The Spookiest Place in Each State in 2019

No matter what area of the country you live in, there's something that goes bump in the night in your neck of the woods. Alleged hauntings, urban legends and downright scary places are located throughout the country, and this is the perfect time of year to seek them out. Click on the slideshow to see what hair-raising locale is located near you.

Huntsville's Maple Hill Cemetery is the largest and oldest graveyard in the state, but it's also notable for being home to a petrifying playground. In an adjoining park, you will find a swing set and slide and rumors have swirled for years that the ghosts of the deceased (especially children) enjoy taking turns on said rides. Witnesses have even reported seeing swings moving on their own and strange objects appearing in photos of the playground.

Russian Orthodox missionaries left an enduring impression on the culture of Alaska, with their traditions slowly melding together with the native population. One result can be found outside of the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Eklutna, where colorful wooden coffins have been placed over the deceased and allowed to decay naturally in nature. The scene is especially haunting when covered in a blanket of snow.

While it's officially known as Luana's Canyon, the locals call it "Slaughterhouse". How did it get its ghastly nickname? Well, legend has it that a family used to live here during the days of the Old West, subsisting off what the father could dig up in the surrounding hills. One day, he never returned from a foraging trip and the family descended into a hunger-fueled madness. It is said that if you stop by the canyon at night, you can still hear their screams.

A perpetual contender for the title of "America's Most Haunted Hotel", The Crescent is sure to give you the creeps-in a good way. The historic inn looks down upon the enchanting town of Eureka and offers guests a great experience, including a nightly ghost tour that introduces everyone to the hotel's otherworldly, long-term lodgers.

Even if this infamous prison wasn't rumored to be haunted, it would still have a solid case for being the Golden State's most ghoulish locale. During its heydey, Alcatraz was the home to scores of scary individuals and the word is that a few of them are still doing hard time. Visit at night for maximum chills.

While the Stanley didn't appear on the silver screen, it was the real-life inspiration for one of the scariest movies of all-time: The Shining. Stephen King and his wife were the only guests on the property when they stayed here and the hotel's eerie atmosphere helped inspired the author to create his harrowing tale. Join a tour to hear stories about the hotel's haunted past.

This graveyard started collecting permanent residents in the 1700s, but there's been one that has gotten the lion's share of the attention: The White Lady. She is said to dress in a ghoulish nightgown and to hover over graves, scaring the daylights out of anyone who crosses her path. Narby motorists are not immune to her frightful games, either.

During the Civil War, Fort Delaware became a temporary home to scores of captured Confederate soldiers, and many of their spirits are said to be still serving time. They are joined by a mysterious "woman in black", who is also said to stroll the grounds of this eerie island citadel.

St. Augustine is one of the most historic places in the country, and with history comes hauntings. While this beacon was built to help ships navigate the waters, rumors have persisted that it truly shines a light into the spirit world, with workers and visitors both reporting unexplained sights and sounds.

One of Savannah's most storied hotels, Marshall House was also used as a hospital during the Civil War and two yellow fever epidemics. This means that its walls have witnessed their fair share of pain and suffering and many of the afflicted are said to still roam the halls today.

David Douglas was a famous botanist who is most well known for being the namesake of the Douglas Fir. Sadly, he perished in a tragic accident while exploring near Mauna Kea. Or was it an accident? Visit the Doctor's Pit to learn more about the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death and decide for yourself.

These stones got their violent nickname from stories about Western settlers being ambushed by Native Americans, but they have become more infamous due to their connection with "water babies". Water babies are infants who were drowned by their mothers so they wouldn't slowly starve to death and their spirits are said to still roam the rocks.

This oddly named overpass in rural Illinois is infamous for a bizarre feeling of calm that comes over anyone who crosses it. The air is said to be still and makes you feel as though you've entered an otherworldly vacuum. If that isn't enough to scare you, there was a grisly discovery made here by police in 1980 that has only fueled speculation about the bridge's dark power.

From the "objects in the mirror are creepier than they appear" file, yes, there really is a grave in the middle of County Road 400 near Franklin. Instead of disturbing the crypt, the road was simply built around it and modern drivers have reported seeing specters and mists around the site-especially around midnight.

While we still don't know who did the deed, we can say for certain that a family was found dead in this house in 1912. The weapon of choice was an ax and the only people who know the truth about the incident are said to be still hanging around the house. And why yes, overnight stays are available.

Sure, your local cemetery may have a few spirits knocking about in the dark, but is it considered an official entryway to the underworld? For generations, this graveyard has been known as a "gateway to hell", with rumors that the occult and Satan himself make it their nocturnal playground.

Even when they were full of patients, early 20th century sanitariums didn't have the most stellar of reputations. Shut one down and leave it abandoned for decades though and the freakiness factor goes off the charts. Case in point is Waverly Hills in Louisville, where the exterior will give you goosebumps the interior will give you nightmares.

New Orleans is known as a hotbed of haunted activity, but nowhere can compare to the terrifying tales of the LaLaurie Mansion. The former woman of the house, Delphine LaLaurie was found to have tortured and murdered many people on the property, making it hands-down the most ghastly stop on any French Quarter ghost tour.

This cemetery was the filming location for Pet Semetary and a visit is sure to make the hair stick up on the back of your neck-especially in late October.

This peaceful stretch of land on the southern tip of the state is home to a ghastly past and a ghostly present. During the Civil War, the area was the scene of a brutal prisoner of war camp for Confederate soldiers, and many visitors still feel their anguish today. Throw in some horrific shipwrecks, bouts of starvation and a haunted lighthouse and you have Maryland's most frightening locale.

In addition to being the setting for America's most infamous witch trials, Salem is also home to the residence that inspired Nathanial Hawthorne's dark tale The House of the Seven Gables. No trip here is complete without a stop at the Salem Museum and participating in a spooky walking tour during the evening.

Given its peace-loving name, you wouldn't think you would have anything to worry about from this colorful tree. Think again. The Hippie Tree lives behind the Traverse City State Hospital and despite its rainbow stripes, many believe that this spindly tree is, in fact, a portal to hell.

This beautiful Victorian hotel in the riverside town of Red Wing is purported to be home to multiple apparitions. Much of the paranormal activity is assumed to be related to the hotel's role as a temporary morgue following a local shipwreck.

Located right on the Mighty Mississippi, Natchez was known far-and-wide and wild and woolly river town-and some of the town's residents have apparently decided to stick around for eternity. Being the oldest building in the town, The King's Tavern has been known to attract its fair share of ghostly locals.

This grand house is the former residence of one of St. Louis' early brewing magnates: the Lemps. Their fortunes turned south though and the family was hit with one tragedy after another, many of the self-inflicted variety. The mansion is now a restaurant and hotel and staff often report hearing footsteps and other strange noises.

There's a reason they call them "ghost towns". Virginia City is the epitome of the genre as this boom town went bust in a hurry as soon as the gold in its hills dried up. The dilapidated Old West facades in the town are certainly spooky as are the tales of haunts at the Bale of Hay Saloon.

While seemingly no one can agree on exactly how a septet of sisters came to their bitter end on this stretch of road near Nebraska City, they all concur that this is no peaceful stretch of pavement. Whether they were killed by their brother, father or someone else, their spirits are said to taunt modern motorists to no end.

The Silver Queen has been checking in guests for over 140 years and some of them have decided to never check out. The halls are said to be haunted by a young lady-perhaps one that took her own life in a bedroom? If that doesn't put you off, stay a night here to experience some true Old West ambiance.

This historic cemetery dates back to the 1700s and is the home of two of the best-named ghosts of all-time: Abel and Betsy Blood. Their graves were the reason Pine Hil picked up the nickname "Blood Cemetery", and while their headstones have been removed (in an effort to scare off curiosity-seekers), their spirits are still said to still roam the grounds.

Legend has it that the roots of this sinister-looking tree stretch directly to the netherworld. Some locals even claim they have seen bodies swinging from its branches. Truth or tall tales? Make your way to Mountain Road in Somerset County to see for yourself.

Back in the days of the Wild West, the St. James Hotel was the kind of place where the whiskey flowed like water and the bullets whizzed by the whiskey drinkers. According to the hotel, over two dozen people met their maker on the premises, and some have decided to stick around for an endless happy hour.

Whether you believe that all the occurrences in the book The Amityville Horror (and the subsequent movie and its myriad of sequels and spinoffs) actually took place or not, it is an undisputed fact that a heinous crime (one that ended the lives of six people) occurred at 112 Ocean Avenue in the Long Island town of Amityville. That's enough to make this place super-spooky and if all the tales of haunts are true, then it might just be the creepiest place in the country.

This mighty ship saw action in World War 2, serving heroically in some of the most important battles of the war. Sadly, a small number of sailors lost their lives aboard and some are said to still walk its hallowed halls. Visit the ship in Wilmington to see for yourself.

There's a creepy old bridge on County Road 9 between the towns of Leroy & Walhalla, and if you drive by in the dark, you might just see a young girl in a white dress dangling from the bridge. Who is she? Why is she there? You'll have to visit and ask the locals for yourself.

It may look opulent on the outside, but make no mistake: this prison is creepy to its core. Paranormal investigators have repeatedly found indications of ghostly activity and even if nothing happens when you visit (there's a haunted house held each year around Halloween), you are sure to get a thrill out of the fact that it served as a filming location for The Shawshank Redemption.

This hotel in historic Guthrie is located in the former home of a famous local businessman and his family. Over the years, it also served as both a funeral home and boarding house so there are plenty of potential candidates for the ghosts who are said to roam the halls.

Yes, Cannon Beach is famous for its sweeping sands and handsome Haystack Rock. But there's a spooky side to this place, too. Those in the know show up after sunset to search for Bandage Man-a ghoul who is said to stalk the area.

The Keystone State can lay claim to some of the scariest spots in the country (ahem, Eastern State Penitentiary), but nowhere possesses a history like Gettysburg. According to those who monitor the supernatural, the soldiers who lost their lives here are still making their presence felt on the battlefields.

According to local lore, merchant Stephen Harris built his abode directly over a French Huguenot gravesite and the deceased didn't take being disturbed lying down. Almost immediately after moving in, his family is said to have been struck down with terrible misfortune, which included the loss of several children and fits of insanity.

Charleston is known as one of the most haunted cities in America and this abandoned prison is one of its most sinister addresses. Over the centuries, hundreds of shady characters were locked up here, with some apparently refusing to leave. The exterior alone is enough to make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

Seth Bullock was Deadwood's first sheriff, and according to some, he hasn't let a little thing like death get in the way of policing the town-or keeping the staff in his hotel on their toes. He has been known to appear in the halls of the Bullock Hotel, oftentimes to employees who appear to be slacking on the job.

They've been spinning yarns about the Bell Witch in the Volunteer State since the early 1800s. Even President Andrew Jackson is alleged to have mentioned the witch. The story says that the Bell family was harassed by an especially wicked witch and this cave was her dark lair.

This hotel has hosted anybody who's anybody in Galveston-including a few people who have left their body. Most famous is the woman who was staying in Room 501, awaiting her seaman fiance to return from an excursion. When she learned he had drowned, she took her own life and continues to haunt the halls to this day.

This stunning former train station is now the home of the Utah Historical Society, but some rail travelers seem to have missed the memo. The most well known is the "Purple Lady", who is said to have been run over by a train while trying to retrieve her wedding ring from the tracks.

Nothing says New England like a haunted covered bridge. You'll find this one on the outskirts of Stowe, and it is allegedly stalked by the spirit of a young girl who died on the span. While the circumstances of her death seem to change with each storyteller, the theme is the same: Emily isn't going to let you (or your car) pass in peace.

This mansion is the oldest brick residence in the United States and if these blocks could speak they would have some terrifying tales to tell. This stately home has been the setting for both violent raids and killings and many of those who perished here are said to still haunt the property. This is to say nothing of a mysterious light seen on the grounds.

According to showgoers and staff members, this theatre is home to many performers who exited stage left long ago. The most cherished is a cheeky ghost nicknamed Jody, who has been known to get a little "touchy-feely" with male patrons.

This forbidding gothic building had to be a house of dread for all those unfortunate enough to be sent here for treatment. The hospital was constantly dealing with issues of overcrowding and questionable living conditions, and many of the former patients are said to still be screaming about it to this day.

Several stories have gone around about the specifics of how Boy Scout Lane got its name, but they all agree on one thing: multiple scouts met their demise here. Visitors to this isolated stretch of road near Stevens Point have reported odd occurrences and strange sightings, including child-size handprints appearing on cars.

The Occidental has hosted everyone from presidents to gunslingers, but it's a little ghostly girl that has helped give the hotel its far-reaching reputation. Her name is "Emily" and she is said to be a mischievous spirit, often pulling pranks on guests.