7 Places In America That Are Actually Totally Haunted
Sure, there are plenty of terrifying haunted houses/roads/asylums/etc. you could visit on film this Halloween, but wouldn't you rather take a risk and go see the real thing?
America has a rich history filled with patriotism and no taxation without representation and McDonalds and such, but it also has a plethora of fun, supernatural lore to keep paranormal hunters busy for a lifetime. There are plenty of haunts to choose from, but these seven are undoubtedly our favorite real-life haunts in the U.S.A.:
Over the years, this "Weird New Jersey" 10-mile stretch of road has become a must-see for lovers of all things supernatural. There are many stories of paranormal activity on Clinton ranging from UFO sightings to satanic graffiti, but it's the famed "ghost boy" who hangs out under a bridge and returns loose change to those brave enough to toss it who gets the most press.
Visiting any abandoned "insane asylum" sounds like a terrifying idea, but the Trans-Allegheny is special for its terrible overcrowding and inhumane treatment of its patients. Built to house 250 inmates, the 19th century hospital eventually housed up to 2,400 before its closure in 1994. Patients went through everything from lobotomies to electroshock, and they lived in such poor conditions -- think chained to walls -- that it's no wonder that many say it's haunted.
Stephen King was inspired to write "The Shining" at the Stanley, which makes perfect sense given the multiple instances of paranormal activity reported in the hotel. From the ghosts of Freelan Stanley and his wife, Flora, wearing oldschool formal attire to the "phantom children" in room 418, stay there at your own risk.
Before Portland's major trade became "putting a bird on it," it was all about The Shanghai Tunnels. From about 1850-1941, men called crimps would drug unsuspecting men at bars, literally make them fall through trap doors, then carry them on ships to sell them into slavery.
They would also do the trap door thing with women, only the women would be imprisoned in the tunnels, beaten, raped, and sold into sex slavery. Yeah, this place is pretty terrifying.
What screams "ghost" more than an actual ghost town? Bodie was once a booming gold rush community, but now it's been vacant for years -- though the "Bodie Curse" is apparently still going strong, so don't steal anything when you visit, or you'll be cursed with years of misfortune.
There is a 13-acre abandoned island in the middle of New York City that pretty much everybody had forgotten about until photographer Christopher Payne took a trip there and documented the absurdly creepy decay. It was formerly the home of Riverside Hospital, where patients like the infamous Typhoid Mary lived (but mostly died) of infectious diseases. It later became a home for returning vets after WWII then a juvenile drug treatment center, and eventually closed down in the 1960s.
About 1200 people also died offshore via the General Slocum disaster, so it's understandable why they say the deserted island is haunted...
"The Blair Witch Project," "An American Haunting," and "Bell Witch Haunting" all drew inspiration from this spooky southern tale, which consisted of a nasty neighbor-witch terrorizing a 19th century farming family.
