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America has no shortage of haunted places, but some ghost stories are particularly intriguing because they are attached to real houses with real histories.
Across the country, old mansions, family homes, hotels and historic buildings have become associated with stories of unexplained footsteps, apparitions and other strange occurrences. Whether you believe the stories or simply enjoy a good piece of folklore, visiting one of these places can be a fascinating way to experience a different side of American history.
What makes these houses particularly interesting is that the ghost stories rarely exist in isolation. Behind the legends are often stories of wealthy families, wars, murders, illness, immigration and the changing fortunes of American cities.
For families who enjoy history with a slightly spooky twist, these properties can provide something different from the usual museums and tourist attractions. Some are suitable for a family day out, while others deal with much darker historical events and are better suited to older teenagers and adults.
So, if you’re looking for some of the most famous haunted houses in the US that you can actually visit, here are nine worth knowing about.
1. Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California
Few American houses have a story quite like the Winchester Mystery House.
The enormous Victorian mansion in San Jose was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of William Wirt Winchester, whose family’s fortune came from the Winchester rifle. Construction continued for decades, eventually producing a bizarre 160-room mansion filled with staircases, corridors, doors and architectural features that have helped make the property one of America’s best-known unusual houses.
According to the traditional story, Sarah Winchester consulted a spiritualist after the deaths of her husband and daughter. She was allegedly told that she needed to keep building the house to appease the spirits of people killed by Winchester rifles.
Whether that explanation is accepted as historical fact or treated as part of the property’s mythology, the house itself is undeniably unusual.
Visitors can take guided tours through the mansion and learn about Sarah Winchester, the construction of the property and the stories that have developed around it. The result is an experience that is as much about architecture and history as it is about ghosts.
It is also a good example of why haunted houses can work particularly well as family travel attractions. Even children who aren’t particularly interested in paranormal stories can become fascinated by a house filled with strange staircases, unexpected doors and unusual rooms.
2. The Whaley House, San Diego
If you’re looking for a historic house where the ghost stories are deeply intertwined with the history of its surroundings, San Diego’s Whaley House is one of America’s most famous examples.
Built in 1857 by Thomas Whaley, the house has had several uses over the years, including serving as a family home, courthouse and theatre. The property is also associated with Yankee Jim Robinson, who was executed on the site before the Whaley family built their home there.
The house eventually became a museum, and reports of paranormal activity have contributed to its reputation as one of America’s most haunted historic buildings.
Visitors have reported hearing footsteps and other unexplained sounds, while stories about members of the Whaley family have become part of the property’s folklore.
The Whaley House is particularly interesting because you don’t need to approach it as a paranormal believer. Its history alone makes it worth exploring, while the ghost stories provide another layer to the experience.
For families visiting San Diego, it can be an unusual alternative to the city’s more conventional attractions, although parents should check the nature of the experience before bringing younger children.
3. The Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, Massachusetts
Few American houses have a more famous — and disturbing — history than the Lizzie Borden House.
In 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered inside their home in Fall River. Lizzie Borden, Andrew Borden’s daughter, was accused of the murders but was ultimately acquitted. More than a century later, the case remains one of America’s most famous historical mysteries.
The house has since become a destination for people interested in the case and paranormal history. Visitors can tour the property, and the house also operates as a bed and breakfast, allowing guests to spend the night in the historic building.
This is one of those places where the history is arguably more compelling than the supernatural claims. The murders, investigation and trial provide enough mystery to keep people fascinated without needing to decide whether the house is actually haunted.
Because of the nature of the story, this is probably more appropriate for older teenagers and adults than young children. For visitors with an interest in true crime or unusual American history, however, it offers a fascinating glimpse into Victorian-era life and one of the country’s most notorious criminal cases.
4. The Brickhouse Inn, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg’s reputation for ghost stories extends well beyond its famous battlefield. Throughout the town, historic buildings that witnessed the events of the Civil War have accumulated their own stories of unexplained activity, and the Brickhouse Inn is among them.
Built in the nineteenth century, the property stood in Gettysburg during the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. Like many buildings in town, its history became intertwined with the enormous battle unfolding around it. Today, the inn is known both for its historic character and for the paranormal stories associated with the property.
Guests and visitors have reported unusual experiences over the years, helping the Brickhouse Inn earn a place among Gettysburg’s better-known haunted locations. The stories are particularly interesting because they exist against the backdrop of a town where reminders of the Civil War are everywhere, from preserved buildings to the battlefield itself.
The Brickhouse Inn is also a good starting point for exploring Gettysburg’s wider collection of haunted houses and historic locations. Several supposedly haunted properties are within the town, including the nearby Farnsworth House, while many more ghost stories are connected to the surrounding battlefield.
5. Farnsworth House, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is already one of the most historically significant destinations in the United States, so it probably shouldn’t be surprising that the town has developed a strong reputation for ghost stories.
The Farnsworth House is one of the historic properties associated with those stories.
During the Civil War, the building was used by Confederate sharpshooters, and it later served as a makeshift hospital. The property survived the Battle of Gettysburg with numerous bullet holes, giving visitors a physical connection to one of the defining events in American history.
Over the years, stories of paranormal activity have become associated with the house, including reports of apparitions and unexplained activity.
But Gettysburg is a great example of why history and ghost stories don’t necessarily have to be treated as separate experiences.
Walking through the town, visiting the battlefield and hearing the local legends can all form part of the same trip.
6. Villisca Axe Murder House, Iowa
The Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa is one of the most notorious historic homes associated with American true crime and paranormal stories.
In 1912, six members of the Moore family and two visiting children were murdered inside the house. The crime shocked the small community of Villisca, and despite investigations and arrests, the case remains one of America’s most infamous unsolved murders.
Today, the house is preserved as a historic site and attracts visitors interested in the story of the murders as well as reports of paranormal activity associated with the property.
This is a very different type of haunted-house experience from visiting a historic mansion with a centuries-old ghost story. The events connected to the Villisca house are relatively recent, well documented and deeply disturbing.
For that reason, it is a destination that parents should research carefully before visiting with younger children. The historical subject matter is considerably darker than the folklore surrounding many traditional ghost tours.
For older teenagers and adults interested in American true crime, however, the house provides a striking example of how a real historical tragedy can become intertwined with decades of local legends.
7. McInteer Villa, Atchison, Kansas
Atchison, Kansas, is another American destination with a surprisingly strong reputation for paranormal history.
The McInteer Villa is one of the city’s best-known supposedly haunted properties. Built in the nineteenth century, the large Victorian house has accumulated stories of unexplained activity over the years and has become a destination for people interested in haunted architecture and paranormal folklore.
The house is particularly atmospheric because of its Victorian design. Even without the ghost stories, the building provides a glimpse into the architecture and domestic life of another period in American history.
That combination is what makes properties like the McInteer Villa interesting to travelers who enjoy unusual historic attractions. You aren’t simply visiting a “haunted house”; you’re visiting an old building with its own architectural and social history, then learning about the legends that have developed around it.
For families traveling through Kansas, it can be an unusual addition to a road trip, particularly for older children who enjoy mysteries and stories about historic buildings.
8. The Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana
Louisiana has a particularly rich tradition of ghost stories, and the Myrtles Plantation is one of the state’s most famous supposedly haunted properties.
The historic plantation dates back to the late eighteenth century and has accumulated numerous legends over the years. Stories connected with the property include reports of apparitions and unexplained activity, making it a popular destination for visitors interested in the paranormal.
Like many historic properties in the American South, however, its story is complicated by the history of slavery and the people who lived and worked there.
That is worth remembering when visiting places with romanticized or sensationalized ghost stories. The real history of these properties can be considerably more significant than the legends that developed later.
For families, that can actually make the experience more meaningful. A visit can prompt conversations about who lived in the house, how the surrounding community changed and why particular stories survived.
9. Savannah’s Historic Haunted Houses
Savannah is almost tailor-made for anyone who enjoys combining historic sightseeing with ghost stories.
The city has beautifully preserved historic streets, old cemeteries, historic squares and buildings with centuries of stories behind them. It is also one of the American cities most strongly associated with ghost tourism.
Rather than visiting one isolated haunted house, families can make the entire historic district part of the experience.
A Savannah ghost tour is a good way to see historic buildings after dark while hearing the legends associated with them. The atmosphere changes completely once the sun goes down, and even children who aren’t particularly interested in ghosts may enjoy exploring the old streets at night.
Savannah also gives visitors the opportunity to explore individual historic houses and other supposedly haunted locations during the day. That makes it possible to build an entire weekend around the city’s history without turning the trip into one long paranormal investigation.
Haunted Houses Can Be Part of a Bigger Family Trip
One of the best things about visiting supposedly haunted houses is that you don’t actually have to believe in ghosts.
A historic house can be fascinating because of its architecture, the people who lived there and the events that happened inside it. The ghost stories simply give visitors another reason to become curious about the building.
For families, that can be especially useful.
A child who isn’t interested in a conventional history tour might suddenly want to know everything about a house after hearing that somebody supposedly saw a ghost in one of its rooms.
That curiosity can lead to questions about the real history of the building.
Who lived there?
What happened to them?
How old is the house?
What was the surrounding city like at the time?
Which parts of the story are documented and which have become folklore?
Those questions turn a spooky attraction into an opportunity to explore history.
How to Choose a Haunted House With Children
Not every haunted attraction is suitable for every family.
Some historic properties offer educational tours during the day and more frightening paranormal experiences at night. Others are specifically marketed toward adults and may involve mature historical subjects or genuinely frightening storytelling.
Before booking, check the age recommendations and description of the experience.
It can also be worth choosing a destination where the haunted property is only one part of the trip. That way, if the children decide that ghosts aren’t for them, there are still museums, historic sites, parks, and other attractions to enjoy.
The best family experiences are usually the ones where everyone can find something interesting.
A Different Way to Explore America
America’s haunted houses offer something that traditional sightseeing doesn’t always provide: a story you can physically step into.
You can walk through the same rooms where historical events took place, explore the streets surrounding an old building and hear the stories that generations of locals have passed down.
Whether you believe a particular house is haunted is ultimately beside the point.
The history is real. The buildings are real. The legends are part of the cultural history of the places where they developed.
And for families looking for something a little different on their next American adventure, exploring the country’s haunted houses can turn an ordinary city break into a trip that everyone remembers.
Just make sure you leave a little room in the itinerary for the possibility that the children will spend the rest of the holiday asking whether that noise upstairs was really the house settling.