Real Haunted Houses in History: Scariest Real Haunted Houses and Scariest Locations

From chilling legends to confirmed paranormal occurrences, real haunted houses across the world have fascinated and terrified visitors for generations. Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, the rich haunted history behind these locations makes them some of the scariest real haunted houses to ever exist. This guide explores the most chilling stories, ghostly apparitions, and haunted sites added to the National Register of Historic Places—perfect for those looking for some real scares this Halloween season and beyond.

The Infamous Winchester Mystery House: A Haunt of Endless Hallways

The Haunted House That Sarah Winchester Built

One of the most haunted houses in America is undoubtedly the Winchester Mystery House, located in San Jose, California. Built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the firearms magnate William Wirt Winchester, this mansion built in the late 1800s has become legendary in paranormal circles.

After suffering personal tragedies—first the death of her infant daughter, then her husband—Sarah consulted a séance medium. The medium allegedly told her the family was cursed by spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles, and that she must build continuously to appease them.

• The home features over 160 rooms, staircases leading to nowhere, doors that open to brick walls, and windows built into floors.
• Paranormal investigators and ghost hunters have reported hearing unexplained voices, strange occurrences, and even images of a man in a top hat wandering the halls.
• The Winchester Mystery House is now a tourist attraction and operates as a museum, drawing thousands of visitors during the Halloween season and year-round.

Learn more at the official Winchester Mystery House website.

The Lemp Mansion: St. Louis' Paranormal Powerhouse

One of the Most Haunted Hotels in the U.S.

The Lemp Mansion in St. Louis, Missouri, is both a private residence-turned-haunted hotel and a notorious historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The mansion is steeped in tragedy tied to the Lemp brewing dynasty, several of whose members died by suicide within the house.

• The house is said to be haunted by the spirits of the Lemp family.
• Ghost stories include reported hearing footsteps, doors slamming, and seeing apparitions in period clothing.
• The mansion now offers ghost tours and overnight stays for those looking for some real scares.

Paranormal experts regularly investigate this location, and it remains rumored to be haunted to this day. It is often featured in top database of real haunted houses listings.

The Myrtles Plantation: Southern Charm Meets Spine-Chilling Scares

A Former Plantation With a Rich Haunted History

Located in St. Francisville, Louisiana, The Myrtles Plantation is a former plantation and registered historic property with a deep haunted history. It's believed to be haunted by no less than a dozen ghostly spirits, many of whom are said to linger after meeting tragic ends.

• One of the most famous ghosts is Chloe, a former housekeeper allegedly caught spying on the plantation owner.
• Reports here include sightings of apparitions, strange sounds, and paranormal activity captured in photographs.
• Guests have reported seeing a man in a top hat, a child crying, and even bump in the night moments while staying overnight.

The plantation operates as a museum and haunted hotel, offering scares year round and is included in nearly every serious database of real haunted houses.

See the plantation’s official site here.

The Villisca Axe Murder House: A Haunt So Gruesome It Was Once Off-Limits

A Real Haunted House With a Gruesome Past

In the quiet town of Villisca, Iowa lies one of the scariest real haunted houses ever recorded—the Villisca Axe Murder House. On June 10, 1912, the Moore family and two guests were brutally murdered here in their sleep. The case remains unsolved.

• Ever since the murders, the house has had a reputation for paranormal activity, including strange occurrences, moving objects, and cold spots.
• Paranormal investigators have reported hearing disembodied voices and the sound of children crying.
• The house was a private residence, but now welcomes ghost tours and overnight stays.

This is a place rumored to be haunted by multiple past residents, and even professional ghost hunters have been spooked during their stays.

Visit more details at Villisca Axe Murder House.

The Whaley House: A Registered Historic Site With a Chill in the Air

A House Said to Be Haunted in San Diego

The Whaley House in Old Town San Diego is not just a tourist attraction—it’s one of the few homes officially added to the National Register of Historic Places for its paranormal occurrences. Built in 1857, the house is a historic example of Greek Revival architecture and has served as a boarding house, courthouse, and private residence.

According to local legend, the house was constructed on old gallows grounds. Visitors and staff have reported seeing a number of spirits:

• A little girl playing near the staircase.
• The ghostly figure of Thomas Whaley himself.
• Strange sounds and the smell of cigar smoke when no one is present.

This house remains one of the best-documented real haunted houses on the West Coast.

For more, check the San Diego Historical Society.

Don’t Have Time to Read the Full Haunted Histories?

Here’s a quick list of some of the most haunted houses and scariest locations you can explore:

• Winchester Mystery House, California – 160-room labyrinth built to confuse spirits.
• Lemp Mansion, Missouri – Tragedy-stricken brewery baron home turned haunted hotel.
• Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana – Former plantation with at least 12 documented ghosts.
• Villisca Axe Murder House, Iowa – Unsolved murder site filled with eerie energy.
• Whaley House, California – Historic home built on execution grounds.

These chilling spots are all verified through various database of real haunted houses, and many have been featured on shows like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters.

Eastern State Penitentiary: A Haunt Behind Bars

Paranormal Activity in a Crumbling Prison

Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary is one of the most infamous real haunted houses in the world—even though it's technically a prison, not a residence. Opened in 1829, it was one of the first penitentiaries designed for solitary confinement. The conditions were so severe, they reportedly caused inmates to go mad.

Now a museum and is believed to be haunted by former inmates and guards alike:

• Tour guides and visitors have reported hearing whispers, screams, and metal doors slamming shut on their own.
• Ghost hunters and paranormal investigators have captured EVP (electronic voice phenomena) and unexplained images.
• Shadows of apparitions are frequently seen in Cell Block 12, and one man in a top hat has reportedly been spotted pacing the halls.

The penitentiary remains haunted to this day and is a major draw during the Halloween season, offering both historical tours and haunted events.
Check out: Eastern State Penitentiary

The Riddle House: A Florida Haunt With Ghostly Legacy

Housekeeper’s Ghost Said to Linger

Originally a private residence turned funeral parlor, the Riddle House in West Palm Beach, Florida, is rumored to be haunted by multiple ghostly entities. Most notably, a former housekeeper named Joseph, who allegedly died by suicide in the attic, is said to linger.

• Workers reported hearing footsteps, banging sounds, and voices from empty rooms.
• Tools would mysteriously vanish and reappear in strange places.
• A ghost tour operator claimed to have seen images of a man in 1920s period clothing.

The house was relocated to Yesteryear Village, a historic site, where it operates as a museum and continues to attract paranormal investigators.

Lizzie Borden House: A Haunting from the Headlines

One of the Most Haunted Houses in New England

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, is both a haunted hotel and the setting of one of America’s most notorious murder trials. In 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally murdered with an axe. Though Lizzie, the daughter, was acquitted, she remained a local legend and subject of ghost stories ever since.

• The house is believed to be haunted by the Bordens, with guests reporting hearing moaning and crying sounds at night.
• Many have also experienced cold drafts and paranormal occurrences such as flickering lights and disembodied voices.
• Staff and guests claim to see Lizzie’s ghost in the bedroom where her stepmother was killed.

It’s filled with thrills and scares year round, particularly for those brave enough to sleep over.
Visit the Lizzie Borden House site.

Bell Witch Farm: Tennessee's Terrifying Rural Haunt

A Haunting That Inspired Hollywood

In Adams, Tennessee, lies one of the oldest and most mysterious American hauntings—The Bell Witch Haunting. Dating back to the early 1800s, this haunt allegedly tormented the Bell family through physical attacks and relentless psychological torment.

• The house is said to have experienced violent paranormal occurrences, including slapping, choking, and scratching.
• Witnesses claim to have seen a ghostly woman and heard strange voices quoting scripture or mocking the family.
• The local legend became the inspiration for several books and films, including The Blair Witch Project.

Though the original boarding house structure is gone, the historic site now includes a cave and tours during the Halloween season. It is often listed in the haunted houses's database of real American folklore.

Hotel Monte Vista: A Haunted Hotel in the Desert

Ghost Stories in the Arizona Heat

Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, the Hotel Monte Vista has welcomed Hollywood stars, authors, and travelers since 1927. But it’s also home to some of the strangest occurrences and paranormal activity in the Southwest.

• Guests have reported hearing phantom bellboys knocking on doors in the middle of the night.
• A man in a top hat is often seen near the cocktail lounge.
• One room is rumored to be haunted by a couple of former guests who never left.

Its listing on National Register of Historic Places only adds to its status as one of the most haunted overnight destinations in the U.S.

Tips for Visiting Real Haunted Houses Across the Country

If you're looking for some real scares, here are a few helpful things to keep in mind before visiting these real haunted houses:

• Always respect the site—some are private residences, while others are registered historic locations.
• Go with a guide or during a ghost tour to ensure safety.
• Don’t provoke spirits or remove objects from the premises.
• Check the houses's database of real haunted locations like Haunted Rooms America or Atlas Obscura for verified info.
• Bring a flashlight, a camera, and maybe even a friend who doesn’t scare easily.

Why We Keep Coming Back to Haunted History

There's something about real haunted houses that captures our imagination—and our fears. From paranormal investigators seeking evidence to tourists hoping to hear a bump in the night, these locations carry emotional weight due to the tragedy, violence, or sorrow in their pasts.

Whether it’s a séance room in the Winchester Mystery House, a blood-stained bedroom at the Lizzie Borden House, or a ghost story whispered among the oaks at The Myrtles Plantation, every location featured here contains more than creaking floorboards and dusty corners.

They carry history.

They carry energy.

And according to many—they remain haunted.

Final Chills: Not Just for the Halloween Season

Though popular during the Halloween season, these haunted houses offer scares year round for the daring. Whether it’s out of morbid curiosity or a fascination with the afterlife, people continue to book rooms, walk through haunted halls, and listen closely for that next unexplained knock.

And if you find yourself reported seeing or hearing something that no one else did—maybe you’ve just added to their haunted history.

Want to Explore More Haunted Places?
Check out these trusted resources:

• National Register of Historic Places – Search officially listed historic and haunted sites.
• The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) – Run by the original Ghost Hunters team.
• Haunted Places Directory – HauntedRooms.com