Top 15 Haunted Hotels in America for a Spooky Stay

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

• Hotels + Resorts

From California to Florida, the most haunted hotels in the U.S. come with eerie histories and rumors of ghostly guests.

Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan

While reports of mysterious noises and sightings of spirits might frighten some travelers, for adventurous ghost hunters, nothing is more thrilling than staying in an allegedly haunted hotel. Across the United States, historic properties have welcomed guests for decades or even centuries, albeit some visitors never truly checked out.

The 15 most haunted hotels in America provide much more than room service and comfortable beds. Spotting the spirits that wander their halls should be on every thrill-seeker’s bucket list. With so many options available, you could even plan a Halloween-themed escape to a haunted destination nearby, that is, if you’re brave enough.

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel gained fame as the inspiration for Stephen King’s fictional Overlook Hotel in “The Shining.” Though you may not find terrifying twin girls lurking here, the property in Estes Park is said to be home to several spirits, including the ghosts of its founder, Freelan Oscar Stanley, and his wife Flora, who are rumored to still wander its halls. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider a stay in one of the “spirited” rooms, such as the Stephen King Suite (217) or other rooms frequented by ghost hunters (401, 407, or 428), all of which allegedly experience heightened paranormal activity.

The Hollywood Roosevelt, California

This iconic Los Angeles hotel opened its doors in 1927 and has hosted countless movie stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age, including Shirley Temple and Clark Gable. Interestingly, some of the Hollywood Roosevelt’s most famous guests enjoyed their stays so much that they might have returned in spirit form. Marilyn Monroe, who resided in room 1200 for two years at the beginning of her career, is reportedly seen by guests as a ghostly reflection in the mirror.

Omni Parker House, Massachusetts

One of the longest continuously operating hotels in the United States, Boston’s Omni Parker House has witnessed significant historical events. It’s rumored that the ghost of the hotel’s founder, Harvey Parker, continues to roam the halls, ensuring guests are enjoying their stay—talk about hospitality that transcends even death. Additionally, some suggest that the ghost of Charles Dickens, who briefly resided there, may linger on the third floor, where he once stayed.

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, Arkansas

The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, was initially established in 1886 and later transformed into a hospital by criminal Norman Baker in 1937. Baker claimed to provide a cancer cure, leading to multiple fatalities under his untrained supervision. Due to this dark history, paranormal experts believe the spirits of several of his unfortunate patients remain. Now a stunning retreat, the hotel organizes ghost tours and even showcases images of identifiable spirits on its website.

The Don CeSar, Florida

The magnificent “Pink Palace” has been welcoming guests to St. Pete Beach since 1928, but its eternal residents have a surprisingly heartwarming narrative. The hotel’s founder, Thomas Rowe, fell deeply in love with a Spanish opera singer, Lucinda, but their romance was thwarted by her parents. Heartbroken, Rowe moved to the U.S. and constructed The Don CeSar on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a tribute to his lost love. Since his passing in 1940, reports have surfaced of guests witnessing the couple together, reunited in spirit, strolling around the resort.

Jekyll Island Club Resort, Georgia

Once a playground for America’s wealthiest families, including the Morgans and Vanderbilts, this historic Georgia resort opened in 1888 as a select recreational club. Guests today often report feeling the lingering presence of the affluent patrons from the past. When passing by the Sans Souci Cottage, you might catch a whiff of cigar smoke as the ghost of financier J.P. Morgan enjoys a puff outside his former residence.

The Equinox, Vermont

This Manchester, Vermont, resort has been welcoming guests since 1769 and is rumored to be home to a couple of lingering spirits. President Lincoln’s family vacationed here, and it’s said that the ghost of his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, still wanders the property.

The Pfister Hotel, Wisconsin

The Pfister Hotel opened in Milwaukee in 1893, featuring elegant interiors and advanced technology for its time—electricity, individual thermostat controls, and fireproofing, making it a highly sought-after accommodation. The hotel also has a reputation for various spooky sightings. Over the years, several traveling Major League Baseball players have reported personal paranormal experiences, and some have even confessed to being too frightened to stay there.

Emily Morgan Hotel, Texas

The Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, has a unique history. Originally built in 1924 as a Medical Arts Building, it contained a hospital and doctors’ offices and is located near the site of the infamous Battle of the Alamo. The hotel’s history contributes to its reputation for experienced mysterious occurrences throughout the structure. Staff have reported inexplicable doors closing, elevators stopping randomly, and even glimpses of a woman in white roaming the halls.

La Fonda on the Plaza, New Mexico

This beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, hotel boasts an incredibly rich heritage. Since 1607, various inns have occupied this location, but a series of events may be responsible for its ongoing hauntings. According to the official New Mexico tourism website, guests may encounter the spirits of a murdered gambler, a judge shot in the lobby, and a bride who met a tragic end on her wedding night during their stay.

The Marshall House, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia, is notorious for being a hotspot of paranormal activity, and The Marshall House is the ideal venue for those seeking an immersive and eerie experience in the city. Since 1851, the property has served multiple roles, notably as a wartime hospital for Union troops during the Civil War and twice during yellow fever epidemics in the 19th century. Hotels with such histories are certain to have residual spirits lingering, and guests have reported seeing specters and hearing children running down the halls at late hours.

Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.

The luxurious Omni Shoreham Hotel stands as one of Washington, D.C.’s most storied hotels, and also as one of the city’s most haunted locations. Notably, a tragic tale surrounds the deaths of a young girl and a maid within one of the hotel’s suites in the early 20th century. Since then, guests have reported hearing eerie sounds with no apparent source stemming from the area of the hotel where the two passed away.

The Hotel Chelsea, New York

Reopened in 2022 after an 11-year hiatus, The Hotel Chelsea is just as grand and haunted as ever. With celebrities gracing its halls and numerous bizarre episodes unfolding within its walls, the property has captivated resourceful stories since its original opening in 1884. Among various paranormal encounters, according to Mental Floss, actor Michael Imperioli encountered the ghost of a Titanic survivor, Mary, during his stay. This tragic woman, who ended her life in her room upon learning of her husband’s demise, is often seen in the hotel’s mirrors, scrutinizing her appearance. Another famous spirit is Larry the Hipster Ghost, a playful figure known for interrupting other spirits when mediums visit the hotel.

The Driskill, Texas

President Lyndon B. Johnson is one of the renowned spirits said to haunt the halls of this famous downtown Austin hotel, where he and his wife had their first date in 1934, and to which he held a deep attachment. Additionally, guests have reported sightings of Colonel Driskill, the hotel’s founder, who is seen puffing on his cigar on the hotel grounds. Notably, a four-year-old girl who tragically fell down the grand staircase in 1887 is also believed to haunt the hotel; guests report hearing her ball bouncing and her laughter echoing through the halls. Perhaps the most notorious spirits are two jilted brides, each of whom took her own life while staying in the same room several decades apart.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco, Washington, D.C.

Located in the heart of D.C.’s bustling Penn Quarter neighborhood, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco is housed in a stunning structure initially built in 1842 as the city’s post office. During the Civil War, this site became a waiting area for women awaiting news of their loved ones’ fates in battle. Local reports indicate that guests have been startled by the sounds of women sobbing outside room 327, and others have reported glimpsing a lady in early 19th-century attire wandering the halls.