The Most Haunted Homes in America by State 2023

Many legends abound of the supernatural activity at this historic Southern mansion. One witness had seen a soldier in a coffin appear in one of the rooms, then suddenly disappear. There are also regular reports of female visitors being mysteriously locked in one of Sweetwater Mansion’s rooms as well.

The Begich Towers (the tall building) is technically a home for most of the residents of the tiny town of Whittier. It also has stores, public utilities, and places of worship. With everything and everyone in town under one roof, there’s bound to be some weirdness (or a few roommate conflicts, at the very least). Residents have heard phantom footsteps and whistling throughout the building. Not up for a ghostly encounter? Visit the prettiest small town in Alaska instead.

Built in 1895, this Victorian home looks pretty spooky in any light. Inside, you’ll find an interesting museum…along with phantom footsteps, which might be from a former caretaker who had been tragically murdered.

Historic homes have their charms, but they also tend to have a few ghosts. You might bump into Samuel Peel, the original owner of this handsome mansion, on a tour of the estate. He allegedly haunts the property along with his daughter Minnie Belle, who is usually seen wearing white. She’s also been known to play the piano!

Now a museum, the Whaley House was once a private home for Thomas Whaley and his family. Unfortunately, the home was built on the site of a gruesome hanging—and the victim was said to have haunted the Whaley family on the regular. Years later, Whaley’s daughter Violet died by suicide. Though her spirit hasn’t been spotted at the home, those of Thomas and his wife have been.

Honorable mentions: The Jean Harlow/Paul Bern House in Los Angeles, California. Listen to season one, episode three of Dark House to learn more. 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles, where Sharon Tate was murdered by members of the Manson Family Cult. The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose California. Listen to Dark House to learn more.

Yes, it’s that famous Molly Brown—the one who survived the Titanic. Now a museum, visitors have spotted the ghosts of Molly, her husband J.J., and their guests smelled phantom cigar smoke (thought to be J.J.’s) and felt odd cold spots.

The former residence of a number of lighthouse keepers, this home has been featured on several ghost-hunting shows. There seems to be only one spirit here, named “Ernie”—but he’s got a very strong presence. He likes to turn televisions off and on, take sheets off beds, and generally cause a ruckus with knocking. If you prefer your haunts on dry land, make sure to visit Connecticut’s ghost town.

This stately Georgian home was built in 1790 and bought by the state to use as a governor’s residence in 1965. The home’s a particularly active site for ghostly encounters, from the mysterious little girl who appeared floating in a fountain at a 1985 inauguration to the boisterous Revolutionary soldiers who allegedly drink any wine left out. After taking a peek at the estate, stock up on (non-haunted) antiques in a famed Delaware town.

This property was once a funeral home, so it almost goes without saying that there’s a lot of mysterious (and ghostly) activity here. One of the more famous ghosts is named Joseph and worked for the home’s owner, Karl Riddle. Joseph had sadly died by suicide in the home. Allegedly, his spirit occasionally attacks those he feels are on his turf.

Though Savannah is famous for its ghost tours (especially through the town’s gorgeous town squares), Atlanta isn’t lacking in haunted homes. Rumor has it that Rhodes Hall, which was once the stately home of furniture magnate Amos Rhodes, is haunted by the former Mrs. Rhodes along with an evil spirit called the “Shadow Man.” Apparitions of children also have been seen around the stately building. Today, Rhodes Hall serves as the headquarters of The Georgia Trust For Historic Preservation.

Honorable Mention: The Mercer-Williams House Museum in Savannah, Georgia. Listen to season one, episode four of Dark House to learn more.

This former private home-turned-hotel is where you might see the ghost of an older woman, along with the spirit of a white dog. Or maybe you’ll want to stick to touring one of Hawaii’s most romantic beaches instead.

Honorable Mention: The Kasha House of Kaimuki, which will be featured in this episode of House Beautiful’s haunted house podcast, Dark House.

A brutal murder in 1987 gave rise to local lore for this unassuming home. Some say the victims still haunt the ground today, and some locals even refer to it as the “Chop Chop House,” which is perhaps a little brusque considering the backstory.

The full story of the Boise Murder House is be featured in season 2 of Dark House, House Beautiful’s haunted house podcast.

The accounts of hauntings for this former boarding house go all the way back to the 1940s. Back then, boarders would hear children playing (when no children lived there). Though it was abandoned for decades, passersby would see faces in the windows. The ghostly presence of a former owner was also seen wandering the grounds. You can continue your Illinois ghost tour by traveling to Chicago to see a very haunted cemetery.

Accounts of hauntings of this historic home didn’t start until 1997 when the structure was moved for preservation purposes. That year, a ghostly figure was spotted looking out a window when the home was photographed during the move. This prompted others to reveal their accounts of other paranormal encounters with the home, ranging from seeing multiple apparitions to blood pouring from the walls.

Honorable Mention: The Ammons House in Gary, Indiana. Listen to our podcast, Dark House, to learn more about this haunted house, dubbed the modern-day Amityville Horror.

Iowa has a rich history, but some of it is a little unsettling. As the name suggests, this unassuming home was the site of a gruesome murder. In 1912, six members of the Moore family (who owned the home) and two visitors were bludgeoned to death. Axe wounds were also found on each, giving rise to the home’s name. The murderer was never found, and today, visitors report bedroom doors opening and shutting on their own, unexplained sensations of being slapped or pinched, and odd chills.

Listen to to our podcast Dark House to learn more about the Villisca Axe Murder House.

This infamous house is haunted by Sallie, a young girl who had entered the home around the turn of the 20th century. At the time, it was the home of a physician who unsuccessfully tried to treat Sallie for appendicitis. Sallie is known as an angry spirit and became known for terrorizing a family during the ’90s. Some say she attacked the father and set fires throughout the home.

Three spirits famously haunt this circa-1796 home. One is called the “Gray Lady,” who had died of a heart attack after traveling to the home for a funeral. Another is a Spanish opera performer, who had mysteriously disappeared from the house during a visit. Both have been seen roaming the property. The other spirit is that of a young soldier, who can be seen looking into the ground-floor windows.

As with any former plantation, this home has a violent origin story. The most famous ghost on the property is Chloe, who was enslaved and murdered after a tragic accident in which the overseer’s wife and children died after consuming Chloe’s meal that had a high dosage of white oleander in it.

Dating back to 1739, this historic house is believed to still be the home of two families…of ghosts. Visitors have heard disembodied voices and witnessed items move on their own. And you thought you were stressed out when visitors came over to your house.

You’re probably familiar with the story of Lizzie Borden, who was tried for killing her family with an ax. But that’s not the only possible spirit that haunts the now-bed & breakfast. Before Lizzie and her family moved in, a distant relative occupied the home and murdered her children in the property’s well. Some have reported hearing the kids playing on the top floor of the home, while others have experienced their sheets flying off their beds.

Honorable Mention: The S.K. Pierce Mansion in Gardener, Massachusetts. Listen to season one, episode five of Dark House to learn more.