Creaky staircases and phantom gusts of wind are just the beginning in these prisons, theaters and ships. A visit to the Whaley House has been said to make guests inexplicably sad and movie-goers in Lincoln Square Theater have reported seeing a figure missing an arm. If you’re brave enough, skip the cheesy attractions this October and head out to one of America’s most haunted destinations on our list.

One of America’s most haunted prisons has a past darker than most. Before the prison closed in 1995, nearly 1,000 prisoners died within its walls. The history of the penitentiary includes several riots, escapes, hangings, electrocutions and grisly murders—visitors say they can feel the presence of trapped souls still lingering. Take a tour or stay overnight and find the original electric chair, “old sparky,” still in its place.
—Diana Gerstacker

Formerly known as the Railroad House, this site was once a booming hotel put up by John Stone in 1834. After fairly recent restoration in the 1970s, Stone’s now serves lunch, dinner and drinks, with a haunted twist. It is believed that the founder John Stone is just one of many spirits that haunt the place. There have been reports of doors that won’t remain locked, birdseed falling through holes in the ceiling and customers being tapped on the back only to turn and find no one there. Rumor has it Stone accidentally killed a New York man staying in the hotel after he thought the man cheated in a card game. The skeleton of that man is thought to be buried in the basement—the tale is so convincing the current owner has agreed to dig up the floor in search of his remains.
—Cathrine Adamo

Lincoln Square Theater was built in 1916 and is still open to guests today, the current building is the third to occupy the land—the first two (a hotel and another theater) burned down. The souls of those who died in the fire are said to haunt the theater, visitors have reported seeing seats move on their own, feeling cold spots without explanation and seeing a one-armed figure wandering around. Stop in for a movie or attend an overnight ghost hunt.
—Diana Gerstacker

There are quite a few Spaghetti Warehouse locations around the country, but none can offer what the Houston restaurant can: Ghosts. In fact, the building is said to be one of the most haunted establishments in the country. Before the restaurant was serving up pasta and Saucestaches (sauce mustaches), it was owned by a pharmaceutical company. One of the pharmacists was working in the warehouse when he accidentally fell down the open elevator shaft to a very premature death. His young widow died exactly a year later from grief, the story goes, and her soul haunts the place even today, still mourning the loss of her husband. Sign up for the Discover Houston Ghost Walk to hear more about the warehouse and other haunted places around Houston.
—Cathrine Adamo

The Whaley House was doomed before construction even began, as the site was home to San Diego’s first public gallows. In addition to those killed at the gallows, strange events have occurred in the house as well. Visitors often say they feel overwhelming sadness, which is believed to be related to a suicide and other accounts include unexplained footsteps, slamming doors and chandeliers that move on their own. Take a day or evening tour or join in on a ghost hunt.
—Diana Gerstacker

The Queen Mary, or “Grey Ghost,” was built as a luxury cruise liner in the 1930s and was one of the fastest and largest of its time. After hosting some of the most famous and important people of the era, the ship was repainted, stripped of luxuries and transformed for use in World War II. After transporting troops back and forth overseas, the ship was turned back into a cruise liner at the end of the war, but was never the same. Based on records, at least 49 people died on the ship, and the spirits that are said to haunt the ship range from sailors and crewmen to women and children. Book a night in one of the cabins aboard, reserve a table for dinner, or take a guided tour around the creepiest parts of the ship.
—Diana Gerstacker

Arizona's oldest hotel still in operation was built in 1902 to accommodate the traffic brought to town by mines rich with copper, lead and silver. Every mining town has its ghost stories but the copper queen hotel has an unusually high number of tales and strange happenings. Stories surrounding the old luxury hotel range from the suicide of a young beautiful prostitute to the deaths of children that still roam the halls and it’s said that some of the workers haven't left the premises either. Make a reservation for dinner, stay overnight or reserve a spot on Thursday’s Ghost Hunt to meet the spirits still lurking around.
—Diana Gerstacker

Tombstone, Arizona is one of the best known ghost towns in the country and Big Nose Kate’s (formerly the Grand Hotel) is at the center of the ghoulish activity. Legend has it, the hotel’s janitor known as “the Swamper” hid silver somewhere in the building and has been protecting it for nearly 200 years. His tunnel to the mine, shown left, has been left open in the basement of the joint and mostly untouched. When employees went exploring they reported hearing loud moaning and heavy footsteps. Sure someone was in the building they searched only to find all of the doors were still locked without another living soul in the building.
—Diana Gerstacker

Around since 1753, The Pirate’s House is full of history and mysterious happenings. The inn was originally built to accommodate sailors but soon after its founding became a hotspot for pirates and illegal activity. The tunnel under the Captain’s Room let out to the water and legend has it pirates would drug other patrons, drag them out through the tunnel and force them to work on ships when they woke hundreds of miles from shore. It’s suspected the tunnel was used for other unsavory acts, which may be part of the reason spirits still linger. Stop in and grab a bite to eat or reserve a spot on the Savannah Creepy Crawl Haunted Pub Tour.
--Diana Gerstacker