15 Most Haunted Hotels in America You Can Actually Stay In

While reports of mysterious noises and specter sightings might frighten some travelers, for intrepid ghost hunters, there's nothing more exciting than staying in an allegedly haunted hotel. Across the United States, historic properties have welcomed guests for decades or even centuries, though not every visitor has necessarily checked out.

The 15 most haunted hotels in America offer more than room service and a comfortable bed. Spotting the spirits that wander their halls should be on every thrill-seeking tourist's must-do list. With so many to choose from, you could even plan a Halloween-themed getaway to a haunted destination near you — that is, if you're brave enough.

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel gained popularity after serving as inspiration for Stephen King's fictional Overlook Hotel in "The Shining." And while you might not necessarily find a set of terrifying twin girls here, the property in Estes Park is reportedly home to a few spirits of its own. Freelan Oscar Stanley opened the now-historic hotel in 1909; he and his wife Flora are among other ghosts that are said to roam its halls to this day. Feeling gutsy? Book a stay in one of the "spirited" rooms, such as the Stephen King Suite (217) or one of those frequented by ghost hunters (401, 407, or 428). All of them allegedly experience higher levels of paranormal activity.

The Hollywood Roosevelt, California

This iconic Los Angeles hotel opened in 1927 and hosted countless movie stars throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood, including Shirley Temple, Montgomery Clift, Clark Gable, and Charlie Chaplin. It turns out some of the Hollywood Roosevelt's most famous guests might have enjoyed staying there so much they've returned in the afterlife. Marilyn Monroe lived in room 1200 for two years at the start of her career, and some guests have reported seeing her ghostly reflection in the mirror.

Omni Parker House, Massachusetts

One of the longest continuously operating hotels in the United States, Boston's Omni Parker House has seen its fair share of history. It's rumored that the ghost of the hotel's founder, Harvey Parker, still roams the halls, checking to make sure guests are enjoying their stay — talk about hospitality that goes above and beyond. Others say the ghost of Charles Dickens, who briefly lived in the hotel, may still linger on the third floor where he once stayed.

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, Arkansas

The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, was originally built in 1886, then taken over by criminal and entrepreneur Norman Baker in 1937. He turned the property into a hospital and health resort while claiming to have a cure for cancer, and was later jailed for mail fraud, though that was hardly his worst offense. As you can imagine, people perished under his untrained supervision, and paranormal experts today believe the hotel's sordid past caused the spirits of several patients to stick around. Now a beautiful, expansive retreat, the hotel offers ghost tours and even features images of ghosts spotted at the resort on its website.

The Don CeSar, Florida

The stunning "Pink Palace" has been welcoming visitors to St. Pete Beach since 1928, but its eternal guests have a surprisingly heartwarming story. The hotel's founder, Thomas Rowe, fell madly in love with a Spanish opera singer named Lucinda, but her parents forbade their relationship, leaving the lovebirds heartbroken. Thomas later moved from London to the U.S., where he built The Don CeSar on the Gulf Coast of Florida as a tribute to his lost love. Some say that since his passing in 1940, they have seen the couple — reunited in death — strolling around the resort.

Jekyll Island Club Resort, Georgia

Once a playground for America's wealthiest families — including the Morgans, Vanderbilts, and Rockefellers — this historic Georgia resort opened in 1888 as a recreational club. Some say you can still feel the presence of previous guests and staff today. Keep an eye out as you pass by the Sans Souci Cottage, as you might catch a whiff of cigar smoke while the ghost of financier J.P. Morgan enjoys a few puffs outside his former residence.

The Equinox, Vermont

This Manchester, Vermont, resort has welcomed guests since 1769, and is rumored to house a couple of lingering spirits. President Lincoln's family once vacationed at the Equinox, and it's said that the ghost of his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, can still be spotted around the property.

The Pfister Hotel, Wisconsin

The Pfister Hotel opened in Milwaukee in 1893 with elegant interiors and advanced technology for the time — electricity, individual thermostat controls, and fireproofing — making it one of the most sought-after accommodations in the city. The hotel is also supposedly home to a number of spooky sightings. Over the years, several traveling Major League Baseball players have reported their own personal paranormal experiences at the hotel, and some of them are even too scared to stay there.

Emily Morgan Hotel, Texas

The Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, wasn't always a hotel. Built in 1924 as a Medical Arts Building, it housed a hospital and doctors offices; it also happens to be located close to the site of the deadly Battle of the Alamo. Today, it's widely believed that this history is the reason for the mysterious occurrences that have taken place throughout the hotel. Among other unexplained events, staff have reported doors closing of their own accord, elevators stopping at various floors for no reason, ghostly orbs, and a strange scent of hospital antiseptic. Some have even spotted a woman in white roaming the halls.

La Fonda on the Plaza, New Mexico

This beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, hotel has an incredibly rich history. Since 1607, a number of inns have been located on this very site, but a handful of events may be the reason for its continued hauntings. According to the official New Mexico tourism website, the spirits of a murdered gambler, a judge who was shot in the lobby, and a bride who was killed on her wedding night are just a few of the ghosts you may encounter during a stay here.

The Marshall House, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia, is known for being a hotbed of paranormal activity, and The Marshall House is the place to stay if you want a fully immersive and spooky experience in the city. Since 1851, the property has been used once as a wartime hospital by Union troops during the end of the Civil War and twice as a hospital during the yellow fever epidemics in the 19th century. Any hotel with such a history is bound to have a few residual spirits hanging around, and guests have reported seeing specters and hearing children running down the halls here late at night.

Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.

The luxurious Omni Shoreham Hotel is one of Washington, D.C.'s most historic hotels — it's also arguably one of the city's most haunted. In one popular tale, a young girl and a maid both died of mysterious causes in one of the hotel suites in the early 20th century. Since then, guests have reported hearing bizarre noises with no explanation coming from the part of the hotel where they passed away.

The Hotel Chelsea, New York

Reopened in 2022 after an 11-year hiatus, The Hotel Chelsea is as grand — and as haunted — as ever. Between all the celebrities who have stayed here and the bizarre events that have taken place within its walls, the property has been the source of strange stories ever since its original opening in 1884. Among other paranormal encounters, according to Mental Floss, actor Michael Imperioli (of The Sopranos) once spotted the ghost of a Titanic survivor named Mary during a stay. The woman, who took her life in her room after learning her husband had perished in the ill-fated sailing, sometimes appears in the hotel's mirrors, checking her appearance. Another famous specter is Larry the Hipster Ghost, a chatty spirit known for interrupting other ghosts when mediums visit the hotel.

The Driskill, Texas

President Lyndon B. Johnson is just one of the famous spirits known to haunt the halls of this popular downtown Austin hotel — he and his wife had their first date here in 1934 and he was always quite fond of the place. It's also haunted by its founder, Colonel Driskill, who has been seen smoking his cigar on the hotel grounds, as well as a four-year-old girl who toppled down the grand staircase in 1887 (some say you can still hear her bouncing her ball and laughing). Perhaps the best-known ghosts here are the two jilted brides, each of which took her own life while staying in the same room a few decades apart.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco, Washington, D.C.

Located in the heart of D.C.'s bustling Penn Quarter neighborhood, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco is housed in a beautiful building, originally constructed in 1842 as the city's post office. During the Civil War, it was where women waited for letters that told whether or not their loved ones had died in battle. According to local reports, guests have been awakened by the sounds of women wailing outside room 327, while others have seen a lady dressed in early 19th-century garb roaming the halls.