Horror Fans & History Buffs Will Love Visiting the 10 Most Haunted Places in America
Alton, IL
A frequent destination for paranormal investigators, people flock to Alton for the high density of haunted places there. McPike Mansion stands out as one of the most haunted houses in Illinois —and the country — where 11 different entities have supposedly been seen or heard.
Inside the Mineral Springs Mall, a former hotel, you might experience disembodied voices, shadow people, or mysterious orbs — especially if you partake in their Overnight Camp Out. Ghost tours of the town also include a visit to the Jacoby Arts Center, which used to house a morgue in the basement, and frequently produces encounters with restless spirits.
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, PA
If you’ve ever watched one of those paranormal investigation shows on TV, chances are you’ve seen the Eastern State Penitentiary. It’s easily the most well-known and closely studied place of paranormal activity in the United States and a popular place for dark tourism. While there was no execution system in place, hundreds of prisoners were tortured and put in solitary confinement there.
Others died of disease, old age, murder, or suicide while imprisoned. Scary tales of getting pushed or grabbed by unseen forces abound, as do those of shadow people and ghostly faces. Seeing as over 60 paranormal investigations occur there every year, there must be something creepy going on inside those walls.
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Bacon’s Castle, Surry, VA
Naturally, the oldest brick building in the United States (and Virginia) has a bit of haunted history behind it. Bacon’s Castle has consistently been subject to a number of tragic events, which have led to its notoriety as a haunted locale.
Disembodied heads have been seen floating around the slave quarters — possibly belonging to a slave that was forced to live and work there long ago. Fireballs also make frequent appearances, as do the moans and wails of the castle’s ghostly occupants.
