By: Steve Turk

As the autumn leaves fall and the chill in the air thickens, the allure of a ghostly adventure beckons the curious and the brave. Halloween isn’t just about trick-or-treating in the neighborhoods; it’s an invitation to delve into the eerie narratives that reside in the heart of America’s historic landscapes. For those seeking a thrilling rendezvous with the unknown, we’ve curated a list of the top 10 haunted hotels where the guests check out, but the spirits check in forever. Prepare to tread the line between the living and the supernatural, as we unveil the haunting tales of these spectral retreats.

Sumpter Bed and Breakfast, Sumpter, Oregon:

Imagine a quaint Victorian bed and breakfast nestled amidst the tranquil Oregon wilderness, where every creak of the floorboard tells a story. The antique charm of Sumpter Bed and Breakfast takes you on a nostalgic journey, with the spirit of the old mining town still resonating in the air.

Haunting: Guests have often reported ghostly whispers and fleeting apparitions, almost as if the spirits of the past are eager to share their tales. The haunted repute of this cozy retreat promises a chilling yet intimate encounter with the unknown

Haunted Rating: 3/5 👻👻👻

Story Inn, Nashville, Indiana:

The rustic embrace of the Story Inn offers more than just a peaceful retreat; it’s a voyage into a realm where legends come to life. The aged timber seems to hold within it eerie tales waiting to be discovered.

Haunting: The legend of the “Blue Lady” casts a haunting yet enchanting spell upon the premises. Her mysterious appearances, often heralded by the sweet scent of cherry tobacco, carry with them tales from the unknown. Each rustle of the leaves, each creak of the wooden floor seems to narrate eerie tales of ghostly encounters.

Haunted Rating: 4/5 👻👻👻👻

Bush House Inn, Index, Washington:

The Bush House Inn, perched by the serene Skykomish River, is a juxtaposition of natural serenity and spectral mysteries. Its quaint architecture seems to cradle tales from the eras gone by, while the river murmurs timeless stories. The untouched beauty of its surroundings adds to the eerie charm that the Inn exudes.

Haunting: Visitors often recount tales of phantom footsteps echoing through the hallways, a ghostly reminder of the Inn’s vibrant past. The musical tunes of a piano playing in the dead of night often break the silence, a ghostly serenade that beckons the daring to delve deeper into the unknown. Each room, each corner seemingly holds within them haunting whispers waiting to be discovered.

Haunted Rating: 3/5 👻👻👻

Lodge at Hot Lake Springs, La Grande, Oregon

The Lodge at Hot Lake Springs, once a bustling sanatorium with the hopes of healing, now stands as a quaint relic overlooking the tranquil hot springs. Its hallways, once echoing with the laughter and tears of its inhabitants, now hold an eerie silence that whispers tales of the past. The soothing hot springs contrast the chilling mysteries that the Lodge cradles.

Haunting: The lingering spirits of former patients are believed to roam the halls, their ethereal presence felt in the cold breezes that sweep through the rooms. The chilling tales of spectral sightings and eerie whispers paint a haunting narrative that beckons the curious. The Lodge’s eerie past seems to resonate in the silence of the night, a chilling dance with the unknown.

Haunted Rating: 4/5 👻👻👻👻

The Biltmore Hotel, Miami, Florida

Amidst the bustling heart of Miami, the opulent halls and lush gardens of the Biltmore Hotel stand as a ghostly realm where luxury meets mystery. Its grandeur masks a spine-chilling narrative that echoes through its majestic corridors. The lavish decor holds within it whispers of a haunting past that peeks through the veil of modernity.

Haunting: The ghost of a mobster, slain during the hotel’s glamorous heyday in the 1920s, is believed to wander the corridors. His apparition, a ghostly reminder of the tumultuous past, has often been seen by the elevator and by the pool, a chilling tale between the then and now. Will you see the the ghostly figure of a mobster from the roaring twenties roaming the corridors?

Haunted Rating: 4/5 👻👻👻👻

Bourbon Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana

The heart of New Orleans’ cultural tapestry beats within the venerable walls of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. Its French Quarter allure weaves a rich narrative of history, mystery, and ghostly tales. The antiquated charm of the hotel is a perfect location for the ghostly stories that it cradles.

Haunting: Its former incarnation as a convent and orphanage casts a long ghostly shadow upon the hotel halls, where ghostly children and nuns are often witnessed. Their ethereal presence is a haunting narrative of love, loss, and the unknown. Each chilling encounter adds a haunting note to the histories that the hotel holds.

Haunted Rating: 5/5 👻👻👻👻👻

Omni Parker House, Boston, Massachusetts

As a living tale of Boston’s rich history, the Omni Parker House has been a silent witness to the tide of time since 1855. Its halls have hosted a many notable figures, while its corners whisper tales of the unknown. The historic charm of the hotel is a perfect backdrop for the eerie stories it holds.

Haunting: The ghost of Harvey Parker is said to linger, ensuring the comfort of guests, a ghostly host from the beyond. The third floor reportedly buzzes with paranormal activity, an eerie dance of shadows and whispers. The haunting tales are a chilling yet enchanting story waiting to be explored.

Haunted Rating: 3/5 👻👻👻

Crescent Hotel and Spa, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Known as “America’s Most Haunted Hotel”, the Crescent Hotel and Spa looms as a majestic figure atop the Ozark mountains. Its historic walls cradle tales of hope, despair, and eerie mysteries. The majestic view from the hotel veils the chilling tales that echo through its hallways.

Haunting: With a dark history as a cancer hospital, guests recount eerie encounters with the phantoms of former patients and a mischievous cat. Their ghostly tales are a haunting narrative that beckons the daring to delve into the unknown. The eerie encounters promise a chilling yet enthralling exploration into the ghostly world.

Haunted Rating: 5/5 👻👻👻👻👻

The Emily Morgan Hotel, San Antonio, Texas

Overlooking the revered Alamo, The Emily Morgan Hotel stands as a Gothic masterpiece, its granite facade a sentinel of the haunting tales it holds. Its hallways echo with tales of the Texan Revolution, a haunting melody that beckons the curious. The eerie allure of the hotel is a perfect location for a chilling Halloween exploration.

Haunting: Its past as a medical facility seems to resonate through time, with ghostly nurses and unsettled spirits reported roaming the halls. Their cries echo through the night, a chilling sound that breaks the silence. The haunting tales paint an eerie picture waiting to be discovered.

Haunted Rating: 4/5 👻👻👻👻

Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado:

The muse behind Stephen King’s “The Shining”, the Stanley Hotel’s grandiose structure stands amidst the ethereal beauty of the Rockies. Its grand facade is a silent witness to the eerie tales that echo through its halls. The majestic scenery juxtaposes the chilling mysteries that the hotel cradles.

Haunting: The laughter of children and ghostly piano music punctuates the eerie silence of this dwelling. Its fourth floor is a hotbed of ghostly encounters, a spectral realm that beckons the daring. The haunting narratives offer a chilling yet enthralling expedition into the heart of the unknown.

Haunted Rating: 5/5 👻👻👻👻👻

This Halloween, break the mundane and venture into the haunting embrace of these legendary lodgings. Each eerie tale and ghostly whisper promises a unique narrative that mixes the past with the present. As the veil between realms thins with the start of the spooky Halloween season, the ghostly residents of these hotels are ready to share their lingering tales. With every shadow that flits across the hallways and every mysterious whisper that echoes in the silence, a thrilling adventure into the heart of America's haunting heritage awaits. Are you ready to check in?