12 Real Haunted Houses in America You Can Visit

Come Halloween, there’s no shortage of kitschy haunted house attractions across the country. But sometimes, you want to experience the real thing. Lucky for all you ghost hunters and paranormal investigators out there, the United States is full of historical homes with interesting (and spooky) backstories, and it’s not too hard to find “real” haunted houses if you know where to look.

If you’re after a good scare and not just a campfire ghost story, these are among the most haunted houses in America—some even let guests spend the night.

The Whaley House Museum, California

Back in 1852, James “Yankee Jim” Robinson was hanged by his neck for theft. A few years later, Thomas and Anna Whaley built a house on the spot where Robinson died, and soon enough, Yankee Jim’s ghost showed up to haunt the site. It’s said that his footsteps can be heard stomping around the house.

Yankee Jim isn’t the only specter, though—members of the family, including Mr. and Mrs. Whaley, have been known to make appearances from beyond the grave. Now a museum, the Whaley House is open for tours, including nighttime tours and paranormal investigation experiences.

House of Death, New York

New York City’s Greenwich Village neighborhood has some of the most desirable real estate in the world—save for one brownstone on West 10th Street. Known as the “House of Death,” the town house is said to be haunted by the ghosts of 22 people who lived or died within its walls. One of the most gruesome and tragic stories is that of a young girl killed by her adoptive father. The literary crowd, in particular, will likely be intrigued by this one. The spirit of author Mark Twain, who lived there in 1900, has sometimes been glimpsed, and former resident Jan Bryant Bartell wrote an entire book about her experience living on the top floor.

The building still contains private apartments, so you aren’t able to tour the interior. But this street is a popular stop on NYC ghost tours like the ones provided by New York Ghosts.

Winchester Mystery House, California

Encompassing 160 rooms, 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 13 bathrooms, six kitchens, and 24,000 square feet of space, this rambling Victorian mansion in San Jose, California, would be worth a visit based on its sheer size and splendid design alone. But it’s the enduring mystery of how the Winchester Mystery House became so big that draws the crowds, and ghosts could be the reason.

Built between 1886 and 1922, the house was owned by Sarah Winchester, an heir to the Winchester rifle fortune through her deceased husband. Originally just eight rooms, Sarah kept expanding and adding to the structure over the course of 36 years. But she didn’t just add rooms; instead, she created a labyrinth filled with hallways that lead to dead ends, cut-off staircases, and a rabbit warren of chambers. Why? No one truly knows. But the popular belief is that she was told she’d be haunted by the ghosts of everyone who had ever been killed by a Winchester rifle. To appease them, she built a house big enough for all the dead, and now, the ghosts of every Winchester victim haunt the halls. Another theory says that, since her father was a carpenter, she simply loved architecture and wanted to add more rooms without tearing others down. Which is true? You can decide for yourself on a guided tour, which visits 110 of the house’s 160 rooms.

Villisca Axe Murder House, Iowa

With a population of less than 1,200 residents, the small town of Villisca in rural Iowa doesn’t have much to offer tourists—except for a night of terror at the Villisca Axe Murder House. Back in 1912, the white wooden house was the site of a horrifying crime that left an entire family, including four children and their two young friends, dead by an axe-wielding murderer.

There were several suspects, including an Iowa state senator, but no one was ever charged with the bloody crime. More than a century later, the ghosts of the victims are said to remain in the house, yearning for justice. Visitors eager for a taste of the supernatural can book tours of the site, while the bravest can spend the night and see what goes bump.

Lizzie Borden House, Massachusetts

Back in 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found dead in their Fall River home—slain by a hatchet-wielding psychopath. The police’s prime suspect was Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie. Though she stood trial for the crimes and was ultimately acquitted, Lizzie spent the rest of her life under the shadow of guilt.

She is now said to haunt the house where her father and stepmother were murdered, and her ghost can sometimes be heard laughing. The house now serves as a museum and bed-and-breakfast, where stalwart guests can take tours or spend the night listening for Lizzie’s ghost, those of her murdered parents, or the echoes of the maid’s screams after she found the Bordens dead.

Bell Witch Cave, Tennessee

In the early 1800s, John Bell bought a tract of farmland along Tennessee’s Red River near a mysterious landmark now known as the Bell Witch Cave. He and his family thrived on the farm until strange things began to occur. Weird creatures were seen roaming the property, scary noises filled the house, and John and his daughter, Betsy, started being attacked by an unseen force. This “entity” revealed itself in voice as the Bell Witch, declaring its intention to kill John. When John eventually died, the Bell Witch took credit. It’s said the witch was a former neighbor, Kate Batts, a woman suspected of witchcraft and whom John had slighted.

Tales of the haunting spread far and wide, and even President Andrew Jackson went to investigate. Since then, it’s become one of America’s most infamous ghost stories. You can visit John Bell’s cabin and the nearby cave, which is where the witch allegedly fled after her attacks on the family, on guided tours, including eerie lantern-lit nighttime excursions.

The White House, Washington, D.C.

The White House may be home to the U.S. president, but it’s also rumored to house many illustrious ghosts within its storied walls. A fair number of former presidents appear to have taken up permanent residence, from William Henry Harrison (the first president to die in the White House) to Andrew Jackson to Abraham Lincoln. First Ladies like Dolley Madison and Abigail Adams have also been seen, and it’s said the ghost of an unnamed British soldier wanders the grounds with a torch in hand. Strange sounds, unexpected scents, and even actual sightings have all been reported by White House staff, residents, and visitors; during one visit, Winston Churchill allegedly was surprised by the ghost of Lincoln after taking a bath.

While the White House isn’t open for public tours, you can still try to catch a glimpse of that wandering soldier and view the exterior from Lafayette Square or the Ellipse.

The Sallie House, Kansas

If you’re into ghost-hunting shows, you probably already know about the Sallie House. In the early 1900s, it served as the home practice of one of the town’s doctors. One day, a mother brought her ailing daughter to the house seeking help. Suspecting that the girl was suffering from appendicitis and didn’t have long until her appendix burst, the doctor immediately began operating. But as the anesthesia hadn’t taken effect yet, it only caused more pain for the young girl. She died on the operating table, traumatized and in agony.

It is that little girl, Sallie, who is now believed to haunt this unassuming house in Atchison. Most stories come from former renters Debra and Tony Pickman, who lived in the house in the ’90s. Strange occurrences like flickering lights and out-of-place objects quickly escalated to apparitions, unexplained voices, and physical attacks like scratches and marks. However, not everyone believes Sallie is the source of these evil doings; some say it’s another spirit—a malevolent demon who also resides in the house and is responsible for the sadistic actions. Whichever it is, the house is no longer lived in and instead welcomes curious visitors with self-guided tours and overnight stays.

Franklin Castle, Ohio

A bootlegging bolthole. A Nazi hideaway. A house of horror beset by murders and executions. All manner of stories and rumors swirl around the Franklin Castle, which is said to be the most haunted house in Ohio.

Built in the late 1800s by banker Hannes Tiedemann, the house’s early years were plagued with tragedy and death. Tiedemann’s daughter, mother, three infants, and his wife Louise all passed away in rapid succession, leading some to suspect foul play on the part of Tiedemann. The 1975 discovery of hidden human bones, as well as strange happenings like electrical surges and disquieting sounds, further fueled theories that Tiedemann murdered some of his family members and that their ghosts now haunt the halls. On top of all that, the house served as the site of a German cultural organization for many years, leading to wild stories of illicit booze production during Prohibition and the house being a den for Nazi spies. Many of the more fantastical tales have been disproven (and some say the discovered bones were placed there to drum up interest in ghost tours). But visitors still claim to hear footsteps, giggles, and other sounds while visiting the house, which is open for tours and overnights.

Biltmore, North Carolina

George Washington Vanderbilt II built this stately Asheville vacation home in the 1800s. Since then, it has gained a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in North Carolina as well as the entire country. While nothing completely nefarious has happened on the estate, its former owners do seem to remain very active in the afterlife. Visitors have claimed to hear a woman’s voice, possibly Vanderbilt’s wife, Edith, calling his name, and some say they’ve spotted ghostly apparitions. The mansion also features a number of hidden doors and passageways, adding to its overall spook factor.

Today, anyone can tour the estate either on their own or with a guide. The grounds also hold lovely gardens, a winery, and on-site accommodations.

The Conjuring House, Rhode Island

Horror film fans will want to make the pilgrimage to Burrillville, Rhode Island, to see the house that inspired the 2013 film, “The Conjuring.” The historic home, which was built in 1736, is said to be haunted by several spirits, some of which are friendly. But the most notorious is Bathsheba, who terrorized the Perron family when they lived there in the 1970s. Unexplained noises, strange smells, and other phenomena were reported, and numerous researchers and mediums were brought in to investigate, most notably Ed and Lorraine Warren. Andrea Perron, the daughter of the couple, eventually wrote about her family’s experiences in a three-volume manuscript entitled “House of Darkness: House of Light,” which inspired the hit film.

The house is currently off-limits for visits, but you can still drive by to sneak a peek at the exterior. Who knows, you may even catch a glimpse of strange lights or hear ghostly sounds.

The House of the Seven Gables, Massachusetts

With its historic homes and tales of witchcraft, Salem is a popular haunt for those interested in the occult and otherworldly. The House of the Seven Gables is one of the city’s oldest homes, built in 1668 and immortalized by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel of the same name. It’s also one of the most haunted, housing several specters, including a young boy who plays in the attic and a man seen climbing a secret staircase. Another ghost reputed to be there is the Woman in White; believed to be Susannah Ingersoll, Hawthorne’s cousin, she is sometimes seen peeking out of windows onto the gardens.

While daytime tours of the mansion and grounds tend to focus more on the site’s literary history, it’s a stop on many Salem ghost tours if you want to hear more about its resident spirits.