The most haunted spot in every state

Northern State Mental Hospital
The defunct Northern State Mental Hospital is rumored to be haunted. Nomad_Photo/Shutterstock
  • The Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, now a museum, is said to be haunted by ex-inmates.
  • A shuttered psychiatric facility in Washington is said to be haunted by former patients.
  • NBA players have reported seeing ghosts at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City.
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From homes and hotels to churches and cemeteries, there are spots that are said to be haunted all over the US.

Insider examined local legends and historic sites to determine the most haunted locations in every state, with many having reported ghost sightings, strange occurrences, or bloody histories. 

Here are the most haunted spots in every state.

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ALABAMA: Sloss Furnaces, Birmingham

Sloss Furnaces in Alabama.
Sloss Furnaces. Stephen Reeves/Shutterstock

The Sloss Furnaces are now a historic national landmark, but in the late 19th century they produced iron, which was then turned into steel. James "Slag" Wormwood was the boss at the furnaces, and it's said that he put his employees through some pretty inhumane conditions.

Labor laws didn't exist at the time, and temperatures in the furnaces often reached above 100 degrees. A total of 47 men died with Wormwood as their boss, and even Wormwood himself lost his life in the furnaces when he slipped and fell into the iron ore, causing his body to melt, Travel South USA reported.

Wormwood and his workers are believed to haunt the furnaces to this day.

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ALASKA: Kennecott

Kennecott alaska
Kennecott copper mines. cybercrisi/Shutterstock

Kennecott is a remote Alaskan town that's been mostly abandoned since 1950. The town was a hub for copper mining from 1911 to 1938, but after the area's copper supply was diminished, Kennecott's population dwindled.

Today, many rickety wooden buildings still stand in Kennecott, and many people believe that they are haunted by former miners and railroad workers, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

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ARIZONA: Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction

A rainbow over Lost Dutchman State Park
Lost Dutchman State Park. EdwinM/Shutterstock

The Lost Dutchman gold mine is believed to be situated in a state park in Apache Junction, Arizona, although its exact location is unclear.

The park is said to be haunted by the spirits of people who died over the years searching for the mine, the Phoenix New Times reported.

ARKANSAS: Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs

Crescent Hotel Arkansas
Crescent Hotel in Arkansas. RaksyBH/Shutterstock

The Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, prides itself on its status as a haunted hotel. Guests can participate in ghost tours and potentially catch a glimpse of several ghosts who reportedly frequent the property, including one who's known as "the girl in the mist."

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CALIFORNIA: Bodie

Abandoned buildings in bodie, california
Bodie. UTBP/Shutterstock

According to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Bodie, California, is a ghost town turned state park that offers a taste of life during the gold rush of the late 1800s.

Many homes and other buildings are still standing in the town today. Some people believe that the town is haunted by former residents, according to Legends of America.

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COLORADO: St. Elmo

st elmo colorado
St. Elmo, Colorado. Nadja Rider/Shutterstock

St. Elmo, Colorado, was a thriving mining town in the late 1800s, though it was abandoned as soon as the mines in the area shut down, History Colorado reported.

The ghost town has been well maintained, so visitors can get a sense of life in the late 19th century. They might even catch a glimpse of ghosts of former residents.

There's a particularly popular ghost story of Annabelle Stark, a woman from St. Elmo who continued to live there even after the town was entirely abandoned.

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CONNECTICUT: Old Newgate Prison, East Granby

Old Newgate Prison
The remains of Old Newgate Prison. Shanshan0312/Shutterstock

The Old Newgate Prison was the first prison in the state of Connecticut, operating from 1773 to 1827.  Most notably, it used to hold prisoners of war during the Revolutionary War.

Many people believe that the site is haunted by soldiers and prisoners who died while trying to escape from the prison. 

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DELAWARE: Fort Delaware, Delaware City

Fort Delaware
Fort Delaware. T.J. H./Yelp

Fort Delaware is located on its own island, which is only accessible by ferry. It was built as a Union fortress during the Civil War and was later used as a prison for Confederate soldiers.

Many prisoners died while held captive, and their ghosts are believed to haunt the property today, the Delaware News Journal reported.

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FLORIDA: Old St. Johns County Jail, St. Augustine

Old St. Johns County Jail
Old St. Johns County Jail. Cindy P./Yelp

The Old St. Johns County Jail no longer houses inmates, although the spirits of many of St. Augustine's violent criminals reportedly still haunt the historic jail.

The jail is now a museum, and visitors can go on nighttime "Ghost and Gravestones" tours to try to spot the ghosts for themselves. 

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GEORGIA: Lucas Theatre, Savannah

lucas theater georgia
Lucas Theatre. Noah Densmore/Shutterstock

Aside from being a beautiful Southern city with tons of history, Savannah, Georgia, is also said to be haunted.

The Lucas Theatre is just one of the city's haunted locales. According to a local Savannah ghost tour company, visitors to the historic theater have reported ghost sightings, including shadowy figures and sounds of applause even when there's no one around.

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HAWAII: 'Iolani Palace, Honolulu

Iolani Palace Hawaii
'Iolani Palace. Shutterstock

The 'Iolani Palace was once home to Hawaii's royalty, although today it serves as a museum of Hawaiian history.

Queen Lili'uokalani and other Hawaiian royals are said to haunt the palace. One room in the museum is notorious for supernatural activity — visitors have reported hearing mysterious music and chanting, Honolulu Magazine reported.

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IDAHO: Old Idaho Penitentiary, Boise

old idaho penitentiary
Old Idaho State Penitentiary in Boise, Idaho. Frank L Junior/Shutterstock

According to the Idaho State Historical Society, The Old Idaho Penitentiary housed some of the area's most dangerous criminals for over 100 years until it closed in 1973.

Visitors can now explore the expansive property in Boise, including jail cells that are reportedly haunted by former inmates.

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ILLINOIS: Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago

The Congress Plaza Hotel
The Congress Plaza Hotel. Felix Lipov/Shutterstock

The Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, almost has too many ghost stories to count. The hotel was built for the World's Fair in 1893, and there have been tales of paranormal activity ever since.

For example, the serial killer H.H. Holmes is said to have lured his victims to the hotel. Hotel guests have also reported seeing the ghosts of Al Capone and a ghost called Peg Leg Johnny around the property, Choose Chicago reported.

And if all that isn't spooky enough, the hotel is reportedly the inspiration behind Stephen King's short story, "1408."

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INDIANA: Indiana Medical History Museum, Indianapolis

indiana medical history museum
Indiana Medical History Museum. Lauren W./Yelp

The Indiana Medical History Museum is located in the oldest surviving pathology building in the country. It is also said to be haunted by the spirits of former patients of Central State Hospital.

The museum, located in Indianapolis, is home to recreations of amphitheaters and laboratories that were once used by the hospital, which treated a variety of different mental-health-related illnesses from 1848 until the late 1990s.

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IOWA: Villisca Ax Murder House, Villisca, Iowa

Villisca Ax Murder House
Villisca Ax Murder House. Mike P./Yelp

According to the house's official website, six members of the Moore family plus two houseguests were brutally killed by an ax murderer who was never identified on June 10, 1912. Their restless spirits are said to still haunt the grounds.

Guests can visit the house during the daytime, but to experience it in its full creepiness, you can make a reservation to spend the night.

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KANSAS: Stull Cemetery, Stull

Stull Cemetery Kansas
Stull Cemetery. Ayleen Gaspar/Yelp

A haunted cemetery? No surprise there. However, Stull Cemetery in Kansas is known to be particularly spooky. 

The cemetery is located in a tiny, nearly abandoned town outside of Lawrence. It has reportedly been the site of witchcraft and other supernatural activity over the years.

According to the blog American Hauntings, there's even a local legend that claims that one of the seven gateways to hell is located in the cemetery. 

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KENTUCKY: Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville

Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Dylan Lovan/AP

The Waverly Hills Sanatorium started as a one-room schoolhouse in the late 1800s. The Board of Tuberculosis Hospital later purchased the land and built the sanatorium, which opened in 1910 as a small quarantine for tuberculosis patients.

The large building that now sits abandoned was built in 1926 in response to the need for a larger facility; the sanatorium could house over 400 patients.

Waverly Hills was its own community complete with a zip code, post office, and water treatment facility. Everyone in the sanatorium — patients, nurses, doctors — were cut off from the outside world. It closed in 1961 after an antibiotic that cured tuberculosis was discovered.

However, it's believed that some patients never left and still haunt the grounds. Visitors can participate in ghost tours during the fall season on the hospital grounds.

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LOUISIANA: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 new orleans
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Page Light Studios/Shutterstock

One of the most notable people buried at the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana, is Marie Laveau, a voodoo priestess who died in 1881, according to the New Orleans Historical Society.

Given her unique profession, many people believe Laveau's spirit remains present in the cemetery to this day.

According to Atlas Obscura, actor Nicholas Cage has reportedly bought a burial tomb in the cemetery, so there's no telling about the cemetery's haunted future.

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MAINE: Wood Island Lighthouse, Saco

wood island lighthouse
The Wood Island Lighthouse. Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock

The Wood Island Lighthouse is one of the many beautiful lighthouses on Maine's coastline. It differs, however, in that it's said to be haunted.

In fact, the television show "Ghost Hunters" visited the lighthouse in 2006 to investigate paranormal activity in the area, according to the official Wood Island Lighthouse website.

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MARYLAND: Antietam National Battlefield, Washington County

Antietam Battlefield
Antietam Battlefield. EsqPro Creative Group/Shutterstock

According to the National Park Service, many people visit the Antietam National Battlefield in Washington County, Maryland, to learn about the history of the Civil War.

However, others visit to explore the supernatural activity at the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War.

Given the site's history, it's understandable why many people believe the battlefield is full of spirits. The area is said to be haunted by the ghosts of the soldiers who were killed there in 1862, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.

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MASSACHUSETTS: The Mount, Lenox

The Mount
The decorative study room inside The Mount historic museum that is a country house in Lenox, Massachusetts. Shanshan0312/Shutterstock

The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts, is a historic estate that was once home to the writer Edith Wharton. Aside from being a beautifully restored architectural masterpiece, the estate also has a haunted history.

When she was alive, Wharton herself often wrote about ghosts, so it's no surprise that her former home may be haunted. Visitors can see for themselves on one of the ghost tours that the estate sponsors, both online and hopefully in person later this season. 

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MICHIGAN: Detroit Masonic Temple, Detroit

detroit masonic temple
Detroit Masonic Temple. summersetretrievers/iStock

From cold spots and doors slamming to odd shadows, the Detroit Masonic Temple reportedly has it all.

One ghost, in particular, that is said to haunt the 1,037-room-building is that of George D. Mason, one of its architects, according to the Detroit Historical Society. However, while legend goes that Mason, distraught over financial losses and the death of his wife, died by suicide by jumping off the top of the 210-foot building, the historical society says this isn't true. 

"While the story makes for great Halloween horror tale, it is not true," the Detroit Historical Society states on its website. "George Mason died in 1948 at 91 years old in his home in the Wilshire Apartment building on Grand Boulevard."

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MINNESOTA: Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul

Fitzgerald Theater
Fitzgerald Theater. Karl W./Yelp

The Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota, is the oldest surviving theater in the city and its long history carries some ghost stories with it.

The theater is perhaps best known for its production of Garrison Keillor's variety show "A Prairie Home Companion" beginning in 1974. Over the years, visitors to the theater have reported sightings of a ghost named Ben who apparently used to work on the site as a stagehand, according to Minnesota Haunted Houses.

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MISSISSIPPI: King's Tavern, Natchez

King’s Tavern
King's Tavern. Shantel M./Yelp

King's Tavern in Natchez, Mississippi, is now permanently closed, though it once had many stories to go along with its hundreds of years of history, including some that involve ghosts.

According to one blog, the ghost of the mistress of the tavern's first owner — who is said to have been murdered there — reportedly haunted the restaurant.

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MISSOURI: Governor's Mansion, Jefferson City

Missouri Governor's Mansion
Missouri Governor's Mansion. Henryk Sadura/Shutterstock

The Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City, Missouri, is one of the state's most beautiful historic buildings, dating all the way back to 1871.

In 1882, the governor's family experienced a tragedy when their 9-year-old daughter, Carrie, died from diphtheria. Years later, a construction worker who was renovating the mansion reported seeing a young girl playing in the attic, the News Tribune reported in 2014.

Some people believe that he saw the ghost of Carrie, who still remains in the home.

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MONTANA: Daly Mansion, Hamilton

daly mansion
Daly Mansion. Mark H./Yelp

Now a popular wedding and event venue, the Daly Mansion has a haunted history.

Over the years, the staff at the estate have reported occurrences of paranormal activity, including a gold picture frame that is frequently found removed from the wall and placed on the ground, the Billings Gazette reported.

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NEBRASKA: Ball Cemetery, Springfield

Tombstones In Cemetery (file photo).
Tombstones in a cemetery. Credit: Brais Seara Fernandez/EyeEm/Getty Images

The oldest gravestone in Ball Cemetery is reported to be dated 1869, making this historic cemetery one of the oldest in the state.

Multiple spirits have been sighted here, including a tall, angry man who has been spotted kicking over gravestones and a woman named Mary Mumford who has been said to tug at visitors' clothes, according to Nebraska Haunted Houses.

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NEVADA: Bowers Mansion, Washoe City

bowers mansion
Bowers Mansion. Hank Shiffman/Shutterstock

The Bowers Mansion is a stately home in Washoe City, Nevada, with a spooky history.

The home once belonged to local millionaires Eilley and Sandy Bowers, and, as legend has it, after Sandy died his wife held seances to try to conjure his spirit, according to Nevada Ghost Towns and Beyond.

It's unclear if she was ever able to get through to her husband, although visitors report seeing mysterious figures around the property to this day. 

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NEW HAMPSHIRE: Alton Town Hall, Alton

alton town hall
Alton Town Hall. Google Maps

This historic government building in Alton, New Hampshire, is not only a beautiful landmark, it is also the site of reported paranormal activity, New Hampshire Magazine reported in 2020.

Locals have reported seeing furniture that moves, doors that open and close on their own, and hearing mysterious voices. 

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NEW JERSEY: Pine Barrens

Pine Barrens
Forests of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Jorge Moro/Shutterstock

There's not one single landmark in Pine Barrens, New Jersey, that hosts spirits and mysterious creatures. According to Condé Nast Traveler, the forest spans seven counties and contains ghost towns galore.

During the colonial era, the area was bustling with sawmills, paper mills, and towns to accompany them, but they were all abandoned when coal was discovered in Pennsylvania.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, it's also said to be home to the infamous Jersey Devil, a beast that the Pinelands Preservation Alliance describes as "a kangaroo-like creature with the face of a horse, the head of a dog, bat-like wings, horns, and a tail."

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NEW MEXICO: The Luna Mansion, Los Lunas

luna mansion in New Mexico
The Luna Mansion. The Luna Mansion

The Luna Mansion was a beautiful estate turned restaurant near Albuquerque, New Mexico, that is now permanently closed.

Visitors reported seeing ghosts from the estate's past, including a woman by the name of Josefina, who was the home's interior decorator. According to Legends of America, a rocking chair under her portrait was seen rocking without anyone in it.

"I hear things," general manager Farid Himeur told KOAT in 2017. "I see things that aren't supposed to happen."

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NEW YORK: Letchworth Village, Thiells

Letchworth Village
Abandoned building from Letchworth Village. littlenySTOCK/Shutterstock

According to Hudson Valley Magazine, Letchworth Village is a former psychiatric hospital that has fallen into a state of complete disrepair. 

Located in Thiells, New York, the campus sits on 2,000 acres and includes various medical buildings, dormitories, and a synagogue.

Like many hospitals and institutions, Letchworth Village is allegedly haunted by the spirits of former patients, and was even featured on the Travel Channel's popular series "Ghost Adventures."

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NORTH CAROLINA: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Hatteras Island

cape hatteras lighthouse
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Hale Kell/Shutterstock

The Cape Hatteras lighthouse is an iconic fixture on the North Carolina coastline said to be haunted by a woman named Theodosia Burr, according to a local travel website.

According to the Library of Congress, Burr, the daughter of Founding Father Aaron Burr, was killed as a result of a shipwreck in 1812. She is believed to haunt the lighthouse and the surrounding shore.

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NORTH DAKOTA: Fort Abraham Lincoln, Mandan

Fort Abraham Lincoln
Fort Abraham Lincoln. Bob Pool/Shutterstock

Fort Abraham Lincoln's history dates all the way back to 1872. George Armstrong Custer, a lieutenant colonel for the Union Army during the Civil War, built the fort but died just four years after construction was complete. 

People who visit the fort today often report seeing the ghost of Custer and his wife on the property, local news station KX News reported.

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OHIO: Moonville Tunnel, Vinton County

Moonville Tunnel
The entrance of the Moonville Tunnel. CreativEdge/Shutterstock

Now overgrown and covered in graffiti, the Moonville Tunnel is a favorite spot among urban explorers and ghost hunters in Ohio.

The tunnel was once used by the local railroad, although it has been in disrepair for years. According to local legend, some of the ghosts that haunt the tunnel include an old engineer and railway brakeman.

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OKLAHOMA: The Skirvin Hotel, Oklahoma City

The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City
This hotel is a unique landmark in Oklahoma City's skyline. The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City/Yelp

The unique architecture of the Skirvin Hilton Hotel, which dates back to 1911, is striking. The hotel reportedly even offered a private room where guests could drink alcohol during Prohibition, according to Historic Hotels of America.

Opposing NBA teams often stay at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel when they visit the city to play the Oklahoma City Thunder. Over the years, many players have reported ghost sightings, specifically of a woman named Effie who died at the hotel, The New York Times reported.

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OREGON: The Shanghai Tunnels, Portland

Shanghai Tunnels
A stairway to the Shanghai Tunnels. Brooke B./Yelp

According to Travel Portland, The Shanghai Tunnels in Portland get their name from the practice of kidnapping and selling men as workers on ships headed to East Asia.

Restless, agitated spirits of men who were drugged and trafficked in the city's ports during the early 19th century are said to haunt the underground tunnels through which they were reportedly sold.

Legend has it that the local saloons contained entrances to the tunnels, enabling swindlers to prey on unsuspecting patrons and bring them directly underground before they even knew what was going on.

Up until 2023, visitors could also take walking tours to learn more about the dark history of the tunnels, but tours have ended indefinitely. 

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PENNSYLVANIA: Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

eastern state penitentiary
Eastern State Penitentiary. Paul Marotta/ Getty

During its heyday, Eastern State Penitentiary was one of the most expensive and well-known prisons in the world. According to the official Eastern State Penitentiary website, it was built in 1829 and housed big-name criminals like Al Capone and bank robber "Slick Willie."

Up until overcrowding became a problem in 1913, prisoners were kept in complete solitude at all times. Even when prisoners left their cell, a guard would cover their heads so they couldn't see and no one could see them.

Today, the decaying penitentiary offers ghost tours and a museum. Condé Nast Traveler reported that shadowy figures, laughter, and footsteps have all been reported as paranormal activity within the prison walls.

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RHODE ISLAND: The Breakers, Newport

the breakers
The Breakers. Felix Lipov/Shutterstock

The Breakers Mansion is a popular museum for tourists in Newport, Rhode Island, but is said to have paranormal activity.

Alice Vanderbilt, the matriarch of the wealthy Vanderbilt family in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lived in the mansion for many years after her husband Cornelius died. Her ghost is said to still roam the giant home, according to Nostalgia Providence.

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SOUTH CAROLINA: Poinsett Bridge, Greenville

point bridge
Poinsett Bridge. Agent-007/Shutterstock

Besides bearing the distinction of South Carolina's oldest bridge, Poinsett is also believed by many to be a particularly spooky spot, Condé Nast Traveler reported.

The bridge, which was built completely out of stone in 1820, is rumored to be home to multiple ghosts.

There's the story of the mason who died while building the bridge; his body is said to be entombed inside of it. There's also the story of a man who died here in a car accident in the '50s and an enslaved person who was lynched near the bridge.

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SOUTH DAKOTA: The Historic Bullock Hotel, Deadwood

bullock hotel south dakota
Bullock Hotel. Jess Kraft/Shutterstock

The Bullock Hotel in Deadwood, South Dakota, is reportedly haunted by Deadwood's first Sheriff, Seth Bullock.

According to the hotel's website, guests and staff have seen items "inexplicably moved by unseen hands," and showers turn on out of nowhere.

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TENNESSEE: The Orpheum Theatre, Memphis

Orpheum Theater
The Orpheum Theatre. Harold Stiver/Shutterstock

The Orpheum Theatre in Memphis has survived bankruptcies, a fire, and a threat of demolition since it opened in 1928, according to the theater's website. Furnished with 2,000-pound chandeliers and gold leafing, its stunning interior seats 2,000 people, but there's also plenty of room for spirits.

A little girl named Mary is one of six ghosts that have been spotted in the theater, according to Haunted Houses. Performers onstage have spotted her in the audience of their shows, and theatergoers have seen her dancing in the lobby.

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TEXAS: The Alamo, San Antonio

The Alamo
Alamo. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

The Alamo is one of the most iconic monuments in the US. Since it has such an extensive history, it's understandable why many people think the site is haunted.

History buffs interested in paranormal activity can go on ghost tours of the site in hopes of catching a glimpse of the spirits of those who died there during the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. 

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UTAH: Fort Douglas Military Museum, Salt Lake City

Fort Douglas Military Museum
Fort Douglas Military Museum. Lori I./Yelp

The Fort Douglas Military Museum used to simply be called Fort Douglas. Located near the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, the military fort dates back to 1862.

The Daily Utah Chronicle reported in 2014 that visitors to the museum spoke of sightings of a ghost named Clem, a soldier who died at the fort. Reports of paranormal activity include seeing a figure in Civil War military garb and people feeling something — or someone — breathing down their necks. 

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VERMONT: Emily's Bridge, Stowe

Emily's Bridge
Emily's Bridge. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

New England is known for its beautiful covered bridges.

However, Emily's Bridge in Stowe, Vermont, is said to be haunted. According to the Vermont Historical Society, local legend has it that sometime between 1849 and 1949, a young woman named Emily killed herself on the bridge after she was jilted by her lover.

Local lore goes that her spirit has haunted the area ever since, though the historical society claims that there is no evidence showing that anyone died at the site.

VIRGINIA: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington

stonewall jackson cemetery
Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery. Chuck M./Yelp

This cemetery is named after Stonewall Jackson, the Confederate general who is buried on the site. Located in Lexington, Virginia, the cemetery is said to be haunted by Jackson and other soldiers from the Civil War, according to the official Visit Virginia website.

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WASHINGTON: Northern State Mental Hospital, Sedro-Woolley

Northern State Mental Hospital
Northern State Mental Hospital. Nomad_Photo/Shutterstock

Located in northern Washington, this defunct hospital was once an entirely self-sustained psychiatric hospital.

The Northern State Mental Hospital operated from 1912 to 1976, and although it has been closed for many years, many buildings on the property still stand today, according to the Washington Trails Association.

It's said that thousands of patients may have died here, and a graveyard behind the old gymnasium has many unmarked graves. However, the Seattle Times recently reported that two never-before-released death registers contain information on patients who died at Northern State Hospital between 1911 and 1963.

Some of the hospital's expansive property now operates as a recreational area, although it's said to be haunted by former patients. 

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WEST VIRGINIA: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston

Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum West Virginia
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. David Smith/AP

Originally built as a place of healing, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum welcomed its first patients in 1864. The building, which is the largest hand-cut stone masonry building in North America, was built to house 250 people.

According to the hospital's official website, it hit its peak in 1950, the psychiatric hospital was home to 2,400 patients, many of whom endured lobotomies and electroshock therapy.

Mental-health reforms and the building's poor condition caused the hospital to close in 1994. However, many patients died during the facility's 130 functioning years. Some are believed to haunt the building's halls, which is why it attracts visitors and ghost hunters.

Visitors interested in scoping out paranormal activity can participate in ghost tours on the site.

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WISCONSIN: The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee

Pfister Hotel
The interior of the famous Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. Jeff Bukowski/Shutterstock

The Pfister Hotel is popular among professional athletes who visit Milwaukee for games, although the hotel's haunted history has made many guests skeptical about staying there.

Guests have reported hearing mysterious knocking sounds and voices. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2005 that Adrián Beltré of the Los Angeles Dodgers, for example, reported that he couldn't sleep during his stay at the Pfister because of all the strange noises. 

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WYOMING: The Historic Occidental Hotel, Buffalo

The Occidental Hotel
The Historic Occidental Hotel. MtPleasantChica/Yelp

A stay at the Historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming, is like taking a step back in time to the Old West. Famous figures from the era, like Butch Cassidy, Calamity Jane, Buffalo Bill, and even President Theodore Roosevelt, have visited the hotel over the years.

Since the hotel has such a historic past, it's no surprise that some people believe that it is haunted by former guests, and it was even featured on the Travel Channel's "Dead Files."

Madeline Diamond contributed to an earlier version of this story.

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