It’s officially spooky season which means it’s the perfect time to plan a trip to one of these spine-tingling places across the country! Many spooky season connoisseurs will even tell you that early September is when Halloween decorations go out, pumpkin spice lattes are poured, and plans to visit haunted houses are in full swing. Read on for places to make your spine tingle, knees shake, and teeth chatter with macabre fascination!
Eerie Cemeteries
Bonaventure Cemetery – Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia is rumored to be one of the most haunted cities in America with Bonaventure Cemetery being cited as the most haunted place in Savannah! With graves as old as 1802, Bonaventure Cemetery was originally land that was part of a family plantation. Located on a bluff overlooking the Wilmington River, the cemetery spans almost 160 acres and has been rumored to be haunted by many spirits – including Gracie, a 6-year-old ghost who’s grave is marked with a statue of her likeness.
Visitors wanting to learn more about the cemetery grounds can take guided segway tours to discover the rich history and symbolism behind the variety of gravestones and markers placed at the burial plots.
Tour the Southern Gothic landscape at Bonaventure Cemetery
St. Louis Cemetery #1 – New Orleans, Louisiana
As the oldest cemetery in New Orleans still in existence, dating back to 1789, St. Louis Cemetery #1 has a rich story to tell with the characters being none other than those interred within its boundaries. Cemetery goers can visit the tombs of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, William Claiborne (first American Governor of Louisiana), and for chess fans – Paul Morphy, considered the unofficial World Champion of Chess who has a tragic story of his own. You can even see the pyramid-shaped tomb set aside for Nicholas Cage to be interred upon his death. It is said that the cemetery is haunted by the Voodoo Queen herself as well as other spirits looking for a place to rest their weary souls.
Walk amongst the dead on the official tour of St. Louis Cemetery #1
Resurrection Cemetery – Justice, Illinois
One of the most chilling ghost stories in U.S. history is connected to the Resurrection Cemetery located along Archer Avenue in Justice, IL – a suburb of Chicago. Spanning about 400 acres, Resurrection was established in 1904 and currently has about 190,000 people buried onsite. It is said that late at night, drivers in the Chicago area see a woman hitchhiking, and those who are brave enough to stop and pick her up have said that one of two things happen…when they drive by the Resurrection Cemetery she simply disappears from the car, or she asks to stop and be let out only to disappear before the driver’s eyes once outside of the car. Thus is the ghost story of Resurrection Mary.
Ghost stories abound at Resurrection Cemetery
Haunted Hotels
Omni Mount Washington Resort – Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is the Omni Mount Washington Resort. Built in 1902 by Joseph Stickney, a New Hampshire native whose fortune was made in the coal mining industry, the hotel was an escape for affluent residents of New York, Philadelphia, and Boston looking for a getaway.
Throughout the years, many updates have been made to the property, but it is said that Carolyn Stickney, Joseph’s widowed wife, still haunts the hotel to this day and has been seen descending the stairs for dinner, gliding in the hallways wearing a Victorian-era dress, and sitting on the edge of the bed in Suite 314 brushing her hair. After Joseph’s death, Carolyn married Prince Jean Baptiste Marie de Faucigny Lucinge, thus becoming a Princess and continued to be involved in development of the hotel. The Princess Lounge is named after Carolyn and her beautiful maple bed remains in Suite 314.
Visit the Omni Mount Washington Resort
Don CeSar Hotel – St. Pete Beach, Florida
Along the shore of St. Pete’s Beach stands the Don CeSar Hotel, nicknamed “The Pink Lady”, which has a storied past filled with heartache and longing.
In 1924, Thomas Rowe set out to build the Don CeSar hotel after falling in love with a woman named Lucinda at a pink-hued hotel in Spain. When it was apparent that they could never be together, Thomas moved to America and began building his own pink palace in the hopes Lucinda would hear word of this beautiful hotel and visit one day. Thomas and Lucinda were not reunited on earth but many a guest has seen their spirits walking along the beach. You’ll know it’s them when you realize there are no footprints left behind in the sand!
Experience spooky fun, sand, and sun at the Don CeSar Hotel
Hotel Monteleone – New Orleans, Louisiana
There is always a spooky reason to visit New Orleans, as it is arguably the most haunted city in the country, so head over to the French Quarter and stay (if you dare) at the Hotel Monteleone. The hotel has had its fair share of famous guests including literary geniuses such as Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, and Truman Capote, which add to the hotel’s air of romance and mystery. Most of the unearthly experiences have been reported in connection with the 14th floor – which, truth be told, is the 13th floor.
One of the more famous ghosts is that of 3-year-old Maurice Begere who fell ill with a fever and died in the hotel while his family were out at the opera that night. Maurice was with his nanny at the time of his death, and it is reported that his mother would visit the hotel for years after to connect with her dead son’s apparition. Other eerie happenings center on the elevator stopping frequently at the 14th floor without being prompted and child-like giggling has been heard in the halls.
Have a spine-tingling visit at the Hotel Monteleone
Spooky Theme Park Experiences
Knott’s “Scary” Farm – Buena Park, California
Celebrate “50 Years of Nightmares” with Knott’s Berry Farm! For select nights through September and October, visitors can be scared silly with haunted mazes, spine-tingling attractions, and ghoulish culinary creations. The park fully transforms into an immersive, haunting experience with drifting fog and creepy landscapes as a backdrop to heart-pounding jump scares.
Keep one eye open at Knott’s “Scary” Farm
Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights – Orlando, Florida
Universal Studios has many horror movies under their belt to use as inspiration for the haunted houses and attractions that set the stage for their Halloween Horror Nights event – and they use them to their advantage. Boasting 10 haunted houses with themes from The Exorcist, Stranger Things, and Universal’s monsters and villains, there will surely be something for everyone to scream about. In addition to haunted houses, there will be designated “scare” zones, exhilarating rides, and mesmerizing live entertainment.
Experience screams, thrills, and chills at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights
We hope this inspires you to create a spooky adventure of your own this fall! Been to any of these chilling places? Let us know at WinniWanderer@winni.com. Hearing from you will make our day!
By Staff Contributor
Be one of the first to see our insider offers, travel tips, first-hand reviews, recipes from around the globe, exciting vacation giveaways & more…straight to your inbox!