Top 10 haunted cities in the US just in time for a Halloween trip (11 Photos)
October is not your typical time for a road trip but it is the best time to see cities decked out in their best Halloween décor. Add that to the haunting backstories of these cities and you have a perfect spooky destination to visit.
10. Portland, Oregon
The Shanghai Tunnels, which run beneath the buildings and streets of Portland, were used in the 1800s to kidnap people and ship them off to Asia as slaves and prostitutes. A saloon owner would get patrons drunk before sending them down a secret hatch, never to be seen again. Some say those spirits still roam the tunnels with visitors hearing whistling, smelling fragrances, and phantom contact when no one else was around.
9. San Francisco, California
The Cameron House in Chinatown was once a hiding place for immigrants to escape the brutality of the police, until it was burned to the ground with people inside. Add that to the supposably haunted Golden Gate Park and Alcatraz and you have one creepy city.
8. Chicago, Illinois
With 6,000 Confederate soldiers buried at Oak Woods Cemetery during the Civil War, along with the site of Al Capone’s notorious Valentine’s Day Massacre, Chicago is known for its paranormal activity. People have even claimed to see a vanishing hitchhiker off of Archer Avenue since the 1930’s.
7. Charleston, South Carolina
Anywhere in the South could be put on this list and for good reason. With so much history and bloodshed throughout the years, the East Coast is a hotbed for paranormal activity. There are more than 20 reported haunted sites in the city and a whole lot of Civil War lore to keep the visitors entertained.
6. St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is the nation’s oldest city and has a long history and reputation for being haunted. One of the most famous haunts is the Castillo de San Marcos, a star-shaped fort, where the spirits of soldiers are said to roam. For added creepy factor, check out the St. Augustine lighthouse where a former caretaker is said to roam its spiraled stairs.
5. San Antonio, Texas
After St. Augustine, San Antonio is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Between the Alamo and the River Walk, many buildings are said to be haunted. San Antonio is also home to phantom train tracks where a bus full of children were killed over 50 years ago when their bus stalled on the tracks. Local legend says that anyone who stops on the tracks will be pushed by unseen hands across to avoid a similar fate.
4. New Orleans, Louisiana
With YEARS of slavery and voodoo surrounding this Louisiana city, it makes sense that there are some spirits not at rest. Antoine’s Restaurant is one of the French-Creole restaurants that put New Orleans on the map in 1868 but visitors claim they have seen phantom images roaming the various dining rooms in tuxedos.
3. Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is one of the most recognized paranormal areas in the US and is a Halloween favorite for visitors. Home of the famous Salem Witch Trials, Salem is said to be haunted by all the spirits of those executed for witchcraft.
2. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is the site of one of the largest Civil War battles that resulted in 51,000 deaths along 40 miles of battlefield. Visitors claim to have seen ghosts turn up in photos from time to time and have even claimed of hearing phantom cannon fire. There are numerous ghost tours around the area that are a great way to not only learn of the paranormal activity but the true history of the battlefield and the Civil War.
1. Savannah, Georgia
Any given night in Savannah, one can find several different ghost tours to see the town. Between voodoo and the Civil War, Savannah is full of paranormal activity and sightings throughout the city. Several ghosts were even reported during the filming of the movie “Glory”.
