Northern America’s Most Haunted Places

Why is the North So Haunted?

“You go there when you’re at the end of your rope…Seattle is kind of the same thing, only it’s up here. Florida is down there. It’s either sunny or let’s go brood in the darkness of Seattle. It’s a more existential escape. Let’s just sit up there in the grayness and reflect.”

Marc Maron

Right next to the Canadian border, in that no man’s land where even Frosty needs a warm jacket during winter, ghosts aren’t just part of the landscape — they are part of the mind-scape. When Jack decided to off his family cause of writer’s block, the man was simply displaying a northern sensibility. One whose bellwether, during the first half of the 20th century, was full of furious invectives and a bit wary of the concept of alcoholic abstinence. When winter eventually did come, the world-hardened pioneers saw all manner of White Walkers. Booze, a lonely existence, a harsh existence, and a rather savage Mother Nature that did everything in her power to turn you into a cannibal. Donner Party anyone? That’s the North during the heydays of this great nation. An hour out of Chicago, a mile or two into the boondocks, and you might as well have gone to Narnia. The north was nothing more than sporadic metropolises separated by a large swath of land, and small towns where come winter, everything went deathly silent.

This was fertile ground for ghost stories — not only those brought by foreigners and migrants but those born in the region. Stories whose inception point was fraught with murder, deception, heartache, and madness. Why is the North so haunted? Why is the American North full of haunted locations? Because, come winter, when the days grow short, and the wind digs its fangs into your soul when the loneliness creeps in and pulls at your heart when every day is a fight for survival and death is just a smoldering fireplace with embers, devoid of wood and gas, when wolves howl right outside your door, come that season — all you’re left with is your regrets and spooks as companions. 

Most Haunted Locations In the North

Old Burying Point Cemetery, Salem, Massachusetts

Opened in 1637, this burial ground is the second oldest cemetery in the country. It’s also the final resting place of Salem Witch Trials Judge John Hathorne — though many people claim he isn’t “resting” at all. Hathorne’s ghost has been spotted in person and in photographs. He never showed remorse for his role in the unjust executions of 19 women, so it may be karma that keeps him trapped in Salem. He isn’t alone.

Legend says the ghosts of the “witches” linger at the cemetery too. Their bodies were dumped there due to the superstition that it was unlucky to touch a witch. Visitors have reported hearing voices and feeling sudden cold spots while walking through the old graveyard as if they are surrounded by tortured souls.

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois

Chicago has an unfortunate history of disrespecting burial grounds. Years of vandalism and theft have caused intense paranormal activity at Bachelors Grove Cemetery, and zoo animals have perturbed the spirits of the old Chicago City Cemetery. Yes, zoo animals.

The Lincoln Park Zoo, which opened in 1868, was built over a cemetery that had closed a decade earlier due to its proximity to the main water supply. Though the majority of the bodies were moved at that time, more than a few corpses were still present when construction on the zoo began. An estimated 12,000 bodies still remain under the attraction’s walkways and exhibits, so there’s no question as to why people have reported seeing “Victorian-era ghosts” on site. One ghostly figure is said to hang out near the lion exhibit. Was her grave there or does she just enjoy big cats? We may never know.

The Shanghai Tunnels, Portland, Oregon

In the mid-1900s, Portland was known as the most dangerous port city on the West Coast due to the Shanghai Tunnels. These tunnels were built by Chinese workers during Chinatown’s trade businesses. They connected the basements of the city’s buildings to the Willamette River and made transporting goods from cargo ships to the city much easier. Unfortunately, the tunnels were used for an evil purpose. Sailors and workmen, who enjoyed a night of drinking in the saloons, were drugged, and their bodies carried through the tunnels to the waterfront. There they were sold as slaves to a crooked ship’s captain in need of crew. By the time the men woke up, they were already at sea towards Asia with no options but to work or starve to death. This kidnapping practice was called “shanghaiing” or “crimping”. 

Today most of the tunnels that are used as tourist attractions hold haunting spirits. Inside the tunnels, visitors report seeing the ghost of an Asian man, nicknamed Sam, running past them. The spirit loves to play tricks on visitors by moving things around or spook them by whispering in their ears. Others report being touched on their shoulders, pulled by their shirts, or seeing shadows lurking in the tunnels. As Sam is believed to be a friendly ghost, other spirits are not so sociable. Many visitors have felt being watched. One guest recalls someone whistling at him. All of a sudden, he was inexplicably thrown to the floor as something heavy lay on his back. After a few minutes, he stood up and turned to see who had whacked him. No one was behind him. These ghostly activities occur almost every day. 

Rosario Resort & Spa – Orcas Island, Washington

Robert Moran was a shipbuilder who lived in Seattle and worked in his ship repair business. Due to health issues, he bought land on Orcas Island and started to build his retirement mansion. It was named Rosario.  Miraculously, Robert’s health recovered. He sold Rosario to Donald Rheem and his wife Alice Goodfellow in 1938 in which they vacationed for almost 20 years. The house passed through several owners until it reached Gil Geiser, who opened Rosario Resort & Spa in 1960. Today the resort is still in business. 

Over the years, employees and guests have witnessed the ghost of Alice Goodfellow haunting the resort. She is called the “Lady in Red,” as she appears wearing her red nightie and high heels. Her spirit is mostly sensed on the second floor where her bedroom used to be. When she lived in the former mansion, she frequently rode a motorcycle to the bar at night just wearing her sleeping gown. Her presence has been riding her spectral bike. Guests have spotted her apparitions in the parking lot, near the reception, and in the hallways. Alice loves to mark her presence by touching male guests seductively on their backs.  Guests staying in the resort often complain of loud love-making noises from one of the rooms. However, the room is always empty. Faucets are regularly turned on and off inexplicably, and linens are tossed by invisible hands.  

Oregon Vortex – Gold Hill, Oregon

The Oregon Vortex Mystery House is a roadside attraction that opened to tourists in 1930, located on Sardine Creek in Gold Hill, Oregon. The attraction is considered a mystery or natural visual phenomenon where balls roll uphill, brooms stand on their own, and the height of two people changes depending on where they stand. These effects were considered the result of paranormal properties around the area. The Oregon Vortex story originated in the Native American period. Their horses were reluctant to come near the area, so the natives called it the “Forbidden Ground”. They believed that strange paranormal conditions existed there, so they felt disturbed. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 20th century that a scientific explanation was found. 

The Oregon Vortex Mystery House was a former gold examining office. It was built in 1904 by the Old Grey Eagle Mining Company, which slithered from its original foundation in the early 1900s, ending at an odd angle. In 1914, the abandoned almost-collapsed house was rediscovered by William McCollugh. He called his engineer friend, John Litster, to investigate the phenomena further. Litster’s research concluded that there was a 165-foot magnet radius field around the house. When he died, his wife sold the Oregon Vortex explanation to Ernie and Irene Cooper. Since then, The Coopers’ daughter Maria and grandson Mark have kept the attraction open. It was concluded that odd angles create an optical illusion of objects outwardly rolling uphill. Nonetheless, the answer of why outside the house people’s height appear to grow and shrink depending on their location remains an unsolved mystery. 

Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington

The waterfront Pike Market Place was opened in 1907 out of the necessity of selling products at fair prices. Farmers set up their shops and people started buying their produce. The first building was built by Frank Goodwin. From then on, the market continued expanding throughout the 1930s when restaurants, hotels, and theaters were added. However, between the late 1940s and the 1950s, when suburban supermarkets were built, the market’s sales began to decrease. Small businesses tried to stay afloat, but unfortunately, the buildings started to decay and doomed the place. Soon, a Seattle architect and a group of people decided to launch a campaign and save the market. The voters’ efforts managed to establish a new Public Development Authority to repair and administer the market’s structures in the 1971 election. Today the Pike Place Market is still open.

Several ghosts roam the market. Since 1982, every three months, Native American Princess Angeline’s full-body apparition is seen floating up and down the market carrying her hand-made woven baskets to sell. Angeline belonged to the Duwamish tribe back in 1855 and lived between Pine and Pike streets. Also, the entity of a tall, black man can be seen looking out the window of the Vitium Capitale Restaurant. Frank Goodwin’s ghost stands at the entrance of the Alibi Room helping visitors find directions to then disappear into thin air. A nine-year-old boy named Jacob haunts the Merry Tales Toy store and countless Duwamish Indians apparitions are reported at the Kell’s Irish Pub. 

The Yesler Building, Seattle, Washington

Seattle pioneer Henry Yesler built the Yesler Building in 1891 as the Bank of Commerce Building. This building was one of the first brick and cement structures buildings to be built following the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. Its unique design featured a second-floor balcony and Richardsonian Romanesque embellishments. Yesler wasn’t just known as the first city’s major and Seattle’s wealthiest man, he was a spiritualist. He believed he could communicate with the dead. When his son George died, Yesler along with his wife and astrologer William Henry Chaney, supposedly hosted rituals to summon George. It was believed the design of the building was planned to improve its ability to enclose spirits. Yesler died in 1892. Over the years, the building has passed from owner to owner. In 1991, King County purchased the building, renovated and rehabilitated it, returning it to good health. Today the building houses King County’s several offices. 

During the different uses the building has had since Henry Yesler died, workers have reported hearing and feeling paranormal activities. Doors that open and close by themselves, inexplicable noises in empty offices, and shadows that hide in the dark are some of the hauntings that this building contains. It is believed that from all the seances performed by Yesler, some of the spirits invoked decided to make the Yesler Building their new home. Many workers have reported feeling persecuted or surveilled by entities while working in their offices. Security guards claim to see during the night shift bright orbs floating along the empty hallways. Some guards have even heard screams and moans coming from the basement.

Pittock Mansion, Portland, Oregon

Henry and Georgina Pittock got married in Portland in 1860. In 1909, they decided to build a house to retire in. Architect Edward T. Foulke was in charge of designing the forty-six Renaissance exterior mansion on a hill overlooking Portland. The Pittock Mansion was completed in 1914, but unfortunately, the couple didn’t enjoy the house for long. Georgina died in 1918 at 72 years old, and Henry in 1919 at 85 years old. Members of the family lived in the mansion for several years, but their grandson tried to sell it in 1958. The mansion remained unused until 1964, when the City of Portland bought it, restored it, and opened it in 1965 as the Pittock Mansion Museum. Tours are open daily to the public. 

Since the 1960s, visitors have reported the mansion to be haunted by the Pittocks, the groundskeeper, and other friendly ghosts. Visitors have reported smelling the scent of Georgina’s favorite perfume in the upper rooms. A portrait of Henry Pittock often moves around on the wall by itself, windows open and close at their own will, and lights turned on inexplicably. Also, unknown footsteps are heard around the house as full-body apparitions love to move furniture from room to room. Finally, on the northern side of the garden, visitors report hearing the sound of a shovel digging the ground. It is presumed that belongs to the groundskeeper who loved to plant roses. 

Red Onion Saloon, Skagway, Alaska

The Red Onion Saloon was built in 1897 during the Klondike Gold Rush. It became an exclusive brothel in 1898. The first floor held the saloon and on the second floor, there were 10 small rooms where the madams entertained their guests. The way men ordered their girls was unique. Ten dolls were placed behind the bar representing each lady on the upper floor. If the doll was laid back, it meant that she was busy with a customer. If the doll sat straight, it meant that she was available. The saloon was also known for its dance halls. However, bigger dance halls were built, and it became harder to attract more customers. Over the years, the saloon has been used for several businesses. In 1980, it reopened with guided tours as a saloon and restaurant with pictures of the madams decorating the walls. There is also a brothel museum on the second floor. 

Numerous ghosts haunt the place. One is that of a former prostitute named Lydia. Visitors have smelled her perfume around the upper floor as well as feeling cold spots where the scent comes from. Her ghostly presence in a long dark dress has been seen floating down the staircase at night. Another ghost is that of another prostitute named Diamond Lil. She marks her presence to male customers by gently rubbing their legs with her hands and whispering in their ears. On the other hand, a malicious not so friendly male spirit manifests himself in the saloon. Visitors have seen his face reflected in the mirror hanging in the old Madam’s bedroom.

Old Town Pizza, Portland, Oregon

The Old Town Pizza restaurant sits where the Merchant Hotel used to be and above the scandalous Shanghai Tunnels used to kidnap men and sell them as working slaves for Asian ship captains. The hotel opened in 1880 and was the first building to have the only hydraulic elevator in the city. Since the late 1890s, the hotel changed owners several times until it closed in the mid-1960s. In the late 1960s, the Skidmore Development Company purchased the building and by 1971, the entire building was occupied. The Accuardi family bought a space in the building and transformed it into the Old Town Pizza joint. It opened its doors in 1974 and 2003; the family sold it to Adam Milne, the current owner of Old Town Pizza. 

A constant presence at Old Town Pizza is Nina, the resident ghost. Nina used to work as a prostitute in the basement of the Merchant Hotel, where she lived with her 12-year-old daughter. Since Christian missionaries wanted to stop prostitution, they convinced Nina to provide information in return for freeing her from her miserable life. Nina started cooperating but was later found dead at the bottom of the elevator shaft. It was never known who killed her. Nina’s daughter disappeared and was never found. Nina’s ghost has been around for more than 100 years. Patrons and staff of Old Town Pizza report seeing her floating through the restaurant wearing a long black gown. Upon entering the restaurant, guests can smell her perfume and staff members have heard whispers coming from the basement at closing time. Nina usually looks for children to play with or move silverware from table to table. Childlike laughter is also heard coming from behind the bar. Some say it is Nina’s daughter playing with her mom.  

The Alaskan Hotel, Juneau, Alaska 

The Alaskan Hotel was opened by the McCloskey brothers in 1913. The hotel was built as a resting spot for gold miners in town. In 1977, the hotel was ordered to close by the Fire Marshal and the Litter Control Board. The new owners, Bettye Adams and her husband Mike, restored the property in its original Victorian style and reopened it in the same year. Today the hotel is managed by Joshua Adams, Mike and Bettye’s son.

It’s believed that the Alaskan Hotel host several ghosts. Room 219 is the most haunted place in the entire hotel. A woman named Alice was driven to work as a working girl to support herself after her husband’s disappearance while working on a mine. Months later, he came back and found his wife with another man. After learning of his wife’s new profession, in a rage attack, he killed the man and his wife with a revolver. Today guests in rooms 219 and 218 said saw Alice’s vengeful spirit in a white gown haunting the rooms. Another room haunted by an evil spirit is Room 315. On May 19, 2007, a sailor from the USS Bunker Hill, checked into the hotel and stayed in Room 315. In the middle of the night, screams were heard inside the room and before the police could arrive, the sailor jumped out the window three stories down. In the room, blood was found splattered on the walls and in the bath’s mirror. As of today, no explanation could be made of the horrid scene found in the room or of the sailor’s behavior. Also, white orbs can be seen floating around the bar and beer mugs move on their own without explanation.

Northern State Mental Hospital, Sedro Woolley, Washington

Northern State Hospital opened in 1912 to solve the overcapacity in Washington’s Western State and Eastern State mental hospitals. It became the largest asylum in the state with over 2,700 mentally ill patients and violent prisoners. However, patients with epilepsy, addiction, deficit disorders, and menopausal depression were also committed. Unwillingly patients were confined or physically restrained. Although the hospital was established as a self-sufficient facility with a 700-acre farm for therapeutic purposes, unethical techniques were practiced. Straightjackets, shock treatments, psychosurgeries, hydrotherapy, and lobotomies were commonly administered. The hospital closed in 1973 after losing its funding. The abandoned property was handled by the county which turned it into a recreation area. Some standing buildings are used for Job Corps, while others are open to tour inside.  

At least 1,500 forgotten souls are buried in a cemetery behind the buildings, so ghostly apparitions and paranormal activities are common. Unexplained screams and voices are reported throughout the deserted buildings. Visitors have seen shadowy figures and the specter of a nurse pushing a patient in a wheelchair. Another common ghost is that of a young girl playing with a red ball, and a male ghost looking for her. 

 McMenamins Edgefield Hotel, Troutdale, Oregon

The McMenamins Edgefield Hotel used to be a lodging complex for the disabled and poor called The Multnomah County Poor Farm. It was built in 1911 to help them become independent through farming. Around the 1960s, Edgefield became a nursing home and an institution for mentally ill children. Because of costly renovations, the county decided to close Edgefield. By 1985, it was set for demolition. However, the Troutdale Historical Society convinced the county to maintain the historic buildings. In the early 1990s, the McMenamins brothers bought the entire property from the county, turning it into a hotel. Lots of ghostly apparitions have been reported around the hotel. A soothing mother can be heard every night at midnight singing nursery rhymes to her crying baby. Both were buried at the property long ago. 

On another night, a freaked-out guest reported to the manager a frightening presence in her room. When the manager was searching the room, both heard a heavy voice say “Get Out!” Other guests report being pushed by unseen hands, hearing whispers when ascending or descending the stairs, and seeing a ghostlike nurse in the hallways. There is also an elderly woman who wakes guests in the middle of the night by tapping them on the shoulder. Finally, there is the ghost of Room 215 who likes to keep everything in place. Whenever guests mess up the room, she tosses their clothes throughout the room and even out the window.

Campbell House, Spokane, Washington

The Campbell House was built in 1898 for Amasa B. Campbell and his wife Grace. It is said that three of the Campbell children were murdered by an intruder in the early 1900s. Then the fourth kid who abducted and never found. However, other stories said that the couple only had one child named Helen who lived into her middle age. Keeping with this last version, when Grace died in 1924, her daughter donated the house to the Eastern Washington State Historical Society in her mother’s honor. The house was renovated into a museum, and a new building with more historical exhibits was added on the east grounds in 1960. 

There are many paranormal stories at the Campbell House. Visitors claim to be followed by the eyes of a portrait of Amasa B. Campbell as they walk the house. Other hauntings include visions of children joking in the bedrooms, unexplained noises, and slamming doors on their own. Visitors feel unease as they enter the house and are overwhelmed with fear. For the entire tour, they have explained constantly being followed and watched. 

The Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, Massachusetts

On August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally murdered in their home. Though Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie, was immediately suspected, she was acquitted the following year. The house — now a bed and breakfast for lovers of the paranormal — is reportedly haunted by several different spirits. Guests have heard disembodied noises, including creaking footsteps, and seen or felt apparitions.

Could it be Andrew and Abby seeking justice after all these years? Some people believe Lizzie herself haunts the house from time to time. Others claim to have seen and heard the spirits of two children who were murdered by their mother at the house next door. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, the house is certainly creepy. It’s been restored to look exactly like it did that fateful morning, taking visitors back to the moment before the hatchet struck down. You can book a night at the Borden House. 

Harvey Public Library, Harvey, North Dakota

The Harvey Public Library offers a wide selection of books, periodicals, CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks. It also contains books for children and juniors. However, the library is home to more than leisure readings and activities. It houses the spirit of Sophia Eberlein. She was a Russian immigrant who came to live in the United States. She married Hugo Eberlein and had two daughters. When Hugo died in 1928, she remarried Jacob Bentz. On October 2nd, 1931, over an argument, Jacob beat Sophie to death with a claw hammer while she slept. He cleaned the murder scene and place her body in her car and stagged an accident. At the moment, he was ruled out as a suspect. Jacob later tried to claim her life insurance. However, when Sophie’s daughters came home for the funeral, they found bloodstains and immediately contacted the police. Jacob was questioned for several days until he finally confessed. He was sentenced to life in prison. He died in 1944 in the state penitentiary. Later in 1990, The Harvey Public Library was built on the site of Sophie’s former residence and opened coincidentally on the anniversary of her funeral.

Since the Harvey Public Library’s inauguration, strange occurrences started to unfold. Witnesses have seen lights go on and off repeatedly without explanation and strange computer glitches. Books and keys disappear and reappear in odd places. The librarian explains how her favorite book went missing for a week. Even though it was a very colorful book – not easy to miss – the book was gone. She even reported it lost. Then, one morning, when entering the library to work, she found the book right on the chair where she sat during storytelling. At that moment, she felt a presence as cold air invaded her entire body. Inside the librarian’s office, built exactly on top of Sophie’s bedroom, screams can be heard, and cold chills can be felt. Employees have even found inexplicable blood marks on the floor, which immediately vanish in front of their eyes.

The Palmer House Hotel & Restaurant, Sauk Center, Minnesota

The Sauk Centre House was the town’s first hotel. It was a brothel and a saloon that burned to the ground on June 26, 1900. Then, in 1901, Ralph and Christena Palmer built the Palmer House Hotel on its site as a first-class hotel. The building became the first one with electricity in Sauk Centre and 40 rooms were added with the most modern amenities at the time. Many families, travelers, and businessmen made the hotel their regular home and some even died here. Over the years, the hotel passed several owners until 1993 when Kelley Freese bought it and renovated it to expose its natural beauty. During renovations, the hotel started to act on its own with ghostly stories and preternatural phenomena.

The most notorious spirit in the hotel is called Lucy and resides in Room 17. She was a prostitute working at the old brothel who was abused and some say murdered in the joint. Lucy is known for disliking male guests. She reacts by aggressively slamming the doors and dropping the room’s temperature to a freezing level. A newlywed couple also stated awakening in the middle of the night and see a tall man dressed in 1920s clothing. Guests have also complained fo having the furniture rearranged whenever they leave the room. Room 11 is another hotspot for paranormal activities. Loud knocks are heard on the walls and doors. The toilet flushes on its own and the TV remote keeps disappearing. The apparition of a little boy, who died of pneumonia while staying at The Palmer, has been seen playing with a ball in the hallways. Employees avoid going down to the basement as disembodied voices are heard and lights flickered. There is also the ghost of poet Sinclair Lewis who appears in the hotel’s bar. Many guests have started a conversation with him just to later found out that he is no longer among the living.

Maribel Caves Hotel, Maribel, Wisconsin

The Maribel Caves Hotel was more a therapeutic spa than a hotel itself. Its natural spring waters are believed to have healing powers. The three-story hotel was built in 1990 as a resort for the rich and famous. Personalities such as John Dillinger and Al Capone were among the many who visited the hotel. The Maribel also functioned as a spring bottling plant with carbonizing equipment. However, the plant started having funds problems in 1915. Consequently, it was bought by Adolph Cherney, owner of a construction company, in 1931. He and his family lived in the hotel until he died. As the building stayed abandoned for several years, it gained the reputation of being haunted. In 1981 it was purchased by Jeff Miller. Unfortunately, in 1985, the hotel mysteriously caught on fire reducing the building to its limestone structure. The hotel was abandoned and earned the nickname “Hotel Hell”. Today, the property is declared structurally unsafe as a 2013 tornado hit the area and further damaged what was left. Bone-chilling stories of evil spirits surround the grounds.

People who have dared to trespass the closed grounds claimed to have seen the shadow of a man looming through the many windows of the old hotel. The image of a child is visible on the second floor as well as around the ruins. It is believed that the young boy was among the victims who died in the blazing fire. Other visitors have felt cold hands pressed upon their backs as they approach the hotel. As they turned around, a pair of red eyes stared at them to immediately disappear among the bushes. Disembodied voices are heard in the basement and caves below. Stones can be seen floating as other objects move on their own. Phantom steps are heard and inexplicable lights chase whoever dares to get too close to the eerie structure. Many believed that the hotel held terrifying stories during its heydays.

Holy Family Orphanage, Marquette, Michigan

The catholic orphanage construction began in 1914 and finished in 1915. The place earned a reputation for NOT being a haven for children — false advertising. The nuns mentally and physically abused them by administering cruel and extreme punishments. Its first occupants were 60 Native American children who were taken as babies from their parents by eight nuns and placed for adoption without never knowing their true heritage. One of the horrific stories involved a little girl who stayed playing too long in the fierce blizzard, got pneumonia, and died. As a lesson to other children, the nuns displayed the girl’s dead body as a reminder of what would happen to them if they infringed the norms. Another story involves the mysterious death of a little boy. The nuns claimed that he had drowned in the close-by pond, but others said that he was beaten to death and the nuns covered it up by hiding his body in the basement. The orphanage seized operations in 1967 and the building was abandoned in 1980. In 2017, the property was purchased by a construction company and an apartment complex was built.

When renovations started, apparitions and paranormal phenomena began. Trespassers sneaked in and reported seeing abandoned items move on their own. An old baby carriage rolled across the hallway by unseen hands. Full-body apparitions dressed as nuns were seen inside several rooms believed to be the old dorms. Others saw an old medical table slammed against the wall and lights that flickered even when no electricity was available. A deadly smell was also felt near the basement where the little boy’s body was hidden. One person even experienced an extreme freezing blast of air as if something was standing near her. Once the apartment complex was built, tenants sometimes hear the sounds of children crying from the lobby where the little girl was left to see by everyone. White orbs are also seen floating around the complex.

Dude Rancher Lodge, Billings, Montana

The lodge was built in 1950 by Annabel and Percival Goan with a western ambiance. It was originally constructed using old demolished bricks from the old St. Vincent’s hospital, the Russell Refinery, and the Washington School. The couple administered the hotel together until 1962 when Percival died in a car wreck. Annabel continued to run the hotel with the help of her loyal staff, but her health began to deteriorate. During her last years, she was cared for by the lodge employees until 1993 when she was placed in a nursing home. On February 2, 1983, Annabel died. Annabel’s grandson ran the Dude Rancher Lodge for several years. The lodge was purchased in 1991 by Virginia Karlson and has been the owner since then.

Since Annabel’s passing, strange phenomena and ghostly sightings have repeatedly been reported at the hotel. Guests and staff have seen the spirits of Annabel and Percival wandering the halls. It seems that they refuse to leave the place they love the most. A former cook named Bob is seen around the kitchen making a midnight snack. Sometimes the pots and pans clatter without explanation. His spirit also loves to move cooking utensils around making the hotel’s cook crazy. Unseen little children have been heard running up and down the 2nd-floor hallway. It is believed that their spirits came along with the stones used in the school during construction. Annabel’s ghost has been seen in Room 226 which used to belong to her grandson when he was managing the lodge. Maids have reported hearing inexplicable knocks on the wall and doors, lights turning on and off on their own, and the TV working in its accord. Her entity is seen walking on the 2nd floor wearing a nightgown. There is another female specter who resides in the basement and has been seen by the housekeeper while doing laundry.

Delve Deeper into America’s Most Haunted Places

America’s haunted history is as vast and complex as the country itself, and this list only scratches the surface.

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