America is home to a rich history, beautiful architecture and plenty of stories—as well as some of the world’s spookiest ghosts. From haunted houses to paranormal hot spots, America has plenty to offer.

1. Charter Street Cemetery: Salem, Massachusetts

   Salem, Massachusetts alone has enough spooky history to send shivers down one’s spine, but add in a cemetery and the frights really begin. Charter Street Cemetery holds the graves of many of those involved in the witch trials. Located right behind this cemetery is a memorial to those involved in the Salem Witch Trials. This is the perfect place to explore and hopefully find a ghost or two.

2.  McKamey Manor: Nashville, Tennessee

This isn’t your average haunted house. In order to pass through this house you must be 21 or older, complete a sports physical with a doctor’s note, pass a background check, sign a 40 page waiver and watch a two hour video preparing you for the horrors inside. Employees are allowed to physically and verbally assault patrons, who are provided with a safe word. If you make it through McKamey Manor you will be awarded $200,000; however, no one has made it longer than ten minutes so far.

3. Winchester Mystery House: San Jose, California

In 1884, Sarah Winchester built a mansion. She was mourning the loss of her husband, William Winchester, the creator of Winchester firearms. However, her mansion wasn’t a typical mansion; it was filled with mysterious twists and turns. The mansion, which still exists today, is seven stories tall, has stairs that lead to nowhere, windows that overlook other rooms, doors that open to reveal walls, dead end hallways and much more. The house is said to be haunted by those killed with Winchester firearms and is one of the creepiest spots in the country.

4. Brighton Asylum: Passaic, New Jersey

While this attraction is advertised as a haunted house, it’s actually so much more. The haunted house is held in an old abandoned insane asylum. This asylum was close down in 1952 due to the torture and terrible treatment of the inmates, as well as multiple patient and staff disappearances. Today the asylum is open once again, but as a haunted house. If the paranormal asylum and haunted house isn’t enough for you, you can always receive a free red glow stick. This red glow stick allows the actors to engage in physical contact with you during your walk through the haunted house. They will be allowed to force you away from your group or path, “abduct you,” pick you up and more.

5. Gettysburg National Military Park: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Over 50,000 Americans died on these grounds during the Civil War. Today, many are said to return as spirits, haunting those who enter. Many people report seeing ghosts, hearing screams or ending up cursed after vision Gettysburg. Others have even experienced full on, bloody and gruesome Civil War scenes in the basement of one of the buildings.

6. The Slaughterhouse: Des Moines, Iowa

This haunted house is complete with professional looking sets, costumes and makeup. The actors dress up as pigs who are looking to process you along with all the other humans. Plenty of guts, gore and blood are visible throughout the creepy, dimly lit hallways. To make things even scarier, the warehouse that the haunted house takes place in is a real meat processing plant the rest of the year.

7. Stanley Hotel: Estates Park, Colorado

This famous hotel was the inspiration behind one of Steven King’s most famous books, The Shining. The Stanley Hotel is referred to as Disneyland for ghosts and is one of the most haunted places in America. There have been reports of everything from luggage being mysteriously unpacked, to hearing children’s laughter to doors opening and shutting on their own. There are many hotspots for ghosts within the hotel; however, the most famous is room 217. This is the room Steven King stayed in on his visit and where he experienced paranormal activity.

8. Haunted Plantation: Waipahu, Hawaii

This haunted house takes place in a truly haunted plantation village. The village has 25 plantation houses, and over half are haunted. These houses are so haunted that the staff aren’t even allowed to enter alone. Add some scary music, lights and actors and you have the perfect haunted attraction.

9. Villisca Axe Murderer House: Des Moines, Iowa

This house was home to a family who was brutally murdered. The family was sleeping peacefully one night when a stranger entered their home and tore them all to pieces with his axe. He then proceeded to perform some type of ritual that included covering all the faces of the victims and mirrors with sheets. The mystery was never solved, and today the house is said to be alive with paranormal activity.

10. Field of Screams: Victor, Montana

Field of Screams is a three acre corn field filled with many frights. The haunted house starts with a walk through a haunted corn maze, where you try not to be attacked by the creatures lurking in the corn. You then enter tunnels, graveyards and clown infested playgrounds. Finally, you end with the haunted ghost town, making this the perfect Halloween fright.

American has plenty of places perfect for Halloween frights. Whether it be a real paranormal hot spot or a fun haunted house, the U.S. does not disappoint!

If you want can’t afford to fly out to these spooky spots, check out my last article “Spooky STL” to find out where you can get your share of Halloween frights around town.

Spooky STL