There is a whimsical elegance to places that have experienced lifetimes of occupants, as if hiding a secret that only the ghosts can relay, and in these eerie destinations, they just might clue you in. Behind their opulent facades hides a skeleton—or two. The creek of a floorboard or the flicker of a light is just the beginning of the frightening tales these locations have to tell. From the pair of “suicide brides” who took their lives in the same room decades apart to the headless apparition of a famous royal, the dark histories behind these places are as spooky as they are beautiful. Take a tour of these stunning houses, ocean liners, restaurants, and hotels to see why visitors never want to leave—even after death.
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Photo: Roberto Machado Noa1/32Casa Loma, Toronto
Businessman Henry Pellatt’s Gothic Revival castle was completed in 1914, and includes secret passages and storage areas. There have been rumors of ghosts on the property for years, and the estate is now decked out as a haunted house during the Halloween season.
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Photo: Courtesy of the Driskill Hotel2/32Driskill Hotel, Austin, Texas
The historic Romanesque landmark, which was opened in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill, has hosted many big-name celebrities and politicians throughout the years. It also has a well-known history of paranormal activity following the deaths of several guests, including the “suicide brides,” two honeymooning women who took their own lives in the same room 20 years apart.
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Photo: Courtesy of One if by Land, Two if by Sea3/32One if by Land, Two if by Sea, New York City
This West Village restaurant is consistently rated as one of the most romantic in New York and is set in the onetime carriage house of Aaron Burr. The eatery is reportedly haunted by upwards of 20 ghosts, including Burr and his daughter, Theodosia.
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Photo: Charles Cook/Getty Images4/32Kehoe House, Savannah, Georgia
Set on Savannah’s Columbia Square, the Queen Anne brick mansion was completed in May of 1892 for William and Anne Kehoe and their ten children, a few of which died in the house. The building was converted into a bed-and-breakfast in 1992 and guests have reported hearing the sounds of children playing.
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Photo courtesy of Edinburgh Castle5/32Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Nestled at the head of Edinburgh’s Old Town, this 12th-century fortress was, for many years, an active military base. If its stone walls could talk, they would tell grim tales, including that of a piper who entered the castle’s tunnels never to be seen—or heard from—again. To this day, visitors report music echoing through the fort’s empty chambers.
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Photo: © Winchester Mystery House6/32Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California
Following the death of her husband, rifle magnate William Wirt Winchester, Sarah Winchester commissioned a Victorian labyrinth designed to repel the vengeful spirits of the lives taken by her husband’s guns. The sprawling Queen Anne–style mansion—comprising four stories, 160 rooms, 10,000 window panes, and 47 stairways—is appointed with curious elements, such as staircases leading directly into the ceiling and windows that open onto secret passages.
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Photo: Aldo Pavan/Alamy7/32Poveglia Island, Venice, Italy
A short gondola ride from the romantic canals of Venice, Poveglia Island holds the decaying remains of an early-20th-century insane asylum. Originally a quarantine zone for those suffering from the bubonic plague, Poveglia reportedly played host to brutal medical experiments. The asylum closed when a doctor flung himself from the institution’s highest tower.
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Photo courtesy of the Château de Brissac8/32Château de Brissac, Brissac-Quincé, France
The tallest building in the Loire Valley, Château de Brissac is perhaps best known as the site of the grisly murder of Charlotte of France. Legend has it that Charlotte, the illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII, was killed by her husband after he discovered her adulterous behavior. The Green Lady, named for the color of the dress in which she met her end, is said to haunt the castle’s tower.
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Photo courtesy of Education Images/Getty Images9/32Bhangarh Fort, India
Less than 200 miles outside of Delhi, the lush ruins of Bhangarh Fort make for a curious juxtaposition against the desert landscape of Rajasthan. To this day the oasis remains largely uninhabited due to an alleged curse cast by a disgruntled sorcerer after his advances were rebuffed by a local princess.
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Photo: Richard Ellis/Alamy10/32Hay House, Macon, Georgia
Sometimes called the Palace of the South, the mid-19th-century Johnston-Felton-Hay House was commissioned by businessman William Butler Johnston. Inspired by Johnston’s travels, the property was constructed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style and boasted contemporary amenities, unique at the time, such as hot and cold running water, central heat, and a speaker tube. Visitors to the house, which is now open to the public, have reported lingering spirits on the third floor.
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Photo: Natalie Tepper/Alamy11/32Ennis House, Los Feliz, California
Built from 27,000 perforated concrete blocks, Ennis House is the largest and last remaining of Frank Lloyd Wright’s “textile block” homes. Its idiosyncratic aesthetic has attracted filmmakers for decades, most notably inspiring environments in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (1982) and the 1959 film House on Haunted Hill. Though no actual hauntings have been reported, observers are quick to note how the home’s warm courtyards and airy hallways take on a silent, mausoleum-like quality after the sun sets.
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Photo courtesy of the Fairmont Banff Springs12/32The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Calgary, Alberta
A stalwart of Canada’s historic railway hotels, the Fairmont Banff Springs has been associated with the paranormal since its construction in 1888. One notable tale includes an unfortunate bride-to-be who immolated herself when descending the candlelit stairs in full wedding attire. The Ghost Bride of the Fairmont Banff Springs, as she has since been dubbed, can supposedly still be found in the hotel’s ballroom eternally waiting for her first dance.
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Photo: Major Gilbert/Alamy13/32Raynham Hall, Norfolk, England
Completed in 1637, Raynham Hall is considered one of the most splendid English country homes of its time. The estate has garnered an infamous reputation thanks to the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall. Believed to be the spirit of the adulterous Lady Dorothy Walpole, the Brown Lady caused an uproar when a photograph purporting to have captured her essence was published in the December 1936 edition of Country Life magazine.
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Photo: Dawna Moore/Alamy14/32St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida
The St. Augustine lighthouse—the first in Florida—earned a dark place in Civil War history when its light was removed to disrupt Union shipping. Visitors report encounters with the friendly spirit of Union artillery-officer-cum-lightkeeper William A. Harn.
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Photo courtesy of The Stanley Hotel15/32The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
This neo-Georgian mountain hideaway is best known as the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining. Its staff claims it is only visited by “happy ghosts” and that nearly every room has a unique ghost story, like that of the maid from Room 217 who is known to pack away guests’ clothing when they aren’t looking.
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Photo courtesy of the Queen Mary16/32The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
After sailing the Atlantic for more than 30 years, the RMS Queen Mary dropped a permanent anchor in Long Beach, California in 1967. The decommissioned ocean liner, resplendent with gilded Art Deco finishings, is still accepting reservations—just don’t expect to get too far. With more than 50 deaths recorded aboard the ship during her charter as a luxury liner, tales abound of the *Queen Mary’*s haunting.
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Photo: Nick Turner/Alamy17/32Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton-under-Edge, England
England’s Ancient Ram Inn boasts more spirits than an average pub’s liquor rack. Built on the site of what is believed to have been a 12th-century pagan burial ground, the inn reports hauntings by at least 20 otherworldly visitors. With ghostly children, a high priestess, and even an incubus (Google is your friend, but don’t say you weren’t warned) wandering the halls, guests have reportedly leapt from the windows in a frenzy to escape.
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Photo: Paul Hawthorne / Getty Images18/32Amityville Horror House, New York
Ronald Defeo Jr. shot six members of his family on November 13, 1974, in what is now known as the Amityville Horror House, but the haunting of 112 Ocean Avenue was relatively unknown until the Lutz family bought the house in 1975. The Lutzes reported extreme paranormal activity from the moment they moved in, including uncovering the creepily hidden Red Room, doors slamming by themselves, and mysterious voices demanding a priest blessing the home to “get out!” The family lasted 26 days in the house before moving out.
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Photo: Education Images/UIG via Getty Images19/32Bodie State Historic Park, California
What was once a bustling mining town is now a desolate wasteland speckled with beautiful buildings kept on life support by the National Parks team. Simply traipsing through the abandoned town is enough to set your hair on end. Those who have ventured into the town have reported seeing phantom miners and even hearing mining noises in the long-retired shafts.
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Photo: Mel Longhurst/VW Pics/UIG via Getty Images20/32Akershus Fortress, Norway
Akershus Fortress was built in the late 1290s as the ultimate defense against foreign attacks and was instrumental in the Seven Years’ War. The sprawling fortress is now used for some royal functions and can be toured by the public; however, locals say its war-torn past has yet to leave, noting that some have seen the ghosts of soldiers roaming the halls.
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Photo: Getty Images21/32Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, South Africa
Built by the Dutch East India Company in the mid-1600s, the bastion-style fort is now a historical monument in Cape Town and a local hotbed for paranormal activity. The castle is said to contain the ghost of violent ruler Governor van Noodt, who supposedly died of a heart attack while ordering a hanging. The common tale is that one of the men doomed for the noose cursed the governor before being executed, sealing his soul to the castle forever.
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Photo: Robert Benson22/32The Cavalier, Virginia Beach, Virginia
In June of 1929, Adolph Coors, founder of Coors Beer, excused himself from the table mid-breakfast and proceeded to his sixth-floor room, where he jumped from the window to his death. In a hotel as old as the Cavalier, there are more than a few skeletons in its past; however, the death of Mr. Coors is the most well-known—and the most haunting. A couple who held their wedding at the Cavalier claimed that the apparition of Mr. Coors is present in their wedding photos. Other guests report ghostly activity on the sixth floor. Since the Cavalier’s $80 million renovation was completed, there has reportedly been less activity, but the only way to know for sure is to book a room on the sixth floor and find out for yourself.
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Photo: Alamy Stock Photo23/32Leap Castle, Ireland
The bloody legend of Leap Castle dates back to its construction in the late 13th century. Having been inhabited by several destructive Irish clans throughout history, many violent deaths have taken place within these storied walls, trapping the victims’ souls for eternity. One of the most disturbing aspects of the castle’s construction is the hidden oubliette, which held the bodies of nearly 150 people and was not discovered until the 1920s. The Red Lady seen holding a dagger is the most commonly sighted ghost on the grounds.
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Photo: Barcroft Media / Getty Images24/32Isla de las Muñecas (Island of the Dolls), Mexico
The story of Isla de las Muñecas begins when its sole resident and caretaker, Don Julian Santana Barrera, found a lifeless young girl, who had apparently died from drowning, and a floating doll in the water as he was walking the island. Julian took the doll and strung it high in a tree to pay homage to the girl’s spirit. Over the years, more dolls were placed on the trees throughout the island. Julian, and some visitors, claim that the dolls are possessed by the spirits of girls who passed too soon, reporting that the dolls would move independently and even speak to passersby.
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Photo: Getty Images25/32Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, Massachusetts
“Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41.” The haunting nursery rhyme originated with the 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Their New England–style house blends beautifully into the lovely background of Massachusetts, nearly disguising the atrocities that took place inside. The home is now a museum and bed and breakfast for those brave enough to stay overnight. Electricity surges, shadowy figures, and floors creaking overhead when no one is in the house have been reported by guests and the proprietor.
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Photo: Stefan Cristian Cioata / Getty Images26/32Corvin Castle, Romania
Corvin Castle is most famous for being home to Vlad III, better known as Vlad the Impaler, whose despicable acts of blood thirsty torture inspired Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. The awe-inspiring Renaissance Gothic–style castle is said to be haunted by the spirits of the lives taken within these castle walls. Several paranormal fanatics and documentarians have investigated the estate hoping to find if the story of Dracula is truly a myth.
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Photo: Emilio Guerra / Getty Images27/32Merchant’s House Museum, New York
Built in 1832, this quaint townhouse is a shining example of late-Federal architecture and one of the first landmarked buildings in New York. The Greek Revival interiors have remained relatively the same since the Tredwell family’s occupancy, which lasted nearly 100 years. Gertrude was the last Tredwell to reside in the home and died in the upstairs bedroom at the age of 93. Staff and visitors alike have reported that Gertrude’s spirit remains in the home causing mischief.
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Photo: Getty Images28/32Palacio de Linares, Madrid, Spain
Formerly the home of Marquis and Marchioness of Linares, this exquisite palace was built for Don José Murga and his wife, Raimunda Osorio. Hidden beneath its opulent exterior are trapped doors, disappearing staircases, and the ghost of Don José and Raimunda’s daughter. Allegedly, a young girl is heard singing in the palace from time to time when there are no more visitors in the building.
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Photo: John Greim / Getty Images29/32The Red Onion Saloon, Skagway, Alaska
Located in the gold mining town of Skagway, the Red Onion Saloon was originally a saloon on the ground floor and a brothel on the second level when it opened in 1898. The classic saloon is a testament to the town’s origins and a local favorite. Today, the building operates as a restaurant and offers tours of what was the brothel upstairs, although many of the restaurant’s staff say that one of the working ladies never left. The ghost of a woman known as Lydia shows herself rather frequently to patrons and staff alike.
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Photo: Getty Images30/32Paris Catacombs, France
The 500 miles of winding catacombs that sit just underfoot of any Paris street have been a destination for paranormal curiosity since their creation in 1786. The underground maze of bones was parlayed into a deathly art exhibit which can be toured by ticket holders. Interest in the catacombs was reignited recently when a camcorder was found along one of the passageways containing a disturbing tape taken by an unknown explore as he becomes disoriented with his surroundings. The tape ends with the man screaming and running from an unknown entity, dropping his camera and only source of light, never to be seen again.
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Photo: David Goddard / Getty Images31/32Ruthin Castle, Wales
Beneath the red sandstone façade of this gorgeous medieval castle lies a gruesome history that, supposedly, still haunts the estate today. The Grey Lady is the most active ghost that haunts the premises. This mysterious woman is said to be Lady Grey, wife of Reginald de Grey, who was put to death for murdering a peasant girl who she suspected to he having an affair with her husband.
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Photo: Getty Images32/32Tower of London, England
Though the former fortress is flooded with tourists on a daily basis, the 900-year-old Tower of London is still one of the bloodiest places in Europe. Built by William the Conqueror in 1070, the sprawling fortress is most famously known for the number of royal deaths that have occurred there, including that of Anne Boleyn, whose headless apparition is said to haunt the hallowed halls of the tower.
