Top 10 Lesser-Known Haunted Places Around the World
With the sheer number of haunted destinations globally, it’s unfair that well-known creepy sites like in Transylvania receives all the attention. Consequently, here are 10 lesser-known haunted places around the world that will undoubtedly curl your toes.
1. Fort Garry Hotel – Winnipeg
Most of the unnatural occurrences at the Fort Garry Hotel in focus on Room 202. According to legend, a woman hung herself in the closet many years ago after hearing of her husband’s death. Guests have reported blood dripping down the walls in the room and waking up to an apparition of a cloaked woman hovering at the foot of the bed. Those with ghoulish inclinations can request to stay in Room 202.
2. LaLaurie Mansion – New Orleans
The LaLaurie Mansion in was formerly owned by socialite and now-famous sadist Madame Delphine LaLaurie, infamous due to the television show American Horror Story: Coven. Brutal events occurred here in the 1830s.
Witnesses have reported phantoms of tortured slaves who perished on the property, along with bloodcurdling screams emanating from the house. Group tour attendees have fainted or felt nauseous. Interestingly, actor Nicholas Cage previously owned the house yet experienced no unusual occurrences during his stay.
3. Ross Castle – Ireland
Among the many haunted castles in is the 16th-century Ross Castle, situated in , which currently operates as a five-bedroom B&B. (Note: this is not the in .) Built by English Lord Richard Nugent, a notably cruel aristocrat, it is rumored to be haunted by his daughter, Sabina.
Having fallen in love with the son of an adversary Irish chieftain, Sabina eloped. However, the lovers were caught in a storm while rowing across Lake Sheelin, leading to the tragic death of her husband. Devastated, she refused to eat or drink and soon perished as well. It’s believed that both Sabina and the Lord are frequently seen on the property, with guests reporting voices and doors slamming shut unexpectedly.
Note: Ross Castle is temporarily closed. For updates, check the castle’s website.
4. The Island of Daksa – Croatia
Although it is prime real estate just off the coast of , the island of Daksa remains unpurchased due to its chilling history. This deserted island was the site of the massacre of 48 Nazi sympathizers, including the mayor, following Dubrovnik’s liberation.
Notably, the bodies were left unburied, decaying for decades. Locals claim to hear moaning from the island, particularly on stormy nights.
5. Magnetic Hill – Orhei, Moldova
Situated just south of Orhei in , Magnetic Hill is a spooky site known for its interactive element. Legend has it that the Nazis committed atrocities in the area, and strange occurrences have persisted since.
Magnetic Hill derives its name from an unusual phenomenon where, if you park your car correctly across the road from the hill and put it in neutral, the vehicle will eerily advance despite an incline. If you fail to apply your brakes, you may find yourself in the path of oncoming traffic on the M2.
6. The Pfister Hotel – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The iconic Pfister Hotel is reputedly haunted by its founder’s ghost, Charles Pfister, who died in 1927. This hotel has gained an infamous reputation among visiting baseball teams at , with some players so unsettled they opt to pay extra to stay elsewhere.
Guests and staff have described seeing Pfister’s ghost on the grand staircase, wandering the ballroom, and moving about the ninth floor. Furthermore, reports of radios and televisions mysteriously turning on, knocking, footsteps in rooms, displaced furniture, and flickering lights are common.
7. Hoia Baciu Forest – Romania
Located near , Transylvania, locals refer to Hoia Baciu Forest as the “Bermuda Triangle” of . The area has been associated with evil for centuries, haunted by the spirits of peasants murdered here.
Mysteriously, people have gone missing; UFO sightings, unexplained electrical phenomena, and unsettling feelings of being watched occur frequently. Paranormal activity centers around a barren circle where no plant life grows.
8. Island of the Dolls – Mexico
Located just south of , the uninhabited Island of the Dolls possesses a tragic history intertwined with creepy phenomena. The tale is that a girl drowned in a canal surrounding the island, leading to dolls washing ashore later on. Julian, the island’s only inhabitant and caretaker for about 50 years, hung the dolls from the trees to pacify her spirit but tragically ended up drowned in the same spot as the girl.
This eerie island has become a tourist attraction, drawing visitors who bring dolls to appease the spirits. Reports abound regarding dolls appearing to move their heads and arms, opening their eyes, and even whispering to each other.
9. Boggo Road Gaol Museum – Brisbane
The Boggo Road Gaol penitentiary was notorious for its deplorable living conditions and was the scene of approximately 100 deaths, including 42 hangings. Notably, ‘s last execution was Ernest Austin, believed to be the primary source of hauntings in this prison.
Austin’s ghost is reported to haunt both prisoners and guards. The guards, in particular, would go to great lengths to avoid night shifts, including bribing one another with tobacco. The prison closed in 1989 and reopened as a museum in 1992, where ghost tours are conducted on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday evenings.
10. Aokigahara – Japan
Also known as the “Suicide Forest,” Aokigahara lies at the base of . Its name stems from its history as a place where people frequently take their lives—about 100 individuals reportedly commit suicide here annually.
Signs in both Japanese and English implore passersby to seek help, including messages such as “Please consult with the police before you decide to die.” Consequently, many believe the forest is haunted, not only by those who have tragically ended their lives but also by legends of elders left to starve here during times of famine.
