that there was a UFO seen hovering over the forest. It has even been said that there is a portal in the forest that causes people to disappear.
Those who have made it through the forest without being transported have reported feelings of anxiety, nausea, and even rashes.
Leap Castle, Coolderry, Ireland
Leap Castle in Ireland has a history so dramatic and gory you couldn't make it up. It was built sometime between the 13th and the 15th century. The most haunted area of the castle is known as the Bloody Chapel, which got its name after someone stabbed their brother, a priest, while he was performing mass in the chapel. The priest is said to haunt the chapel at night.
If that wasn't enough, while doing renovations in the early 1900s, a secret dungeon was found under the chapel with enough skeletons to fill three cartloads.
Höfði House, Reykjavik, Iceland
The Höfði House in Reykjavik is a historically monumental building. It was the meeting place of Ronald Regan and Michael Gorbachev in 1986 before the end of the Cold War. But those are not its only famous visitors. Queen Elizabeth, Winston Churchill, and many British ambassadors have spent some time relaxing by the sea.
There is one visitor that isn't always welcome. Over the years, there have been many reported sightings of a specter who is known as The White Lady. Apparently, encountering her was so frightening that a British ambassador urged the British Foreign Office to sell the house.
Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
Fans of The Shining might recognize this spooky destination. Before it became famous for inspiring Stephen King's famous horror novel after his visit in 1974, it was known for its world-renowned whiskey collection when it opened in 1909.
But, it turns out that the idea that The Stanley Hotel might be haunted isn't fiction, but fact. People who have visited the hotel have reported the sound of piano music coming through the halls and seen apparitions wandering the hallways before disappearing.
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Canada
The Fairmont Banff Hotel was built in 1888 to encourage tourism and sell more tickets for the train. The beautiful building nestled cozily in the Rocky Mountains has, over time, become famous for its permanent residents.
One of the most loved of these spirts is a bellman named Sam who worked in the hotel up until his death in 1975. Before passing away, he would joke that he would come back to haunt the hotel. He kept his word and it's said his ghost works shifts helping people with their bags before disappearing.
Gates Of Hell, Hacienda Heights, California
The location was once a sanatorium that was reportedly shut down in the 1940s because of a number of malpractice suits. Since then, the property has been fenced off. People have noted that there are rolls of barbed wire inside the fence seemingly to keep something in the area.
It's been rumored that beyond the gates, there is a portal that will take unsuspecting visitors right to the underworld. Others have reported voices and the sounds of footsteps following closely behind you. It's not recommended that you go alone because of the remote location...and other things.
Larnach Castle, New Zealand
Named after its original owner, William Larnach, Larnach Castle was built between 1871 and 1887. One of the most famous spots in the castle is the 3,000 square foot ballroom, which was built as a birthday present for Larnach's daughter Kate's 21st birthday. Sadly, Kate died five years later of typhoid, but she still visits the ballroom to this day.
People who visit the castle report hearing inaudible whispers and feeling someone tapping on their shoulder.
Dock Street Theatre, Charleston, SC
The Dock Street Theatre is no stranger to tragedy. The original theater was burned down in 1740 after a fire tore through the town and then suffered damage in 1886 when an earthquake hit the town. It's no surprise that it was left to decay for much of the 20th century. It was renovated in 2010.
With the renovations came the ghosts. One of the most prevalent is that of Nettie Dickerson, who was supposedly struck by lightning while standing on the balcony in the 1800s.
Obvodny Canal, St. Petersburg, Russia
The Obvodny Canal in St. Petersburg is so notorious it's earned the nickname Suicide Canal. Ever since construction began in the 18th century, it's been surrounded by strange activities. Construction workers would complain about severe and sudden headaches and bursts of anger that came out of nowhere. Some people have even reported seeing a woman in a white dress floating in the water and then disappearing.
Not all the paranormal activity at the canal has been negative, though. There are people who have told stories about falling into the water and an unseen force pushing them back up to the surface.
Teatro Tapia, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Teatro Tapia is a theater that is known for its exceptional plays, beautiful and energetic concerts, and its paranormal activity. The most famous ghost of the Teatro Tapia is that of an actress who tragically fell to her death while performing.
There have been many reports of her throughout the grounds. People have also reported the sounds of a choir singing, doors opening and closing on their own, and footsteps.
Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, CA
The Winchester house's labyrinths were created by Sarah Winchester after the passing of her husband. It was designed to confuse and deter the vengeful spirits of the people who were killed by her husband's guns.
The four stories have a whopping 160 rooms, 47 stairways, and over 10,000 windowpanes. Some of the staircases lead nowhere and just go into the ceiling, while you might find some secret passageways in there, too. Many believe that her ghost now wanders her many halls still trying to stay safe from the ghosts she was running from.
First World Hotel, Pahang, Malaysia
The First World Hotel may not look like the other ancient buildings on this list, but that doesn't make it any less spooky. It has 7,351 rooms and includes a theme park and an indoor tropical forest as well as casinos and restaurants.
The hotel is also home to a handful of ghosts, the origins of which are still up for debate. However, no matter where they came from, they like to visit guests of the hotel and wake them from their sleep.
Carl Beck House, Ontario, Canada
The Carl Beck House was built in the late 1800s and is considered one of the most haunted houses in Ontario. It's thought that Carl Beck and his family lived in the house together and after his wife died, his eldest daughter, Mary, was put in charge of raising the younger children. When Carl died, he left Mary a $1 inheritance for no apparent reason.
Mary's angry ghost still haunts the house and likes to watch visitors arrive and leave from the upstairs window.
Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls), Mexico
Isla de las Munecas is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its well-preserved examples of Aztec life, but this isn't what has made the island famous. Along the canals, visitors can see dolls hanging from the trees and spread throughout the grass. Even though that sounds like the set of a horror film, it was actually done by Julian Santa Barrera, who put the dolls around the island to ward off evil spirits.
The island may be free of evil spirits, but it is still home to the spirit of Julian Santa Barrera and that of a little girl.
