The year 2020 has taken a lot from us, but thankfully Spooky Season is not one of them. Renting a place for a night or two is one of the few activities we have left — why not lean into it? Nothing punctuates October like staying in a legitimate haunted house, so take a look at this list of haunted destinations that you can rent — and if you do, maybe bring a night light.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Fall River, Massachusetts
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You probably know the story of how Lizzie Borden killed her father and stepmom over 100 years ago in a Massachusetts bed-and-breakfast — well, know you can amp up your Halloween season by actually staying in the place. There are multiple rooms available, but come on, you know you want to stay in Lizzie's room. Contact the B&B directly for pricing, but Lizzie's room will set you back at least $225 a night.
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Oh, did you think you were going to miss the chance to be a real-life Ghostbuster? The B&B has ghost hunting equipment ready for you, and they'll even teach you how to use it.
Saint Paul, Minnesota
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Don't be fooled by the very English name, because this mansion is not sitting atop some cliff in the middle of the United Kingdom. You can get a taste of the iconic European haunted mansion vibe in Minnesota — the sheer look of the place is enough to be on a poster for the next Conjuring movie. One night will set you back $78.
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In addition to the typical roster of ghouls (shout out to Rosalia Fihn who died of typhoid here in the early 1900s), the Manor is also haunted by friendly ghost, Stanley. Set some popcorn out, and perhaps Stanely will watch TV with you like Casper does in that Geico commercial.
Fort Benton, Montana
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You'll read about a lot of similar ghost noises and visions in this list, but there's one thing that the Grand Union Hotel has that most others don't: a ghost horse. Despite the fact that horses are terrifying enough when they're alive, guests have heard the galloping of a horse that can't be seen. The sounds of kids moving around the halls has been another common occurrence, but let's be real — nothing in this whole world is scarier than a ghost horse. Rooms start at $155 a night.
Why is the hotel haunted by a horse, you ask? Well, as the legend goes, one night a cowboy was killed while trying to ride his horse up the stairs.
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Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
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It's hard to imagine that there's a single inch of Gettysburg that isn't haunted (based on the nightmarish moments that have occurred on its grounds), and this historic farm house is no exception. Though the owners claim the spirits are friendly, guests have heard the sounds of Civil War soldiers screaming, which feels quite unfriendly if you ask us. A night of ghostly screaming will set you back just $109.
Many of the rentable haunted farm houses throughout Gettysburg have legitimate blood stains on the floors… and who knows where else. Keep your eyes peeled and tread carefully.
Portland, Oregon
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Room 703 is where you want to be if you want to get into the thick of it. As the story goes, a man jumped to his death from there, and guests staying in rooms that end in 3 often hear screaming. After nearly 100 years, it's an easy bet that there are more than a few specters in the air. Rooms start at $144.
If boring old screams are too intangible for you, consider staying in room 503. That's the room where people see objects move on their own.
Kansas City, Missouri
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Back when it was called the Savoy, you simply couldn't even keep up with the number of ghostly sights or haunting sounds — it may even be the reason for the rebrand. Between reports of music playing in empty rooms, doors opening on their own, and faucets turning on in the middle of the night, it's safe to say the place is full of ghostly energy. Get your spooky room for $126 and up a night, depending on the season.
One room in particular, 505, has been the site of many of the sights and sounds people have heard. One girl even attempted to catch the ghost on film.
Related: 20 Most Haunted Hotels in America
Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte, France
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Renting your own castle? Amazing. Living luxuriously in the French countryside? Also amazing. Unfortunately, the place is 1000 years old which means it's pretty much a lock to be filled with spirits. Old, eerie, and overgrown with ivy, the place is the absolute picture of a haunted house. Those who have slept within its walls have seen and heard faces, noises, and all the other classic poltergeist hits. If you decide to stay, know that the chateau has a 7-day minimum.
If you want to double down on your journey through haunted France, head over to the nearby Fortress of Miolans, which was a prison for over 200 years.
Coral Gables, Florida
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Built in 1926, the Biltmore is keeping it old school with their ghosts. Creaking floors, floating ghost-girls, and severed limbs are the staple haunts of the just-outside-Miami hotel. In the 40s, it was transformed into a military hospital to support World War II, and if that isn't a solid cause of a ghost infestation, we don't know what is. Get your scare on for $225 a night.
No haunted hotel is complete without a scary story about the 13th floor, and the Biltmore is no exception; it's where the infamous gangster Thomas "Fatty" Walsh was killed.
Related: 19 Spooky Ghost Towns Across America
Louisville, Kentucky
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The Seelbach has a few claims to fame in the haunting department, but nothing is more famous than the fact that in 1936 a woman by the name of Patricia Wilson was found dead at the bottom of an elevator shaft. These days, multiple guests have reported seeing her throughout the hotel, including a hotel chef in the 80s who claimed she can walk through walls. Grab a room for $141 a night.
Patricia Wilson was found dead in a blue dress — is it a coincidence that so many guests report seeing a woman in a blue dress around the elevator?
North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
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If you're willing to travel out into the middle of North Yorkshire to stay in a six-century-old haunted house, chances are you take these things seriously. The nearly unanimous reports of ghostly noises, moving objects, and sudden goosebumps should be enough to make your trip worth it. The $166 a night rate is a deal no matter what.
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If you really want to crank your experience up to 11, one of the rooms here is called The Madness Chamber. We don't want to know why.
Salem, Massachusetts
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Allegedly built on the site of a great many hangings during the Salem Witch Trials, the Hawthorne is one of the most famously haunted hotels in America. Perhaps when building hotels, it is best to not build them where many, many people were killed. Be on the lookout for witch stuff rather than ghost stuff — that means the sounds of cackling laughter, mysterious fog, and lots of sudden goosebumps. Rooms start at $149 a night.
The first woman killed during the Trials owned an apple orchard — maybe where the witch and poisoned apple trope really began (sorry, Snow White)? — and many people have said they can smell apples throughout the building — honestly, not the worst haunted hotel feature.
New Orleans, Louisiana
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For a town built on voodoo lore, it's no surprise that Hotel Monteleone frequently rouses its friends on the other side. Elevators misbehave, doors swing open and closed, and the ghoulish visages of children can be seen all over the place. Rooms start at $159.
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The most famous ghost story of Hotel Monteleone is centered around Maurice Begere, who died as a toddler in the hotel in the late 1800s. He later appeared before his mother and famously told her, "Don't worry Mommy, I'm fine."
Great Dunmow, United Kingdom
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We've got ourselves a classic right here: this Victorian mansion has every inch decked out with creepy knickknacks from almost 30 countries. Many guests claim most of the objects you can find around the place are fully possessed… we fully believe them. A stay in this creepy abode promising "unexplained smells and sounds" goes for $163 a night.
We all know that child ghosts seem to be a lot scarier than adult ghosts, which is probably why this place has fully recreated the bedroom of a dead seven year-old Edwardian kid.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
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For 400 years, La Fonda has been operating on a plot of land rich with New Mexico's more brutal history. Gunfights, hangings, and the rest of the macabre history decorate La Fonda's haunted past. Check in and you might experience men with long black coats disappearing at a moment's notice, or even the ghost of a cowboy sitting at the bar. Rooms start at $149 if you're brave enough to stay.
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With 180 rooms and suites, it makes sense that La Fonda has some room-specific ghosts floating around. Room 510 is the one you want — that's where you'll find the ghost of a bride who was murdered on her wedding night.
New Orleans, Louisiana
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A New Orleans mansion built well over 100 years ago is always a great place to start when looking for something that is definitely haunted. The resident Casper at the Parks Bowman Mansion in New Orleans is that of a young girl in a yellow dress (it is very nice of so many ghosts to wear brightly-colored clothing that makes them incredibly easy to spot). She's a hummer too, so if you hear any lullabies floating through the night, you know who gets the credit. Rooms start at $126 a night.
This little girl ghost is a prankster. She's known to hide people's glasses, so don't let yours out of your sight.
