North America is known for its rich history and diverse culture, but it is also home to some of the most terrifying places in the world. From haunted prisons to ancient burial sites, the continent is filled with spooky spots that are sure to send shivers down your spine. Here we will take a look at the top 10 most terrifying places in North America.
Printers Alley
Back in the 18th century, Printers Alley got its name for the many publishing companies and printing shops that operated within it. But while it was a straight and narrow place of business by day, at night it transformed into the men’s quarters and served a very different crowd, offering men a night away from their wives. It was during this time that the Southern Turf building was managed by a man named Ice Johnson, but in 1914 when prohibition hit, his once-booming business of drinking, gambling, and lodging came to a crashing halt and was forced to close. This sent Johnson into a depressive spiral, and as legend has it, he declared that he would rather die than leave his home. Johnson took his own life in this very alley, and soon after, people began reporting seeing his apparition in the third-floor window. To this day, he remains a popular figure in the alley. Now, the Tennessee Public Company reports that the ghost of Ice Johnson seeks out to terrify the employees, sometimes with small pranks like moving things from their desks or moving furniture before their eyes. But if you anger him, he may appear in a full-bodied apparition that will send you running for miles.
Tennessee State Prison
Now, it probably doesn’t come as a huge surprise that a prison is riddled with terrifying entities. However, the Tennessee State Prison is in a league of its own. The major reason being is that this correctional facility housed the electric chair for the state, and between 1916 to 1960, 125 prisoners met their fate by electrocution. However, it wasn’t just those sentenced to death that are believed to haunt these halls. While the prison was still in operation, it was notorious for overcrowding, riots, and escapees, and it seems that many souls that died here are unable to escape its grasp. People that visit often report hearing strange sounds, like the clanging of something along the bars or hear footsteps approaching behind them, only to turn around and see that nothing is there. However, nothing is as bone-chilling as the screams from the electrocuted inmates that are said to echo throughout the abandoned building, loud enough to make your ears ring.
Opryland Resort
Built in 1977, the Opryland Resort is considered one of Tennessee’s most luxurious hotels. However, don’t be fooled by the age of the building; it is said to be haunted by a myriad of horrifying entities. The most famous of which is the Lady in Black. One employee, in particular, had a haunting encounter several years back. He was managing a store that remained open until midnight, which was much later than most establishments. He usually left around 2 A.M. after stocking and getting things ready for the next day. But one particular night, as he was leaving, he saw what appeared to be a blurry woman standing at the top of a staircase, dressed in customary Civil War attire. The man knew right away it was the apparition of a spirit and wanted to remain calm so as not to anger her. But when he went to go speak, she suddenly disappeared right before his very eyes. But that’s not the worst of it. Another woman who stayed at the hotel when she was nine recalls waking up precisely at three in the night.
Nevada
The Silver State, is home to some of the most terrifying and haunted locations in the world. Whether you are a sceptic or a believer, these destinations are sure to give you goosebumps. From the creepy clown-filled motel to the haunted Pioneer Saloon, the Yellow Jacket Mine, and the Zach Baggins Haunted Museum, these places are not for the faint of heart. Zach Baggins Haunted Museum, a popular tourist attraction in Las Vegas. The museum houses a collection of cursed items and haunted spirits collected by former Ghost Hunter, Zach Baggins. Visitors can see the original dybbuk box, a cursed rocking chair.
Yellow Jacket Mine
It believed to be the most haunted place in Nevada. In 1869, a massive fire broke out in the mine, trapping 39 miners inside. Despite firefighters’ efforts, the blaze continued for three weeks, and only 34 bodies were ever recovered. The spirits of these miners are said to haunt the mine to this day, with blue and white orbs seen floating around the entrance and cries heard from the tunnels below.
Clown Motel
Clown Motel, which is the stuff of nightmares for those afraid of clowns. The motel is filled with clown figurines, paintings, and other decorations, making it feel like a horror movie set. To make matters worse, the motel is rumoured to be haunted by the spirits of the nearby graveyard. Guests have reported seeing strange occurrences and hearing voices, making it a spooky destination for those brave enough to stay.
Pioneer Saloon
Pioneer Saloon, the oldest bar in southern Nevada. This place is steeped in history, with bullet holes lining the walls from bar fights, and even the ghost of actor Clark Gable has been rumoured to visit. However, the most tragic story is that of the bartender who took his own life in front of a full house of patrons. His spirit is said to haunt the saloon to this day, along with the ghost of Carol Lombard and an entity known as Ruby.
Circus Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
Located in Las Vegas, Circus Hotel and Casino is infamous for its haunted room, Room 123. In 1982, a mother and son were found dead in this room in what appeared to be a murder-suicide. Guests have reported hearing loud screams and seeing the words “help me” scrawled on the bathroom mirror. The hotel is also rumored to have ties to the American mob, with many of its ghosts believed to be victims of mob violence.
Maple Hill Cemetery, Alabama
The Maple Hill Cemetery in Alabama is the oldest and largest burial ground in the state, with around 80,000 people buried here. Visitors claim that at night, the tortured souls of the dead are unearthed and roam the grounds, with some even claiming to have seen young souls playing in the park area. The cemetery’s most famous ghost is Mary Bibb, whose mausoleum walls creak gently when visitors knock. However, those who forget to greet her may be haunted forever.
Fort Morgan, Alabama
Fort Morgan is another haunted site in Alabama. Visitors claim to have heard the cries of a prisoner who died in the early 1900s after taking his own life in the barracks. There is also a female spirit who is said to seek justice after being beaten to death by mysterious attackers who were never caught for the crime. Visitors should be cautious, as some believe that she is an angry spirit with a vengeance who will torture any man who steps foot on the property.
Drish House, Alabama
The Drish House was built in 1835 by Dr. John R. Marsh as a gift for his wife, Sarah. Unfortunately, Dr. Marsh fell to his death down the stairway after a night of drinking. It is Sarah’s ghost that is said to haunt the property, as she refuses to leave due to her family’s failure to honor her funeral wishes. Visitors have reported seeing her on the third-story tower, and she is known to cause trouble for guests during events held at the manor.
Old Bryce Hospital, Alabama
Another haunted site in Alabama is the Old Bryce Hospital, an abandoned mental health facility. The hospital operated from the segregation era until 1977, where it was used as a work camp for able-bodied black people who were admitted under false pretences and forced into slave labour. Visitors have reported strange experiences and a feeling of anger from the souls of the patients who suffered inhumane conditions.
The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
The Stanley Hotel in Colorado is famously known as the inspiration for Stephen King’s novel, “The Shining.” The hotel’s ghostly reputation is due to the many strange occurrences and paranormal sightings reported by guests. The most famous ghost is that of F.O. Stanley, the hotel’s founder, who is said to haunt the property along with his wife. Visitors can take a ghost tour or stay in one of the reportedly haunted rooms for a truly spine-chilling experience.
USS Kidd
A destroyer ship for the U.S Navy during World War II. Named after Admiral Isaac Kidd, who lost his life during the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Kidd has a tragic history that has earned it a reputation as one of the most haunted ships in the world.
However, it is not the attack on Pearl Harbor that gives the USS Kidd its ghostly reputation. On April 11, 1945, a Japanese plane crashed into the ship, killing 38 sailors and leaving 55 others badly wounded. Today, the USS Kidd is no longer in use as a warship, but remains docked in Baton Rouge as a war memorial. Visitors who enter the ship claim to feel the presence of the sailors who lost their lives, with some even reporting full-bodied apparitions of the spirits dressed in their war uniforms.
The ship’s sleeping quarters are said to be the most haunted part of the ship, where visitors have reported hearing blood-curdling screams of soldiers and feeling the presence of tortured souls. Some visitors even claim to have been pushed or grabbed by these spirits.
Katana
A cotton plantation run by Ipolittle, a French colonist. The plantation was built on the backs of slaves, and its owner had some less-than-friendly friends, including the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte. Ipolittle’s son, Ipolit II, fell in love with the neighbor girl, Felicity Nada, and against his father’s wishes, they married.
After Ipolittle’s death, Felicity took over the family business and became even more successful, eventually becoming friends with the pirate Jean Lafitte himself. But after Lafitte’s death, his crew attempted to steal from Felicity’s beloved home, only to be met with a bullet between the eyebrows from the formidable widow. Felicity’s spirit is said to still haunt the plantation, with visitors reporting hearing the deadly gunshot and the sound of bodies tumbling down the stairs.
If you decide to visit Katana, be warned that Felicity does not always take kindly to visitors. These two haunting tales remind us that history can be full of tragedy and horror, and the spirits of those who suffered may still linger in the places where they lost their lives.
Labo Mansion
Louisiana is well-known for its historical plantation homes, but did you know that many of them are also believed to be haunted by the spirits of their former inhabitants? Here are some of the most haunted plantations in Louisiana.
Once the plantation of a wealthy businessman in 1846. In 1905, the property was sold and converted into a hotel and casino. Despite gambling being outlawed in New Orleans at the time, it became a popular hangout spot during prohibition. However, it didn’t take long before patrons realized the building was haunted by dozens of spirits. Visitors often complained that their watches stopped working the minute they stepped foot on the property, only to magically start working again once they left. Many claim to hear strange noises echoing through the halls and others have reported seeing a woman in white sitting on the upstairs porch. In 2013, a group of so-called paranormal investigators decided to light a fire on the building in an attempt to provoke the spirits to show themselves. Sadly, all they did was burn it down. However, even without the walls to hold them in, all the entities remain haunting the property. Those that walk by say their watches still stop working the minute they step foot on the property, and sometimes at night, you can hear the cries of the terrifying woman in white.
Lloyd Hall Plantation
After leaving his London family for a new life in America, William Lloyd built his plantation in 1820. It’s rumoured that Lloyd was actually exiled from his family’s insurance dynasty, hence his sudden move to America, but no one actually knows for sure. Like all plantations of the time, it was a cruel and brutal place for the slaves. However, the owner was swimming in money and profit. That was until the Civil War, when it was discovered that Lloyd was working as a double spy for both the Union and Confederacy. Once word got out, Union soldiers stormed his house and tarred and feathered him before he was hanged for his disloyalty. It’s said that Lloyd now haunts the house along with the many slaves that died while under his care. But that’s not all. Others have reported a Union soldier named Terry who was shot while hiding in the attic, as well as Lloyd’s niece who, after being left at the altar, jumped out the second-story window to her death. Those brave enough to step on the property claim to hear pianos and violins playing despite no one playing them, ringing doorbells when no one is outside, and seeing furniture moving around all on its own. Some say that if you listen carefully, you can still hear the screams of William Lloyd echoing across the property.
Huma’s House
Said to be haunted by countless spirits of tortured souls from its time as a plantation, the ghosts that live here are sure to send you running for the hills. Among them are 16 souls said to be trapped inside oak trees across the property. All the souls trapped inside lost their lives during a dangerous construction project gone wrong. The trees were a cherished entity to the house, but workers cut down many of the historic oak trees before sending them down the river to be milled. There were 16 profiteers set off aboard the backs of the big tree trunks, but somehow their bodies were never recovered. It’s said they remain trapped inside the trees as punishment, stuck on the property they tried to cheat. Among the haunted trees is a serious girl in a blue dress often seen staring at visitors while she remains perched at the top of a staircase. But in the blink of an eye, she’ll disappear into thin air.
Conclusion
In conclusion, North America is not only known for its rich history and diverse culture but also for some of the most terrifying places in the world. From haunted prisons to ancient burial sites, the continent is filled with spooky spots that are sure to send shivers down your spine. These places include the Tennessee State Prison, Opryland Resort, Yellow Jacket Mine, Clown Motel, and Pioneer Saloon, among others. However, we are not trying to terrify you about these destinations, as they also offer a unique and thrilling experience in life. If you are brave enough, book your flights to North America and explore these spooky destinations. Who knows, you might just have a paranormal experience to tell your friends