For thrill-seekers and history buffs alike, a stay at a haunted hotel offers more than just a place to sleep—it’s a front-row seat to the past’s most chilling chapters. From former prisons to sites of infamous tragedies, these seven hotels are steeped in dark histories and ghostly legends that refuse to fade. Ready to book a room where the other guests might not be alive? Read on.
Table of Contents
- The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
- The Cecil Hotel, Los Angeles
- Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago
- 1886 Crescent Hotel, Arkansas
- Hotel Alex Johnson, South Dakota
- The Maryland Inn, Annapolis
- The Bowery Hotel, New York
The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, the Stanley Hotel is perhaps the most famous haunted hotel in America—largely thanks to inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining. But its real-life ghost stories are even stranger. Guests report hearing piano music in the dead of night, phantom children giggling in hallways, and luggage moved by unseen hands. The hotel offers nightly ghost tours for those brave enough to explore its spectral secrets.
The Cecil Hotel, Los Angeles
This downtown LA landmark has a grim reputation. Once home to serial killers and the site of numerous unexplained deaths—including the mysterious case of Elisa Lam in 2013—the Cecil Hotel has become synonymous with urban horror. Though it’s been rebranded as “Stay on Main,” long-time locals still whisper about shadowy figures and sudden cold spots in its corridors .
Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago
Overlooking Grant Park, this historic hotel has hosted presidents and celebrities—but also ghosts. Room 444 is notoriously avoided by staff due to reports of flickering lights, disembodied voices, and apparitions of a woman in white. Some believe the spirits stem from its proximity to the site of the 1893 World’s Fair, where darker dealings allegedly occurred .
1886 Crescent Hotel, Arkansas
Billed as “America’s most haunted hotel,” this Victorian-era resort in Eureka Springs was briefly turned into a fraudulent cancer hospital in the 1930s. Today, guests claim to see the ghost of a nurse pushing an empty gurney and hear unexplained screams echoing from the old operating room. The hotel runs year-round ghost tours led by professional paranormal investigators .
Hotel Alex Johnson, South Dakota
Perched in Rapid City near Mount Rushmore, this 1920s hotel blends Native American heritage with eerie legends. The spirit of “Room 809” is said to be that of a former housekeeper who still tidies up—except she vanished decades ago. Guests report faucets turning on by themselves and blankets being yanked off beds .
The Maryland Inn, Annapolis
Operating since 1772, this colonial-era inn has seen duels, political intrigue, and wartime drama. Staff and guests have encountered a variety of specters, including a ghostly soldier and a woman in period dress wandering the halls. Its location in the heart of historic Annapolis only adds to its haunted allure .
The Bowery Hotel, New York
While it looks like a stylish boutique hotel, The Bowery sits on land with a shadowy past—once part of New York’s gritty underbelly. Guests have reported sudden chills, unexplained knocks, and the feeling of being watched in empty rooms. Though discreet about its hauntings, the hotel’s atmosphere carries an undeniable weight of history .
Why Do Haunted Hotels Fascinate Us?
Haunted hotels tap into our love of mystery, history, and the supernatural. They offer a tangible connection to the past—sometimes tragic, sometimes violent—but always compelling. As Halloween approaches, many of these properties offer special ghost tours, séances, and themed stays to lean into their spooky reputations .
