Spooky Places in America

It seems almost every town has its haunted house, a famous urban legend, ghost story or other haunted places or tales. Others, however, seem to stand apart from the crowd when it comes to making the hair stand up on the back of the neck. Here are some such places in The United States.

Cassadaga, Florida

This small Florida town north of Orlando was founded by George P. Colby, known as a “trance medium” in about 1875. Colby is said to have worked with multiple spirit guides who gave him knowledge and advice. In a séance, one such guide, a Native American by the name of Seneca, told him to travel to Florida. It was there Colby set up his Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association and formed the town of Cassadaga. Today, the town contains a hotel, auditorium, library, healing center, bookstore, welcome center and its famous “Devil’s Chair”. Leave a full can of beer on the chair, and it is said it will be empty by morning. Sit in the chair and some believe you will see the devil himself. Uh, no thank you.

St. Augustine Florida

By day, it is a pleasant, bustling, even quaint tourist destination. By evening however, especially in the fall, it becomes a haven for ghost hunters and those looking for things that go bump in the night. St. Augustine has made quite the business of its long history as America’s oldest city, and that includes ghost tours on trams and in buggies. The Old City Jail is a haunting hotspot in the city.

Mansfield, Ohio

Mansfield is home to the old Ohio State Reformatory, known to many as “Shawshank” the prison in the movie based on a Stephen King story. While the movie had its frightening moments, the actual prison itself is flooded in an eerie atmosphere. Many of the cells and solitary remain along with the warden’s office. The attraction even offers visitors an opportunity to spend the night. “Get busy livin’…” or get me the heck outta here.

Moundsville, West Virginia

There are so many reasons the old West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia is so creepy it is hard to know where to start. Maybe it is because of its unsettling location literally in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Perhaps it is its classic Gothic-style construction that is so eerie. It could be the prison’s violent history which saw 36 homicides, 96 executions (mostly by hanging) and deadly riots. Spooky may not be a big enough word for this place.

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans may be one of the few places that is scarier in the daylight. It is then you can see just how old the buildings in the French Quarter are and how thin are the streets are. It is in daylight when you can best visit the historic cemeteries and above ground crypts. There are, of course, the night-time haunted tours including visits to the Sultans Palace, LaLaurie Mansion and assorted haunted bars, bed and breakfasts and hotels.

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