50 Haunted Hotels Perfect for Halloween

America is home to thousands of hotels, running the gamut from luxury hotels and romantic inns to hip boutique spots. Some of them also belong in a special category that proves to be very popular this time of year: the haunted hotel. These establishments are said to be visited by ghostly figures and feature in tales of strange happenings from former guests, staff and ghost hunters. The following 50 places all have a reputation for being home to a few spirits, which makes them all the perfect place to spend a night around Halloween.

On the hotel's website, they go out of their way to say that their beloved resident ghost Julia Staab is, "by all accounts", a benevolent spirit. She just simply enjoys keeping an eye on her former residence-a beautiful building that now forms part of this iconic Santa Fe hotel-and once you see how fetching it is, you won't blame her one bit. Take advantage of their American Ghost Package to add your own account to this tale.

In a city chock-full of spooky tales, handsome Hotel Monteleone has picked up a stellar reputation for strange happenings. Guests have reported seeing the specter of a friendly former employee and a young boy who perished while staying at the hotel. There's even a door that is said to open itself even though it's locked. If those spirits aren't enough for you, the hotel is also home to the rotating Carousel Bar, one of the finest places to sip spirits in New Orleans.

Built by a broken-hearted American who was separated from his Spanish lover, the Don CeSar is a shrine to lost love, but a love that might just have lived on. While the couple never re-united in real life, it is said that they can be seen embracing while enjoying a walk around the gorgeous grounds of this hotel.

This iconic beachfront hotel has become a symbol of Coronado Beach and the surrounding San Diego area and it also happens to be home to a friendly resident ghost named Kate Morgan. Kate is said to have arrived on Thanksgiving Day 1892 saying she was waiting for a gentleman to join her, but after five days of waiting, she took her own life. Guests staying in "her" room have reported experiencing flickering lights, unexplained breezes and doors closing on their own. She's also been spotted taking walks on the beach.

Travelers come from all over the Midwest to stay at this unique country inn on the outskirts of Nashville, Indiana and the brave ones book the Blue Lady Room. It's here where guests have reported seeing the specter of a woman in vintage clothing with piercing blue eyes staring at them.

Built on the site of the town's former high school, Hotel Saranac is said to receive visits from the former superintendent of the school in addition to many former tuberculosis patients who coalesced there. Come for a gorgeous lakeside setting, stay for the supernatural occurrences.

This South Florida legend's ghost stories are connected to its previous life as a military hospital and hotbed of mob activity. Some of the most common occurrences that guests report are the sounds of a raucous party and being tapped on the shoulder by a man in period military garb.

This storied Transatlantic ocean liner-turned-hotel has more than a few stories that will keep you up a night, but the most famous one is the tale of Stateroom B340. It is here where a gentleman is said to have passed away but returns to play tricks on living guests. The staff has also witnessed people "fading" into nothing and apparitions playing by the pool.

This legendary Louisville hotel is home to the legend of the Lady in Blue. Said to be the spirit of a heartbroken, just-widowed woman who met her demise in the elevator shaft, she has been spotted strolling through the hotel wearing the blue dress she died in.

Sat overlooking the historic town of Eureka Springs, this elegant hotel was previously a hospital and it lays claim to the title of "most haunted hotel in America". While that title is up for debate, there's no better way to learn all about their claim to the crown during one of their guided ghost walks, which take place all year round.

This stately hotel is located on the former site of both a convent and a grand ballroom. A ghostly dancer has been known to breeze across the ballroom; a confederate soldier has been spotted roaming the halls; the ghost of a little girl has been seen playing with her ball on the sixth floor.

The only lodging in Anchorage with a place on the National Register of Historic Places, this hotel has played host to the creme de la creme of dignitaries and high-profile visitors to the Last Frontier. Many strange happenings have been reported at the hotel (think rattling curtains and pictures flying off the wall) with the most commonly spotted specter being that of former police chief Jack Sturgus, who was murdered outside the hotel in 1921.

Located inside a gargoyled Gothic building that once served as a medical facility and set on the site where hundreds of men lost their lives during the Battle of the Alamo, The Emily Morgan Hotel has many tales to tell. Staff and guests alike have noticed strange things like a lingering odor of antiseptic and squeaks of hospital carts. Make sure to glance at the gargoyles on the exterior of the building too, as they have all been eerily depicted suffering medical afflictions.

The Omni Shoreham has played host to presidents, statesmen, and assorted dignitaries, but it's the ambassadors from the afterlife that puts this hotel on the list. The hotel's "Ghost Suite" features great views over DC and allegedly is still home to the spirits of two former residents who met their demise inside when the suite was a family residence. Reported incidents include housekeeping carts moving by themselves and bizarre temperature and wind phenomena.

Fantastic stories about a mischievous "Peg Leg" Johnny flipping on light switches; Al Capone himself wandering the hall; a female ghost kicking guests awake. If these tales aren't enough for you, then attend the annual Haunted Halloween Ball to get fully immersed in the Congress Plaza's spooky reputation.

We know for a fact that some of the most legendary characters of the Old West used to hang at the St. James, with names like Buffalo Bill, Black Jack Ketchum, Wyatt Earp and Jesse James all being former visitors. Visit for this heritage, but while you're there ask the staff about Room 18 and be prepared for a spooky story that will make your hair stand on end.

You can't spin a yarn about spirited hotels without a mention of The Stanley. Its creepy credentials were cemented by a young writer named Stephen King who stayed here in the offseason with his wife and was inspired by hotel's isolated surroundings and lonely corridors to pen a little tale called The Shining. Outside of the novel, several guests and staff have reported seeing and hearing strange things and you can learn all about this during one of the hotel's nightly walking tours.

This town is known the world over for its infamous Salem Witch Trails, making it the perfect place to get into the Halloween spirit. This hotel, which is named after The House of the Seven Gables author Nathaniel Hawthorne is said to be home to the spirits of several sea captains who used to stay at the hotel.

A historic Western hotel in the heart of Durango, the Rochester is rumored to be home to its fair share of spooks. Housekeeping staff is said to pick up a strange feeling in and around Room 204, which has seen unexplained ocurrences like a hairdryer functioning all by itself. A ghostly woman in Victorian garb has also been spotted floating near the top of a staircase.

The building that houses this hotel dates all the way back to the 1830s and more than a few colorful characters have spent a night here during its many years of operation. None more so than famous outlaw Jesse James, who is said to still be hanging around the premises. Both he and his girlfriend Lucinda have been spotted in period garb in the hotel and guests have also reported smelling lavender, which was Lucinda's favorite flower. Oh, and for the animal lovers out there, even though pets aren't allowed in the hotel, there have been reports of "ghost dogs" barking in the courtyard.

One of America's most compelling unsolved murders took place at this innocent-looking house in 1892. Now people flock from all over the land to stay in the place where the famous ax attacks took place-and many of those who stay the night say they feel as though they were surrounded by spirits of the dead.

For over 100 years, this stately hotel has been standing sentry over the sands of Galveston, picking up a few ghost stories along the way. Paramount among them is the tale of the "Ghost Bride" who has been seen floating in various spots in the hotel, always longing for her long-lost fiancé.

Cool college town Lawrence is full of life and the Eldridge is its liveliest old hotel-but some of the activity there comes from someone who is most definitely not alive. Colonel Eldridge founded the hotel in the 1850s-helping it become a beacon of Kansas' Free State movement-and he's said to currently be shaking people's luggage in the lobby or lounging around Room 506.

This magnificent hotel served as a hospital during the Civil War and two Yellow Fever epidemics, so it's no surprise that these centuries-old tales of suffering have inspired rumors of present-day hauntings. Guests have reported faucets turning on by themselves and the sounds of children running down the corridors in the wee hours of the night even though there was nobody in the hall.

This storied hotel has been offering travelers rest and relaxation for over 75 years now with a unique design that incorporates both Native American and Germanic influences. Over the years, the hotel has also incorporated a few spirits into the atmosphere, including the Lady in White-a bride who reportedly fell to her death out of a hotel window-and the spirit of hotel founder Alex Johnson. Book one of their Ghost Package Adventures that includes a K2 meter ghost detector if you dare!

Sat at the intersection of Aspen and San Francisco Streets near Route 66, The Monte Vista is a Flagstaff legend in all senses of the word. And legend has it that a few of its most famous guests are still occupying space in the hotel. Stay the night and you just might spot a phantom bellboy in the halls, meet The Meat Man (an eccentric former guest who hung meats in his room before perishing in Room 220) or witness a rocking chair that moves by itself in Room 305.

This hotel dates back to the mid-1800s and over the years it has hosted both the famous and infamous. While Al Capone and his gang are rumored to have had an affinity for French Lick, it's the spirit of the hotel's first owner Thomas Taggart that is said to still be overseeing the resort. Guests have reported smelling tobacco reminiscent of the type he liked to smoke and seeing a ghostly figure near the service elevator.

Stockbridge is well known for its connection to Norman Rockwell and for being the perfect base for exploring the Berkshires, and the Red Lion Inn's cozy rooms make it the most romantic stay in town. Some guests have apparently loved it so much, they decided to stay, such as the mysterious man in a top hat who has been spotted wandering about the property.

No bourbon-centric tour of Kentucky is complete without a stop in Bardstown, and this cozy spot is one of the best bed and breakfasts in town. It also owns a hidden past as the town's jail and some guests swear up-and-down that they've bumped into Mrs. McKay-one of the original jailers-during their stay.

Join one of the Admiral's official ghost tours to hear tales of what former guests have seen go bump in the night and be enthralled by other aspects of this hotel's history. Spoiler alert: tales of floating sailor torsos and ghost dogs are not uncommon.

This hotel has been welcoming guests for over a century, collecting dozens of interesting tales along the way. When it comes to ghosts, the spirit of writer Alice B. Toklas is the most famous apparition, as she's been spotted strolling through the Sorrento's staircases and hallways. One man even reported seeing a woman matching her description walking on the sidewalk outside.

This stately historic house in the handsome harbor town of Kennebunkport is easily one of the most beautiful inns on the Maine coast. In addition to a great stay, some guests who sleep in the Lincoln Room also experience a brush with a pleasant spirit named Phoebe.

This restaurant and inn is located in the former home of a revered St. Louis brewing family, but sadly, multiple members of the Lemp family have reputedly met an untimely demise on the property. Today, you can enjoy a ghost tour and a great meal before hunkering down for the night.

This hotel was built around 1900 on the grounds of a former hotel that had burned to ashes. Palmer House quickly picked up a reputation as the place to be in town, even getting a reference in Sinclair Lewis' Main Street. Stay there today and you can tag along on one of the hotel's historical tours, which will take you to the basement, which has been the scene of several unexplained creepy occurrences.

One of Wisconsin's most luxurious escapes, this grand spot is also known for being home to a mischievous ghost that likes to pull pranks on visiting pro baseball players. Players like Michael Young, Adrian Beltre and Bryce Harper have all had freaky things happen to them at the Pfister.

Guthrie is full of ghost stories, but none are as compelling as those that spring to life inside the walls of the Stone Lion Inn. The address has served as a mortuary and family home, with each incarnation adding its own tragic layer to the building's history. Guests report cold rushes of air, the mysterious sounds of music boxes and scores of other unexplained phenomena.

This building dates all the way back to the mid-1800s and over the decades it has picked up quite a few supernatural stories. Room 8 is the one to request if you don't mind sharing your space with a headless torso twirling around the room all nigh and Room 10 is said to be home to a genteel fellow who occasionally curls up next to guests in bed.

Famously featured on a major ghost-hunting television show, this grand dame of Mackinaw Island has a few secrets hiding in its hallways. The most commonly reported spirit is the one of Harvey, a young man who met his demise behind the hotel and now mischievously haunts the resort's theater.

Dating all the way back to 1875, the St. James is one of the most handsome buildings in the riverside town of Red Wing. Clara Lillyblad-the matriarch of the hotel for decades-used to live in Room 310 and it's said that she can still be spotted watching over her beloved business.

Located a stone's throw from the White House, this hotel sits on the grounds of a DC socialite's former home. Mary Hooper Adams and her husband had grand plans to move into the home, but she never made it as she is said to have poisoned herself before the move-in date. Nevertheless, her spirit is allegedly attached to the property, with hotel staff reporting an odd smell of almonds-the odor of the poison she allegedly used.

Sure, this white-framed building in the heart of small-town Iowa may look innocent on the outside, but it's hiding a sinister secret. In 1912, this was the scene of one of the nation's grisliest crimes when an entire family was bludgeoned to death. Previous overnight guests have reported hearing strange sounds and sensing odd feelings.

You have to admire the dedication of Annalisa Netherly as she hasn't let a little thing like being beheaded in the bathtub of Room 311 back in 1927 get in the way of having a great stay at the Read House. She loves the place to much that she is said to have extended her stay in Room 311 for nearly 100 years now. The hotel has gone all out to make her feel at home, even decorating the room in the exact way it would have been during her fateful stay.

This storied hotel has been a staple of downtown Baltimore for nearly a century, but that doesn't mean it's been all sunshine and rainbows. It's been reported that during the Great Depression, several people died from falls from the hotel's roof. One such victim was a young girl named Molly, who is said to still haunt the hotel while wearing a white dress and playing with a ball.

This hip spot has always been one of the places to see and be seen in Hollywood, and apparently, it's not just limited to the living. Famed starlet Marilyn Monroe is said to be seen lurking around her old stomping grounds (she was especially fond of the pool) while guests report hearing Golden Age of Hollywood actor Montgomery Clift playing his bugle in the halls.

Helmuth Deetjen and his wife Helen founded this rustic inn back in the 1930s, welcoming adventurous travelers who wanted to be surrounded by the sensational scenery of the region. The spirit of "Grandpa" Helmuth is allegedly still watching over the property, as people have reported hearing unexplained footsteps and closing doors.

I guess it shouldn't surprise anyone that the dead would have a hard time saying goodbye to Deadwood. This hotel was built by one of the town's most legendary characters: Sheriff Seth Bullock, and he's said to still be looking after his beloved lodgings.

Dating back to 1921, this hotel stands on the site of Bethlehem's very first home and a former hotel of a different name. So it shouldn't be too big of a surprise that a few past guests and residents are still making their presence known. Some of the most famous ghosts are that of May Yohe-a performer born in the hotel and now allegedly tickles the ivories of the hotel piano-and Daddy Thomas, a bubbly man who while alive was a friend to all in Bethlehem who has been spotted in the boiler room.

The oldest operating hotel in Austin, the Driskoll is the setting for several of the city's most famous ghost stories. Paramount is the tale of a young girl standing near the staircase (perhaps a senator's daughter who tragically plunged down the steps in the 1800s?). Other strange incidents include apparitions of jilted brides who died on the property and unexplained odors of cigar smoke.

John Slough was a Chief Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court in New Mexico who was shot dead in the hotel's lobby in the 1860s. Like the hard-working public servant he was, he hasn't let a little thing like death hold him down as he has been spotted all over the inn since. There's also a La Fonda legend about a man who met his demise down a well but now appears in one of the hotel's fountains.

The most prominent spirit said to be haunting this beautiful Hawaiian beachfront hotel is that of the founder of Stanford University, Jane Stanford. She passed away at the hotel in 1905 under very suspicious circumstances and is said to still be lingering, occasionally tapping guests on their shoulder.