In honor of Halloween this month, I found an article on scenicstates.com detailing the most haunted places in America.

7. Myrtles Plantation (St. Francisville, Louisiana)

Named after the crepe myrtles that grew all over the property, Myrtles Plantation was built in 1796 by General David Bradford and is known as one of the most haunted homes in America. For starters, the house is rumored to be on top of a Tunica Indian burial ground. Since its construction, Myrtles Plantation has allegedly been the scene of at least ten murders, but historical records can only confirm the 1871 murder of William Drew Winter, an attorney shot by a stranger and died on the stairs trying to stagger back in the house. Perhaps the most notorious ghost tale is that of a former slave named Chloe (or Cleo in some versions), whose owners had her ear chopped off for eavesdropping. She allegedly retaliated by poisoning a birthday cake, killing two of the owner’s daughters. Chloe was in turn killed by the other slaves, perhaps fearing their owner will take out his rage out on them. However, there are no records of a slave named Chloe or Cleo ever living on the plantation; the owner’s daughters who were allegedly poisoned actually died of yellow fever, according to medical records.

Today, the former antebellum plantation is now home to a bed and breakfast as well as a restaurant. Day and night self-guided and private tours are offered to guests who want to know all about the history of the plantation and its significance.

8. Braley Pond (West Augusta, Virginia)

Braley Pond is a picturesque camping and fishing spot located in George Washington National Forest, just outside of West Augusta, Virginia. It has always been known as one of the most haunted campgrounds in America, what with stories of apparitions floating over the creek, splashing sounds on the otherwise still pond, disembodied children’s laughter, and the sound of horses’ hooves when there aren’t any animals for miles. Though these ghost stories and rumors of suicides and missing hikers have surrounded Braley Pond, it’s the 2003 gang murder of Christopher Kennedy that added to the notoriety of this campground. Kennedy was lured to the pond by his fellow Crips gang members who then stabbed him multiple times. Paranormal experts who have entered this area since the murder have reported feeling nausea and a slime-like sensation crawling up their back, as if the evil in the area manifested physically and attacked them.

9. The Stanley Hotel (Estes Park, Colorado)

No list of the most haunted places in America will ever be complete without the Stanley Hotel. Estes Valley was once the Rocky Mountains’ best-kept secret until 1903, when F.O. Stanley’s doctor recommended he spend a summer here to improve his tuberculosis-stricken lungs. He and his wife Flora resolved to come back here every summer, but soon missed the trappings of city life and the sophistication of East Coast society. Thus construction began on the Stanley Hotel, a posh place to stay for those who want to spend time in the mountains with amenities common in city hotels. Eventually, Estes Park became more developed and was declared an official municipality in 1917.

Paranormal experiences have frequently been reported since the hotel opened. Mr. Stanley may be seen strolling the lobby, Mrs. Stanley sometimes plays the piano in the music room and if you happen to stay in Room 217, you may or you may not find your bags tidily unpacked. In the 1970s, Stephen King and his wife Tabatha stayed one night at the Stanley. The eerie surroundings and the haunted history of the room they stayed in (Room 217) inspired him to write the book The Shining. Because of the popularity of the book and its movie adaptation, the Stanley’s reputation for being a paranormal site reached wider audiences and actually helped keep the hotel open.

SOURCE: SCENICSTATES.COM

In honor of Halloween this month, I found an article on scenicstates.com detailing the most haunted places in America. Today is Part 2.

4. Lizzie Borden House, (Fall River, Massachusetts)

What is now known as the Lizzie Borden House was owned by Andrew Borden from 1874 to 1892, when he and his second wife Abby Borden were found hacked to death. Andrew’s daughter from his first marriage Lizzie Borden was accused of committing the bloody crime but was eventually acquitted of this crime. As with the Villisca Ax Murders, this case remains unsolved to this day. Lizzie’s sister Emma never returned to the house, and neither did Lizzie (who bought a house nearby and named it Maplecroft). Today, the old Borden house is a museum and B&B in one; the most requested room to stay in is the room where Abby Borden was found. Through the years, guests and employees have witnessed strange activity in the house, such as sounds of footsteps, weeping, opening/closing doors, and whispers heard from vacant rooms. Be warned, they don’t do refunds if you can’t stay throughout the night, so buckle up!

5. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (Weston, West Virginia)

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, subsequently named Weston State Hospital in 1913, this asylum had been the home to thousands of mentally-ill patients from 1864 until its closure in 1994. At its peak in the 1950s, the facility housed over 2,400 patients (even if the place was only designed to accommodate 250). This overcrowding led to inhumane conditions, such as insufficient heat, lighting, and poor sanitation, leading to hundreds of deaths. Those who were “treated” didn’t fare much better; they were subjected to arcane methods of managing mental illness, such as hydrotherapy, lobotomies, electric shock, and for patients who can’t be “controlled,” locked up in cages. All this death, pain, and suffering perhaps contribute to the oppressive energy and paranormal activity reported by workers, guests, and the many paranormal experts and ghost hunters who have come to this building. Today, you can join a historical tour, which focuses on the history of the building, medical treatments, and the Kirkbride theory, and has no paranormal information. Or if you’re all about the paranormal, go on a guided paranormal tour or on an 8-hour overnight Ghost Hunt. Guests on Ghost Hunts are encouraged to bring their infrared video cameras, digital recorders, EMF meters, and the works.

6. RMS Queen Mary (Long Beach, California)

The Queen Mary started out as a grand ocean liner in 1936, carrying civilian passengers between Southampton, England, and New York City, New York. When World War II broke out, it was transformed into a troopship, transporting more than 810,000 military personnel across the Atlantic. Post-war, the Queen Mary resumed its passenger service that went on until 1967, when it was docked permanently in Long Beach, California, where it remains to this day. It is now a floating hotel and events venue. Guests can appreciate the Art Deco interior, the luxurious wood paneling and carvings, and unique art work and murals. Beneath this glamorous façade, though, lurks a shadowy supernatural presence, cementing its place as one of the most haunted places in America.

Haunted places in the ship include the drained first-class swimming pool, Hatch Door #13 (where a crewman was accidentally crushed to death), and the infamous Stateroom B340, whose mysterious occurrences began even before the Queen Mary became a hotel. Legend says that it was the site of an unsolved murder of a passenger in 1948. The strange happenings started after, including lights turning on and off, water running without anyone turning them on, and bed covers being pulled off. It was so bad they had to close it for decades but is now open for booking for the brave. In fact, when you go to their booking page, you can specifically book Stateroom B340. They also offer various themed daily and nightly tours, but schedule your visit around Halloween, when the ship transforms into Dark Harbor.

SOURCE: SCENICSTATES.COM