Haunted places, like ghost stories, and chilling family histories, have captivated curiosity seekers for as long as human beings have existed. So much that an entire industry has evolved. Paranormal investigators with specialized tools to ‘hear’ and ‘see’ ghosts and other spiritual apparitions have become internet celebrities, as they traverse the globe, visiting these locations and others. Paranormal enthusiasts fuel these adventures by offering online commentaries, and in some cases their own personal experiences. Fringe theories, hidden spaces, and unearthed secrets continue to be discovered, driving interest higher and higher.
The numbers are telling. Currently, around 64% of Americans believe in at least one kind of paranormal or supernatural phenomenon, encompassing beliefs in ghosts, demons, and other supernatural entities. Of that group, 41% of adults believe in ghosts or spirits, and about 20% admit to personally encountering a ghost. If the trends continue, these numbers will certainly increase. What’s interesting is that some buildings and places are what seems like havens to supernatural activity. From abandoned prisons to haunted castles, these are some of the most haunted places on earth. Places that the tormented spirits of the dead are said to still linger.
Eastern State Penitentiary – Pennsylvania, USA
Originally built in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary was one of the first prisons that ushered in the concept of solitary confinement. Originally the idea was that long periods of silent reflection and forced labor would allow prisoners to learn from their mistakes, leading to rehabilitation. Lawmakers at that crime believed that crime was a direct result of the environment, and that solitude would make the criminal regretful and penitent (which is where the word, penitentiary came from). Instead, as one could guess, the isolation drove many of the incarcerated men to madness and despair.
Over it’s life the prison held over 75,000 prisoners, seeing multiple riots, escapes, human suffering, and death. Today, the Penitentiary is a hotbed of chilling experiences. Shadowy figures lurk menacingly in the corners of cells, disembodied voices echo through empty corridors, maniacal laughter, and eerie whispers have been reported on multiple occasions. Visitors report a general feeling of unease, as if unseen eyes were watching their every move. Several of the cellblocks have specific and elevated levels of activity, including ghostly apparitions, tormented faces appearing on walls, spectral sounds, and even a few reports of people being possessed while inside. There’s no argument that Eastern State, with its crumbling gothic architecture and heavy atmosphere, is one of the most haunted places on earth.
Banff Springs Hotel – Alberta, Canada
Since it’s opening, the Banff Springs Hotel has been world-famous as a luxury resort. Nestled among the majestic Canadian Rockies, the Banff Springs Hotel is nearly surrounded by pristine wilderness, snow-capped mountains, and magical lakes. The service matches the picturesque views, with 768 superbly appointed guest rooms and open suites in selected corners of the castle-like structure. In addition to its luxurious atmosphere, the property is also famous for the many ghost stories and sightings within its gilded walls.
Both guests and staff have reported sightings of the “Ghost Bride,” a woman who allegedly fell down the staircase on her wedding day and now appears, still in her gown, on the staircase and ballroom. Room 873 was a crime scene, with an entire family being murdered. Since that horrific event, the door has since been bricked up to match the hallway, yet guests reported seeing the ghosts of members of the slain family. Another apparition is Sam the Bellman, a former employee who, according to legend, continues to assist guests decades after his death. Other guests have reported a barkeep, who after informing a guest that they had too much to drink, would disappear. Top it all off with a headless bagpipe playing ghost, and you have one of the most haunted places on earth.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium – Kentucky, USA
No real study of the most haunted places on earth is complete without including the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Originally opened in 1910 to treat tuberculosis patients during a time when the disease was ravaging the nation, Waverly quickly became a destination for patients, as it was secluded, had plenty of fresh air, and sunshine. The location was built specifically to contribute to an atmosphere of peace and rest. Since tuberculosis had no known cure at the time, the facility really only had two focal points: to reduce the suffering of patients, and to stop the spread of infection.
With the death rate climbing daily, the original 40 bed hospital was massively increased to what we see today. The result, a tall behemoth of a building, with long dark halls, and a feeling of dread. It was so large that it had its own zip code and no one left the grounds, even the staff. It became self-sufficient, even to the point of having a water treatment plant. But that seclusion open up new methods of treatment, ones which were questionable with minimal effectiveness. Despite the treatments, people were dying so often that the staff would move the dead bodies in secret through a secret tunnel, now known as “the body chute.”
In 1943 streptomycin emerged as a treatment and slowly the number of patients decreased until the facility was finally closed in 1962. It sat empty for a year, being reopened in 1963 as Woodhaven Geriatric Center, a nursing home for patients with dementia or severe mental conditions. The state closed Woodhaven in 1982 due to patient abuse and neglect. Since then , Waverly Hills has developed a reputation for being extremely haunted. Paranormal investigators and tourists alike report chilling phenomena: a spectral child playing with a ball, mysterious footsteps without a source, a ghostly woman with chains around her wrist, shadowy figures moving through empty rooms, and an overwhelming sense of dread. The Body Chute is a hotspot for ghostly activity. Another well known apparition is called, “the Creeper,” and it appears to be crawling up and along the walls, and even the ceilings.
Poveglia Island – Venice, Italy
Considered the most haunted island in the world, Poveglia Island is without a doubt, a terrifying place with a dark and gruesome history, so bad, its almost unbelievable. This small coastal island, located between Venice and Lido is so dammed that no one dares live there, and to this day access is restricted. Those who have been there tells maddening tales of ghostly screams, shadowy figures, and a heavy, oppressive feeling that penetrates into their psyche; almost urging them to get away as fast as possible.
History tells us of the island being used as a final stop for victims of the Bubonic Plague, isolating them from the rest of the European mainland in hopes to stop the spread. The infected people suffered a horrible death, knowing they would never leave. Several hundred years later, a second pass of the Plague hit Europe and the island was once again put into service. This time it was turned into an open-pit crematorium where the bodies were burned almost continuously. Fear reigned Europe and anyone even thought to show symptoms was shipped off to the island. The entire island was a rotting collective of the dead and dying, with many being burned while still alive.
Later the island was home to an asylum where all sorts of medical malfeasance occurred, including experiments on the living. Since then the island has remained uninhabited by the living, despite multiple attempts to make it into something useful. Today, the tortured ghosts of several hundred thousand souls are said to haunt the island, some Plague victims, others the subjects of a psychotic doctor’s experiments, and still others simply lost souls sent there by mistake. We should be thankful that this level of paranormal activity is on a secluded island.
Château de Brissac – Maine-et-Loire, France
In the Val de Loire, visitors can see the highest castle in France, the Château de Brissac. It was originally built in the 11th century by Fulco III of Anjou. Later rebuilt in 1455 by Pierre de Brézé, a wealthy minister who served King Charles VII 1455, later owned and cared for by the Cossé-Brissac family since 1502. Without a doubt, the Château de Brissac, is nothing short of being a masterpiece of French architecture, yet not all who come to visit do so for the building and grounds. The Château is home to a restless spirit known affectionately as the “Green Lady.”
The Green Lady is thought to be the ghost of Charlotte of Brézé, who was murdered within the castle walls. Charlotte de Brézé was the beautiful but illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII and his mistress, Agnes Sorel. She was betrothed to Jacques de Brézé, who married her, but it wasn’t a marriage based on love. Charlotte found love in the arms of a commoner. Jacques soon caught the couple red-handed, and in a fit of rage, killed them both in the tower room above the chapel. The exact details of the killing have been debated, but the aftermath tells how he fled the castle shortly after the crime, citing being constantly haunted by their ghosts.
The ghost of her lover seemingly has departed the Château, for reasons unknown. Charlotte’s spirit remains, being sighted regularly, always wearing her distinctive green dress, her face a terrifying sight, with gaping holes where eyes and nose should be. Visitors and guests also report hearing her moans echo through the castle, particularly in the early morning hours. Her ghastly sight is what makes this location on of the most haunted places on earth.
La Recoleta Cemetery – Buenos Aires, Argentina
The La Recoleta Cemetery is one of the most visited tourist attractions within Buenos Aires, and for good reason. The expanse of paths and walkways lead visitors to the many graves and mausoleums that contain the remains of many well-known individuals and a copious amount of striking and interesting architecture. One distinctive characteristic is the dichotomy on display, with many of the graves in stunning condition, while others are in a state of disrepair with broken skylights, rust and exposed coffins. Originally built in 1822, the cemetery grew to over 6,000 grave sites, most interred in ornate stone tombs and mausoleums, many with their own sculptures.
But like most cemeteries, La Recoleta Cemetery is haunted and the source of many local ghost stories. Among the most notable is the tale of Rufina Cambaceres, a nineteen-year-old woman who was brought to the cemetery during a terrible rain storms, after being discovered lifeless by her parents. She was place in a coffin for the night but by morning, there was evidence that something was terribly wrong; the coffin was moved and the lid ajar. Upon opening it, the family was shocked, as her young body was bloodied and bruised, and deep scratch marks were clawed deep into the inside of the coffin lid, revealing the terrible truth that she had been buried alive. Unable to get free, her heart finally gave out, finally dying of fright. Her restless spirit now wanders the graveyard in a panicked state. Visitors report hearing rhythmic scratching or tapping sounds, whispers among the tombs, and the uncomfortable sensation of being watched from an unseen entity.
Rufina is not the only ghost haunting La Recoleta. Visitors report hearing the jingling keys of a former caretaker, David Alleno. He had always wanted to be buried in his beloved cemetery. He later purchased a plot, made all the necessary arrangements, and then unexpectedly committed suicide. Others report the ghost of a woman in white roaming between the graves. Another woman is said to haunt the entrance to the cemetery.
The Tower of London – London, England
The Tower of London is considered one of the most haunted locations in the world, with an extremely dark and violent history. Built by William the Conqueror in the year 1078, the Tower of London has served as a royal palace, a fortress, a prison, and an execution site. For nearly a thousand years, the public was kept in the dark about the endless acts of cruelty, murders, and torture that took place behind the high walls of stone. Ghost hunters and paranormal experts agree that the sheer volume of trauma from tortured prisoners, political enemies, and royalty are the source of the hauntings.
The most known hauntings are tied to historical figures who met their demise behind the Tower walls. The most famous ghost is that of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. Anne was falsely charged with incest and adultery and later executed by beheading in 1536. Today, her ghost is often seen near the site of her death, sometimes carrying her severed head. Other royal ghosts include the famous, Princes in the Tower. Two boys, Edward V and his brother Richard disappeared under mysterious circumstances and are believed to have been murdered. Their apparitions have been reported where they were last seen alive.
Over the years, guards, visitors, and staff have reported strange noises, cold spots, sudden chills, disembodied voices, and shadowy figures. These encounters reinforce the Tower’s reputation as a paranormal hotspot, captivating all types of curiosity seekers.
The Stanley Hotel – Colorado, USA
Like so many other haunted hotels, The Stanley Hotel, nestled in Estes Park, Colorado, is renowned for its breathtaking views and stunning grounds. The property which opened in 1909 was built and operated by Freelan Oscar Stanley, as one of many other luxurious mountain retreats, exclusively for the powerful and wealthy. His good intentions fell short, and the hotel became famous instead for its long history of strange occurrences and ghostly encounters. The Stanley’s reputation skyrocketed when horror writer Stephen King stayed there in 1974. He was said to have experienced a nightmare so vivid that it inspired his iconic novel The Shining.
The most famous ghost is that of Flora Stanley, the wife of the hotel’s founder. Flora was a pianist in life and, according to numerous reports, her melodies can still be heard echoing in the music room. Guests and staff have heard the keys of the antique piano being pressed when no one is around. Some even claim to have seen the piano’s lid slowly open and close, without a human touch. Another frequent apparition is that of Elizabeth Wilson, a maid who was injured in an explosion in Room 217, the room made famous in The Shining. Her ghost is said to tidy guests’ belongings, turn lights on and off, and even in rare cases, to unpack suitcases.
The rest of the hotel has a mysterious energy within the rooms and hallways. The fourth floor, once home to the hotel’s nannies and children, is notorious for ghostly laughter, running footsteps, and the sound of children playing late. Multiple reports of phantom figures have been seen in hallways, cold spots are common, and some guests have reported being touched or whispered to by unseen presences. Despite being one of the most haunted places in the world, visitors flock to the property. Some come for the ghost tours, while others seek something more personal in the way of a spiritual experience.
Aokigahara Forest – Japan
Resting in the shadow of Mount Fuji, Japan, a lush forest stretches out over 35 kilometers. The forest is very dense, denser than most, to the point of shutting out all but a few natural sounds. The natural beauty of the Aokigahara (a-ok ig-ahara) should make it a major tourist attraction, but the fact that it’s the second most common spot on the planet for people to commit suicide makes it legendary. Its known as the “Sea of Trees” by some of the locals but to the rest of the world, its known as the “Suicide Forest.” Aokigahara is considered one of the most haunted places on earth, with deep ties to ancient Japanese mythology and legend.
Aokigahara is one of the most spiritually charged places in all of Japan. Legends speak of the Yūrei, restless spirits which haunt the woods, leading visitors astray, and often times to an untimely death. Those who enter and return safely report feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness, being watched, and hearing spooky whispers carried on the wind. Japan has a very high suicide rate, believed to be connected to the Japanese psyche. Historically suicide has been considered an honorable way to escape the shame of failure or as a sacrificial act for a larger cause; a way of taking responsibility for action. Today the forest is littered with the remains of the departed, and many believe those departed souls still roam between the trees.
Leap Castle – Offaly, Ireland
Located in Northeastern Ireland, Leap Castle is well-known as one of the most haunted places in the world. Originally built by the O’Bannon clan in in the early 13th Century, the castle has a witnessed a blood-soaked history of betrayal and violence among its former inhabitants. Murder, revenge, rivalry, conflict, and power plays have all played a role in the dark energy surrounding the structure, finally leading to it being burned in 1922.
The ruined castle is said to be haunted by numerous spirits, and the location has been the subject of many paranormal and ghost hunting stays. The most feared of these spirits is known as the Elemental. It is a small, dark, foul-smelling entity often described as a shadow with decaying features. It haunts the burned out remains of the former chapel where a Priest was murdered by his own brother. Those unlucky few who have seen it, reported being overcome with nausea at seeing the spectral figure.
The ghosts of two young girls, Emily and Charlotte, can occasionally be seen and heard playing in the main hall. Emily died after falling from the high castle walls in the 1600s. To this day, sightings are reported of a little girl falling from its great heights, only to disappear before reaching the ground. Charlotte is seen dragging a deformed leg in tow. Another apparition is the Red Lady, a dagger wielding ghost. In life she was said to have been assaulted and impregnated, with her child later murdered by a dagger shortly after birth. Many other spirits without a known history also haunt Leap Castle, each sending chills up the spines of the curious.
Summary
There are forces on this world that we do not understand, beings so tortured in life that they remain with us long after their death.
Additional Reading
Aokigahara – Japan’s Suicide Forest
Poveglia Island – One of the World’s Most Evil Places
Author’s Note
Photos sourced from the Wikimedia Commons and retain their original file names. They have been resized for fit.
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