The Spookiest Towns In The United States

Salem will be forever known for its dark and eerie past, home to the deadliest witch hunt in American history. Legend has it that the 19 ‘witches’ hanged in 1692 and 1693 still haunt the town, with many spirits seen floating along Gallows Hill where they were executed. Chilling reports also tell of the ghost of Corey Giles, an 80-year-old farmer sentenced to death, lurking in the shadows at Howard Street Cemetery. A visit to the historic House of Seven Gables (or the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion) – known for its ghostly orbs and hair-raising encounters – should not be missed.

Salem, MA, USA

With a history of war, slavery, and tragic events – hurricanes, fires, and yellow fever outbreaks – it’s no wonder Savannah is filled with restless wanders. Once the sun goes down, this town’s Southern charm quickly turns grim. At the Bonaventure Cemetery, made famous in the novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, find the weeping ghost of six-year-old Little Gracie. Calhoun Square, which rests above a slave burial ground, is known for sightings of spirits roaming the square.

Savannah, GA, USA

The dead in Gettysburg are very much alive. Some 51,000 soldiers died during one of the most horrific battles in American history, many of which are said to still haunt the former battlefield at the Devil’s Den. Here, dozens of ghostly sightings have been reported, especially of a man who fits the description of a Texan unit that was part of the battle. Pennsylvania Hall at Gettysburg College, once the site of a Civil War field hospital, is also teeming with spirits. Other ghostly locales include Sachs Bridge, Pennsylvania Monument, and Cemetery Lodge.

Gettysburg, PA, USA

Not long after the bloody battle between Texas and Mexico, the people of San Antonio began telling stories of ghost sightings and paranormal activities. The Alamo is thought to be haunted by the victims of the battlefield; many apparitions have been seen in the courtyard, with sounds of a woman crying echoing through the halls. The Menger Hotel, situated just next to the Alamo, is claimed to be haunted by the Lady in Blue, a celebrity ghost, and other angry war spirits.

San Antonio, TX, USA

Southern gem by day, bone-chilling town by night. Some people may think of Charleston as a quaint village with beautiful historic architecture, but this seaside town is where spirits are not laid to rest. Locals say the ghosts of Lavinia and John Fisher, who ran a ‘motel’ that poisoned and captured their guests, haunt the walls of the Old Jail. Visitors to Dock Street Theatre have seen apparitions on stage and in the rafters; some even claim Junius Brutus Booth, father of John Wilkes Booth, haunts the theater where he once performed.

Charleston, SC, USA