Heather HardyOctober is about pumpkins, apples, and all things spooky. It’s about dressing up in a scary costume and exploring the local haunted houses.
If you’re looking for something a little more fear-filled this season, consider a spooky Halloween day trip.
Here are some of the scariest and most haunted destinations around the U.S. to explore this Halloween.
The Admiral Fell Inn – Baltimore, MD
This historic Inn was once a popular destination in the 1770s for crime-ridden saloons and shipyards, which attracted many seamen and sailors to the area. Now transformed into a hotel, numerous guests have reported sights of floating men in dirty white clothing roaming the halls.
Room 413 is considered to be the most haunted room in the inn, with frequent mysterious occurrences. There have also been reports of unexplained music and parties. Some believe the noises are the ghostly seamen still celebrating today.
Today, the Admiral Fell Inn features elegant designs and classic 18th-century furnishings. You can actually spend the day in one of the inn’s haunted rooms! Booking a day room is the perfect way to immerse yourself entirely into the history and mystery of the hotel. And you can’t go wrong with an on-site pub and a prime location in the Fells’ Point Historic District. Just make sure you don’t request Room 413.
Metairie Cemetery – New Orleans, LA
New Orleans is a must-visit Halloween destination for spooky enthusiasts considering it’s known to be among the most haunted in America. Specifically, check out the Metairie Cemetery. One of the oldest cemeteries in all of New Orleans, you are sure to find fear here. In fact, locals have been reporting ghost sightings here for over 100 years!
Also a historical national landmark, the grounds were built over a former horse track. The Civil War eventually led to the elite horse racing tracks demise. Today, reports mention specific ghost sightings of famous people of the time. You can schedule a ghost tour through the cemetery, as well as other proposed haunted cemeteries in the area. If you’re feeling brave, you can also head out and explore it for yourself.
The Holiday Inn Express on New Orleans and St. Charles Ave is just a short drive away from the cemetery, making it a nice home base during your New Orleans historic cemetery experience.
The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, CO
Famous for its old charm and spirited history, this 100-plus-year-old hotel is thought to be home to paranormal activity and spirit folklore. The hotel actually served as inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s 1977 bestseller “The Shining.”
Take a frightening tour of the lower level of the Stanley Hotel at night! The 75-minute walking tour provides a diverse background of the hotel’s history, architecture, famous past visitors, and, of course, plenty of that juicy folklore.
The Winchester House – San Jose, CA
The Winchester Mystery House is a historic mansion rich in haunted folklore. The mansion holds unsolved mysteries in each room and an exploration of the whole house is a truly unique scary day trip experience.
Some of the most intriguing rooms include the $25,000 room, the Séance room, and the third-floor observation tower. Just some of the mysteries lurking in this mansion are the doorway to nowhere; a bedroom door that drops down to nothing and the constant paranormal activity throughout the house. Visitors can schedule a tour of the house or explore each room on their own, if they dare.
If you need a place to relax and recollect your thoughts after this mysterious mansion experience, the nearby Hyatt Place San Jose Downtown is perfect for just that.
Shanghai Tunnels – Portland, OR
Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels were historically a part of underground business practices, both figuratively and literally. They ran below many of the cities most popular hotels, restaurants, and speakeasy spots during the Prohibition.
While many of the Shanghai Tunnels were eventually closed, what is left of them can still be explored. It’s believed that spirits of the underground still use these tunnels today. The Shanghai Tunnels Ghost Tour will give you all the historical background on the city, while also getting you up close and personal to the remaining ghost spirits.
If you are looking for somewhere to spend the day while you wait for your historical underground experience, the Jupiter Hotel gives you convenient access to the Tunnels.
Dock Street Theatre – Charleston, SC
South Carolina is home to a couple of scary day ventures. The first is the Dock Street Theatre. Constructed in 1809 as a hotel before transforming into a theater in 1935, it’s considered to be one of America’s oldest theaters and one of the most haunted buildings in all of Charleston.
Many locals and guests of the theater claim to see ghosts nightly. Although the Dock Street Theatre is over 200 years old, two spirits in particular are known to frequent it. With the theater still hosting local plays, you can see a show and hopefully spot one of the two resident spirits.
Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
Towering over Cass Park in downtown Detroit is the Masonic Temple. The temple was used primarily for secretive events during a time when Freemasons were a significant part of Detroit.
Initially a sign of fame and money, the temple took a huge hit during the Great Depression. Today, it’s open to the public for large events and parties, but the original design exists with over 100 rooms still exists. Many of the hidden rooms and winding staircases lead to dark and dreary places with hidden floor compartments. Guests report sounds of slamming doors and random shadows making their way around the temple. Some even swear there are cold spots, depending on where in the mansion you stand. Check it out and see if you get goosebumps in any particular places.
Clinton Road – West Milford, New Jersey
Clinton Road in West Milford, New Jersey can be summed up in a few words: dark, twisted, and hair-raising. It’s often referred to as the creepiest roadway in America. Clinton Road stretches for over 10 miles throughout the state of New Jersey, winding through pretty much…nothing.
With very few houses and miles of woods, this drive can start feeling pretty secluded, especially at night. There have been reports of haunted spirits, cryptic messages, and several interesting apparitions. Why not take a drive on this spooky road and check it out for yourself?
The Hilton Woodcliff Lake makes for a perfect day stay accommodation. Located just a couple of miles from Clinton road, you can mentally prepare for your nighttime drive as you relax in comfortable digs.
Make Your Spooky Day Trip Easier with a Flexible Hotel Room
October, and Fall, is a great time to learn some history and scare yourself at the same time. These historic, haunted places around the U.S. will help you do just that.
If you need a place to relax, store your bags, or use amenities during your travels, save money on the cost of an overnight stay when you book a room during the day.
Image Credits:
Featured image: Stanley Hotel by Fern M. Lomibao via Unsplash
“Metairie Cemetery” by Infrogmation of New Orleans via (CC BY 2.0)
“The Winchester House” by Doug Letterman via (CC BY 2.0)
“Shanghai Tunnels” by Bex Walton via (CC BY 2.0)
“Dock Street Theatre” by chucka_nc via (CC BY-SA 2.0)
“Masonic Temple” by Matt Callow via (CC BY-SA 2.0)
“Clinton Road” by Tyler Zenmarn via Wikimedia/ (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Heather Hardy
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