Haunted House Horror

One of the most striking antebellum mansions in Mississippi, Cedar Grove has, for all of its beauty, seen its fair share of tragedy.  Originally the home of John and Elizabeth Klein, it was also the site of some of the family’s deaths.  One of their sons was killed on the back porch stairs when a gun accidentally went off – he was just 17 years old – and a daughter and two young infants died here as well, with their deaths attributed to disease.  John Klein enjoyed pipe smoking, and near his study the smell of a pipe is often caught.  Elizabeth has frequently been seen throughout the house, acting as if she’s simply carrying out her usual day to day chores.  The apparition of a little girl has also been seen coming down the main stairs, and footsteps on the back porch stairs have also been heard.  Apart from activity linked to the family, many guests have reported seeing Civil War soldiers throughout the house and grounds – hardly surprising since the house was also a hospital dur

Dating to about 1720, although previously thought to be much older, this quaint brick cottage was once the home of Adam Thoroughgood, a successful tobacco farmer and businessman.  While it has had a rather uneventful history over the past three centuries, activity within the house hasn’t been so quiet.  Two apparitions are commonly sighted here, one being a man and the other a woman, both in 18th century attire.  The woman has been known to carry candles through the house while the man is simply observed passing from room to room, perhaps looking for something.  A large group of visitors even witnessed the sudden movement of inanimate objects. The Intrigue of Haunted Mansions People are always a bit more interested in haunted mansions because in many cases, these represent the achievement of dreams only to be compromised in the most tragic of ways. There are several examples of these types of houses within this article. The reason why mansions tend to be more enduring, besid

Undoubtedly Massachusetts’ most infamous residence, this house was the site of the notorious ax murders of the parents of Lizzie Borden, who herself was the main suspect in the murders.  There was so much evidence against her that she was quickly charged with the crime and sent to court, only to be acquitted.  No other person was charged with the murders, making this one of the nation’s most well-known unresolved murder cases.  Oddly enough, Borden remained in Fall River for the rest of her life, residing in a neighborhood not far from where the murders took place.  It is believed that her desire to remain here has held true even in death.  Her ghost has often been seen throughout the house and has been heard laughing on the second floor near the stairs.  Her father and step-mother have also been seen and heard, along with their former maid who has been heard calling for help.

Known as the city’s oldest house, this structure dates back to 1753 when it was first used as a private residence.  Sometime later in the century it became a tavern and inn, which it remained for many decades.  Today, the building is used as a restaurant, with the former inn space on the second floor used for storage.  During its time as a tavern and inn, it was mostly frequented by mariners and others of a rough sort.  It was apparently the site of many shanghaiing episodes where privateers would get men drunk or drug them so that they could secret them away through a tunnel and to their ships, pressing their victims into service.  Today, many spirits from this time period still frequent the establishment.  Apparitions are often seen on the second floor and laughter is heard there as well.  The first floor and basement are also very active, with chairs and place settings being rearranged in the dining rooms and people reporting being suddenly overcome by cold and nausea.

Formerly the home of William Kehoe and his family, this 1892 house later became a school, a funeral home, and today is operated as a historic inn.  The Kehoe family, however, seems to have remained in residence long after their deaths, going about their usual routines while also interacting with guests and staff.  Mrs. Kehoe has often been seen sitting at a desk, writing, or sitting on the beds of sleeping guests.  Mr. Kehoe has been seen throughout the house as well, and on one occasion opened all of the exterior locked doors on the first floor…simultaneously.  The young twin boys of the Kehoe’s, who died in a childhood accident, have also been seen roaming throughout the house, and their noisy footsteps heard as they run across the upper floors.

On the night of June 9, 1912, eight people, including six children, were murdered in this house by an unknown assailant wielding an ax in one of the most gruesome – and true – haunted house stories.  The murders, not surprisingly, caused a national sensation, and while many suspects were questioned and even tried – later acquitted – this mass murder remains unsolved to this day.  Either from the violence of their deaths, or their unresolved nature (maybe a little of both), this house has subsequently become a very active sight for the supernatural.  Apparitions have often been seen, and disembodied footsteps and voices are common occurrences.  The sight and sounds of the children are the most widely reported, with EVPs and personal accounts indicating laughing and then crying, as well as some children telling others to hide which is why this house is on many top ten haunted houses lists.

Reconstructed in the late 20th century according to the specifications of the original mid-19th century structure, this building seems to have brought back some spirits along with it.  Built by Judge James W. Robinson, this house was also used for private and community business purposes, making it a very active locale in its day.  Today, this activity has continued in the form of various paranormal occurrences.  Various apparitions in period attire have been seen, as well as strange human shaped mists.  Footsteps are often heard and women often feel their hair tugged or toyed with.  The ghosts seem fascinated by anything electrical, as lights often go on and off on their own and the elevator has a tendency to move from one floor to the other unmanned.

Completed in 1801, this haunted mansions is one of the most historic in the nation.  Built for Colonel John Tayloe III, it was briefly the site of the French Embassy during the War of 1812, as well as the temporary residence of President Madison, who signed the Treaty of Ghent in its central parlor.  Today, the building is used by the American Institute of Architects as a museum, but it has also made quite a name for itself as a center for paranormal activity, as far back as the mid-19th century.  The central staircase is a major hotspot for the supernatural, as footsteps are often heard, along with the saddened voice of a woman.  Doors have been locked only to suddenly be found standing wide open.  Lights turn on and off on their own, and footsteps – and even faint footprints! – have been reported throughout the building, and objects often move without human interference. The True Stories About Real Haunted Houses When it comes to happenings such as murders or being home to

Built in 1856 in the Greek Revival style, this beautiful antebellum mansion was bought in 1864 by John McGee Parkman.  In the years after the Civil War, Parkman was arrested and imprisoned for cotton speculation.  While in prison, Parkman attempted to escape but was shot and killed in the process.  When his wife was forced to sell their house a few years after his death, his ghost began to appear regularly throughout the house and grounds, where it is still seen to this day.  People often report hearing windows and doors being opened and shut when no one else is in this real haunted house, as well as doors that close behind people and lock on their own.  The apparitions of two little girls are also frequently seen, though their identities remain unknown.

Some of the best details in stories like these have to do with the lives of people the disappeared left behind. What actually happened to the Martin family isn't much of a mystery — they likely drove off the road on the way home, their car plunging into the river below — but the evocative snapshots of a life never resumed make this entry particularly eerie. It highlights all the mundane details of life that might flash before your own eyes in the instant everything changes.

In 1892, Lizzie Borden was the main suspect for the axe murders of her father and stepmother. Borden was tried and acquitted of the murders, and guests who visit Lizzie's house in Fall River, Massachusetts say she can be heard cackling about it. Others say that you can sometimes hear a maid screaming for help and that Lizzie's axed parents stalk the grounds. You can experience the paranormal activity yourself by visiting the Lizzie Borden House, which is now a museum and bed and breakfast.

In 1890, the Queen Anne hotel in San Francisco was an etiquette school for girls. Today, it has 48 rooms for guests to stay in, though some believe the ghost of Miss Mary Lake, the school's headmistress, still lingers. Guests who stay in room 410, Miss Mary Lake’s former office, have woken up to find their blankets closely tucked around them in bed or their clothes unpacked.

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia was designed to house 250 patients when it opened in 1864. Fast forward to the 1950's, when the facility reached its peak and had more than 2,400 patients living in overcrowded and inhumane conditions — some even kept in cages. In 1994, the asylum closed, and today, there are reports of paranormal activity, with souls of patients lingering and roaming the halls. You can do an overnight ghost hunt tour from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. at the Asylum, a two-hour paranormal tour from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., or a 90-minute day tour.

In 1907, Mizpah Hotel opened as one of the first luxury hotels in Nevada. With a rich history and elaborate decor, the hotel is best known for its legend of the “Lady in Red.” While the date remains unclear, the story goes like this: A woman was murdered in her room on the fifth floor — some say it was a jealous ex-boyfriend, others say the Lady in Red had been caught cheating by her husband and he killed her in a jealous rage — and today she haunts guests. Those who’ve stayed at the hotel say the Lady in Red whispers in men’s ears and leaves pearls from her broken necklace on guests pillows. Guests can stay in the Lady in Red suite to experience it themselves, and if that’s too much for you, the Red Lady Bloody Mary at the hotel restaurant should suffice.

In 1937, millionaire inventor, Norman G. Baker, posed as a doctor and turned the hotel into a hospital that he said could cure cancer. Have the chills yet? Norman, who had a fetish for the color purple, painted many sections of the hospital purple, and today, the chimneys remain that same color. In addition to wearing purple shirts and ties, he drove a purple car as well. People came from all over with hopes of curing their cancer, and many who were treated died. Eventually, Baker was exposed and run out of town, and today the property is an active hotel. It's said to be haunted by several ghosts, including a bearded man wearing Victorian clothing and a five-year-old girl.

Rumored to be on top of an Indian burial ground, and the home to at least 12 different ghosts, is the Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana. Built in 1796, the ghost stories tell the tale of a former slave named Chloe, who had her ear chopped off after she was reportedly caught eavesdropping. In seeking revenge, Chloe killed two of the master’s daughters by poisoning a birthday cake. She was then hanged by her fellow slaves, and today is reportedly seen wandering the plantation with a turban on to conceal her ear.  If you want to investigate things for yourself, you can stay at the plantation for $175/night.

The Hotel Monte Vista has numerous paranormal guests they can’t get rid of. The hotel, which opened in 1927 as the Community Hotel — named after the townspeople who helped raised the funds for it to be built — has a history of underground opium dens, speakeasies, and gambling. Today, the hotel is known for the paranormal activity that haunts some of the rooms and halls. Guests who’ve stayed in room 220 have experienced the TV changing channels on its own accord, and some have said they felt cold hands touching them in their sleep. There’s also reportedly a phantom bellboy who knocks on doors and announces “room service,” but when guests get to the door, no one's there. One of the more popular — and possibly most disturbing encounters — is the sound of an infant crying in the basement. The hotel website reads, “Staff have found themselves running upstairs to escape the sound of the cries. Though the sounds are very real to those who hear them, there has been no information

The Lemp Mansion in St. Louis, Missouri, is known to be one of the most haunted places in America, due a tragic history that continues to haunt people today. The 33-room home was built in the 1860's by William Lemp, a successful brewery owner in the midwest, who ended up killing himself in 1904 after the youngest of his four sons, Frederick, died. A few years later, his wife also died of cancer in the house. Then, in 1922, William Lemp Jr., shot himself in the same room William Sr. killed himself. As if that weren't enough tragedy for one place, in 1949, Charles Lemp — William's third son — shot his dog in the basement of the home and then killed himself in his room. That same year, the house was sold and transformed into a boarding house, where reports of hauntings began. According to Destination America, witnesses have experienced burning sensations and slamming doors. Today, The Lemp Mansion is a restaurant and inn that also holds events. On Sunday night

On June 10, 1912, Josiah and Sarah Moore were bludgeoned to death inside of their home in Villisca, Iowa. Their four children — and two friends, who were spending the night — were also killed, and to this day, the crime remains a mystery. Their home is considered one of the most haunted houses in the country, and guests are drawn to it. People even pay $400+ to stay for one night. "Tours have been cut short by children's voices, falling lamps, moving ladders and flying objects," says the Villisca Axe Murder House website: June 10, 1912 Villisca, Iowa On a quiet residential street in this small town sits an old white frame house. On a dark evening, the absence of lights and sounds are the first indication to visitors that this house is different from the other homes that surround it. Upon closer inspection, you'll notice it's doors and windows are tightly closed and covered. An outhouse in the backyard suggests that this house does not occupy a pla